Today’s Tub Manga: Assassination Classroom (volume 17)

So Volume 17 brings us to the battle between Karma and Nagisa and their respective Kill Koro Sensei/Save Koro Sensei groups.

I don’t actually have much to say about this except I was kind of surprised because I remembered this scene being relatively short in the anime yet it took up most of this volume. I didn’t expect this battle to be quite so beefy in terms of the manga.

…Though now that I’m thumbing through again, I apparently forgot entirely about this ridiculous and perfect Colonel Sanders snuggling with Ronald McDonald title page for chapter 143. And Ronald’s button says “KILL.” I think it’s worth buying this volume just for that one picture.

Anyway, I do like the weird friendship backstory we get as a result of the Nagisa/Karma battle. So it’s only fitting that those two go together to hijack the Space Station…which is an arc that to this day makes me kind of frown and shake my head and ask, “Really? They went that route, huh?” But most of that is saved for Volume 18…

For a story with an ultimately very dark plot, I’m always amazed at how funny it can be. Though the humor for me comes in the little side-things and end-of-volume author’s notes and whatnot. It’s all very well done. I loved the final page pitch from The Offices of Koro, Attorney At Law.

Not to be maudlin but reading Volume 17 felt just a little weird and a bit sad. The final volume is near; we know this. So with each volume we read, we continue marching toward the bitter (?) end.

Today’s Tub Manga: Assassination Classroom (volume 16)

We’re on the downhill slide of Assassination Classroom yet hitting what I think is the best part. Volume 16 spends pretty much the whole volume covering Koro-sensei’s past as he relates to the kids how he became…what he is.

Even though I watched the anime and it’s over, I was still looking forward to reading the manga version of this flashback.

If you’ve already read volumes 1-15, I imagine you’re in it for the long haul so I don’t really need to encourage you to read this…and if you dropped this a long time ago, then nothing I say will make you pick it up again and read sixteen volumes…

But this was one of my favorite volumes. I love a good flashback and a juicy, tentacle-laden backstory.

Spring 2016 Wrap-Up

I don’t usually drop a lot of shows but due to travels and life and all that, I ended up finishing far fewer shows than I started. So what the heck did I watch?

My Top 3
In no particular order, I felt the best shows of the Spring 2016 Season were…drumroll, please:

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (Diamond Is Unbreakable)I’d never be disappointed in you, Jotaro

I feel the same as Josuke’s mom on this one; I loved loved loved loved loved this show. (Or love love love love love, I guess, since it’s ongoing, not ended.) My criteria for the Top 3 Category was simply, “What shows do I look forward to every week? Which new episodes am I excited to watch?” I’ve absolutely loved every episode of Diamond Is Unbreakable so far and can’t wait for more…in fact, at the time of this post, I just finished episode 14 and in the famous words of Joseph Joestar: “OH MY GOD!”

Haven’t You Heard? I’m SakamotoIt was. It always is.

Seriously, haven’t you heard? This show is hilarious! I picked up the manga a while back and so was super excited when the anime was announced. It did not disappoint! The show reminds me a lot of the endearing absurdity of Cromartie High School. While JoJo’s is sometimes hard to recommend to people because it’s, well, BIZARRE…I feel like even though it’s outrageous, Sakamoto is more readily appealing. Though if listening to guys talk for minutes while nothing is really happening on screen (a la Gintama) isn’t something you can handle then maybe you’re not funny enough for this show.

My Hero AcademiaI know, I know, we’re all saying the same thing: My Hero Academia was too good.

 Again, this was one where I picked up the manga first and…was way excited about the anime. Guess what–I’m still WAY EXCITED ABOUT THE ANIME. The manga is fantastic and of course I recommend reading it but I felt the anime did a fantastic job of bringing it all to life. This happens to be my brother’s #1 pick of the season and he won’t shut up about how the story took a very overused concept and made it totally fresh and exciting. Plus Ultra!

Okay, so not everyone can be a winner. Aside from my Top 3, here are my other shows that I enjoyed…

Joker GameQuite possibly my favorite line of the whole series.

I set the bar pretty high for this one. I loved the premise and the way it looked and the assortment of characters so I couldn’t wait to watch it. The first two episodes were great. I think I was just perpetually conflicted because I wanted to “get to know” the characters…but by the very nature of the show and the fact they’re spies and don’t even know each other, we can’t expect to get to know them. Their personalities are fluid and backgrounds contrived. I think that’s why I enjoyed the final episode so much and felt like that’s the episode I’d been after the whole time–because we finally got to see “inside” the character. But I also think that’s why it was chosen as the final episode. Despite my “desire for more while simultaneously realizing that would compromise the whole premise of the show itself”…I did enjoy it, would watch more of it, and would recommend it.

