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Manga Meet The Geek My Hero Academia

Meet the Geek: Camie (My Hero Academia)

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Time to end this discussion once and for all. I sat down with Shiketsu’s very own Camie to learn if she really was who she claimed to be.

 

Redgeek: Thank you for coming, Toga. I know this is a busy time for you.
Camie: My name’s Camie. Can I get your contact info?
Redgeek: So…killed anyone lately? You know, someone blocking you on the way to school, a waiter getting your order wrong, or even—I don’t know—a high school student whose blood you consumed so you can infiltrate one of the best hero schools in the country?
Camie: Have my own Discord channel if you want to join.
Redgeek: Hmmm…. Okay, you’re a friendly young lady. Tell me about your friends.
Camie: Oh, I have lots of friends! Always fun hanging out when not training.
Redgeek: Older friends? With many hands or burn scars?
Camie: What are you talking about?
Redgeek: Look, I just wanna know if you’re Toga in disguise.
Camie: What? No way! I’m Camie, see how happy and well adjusted I am. I’m just your average Japanese girl who can’t go one chapter without talking about a boy.
Redgeek: *sigh* I really need to talk to Hirokoshi again. Anyway, if you are Camie then what’s up with that bloody knife on the table.
Camie: No, no. That’s ketchup. I was making French fries.
Redgeek: Cutting French fries after pouring ketchup?
Camie: Weird huh? Saw it on Food Network and had to try it.
Redgeek: You know, Deku figured it out. The heroes got you dead-to-rights.
Camie: Deku! Uh, who’s that? Sound’s cool.
Redgeek: Well, looks like I won’t get anything out of you. Before we go, do you have anything you want to say to all your fans?
Camie: Yes, I didn’t steal my hero costume from Black Widow. She stole it from me!
Redgeek: Okay then, this is Redgeek signing off. Goodnight.
*STAB!*
Redgeek: The hell!
Camie: Oh, sorry! I was trying to kill a fly on your shoulder. It landed in front of your heart. I’ll get it this time!
Redgeek: Nooooo!
*STAB!*
Camie: There. Got it…

Categories
Manga My Hero Academia

Camie & Tokoyami, Mystery Duo (My Hero Academia)

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Camie, are you Toga?
So, Camie are you Toga?
Are you Toga, Camie?
You’ve been stabbed by
You’ve been stabbed by
A smooth criminal

Two big questions about chapter 163: Is that the real Camie? And where is Tokoyami? Let’s start with Camie.

I think that’s Toga in disguise. Why? Because her reintroduction is too normal. Up until this chapter most readers would put money on Camie being dead and here she casually reappears ready to retake the Hero Provisional Exam. Sorry, I mean TAKE the exam. Toga impersonated her last time. I don’t think a hero candidate worth their sea salt would think someone else completing half an exam under your identity is fair. Also, if she escaped or was saved from Toga, the school would most likely know and ask her to retake the full exam. So, unless the real Camie is a scummy, that is Toga.

But, why is Toga still impersonating Camie, redgeek? I don’t know. Maybe she was asked to go to a hero school by Shigaraki. Sure, it could be her idea, but I don’t think so now. Back when she first messed with Deku I did, assuming crazy Toga was just being crazy. Now, I think the villains are planning something. We still don’t know how much time she has left in Deku’s form. Maybe…the villains are after All Might. Or, maybe it’s something bigger than that. These days I’m not underestimating Shigaraki. This dude got something planned.

But, what about the heroes? Deku figured out the link between Toga and Camie during the Overhaul arc. I know a lot happened, but no way our tactical, always thinking Deku somehow forgot about that. Yet, it wasn’t touched on at all after the fact. I think there’s some off-panel shenanigans going on. Deku told the authorities and they set a trap for Toga. Endeavor IS on assignment. The new number one is hunting for League members and is hoping Toga will lead him to the biggest fish, Shigaraki!

Categories
Editorial Manga One Piece

Is Pound Dead? (One Piece)

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No.

I love you One Piece, but over and over you prove killing characters is as rare as a Bleach chapter with a background. Pagaya, Pell, Brownbeard, Jack the Drought are some of the manga’s characters who should be dead. And, look, I’m not death hungry. I don’t read One Piece for a body count. Luffy isn’t becoming Frank Castle anytime soon (though Luffy drawn as The Punisher would be cool). But, the situation characters survive in One Piece is ridiculous at times.

But, Oven looked like he was about to slice Pound’s head off?
But, Oda gave Pound the perfect send-off?

Yeah, I agree. But, does that mean he’s dead? Comic book death rules are in effect. Meaning, unless there’s a body, he ain’t dead. And that still holds true for Pedro. Until I see a body neither one is dead, only injured. A pack of bandages away from a full recovery.

