Not everyday I stumble across a manga so interesting I read all of the available chapters in one sitting. But that’s what happened when I found Asura’s Verdict, created by Utsugi Unohana.
Asura Amashiro, a kind-hearted schoolboy following his dead mother’s philosophy that all evil doers eventually receive divine punishment, lives a positive life helping others when he can. But remaining positive is hard when you’re being bullied at school. And it’s a manga, so know the bullies are total bastards.
Luckily (or not), Asura is given a mysterious key that opens the door to Hell, immediately sending anyone he chooses there without that pesky need for them to die first.
So, let’s just get to why I’m recommending this series.
1.) The art is great. It’s expressive, clean, and fits the tone of whatever scene is happening, be it cute, disturbing, or flat out horrific.
2.) The key. At the time of writing, only nine chapters have been released but I’m very interested in the key’s origins and it effect something so powerful has on our sweet little protagonist.
3.) Asura. I’m EXTREMELY invested in this character. I’m rooting for him to have a good life. He’s suffered some brutal life traumas, Y’All. But! Even nine chapters in, you can tell he’s either mentally broken or at least cracked.
To no one’s surprise, Gaban was only testing Luffy’s resolve. Only? Hmm… Or maybe Gaban also wanted to confirm Luffy has the Sun God Nika fruit? Remember, he and the rest of the Roger Pirates know the true history. Nika and Joy Boy both played huge roles in history and now it’s Luffy’s turn to do the same.
It’s also safe to say Gaban will give the Straw Hat Pirates a clue on how to find the final Road Ponegliff at the end of the arc. Despite what Luffy thinks, he’ll definitely see Gaban again, learning of the old man’s connection to Shanks and Gol D. Roger.
Just like my ex, Ankama lied to me at my most vulnerable moment (sitting in front of the PC watching cartoons). I thought Wakfu Season Four was the final season to the epic (Epic, right? Kids still say that?) story of the Brotherhood of the Tofu.
Well… season four was so successful, Ankama decide to give the show one last go, for real this time!
Do you know how hard it is navigating that Kickstarter page while avoiding season four spoilers? Not that hard actually, but I sure as heck didn’t watch that season five trailer I posted!
At the time of writhing this post, the basic goal has been reached. But, the more money pledged, the more stuff we’ll get. Plus you can buy Wakfu merch like pins, plushies, and…vinyl records of the music. Uh, okay.
Personally, I just want to watch season five, which all backers will get access to on Ankama Launcher when season five premieres on French television in late 2027.
Oh! And in case you didn’t know, Wakfu season one and season two are officially available on YouTube!
Guess I’ll have to review season five when it comes out. Let’s see… How many episodes are planned for next season? Another thirteen isn’t—TWENTY-SIX episodes?! Are you kidding me?! I was planning on starting my modeling career that year.
Alright, alright, alright! Let’s talk about Mr. Ya Boi, Scopper Gaban.
It’s not like much else happened in the chapter, right? That’s fine. His official introduction was a long time coming. Even though both hold the role of the “left hand” of their captain, I’m surprised by how much Oda made Gaban’s character like Sanji. Well, a mature Sanji who found love, but still like Sanji. It’s not like Rayleigh’s a mature verison of Zoro. Or, at least I never considered the two alike in personality.
So why the Gaban/Sanji parallel? Is Oda setting up something between the two characters? Will Gaban be Sanji’s mentor like how Rayleigh mentored Luffy? Is this a way of Oda giving Sanji another power-up? Or…could this be a way for Oda to get Sanji to mature as a person? Maybe use Gaban’s influence to calm down Sanji’s girl crazed antics? Not remove it, of course—Oda loves his character gags no matter how stale they become. But, again, give Sanji some character growth and maturity. Yeah, I’m really looking forward to them meeting each other.
Hentai artists are lining up around the block to thank Oda for Gaban x Ripley.
Guess I should back track before complaining about what happened to one of the best characters in the show, eh?
We start with Zombie Efrim taking Nora’s mind-controlled body out to meet their mother. Looks likes he’s all finished using Nora to whip up a portal between the World of Twelve and Necroworld, so taking a little personal time to hit mommy with a few emotional jabs is the perfect way to finish off his productive day. It also doubles as a convenient way to let our heroes know Efrim is a Necro and has been using Nora to create portals.
This family reunion also gives the heroes a heads-up that the main invasion is about to go down. Oops! Probably should’ve sent an e-mail instead, Efrim.
Poor Nora gets a one-way ticket to Necroworld. Hey? Guess who’s gonna be making portals to every planet with life for Team Toross after the World of Twelve gets Sunday brunch’d? Here’s a hint: It ain’t Chell.
What? You said you wanted to get “stoned”.
Nora learning her “dead” twin brother’s been using her to jump start an universal zombie apocalypse is harsh. Toross is loving it though. In his eyes everyone will be equal because anyone left will just be a hungry Necro looking for their next meal. In case you haven’t guessed…Toross is a bit crazy.
So…uh…anyone know what The Harley is talking about?
Safe to say the Harley’s passages matches the mural. Let’s assume each area of mural under a Harley passage represents that particular message. If so, let’s try figuring out what’s going on based off of what we currently know about the One Piece world and its past.
The First World
Ok… Ah, the Mother Flame. Cities. …Maybe the world was advanced and that civilization discovered the Mother Flame. Things went downhill from there and somehow the planet was destroyed. Remember, we recently learned the One Piece world was destroyed twice. Once during the Void Century and the other, I presume, was way way WAY back in an advanced age.
If the Sun God is Nika, then the Earth God was Imu? Or, whoever had the Earth God powers during that time? And does all this earth talk symbolize the creation of the Red Line and it subsequent separation of the planet into four blues? Sure, let’s go with that.
The Second World
“The Forest God tamed demons” could mean during this low point in history, devil fruits somehow appeared in the world and were used to fight the demons? [Wait, wait, wait! Does that mean demons were unleashed because the ancient civilization dug too deep for the Mother Flame and awoke them? Like when the Dwarves in Lord of The Rings mined to deep and awoke the Balrog? Hmm…]
Those of the half-moon and moon dreamed? Hmm… Lunarians and…some other race of people, I guess. The sea god storming could mean devil fruit users gaining their water weakness. If so, it’s interesting something happened to give them that vulnerability rather than it always being there.
The World Tree also plays a role here but I’m not sure what that was. Unless… Were devil fruits born from it?! Devil fruits originated on Elbaph. A place where horned giants that could be mistaken for demons lived and has an area they call the Underworld… Fascinating!
Apocalyptic Graffiti. Usually you only see that in New Jersey.
We see flying arks in the mural similar to the one God Enel built (no doubt from ancient blueprints he found or stole somewhere). Did the Lunarians and others escape the demon infested planet in order to live peacefully on the moon? If so, are they still there? I don’t think it was ever confirmed if anyone was still alive up there except for the Space Pirates before Enel got there.
“Man killed the sun and became god” I take that as Team Imu (the united countries that founded the World Government) attacking the last remnant of the formerly vast ancient civilization (now only one island, Laugh Tale), flooding the planet, and taking over the world. Imu later moves into the Lunarians abandoned territory atop the Red Line and creates Marijoa. Basically, The Second World describes what happened during the Void Century.
Mammoth Base Opera Castle 