Tanaka-kun is Always ListlessOf course it is.

I knew nothing going into this show aside from the pretty self-explanatory title. Yeah, I enjoyed the first episode but it is pretty sleepy, so I figured it’d be one of those “put on while trying to fall asleep” shows.  The problem with that was I didn’t fall asleep at all–I stayed awake just to watch it! It was such a goofy, simple, drowsy show but I ended up loving it. The pacing and dare I say boring? premise might not be for everyone but it really clicked with me. Okay, sure, the adorable bromance between Ohta and Tanaka didn’t hurt. I could probably watch another twelve episodes of Ohta taking care of Tanaka and packing him around.

Bungo Stray Dogs

Like Joker Game, I was really excited about this one. I realized almost immediately that it was way goofier than I’d anticipated (I know we all associate Osamu Dazai with hilarity, right? …Right?) Kunikida immediately became my favorite simply by being one of my favorite voices (ahem, Ohta, above) but sometimes I had a hard time paying attention. I’m not sure I would’ve stuck with it except for I WANTED TO LIKE IT. I did enjoy the series, especially in the last couple episodes, and I think the next season with even more characters will be something to look forward to.

Assassination Classroom

It’s been a long haul for the octopus teacher assassin and those of us watching. It was nice to see a series that actually has a conclusion. And yes, I cried the last episode.

Super Lovers

I went from thinking this was incredibly stupid to can’t stand waiting for more all within the first episode. However, since I couldn’t wait for more, I ended up reading the manga and after that the anime wasn’t as interesting. I wanted to love it but I just didn’t care as much since I spoiled it for myself. But hey, it’s BL; I’ll take it.

I also finished The Lost Village because I kept expecting some bombshell or some deep revelation that would make the show worth watching. Didn’t happen. I want my time and brain cells back.

So that’s my spring! I have a ton of “wanna watch” shows on my list so my Summer 2016 post could be HUGE. Or I might have to whittle things down from the start…

What shows did you love? Which ones wasted your time? Are you excited about anything coming this summer? (ahem, BERSERK, ahem)

Winter is…HERE!

It’s not a “new” title but I’m sooo glad JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is back. My life just didn’t have enough bizarreness in it otherwise. Welcome back, JoJo!

Aldnoah.Zero is also back…though I’m not sure how much I care. Sometimes I have a hard time staying awake during these episodes.

Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! started off with boys in a public bath. Sign me up! Seriously, though, this show is hilarious. I actually said, “What the hell?” out loud at least once and totally lost my shit during the transformation sequence. I absolutely love stupid stuff like this. And somebody please hurry and make a plush version of that wombat; I totally need one.

KanColle Cute girls aren’t really my thing and ships aren’t really my thing…but together they’re somehow interesting? I actually enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would and plan to stick with it, at least for now.

Saekano – How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend I loved the whole setup for this. I have this weird feeling that ultimately I’ll be disappointed, but for now I’m enjoying the tongue-in-cheekness of it all.

Durarara!!x2 Yes yes yes! That’s all I have to say about that.

Assassination Classroom At first I was wary of the hype but I read the first volume of the manga & really enjoyed it. The first episode of the anime was true to form and I have high hopes.

Yurikuma Arashi cute girls, cute bears, cute girls bears eating girls…it’s Yurikuma Arashi, the name kinda says it all. However, in total non-yuri fashion, I’d say it’s worth it just to hear Junichi Suwabe say “sexy.” 😉

Death Parade I had no preconceptions going in but the opening theme was a great sign of things to come. Totally morbid, totally fascinating.

…and last but not least…

KUROKO’S BASKETBALL *flail flail flail* Okay, I’ll admit, I was getting slightly irritated with all the recap in the beginning and thought, “This whole thing better not be a recap episode…I don’t need a recap, I’ve rewatched a bunch recently to get ready for season three!” But then the ball got rolling (no pun intended)…and I’m just so happy I feel like my heart is about to burst. I could cry, I’m so glad Kuroko no Basuke is back. And of course I laughed at the end theme and thought, “What, are they intentionally trying to give the fujoshi nosebleeds?” But it’s all good. I’m just so, so happy. 🙂