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Jul 7, 2016
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure was originally intended as a trilogy, ending with Part III, and that makes total sense. The way Part III ended had a sort of finality to it. However, when you're one of the best selling and most popular manga, the business won't let you go that easily. Araki started work on another part, which could very well have ended up terribly, but somehow, Part IV, Diamond is Unbreakable, turned out to be my 2nd favorite Jojo part, and was my favorite for some time.
STORY
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Part III had a major sense of scope to it that none of the other parts had. While it
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went over with the fans extremely well, you can tell Araki didn't want to do something like that again, so he decided to go and do the exact opposite with Part IV. Part IV takes place in the small japanese town of Morioh, where we follow Josuke and his friends just... living life. Yeah. For the first half of the series, an overarching plot isn't really established. There are some hints here and there, sure, but for the most part, it's Josuke and his friends living and exploring Morioh. While one may think this would be boring, I must say I don't think it is. The story is a very interesting one when it does get moving, and even when it isn't other things keep the manga going. (10/10)
ART
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This is where Araki's art became what it's known as today. We go from early Part III-esque designs to a much more interesting and visually engaging designs. While the changes in design philosophies might catch some people off guard, I feel that they are a welcome change. I enjoy them a lot more than the earlier designs of the series. The stand designs also take an interesting turn. After Part III, the Stands become more 'Robotic' looking, a design choice I like. If you couldn't tell, I really like the evolution the art takes here. (10/10)
CHARACTERS
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Josuke is a great protagonist. He essentially takes the two great protagonists of previous parts, Jotaro and Joseph, and fuses them together. The side characters are great too. Koichi is a flat-out reference to Gohan from the Dragon Ball franchise. Okuyasu is not only a funny character, but he's easy to relate to, at least for me. Jotaro appears to fill the mentor role, and while he does do a lot, Josuke and the crew take a lot of the spotlight from him. Part IV is also home to the best villain in the entire Jojo series. I rank Kira Yoshikage over over Dio because of how real he feels. While Dio was over the top, Kira was methodical. Easily one of my favorite characters in manga, if not literature altogether. (10/10)
ENJOYMENT
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I enjoy reading this part a lot. I've read it twice, the first time was after Part III's anime had finished, and I needed more Jojo in my life. The second time was after Part IV's anime was announced. Both times took me about two weeks. The part is not only fun to reread, but I have memorized much of the earlier chapters in the series. (10/10)
OVERALL
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This was the best part in the series for quite a while. Not only because of the story, but because of the interesting artstyle, wonderful characters, and the almost living setting. Morioh feels like a character in itself, which I think is what Araki was going for. This part is definitely worth a read. Take a trip to Morioh, I guarantee you won't regret it. (10/10)
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Part IV: Diamond is Unbreakable is currently not available for purchase, however, it was confirmed that it had been licensed by Viz Media, but no release date or specifications have been announced.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Jul 7, 2016
NO SPOILERS
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is a marvel. A true epic spanning over 30 years in publication, however the series is only starting to get popular in places that aren't Japan. And for anyone coming into the series, most likely watching another part in the series, they might wonder if this part is worth going back to. I'd say yes, however, prepare for a bizarre manga that, while it may not live up to other parts in the series, is a wonderful read.
STORY
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The story follows Jonathan Joestar, son of the rich Jorge Joestar, embarking on a quest to stop his evil adopted brother Dio from taking
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over the world using an old mask Jonathan's father dug up when he was a baby. And.... That's pretty much it. Yes, the story evolves as more characters and fighting styles are added into the mix, but... It's a very simple story. If you're coming in from a later part( most likely Part 3), you might think this isn't up to snuff to the newer parts, and that's totally wrong. Part 1 may be simple, but it's full enjoyment doesn't come from the story alone. (9/10)
ART
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Hirohiko Araki is now known for his very interesting artstyle that isn't contemporary with other manga, but the same can't be said for part 1, especially early on. The art is very reminiscent of other manga that were running at the same time, namely Fist of the North Star. It isn't bad, but don't expect the crazier designs seen in other parts. Near the end of the part, the artwork does become more interesting, and you start to see glimpses of what's to come. (9/10)
CHARACTER
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If I had one major gripe with this part as a whole, it would be it's main character. Jonathan suffers from what I call 'Superman syndrome'. He's a paragon of everything good, a gentlemen, but.... That's pretty much it. Even Araki has expressed displeasure with how he handled Jonathan's character, saying he wish he gave him a weakness. Side characters, and our main antagonist, make up for this in spades. Many staples, including Araki's favorite Speedwagon and one of the best villains of all time, Dio, make their first appearances in this part, and they're as wonderful as you would expect.(8/10)
ENJOYMENT
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Part 1 is a part I often reread a lot. It's that enjoyable. It's simple enough that I don't get tired of it, but engaging enough to keep me invested. A great read. (9/10)
OVERALL
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Part 1 isn't perfect. I would say it's my least favorite part in Jojo. But it's still an amazing read. Hype until the bittersweet ending, I would say this is a great part that, whether you are a new fan or a fan coming back from another part, is worth a read.(9/10)
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Part 1: Phantom Blood is available in the US from Viz Media in both Physical and Digital formats.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jul 7, 2016
NO SPOILERS
Assassination Classroom was a manga I didn't really like when I read the first volume. Was it the odd premise? Or the somewhat bland characters? I couldn't tell you, but I decided to come back to it after I heard it would end in five weeks. I'm glad I did, because I found a very well done manga that has a somewhat rough start.