So, I’m putting my entire bitcoin fortune on Pound surviving and using my winnings to by a pack of gum. Oh, hell, make it two.

Side note: We finally saw a glance of Big Mom’s husband cycle. Apparently, she gets pregnant, keeping hubby around until the baby’s born then he’s unceremoniously kicked to the curb. Not even enough time to hold the child. Big Mom is cold.

Categories
Editorial Manga My Hero Academia

League of Absence (My Hero Academia)

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Over the past few chapters we’ve seen the League of Villains do some serious leveling up with Mr. Hype Baddie, Giantomachia, plus an unknown number of new recruits joining and acquiring Overhaul’s anti-quirk bullets and serum. Basically, Shigaraki has everything he needs for another A-level scheme, but like with most ingredients, he’ll need time to prepare. So, I hope you enjoyed seeing the league because barring minor check-ins, I don’t think we’ll be seeing much of them in the foreseeable future.

But we must have balance.
We touched on it a bit with Class A learning super moves, now is the time to see more of that and maybe some other improved skills while Team Facepalm gets ready for the next round to pain. With Provisional License: Part Deux, Bakugou and Todoroki will get their level-up along with Inasa Yoarashi.

But, we need more than that. I’m guessing that inter-school training Ms. Joke proposed will happen soon after, leveling up Class A even more. A maybe, just maybe, we’ll even get another small arc after that. An All Might origin flashback would be nice.

The fact is the League of Villains 3.0 is coming and right now they have the brains, brawn, and tools to cause mega damage. If Class A doesn’t step up, the villains will leave them in the dust. Or, considering Shigaraki, turn them into dust.

Categories
Editorial Manga

A Prescription for Dr. Stone

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Great art. Great story. So, why aren’t more people reading Dr. Stone?

Maybe it’s the first few chapters.
Dr. Stone is about two high school kids frozen in stone, along with every human on Earth, for thousands of years. They escape and wish to bring back humanity, but an evil high schooler wants to restart humanity without adults or technology.

Now, my problems with the first chapters are Taiju and the manga’s slow start. Dr. Stone started off seemingly as another end of the world story where uber powerful high schoolers fight to survive. That’s part of the story, but there’s a lot more going on. Sticking with the series, you learn that it’s not a battle shounen but a comedy/adventure shounen with science!

Once the story is focused on Senku, the genius high school boy, things get good. He’s the more interesting of the two, a guy wanting to build a world of science using whatever and whoever he can. Senku is the keystone of Dr. Stone. Once he takes the spotlight, the story is off and running.

Did I mention the art is fantastic? Well, it is. Easily one of, if not, THE best drawn manga currently running in Shounen Jump. The comedy starts slow in the series too, plots focusing on the seriousness of the situation with flashes of humor here and there. Again, once Senku gets the full spotlight, the comedy comes busting in. You’ll learn science and you’ll laugh while doing it. A win-win in my book.

Give Dr. Stone a chance. If the first chapter doesn’t do it for you, skip ahead three or four chapters and see if you like it then. If you’re still petrified with boredom, read the latest two chapters and call me in the morning. You’ll feel much better.

Categories
Manga My Hero Academia

The Future Can Change. Maybe? [My Hero Academia]

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Well, Deku saved Eri and defeated Overhaul but Sir Nighteye’s predicted death came true. Nighteye theorized Deku was the focal point of the hope/will to succeed from everyone, allowing him to reject his awful future.

I don’t agree.
Well, I don’t WANT to agree. It’s a bit cheezy. The whole friendship=energy (power) trope is standard in shounen, but I want a more realistic answer. So, I’ll say yes, it was the power of friendship, BUT it wasn’t some best friend spirit bomb, it was Eri. Eri was the trigger, she saved the day. The moment Eri decided to fight for her freedom (thanks to Mirio’s encouragement) changed HER future. If that’s true, Deku was only a tool Eri used to change that future. Luckily, Deku benefited from her actions as a result.

What does this all mean?

Deku doesn’t have the power to change the future on his own.
For Toshinori to survive, it will take more than his protege. But, who is powerful enough to help Deku? No clue. Either Deku will have to become powerful enough to change fate or his allies will all have to band together to save the former number one hero. And we’re talking Eri’s uber quirk levels of power, yikes! All hands on board to survive that storm.

So, we have the ticking time clock of Toshinori’s approaching death, and a possible way to avoid it. How does it play out? If changing the future boils down to choices, could All Might choose to die? If his last feat of heroism is sacrificing his life, no one can stop it. And from a meta perspective, there isn’t much left for Toshinori to do. Telling Deku how he inherited One For All and his relationship with Nana Shimura, including her connection with Shigaraki, via flashback is pretty much all that’s left. And even most of that can be explained by Gran Torino.