STORY
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Assassination Classroom's premise is very odd to say the least. Class E3, the worst of the worst, have been given a special assignment: Kill their new teacher, punnily named Korosensei by one of the students, before their graduation in March.
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A somewhat odd plot, I know, but there is so much more as the story begins to expand after the first volume. The story, initially, takes a backseat to another component of the manga(more on that later). The story really does start to get interesting around the 7th volume, and only heightens throughout the story. If there is one problem with the story of the manga, it's that it didn't seem to know when to end. Without going into details, I felt it could have ended earlier than it initially did, but then Matsui decides to make 4 other 'side chapters' that, yes, may not be connected to the story, but honestly left an undesirable taste in my mouth. I didn't read them initially, because I felt that they didn't serve a purpose. Despite that, the story is one that I feel everyone should read. (9/10)
ART
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I have not read Matsui's previous work(namely Neuro), so I can't comment on how Matsui's art has evolved from his previous endeavors, but when the series first started, the art wasn't particularly great. I felt that it had lacked it's own identity, but was passable. However, as the series went on, it seemed to get it's own identity, and this is expressed most through it's character designs. (9/10)
Character
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If this manga did one thing perfectly, it was its characters. We do have a main character, but Matsui takes a route less taken with the initial storytelling: Focusing on the class as a group of characters. Instead of focusing on a only a group of characters, all of the classmates have distinctive characteristics that make them unique. Remember earlier when I said that the story initially takes a backseat in it's first 7 volumes? You rarely notice it because of how wonderful the small stories are that focus on one of the classmates. There aren't any annoying characters in the class. When it comes to antagonists, the series has them covered as well. To a power-mad principal to a master assassin, there are many great antagonists in the series. The great thing about them is that they all have their own justifications for what they are doing. (10/10)
ENJOYMENT
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I enjoyed this manga quite a lot. There are many great small arcs that are not only funny, but help develop our favorite class of underdogs, and some of the arcs that have massive revelations can be exciting and heart-wrenching, sometimes both at the same time. I had a great time reading this manga(9/10)
OVERALL
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I felt this was a great manga. The characters were great, the story was great, and I found myself reading the entire manga in the span of 5 weeks, something I had only done for Jojo's bizarre adventure before. I feel this is a great manga, and I'd recommend this manga. I can't wait for Matsui's next work. (9/10)
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Sep 6, 2014
The Kill la Kill OVA has been something I have been waiting for since finishing the series in June. As someone who has been on different forums for the series, I built up a substantial amount of hype for this. Did it deliver? To be honest, I initially didn't like this OVA, feeling it was unnecessary. After spending a few days thinking about it, I have finally come to this conclusion: It was a good episode, but could've been better if they waited to release it a year or two later.
DISCLAIMER: I'm going to expect anyone reading this review has already seen Kill la Kill,
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therefore I will not be going into the characters and their personalities.
STORY: The story was standard Kill la Kill fare: An enemy shows up, wreaks havoc, and Ryuko and friends need to stop that enemy. The episode takes place between the ending of the series, and the credits to episode 24; to explain a certain character's appearance. Overall, the story felt rushed. It was trying to squeeze in a little too much into the standard 24 minute episode. Trying to give us a huge battle, while developing a previously undeveloped character proved to be too much for Trigger to do. It was entertaining, don't get me wrong, but it was like a haunted house at a fair, with workers ushering you through room to room so the group behind you can get in.
ART: Very well done. Kill la Kill had been shown to have it's low points in art, but this was not one of them. The final battle, though not very long, was very well animated. In case you didn't know, the home video versions of KLK have corrections to the visuals, being touched up by the animators. This episode had a deadline, but it was 6 months away, so Trigger could take their time to make the animation top-notch quality. The characters are well done, and the style of the show is still there.
SOUND: Pretty much the same as the show. The OVA uses one new song "Till I Die", which is on the official soundtrack, but was never used in the show up to this point. The voice actors all sound good, as usual, there is nothing really wrong here.
CHARACTER: Not going too deep into this one, but there is only some character development in the villain of this OVA, nothing groundbreaking happens to the other characters.
ENJOYMENT: While it was on, it was a very fun ride. It's wonderful eye-candy, it's funny, it has awesome battle sequences, it's very good.
OVERALL: While it was a fun ride, this OVA would've been much better if it was released at least a year later. It reminds me of the Dragon Ball OVA "Yo! Son Goku and his Friends Return!", which encapsulates what Dragon Ball is in about 30 minutes. The whole reason why YSGFR worked was because we got to see our favorite characters again in something new for the first time in 13 years(if we're saying the last new animated DB thing is Wrath of the Dragon). We got a fun little adventure, not confirming a new series, just some fun antics and action, and that was that. I feel Kill la Kill's OVA would've been much better received with me if they had waited a little longer to release it. It's perfect material in the realm of, "Hey! Ryuko and the gang are back and doing their thing!". Was it good? Yes. If you saw Kill la Kill, should you watch it? Yes. Just don't expect it to lead into something.
FINAL SCORE: 8/10
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Aug 2, 2014
When I initially heard of this show, I thought it was worthless. I couldn't be more wrong in my entire life. Kill la Kill is pure fun all the way through, though it's not for everyone, it is one of my favorite shows in quite a while.
STORY:
The story is absolutely stupid, and I love it for that. Satsuki Kiryuin rules Honnouji Academy, a high school in japan. Everything is going fine(or, as fine as it usually is), until a transfer student named Ryuko Matoi appears, claiming that Satsuki killed her father with the other half of the giant scissors Ryuko has in her possession.
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SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST EPISODE START HERE, IF YOU WANT TO GO IN CLEAN, READ WHERE THEY STOP: After finding herself too weak to beat the weakest student on the food chain, Ryuko goes back home, where she finds, inside her basement, a talking sailor uniform, which forces her to wear him, and she goes back to the academy, kicks the student's ass, wearing some of the most skimpy clothing I've seen.EPISODE ONE SPOILERS END HERE, YOU CAN READ HERE:Now, Ryuko must work her way through all the school clubs, up to Satsuki's personal lackeys, and confront Satsuki herself. Sounds stupid, right? It's outstandingly stupid, and that's just the first episode. It gets a lot crazier from here, so if you like crazy, nonsensical plots, this one's got you covered.
ART:
The art style of KLK is quite nice. I'm not one to enjoy overly sketchy art styles, but for whatever reason, this one does it for me. Also, at least in my opinion, KLK is the definition of No Money =/= Horrible Animation. The animation studio, Trigger, didn't have a big budget at all, and they knew this going in, so they heavily stylized the show, and it works very well. It isn't fluid most of the time, and uses digital manipulation to move the characters around in a comedic manner, and it works. For fight scenes, the show gets very fluid.
SOUND:
The soundtrack of KLK is amazing, but aside from a few examples, they are only amazing in the moment of the show. Some songs that are great any time are the 2 openings, the 2 endings, the now iconic and tied to the show for eternity "Before My Blood Dries", better known by fans as "Don't Lose Your Way", and "Bulmakratz"(I think I spelled that correctly), a song that appears in the latter half of the show. All the other tunes are great when the show is going, but I couldn't get them into my head, but the examples I showed are always in my head, therefore, It moves up to a 10 for me.
CHARACTER:
I'll only be covering the 3 main characters, as I feel all other characters are better if you discover them on your own. Our main character, Ryuko, is extremely likable. A lot of the humor from the first few episodes comes from here experiencing the insane world around her with the rationality of a normal person. Her main mission is to avenge her father, but as the series goes, she grows as a character. Satsuki, on the other hand, isn't as easy to analyze. I won't say anything else, but she is one of the best developed characters on the show. Our final character is Mankanshoku Mako, possibly the best character on the show. She is basically the internet if you put it into a schoolgirl uniform. She's the best "funny" character in my opinion, and she even does stuff, unlike a lot of comic-relief characters. She's half of the shows humor, with the other half being sex-based, which speaking of that...
FANSERVICE:
In my opinion, fanservice is like QTEs in video games: There's an right way to do it, and a bad way to do it. Most go for the bad way, because it's the easiest, and doesn't require explanation, just shove in a boob shot and done. The good way to do fanservice to have a reason for it to be happening. It has to be explained through the plot. The best example I can think of is in the early chapters of Dragon Ball, where Bulma flashes Kame-senin without knowing, because Goku had removed her panties the night before, because he didn't understand that women don't have the parts men have, because he's an idiot. For the most part, Kill La Kill does fanservice the right way, though certain episodes (16,19, and 21, specifically) have scenes made to shock the audience, and that it does.
CONCLUSION:
Kill La Kill will not be for everyone. The fanservice will keep some fans away, and it's story isn't deep nor does it ask questions, but that's not what it's trying to do. Kill la Kill is trying to be a fun, stupid action-fest, and on that regard, it succeeds beautifully. The show is worth a watch, and I, for one, cannot wait for the OVA in september.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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