Deku is getting a personal tragedy eventually. Toshinori, Inko Midoriya, Gran Torino, someone close to him will die. In my opinion, it’s gonna be Toshinori, but I won’t count Gran Torino out either. Hirokoshi loves Star Wars and if old man Gran T. is the Yoda of the series, Toshinori is the Obi-Wan Kenobi. Hmm… All I can say is a mentor surviving a shounen series to the end is rare. Two surviving? Not happening. Plus, we can’t forget Toshinori, the symbol of good, has to die for the Villain Alliance to truly change the world.

My money is on Toshinori willingly dying to protect Deku and/or the world. Shigarki will do the deed or be indirectly responsible, cementing Deku VS Shigariki’s rivalry equaling that of All Might VS All For One. Toshinori’s clock is indeed ticking down folks. And just like losing his powers, he’s going out like a hero.

 

Categories
anime Hipster Hotline Manga novel

Hipster Hotline: Moribito

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Why am drawn to these stories I may never get to finish? Moribito is an anime based on the first novel of a series about Balsa, a female bodyguard and Chagum, a prince of New Yogo, a country part of the world of humans but closely connected to the world of spirits.

Prince Chagum has a spirit egg inside his body and through certain circumstances (AKA misguided dad) is saved by Balsa, the most bad ass spear wielder since…I don’t know.

*looks up anime spear users*

Geez! Either they have huge boobs or look like ten-years olds. Anyway, Balsa is calm, cool, and not afraid to kick butt if she has to.

Being based off a novel, Moribito doesn’t fall into many typical anime tropes. It’s not fueled by fan service or has the fate of the world at stake. It’s the story of a child prince adjusting to life as a commoner, hiding from his father’s assassins while his protector and her friends try to solve just what the heck is going on with that spirit egg inside him. Adventure, action, mystery—Moribito has it, but at the end of the day, it’s all about the characters.

You care about Balsa and her mission to protect Chagum, both from his father and the spirit egg.  You care about why she became a bodyguard. You care about Chagum, a kid being hunted by his dad’s secret squad and adjusting to everyday life—and not only them. Balsa’s kind-hearted childhood friend, Tanda, the brash old magic weaver, Torogai, even the antagonists ​​are all fully developed characters playing the hero from their point of view. This is a character driven story where you learn why each individual does what they do and the conflicts that follows those decisions. I love it.

I recommend the anime or manga, both retelling the first novel, and both are great. Or, read the original novel and the second book, Guardian of the Darkness (Love it!), officially translated for an English audience. Unfortunately, the later books won’t be getting the same treatment as the publisher decided not to translate them due to low sales.  There is a kind fan translating the third book, Guardian of the Dream, so hope is not lost. Maybe one day English fans will get to read every book in the series.

Moribito is a classic in my eyes. An engaging  fantasy with heart. Anime, manga, novel—don’t matter which you pick, you won’t lose.

Categories
Editorial Manga My Hero Academia

Overhaul? No, Female My Hero Academia Heroes Are the True Losers This Arc.

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Welp, the Eri Arc is officially over, well, not “officially” (Support the official release!), and it pains me to say my honeymoon period with My Hero Academia is over.

Not to say the series is going down the toilet. While not a huge fan of the wrap-up, the overall arc was good. Red Riot, Suneater, Lemillion, Toga, Rappa, Shigaraki and Twice all deserve praise. Even Eri found the courage to help save herself in the end, quite the millstone for a kid pretty much at the end of her rope. I look forward to re-reading all the parts I liked. But, there was a HUGE hiccup I want to address.

Why didn’t the female heroes get more chances to shine? I was so excited when Uravity and Froppy were coming along to the yazkuza stronghold. I really thought those two would get to showoff a new attack or have a character defining fight. To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. No one-on-one fight equal the their male counterparts, no cool new attacks, nothing but basic hero roles any nameless grunt could do.

Categories
Manga One Piece

Let’s talk about Jimbei and Carrot [One Piece, Chapter 881]

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Jimbei is the Strawhat helmsman, we get it, Oda!

You’ve been dropping clues throughout the series, but chapter 881 is our first look at the former warlord showing how top-level a helmsman he truly is. Not only did Oda get on a megaphone, blasting Jimbei’s crew role but also hinted why no one reached Raftel since Gol D. Roger and his crew. Here’s the mathematical equation to reach Raftel:

Nami + Franky + Robin (Road Polyglyphs) + Jimbei=Raftel

Categories
Hipster Hotline Manga

Hipster Hotline: Karakuri Circus

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Ever read a manga you enjoyed then wondered why the heck it isn’t popular?
Karakuri Circus is a shounen manga about a boy named Masaru Saiga on the run from relatives who want him, or more specifically, the eighteen billion yen his dead dad left him. He quickly meets Narumi Kato and a woman calling herself Shirogane, both separately wanting to help Masaru. Simple plot, right? Yeah, but that’s only the beginning.

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