My Taste is Better Than Yours

With the anime coming next week, we decided to discuss the manga of Gachiakuta by Kei Urana - one that we’ve both been reading since it was first released. In this episode we get into inspirations for its cool factor, our highlights so far, predictions for the series’ future, and whether we think the anime will manage to reach the wider audience we expected it to by this point already. Timecodes: 0:00 Introduction - Gachiakuta, a manga we’ve both followed since the first chapter released 5:40 The shonen “cool factor” and Bleach’s influence 11:30 Would Gachiakuta work as a Weekly Shonen Jump title? 15:04 Falling manga volume sales - will the anime give it a boost? 24:36 Rudo - a fitting main character with strong contrasts 29:54 Standouts from the supporting characters: Information Broker, Follo, Gris 32:13 Spoiler discussion begins 32:22 Follo - the late blooming supporting character who wants to be a main character 40:18 The power system: Vital Instruments + Thoughts - similarities to Zanpakuto in Bleach 43:21 What’s the deal with Tamsy - is he the final antagonist? 46:36 Do we think the series will explore Rudo’s love life? 50:31 The Watchman, The Watchman Series, are we in the future? 53:46 How long do we think the series will last? 55:11 Enzo’s Recommendation: Bleach by Tite Kubo 56:25 Samu’s Recommendation: Soul Eater by Atsushi Ookubo 57:56 Overview and final scores 1:01:10 Is Gachiakuta among our currently-running battle shonen manga?

We’ve reached the last complete arc of Hunter x Hunter: the 13th Hunter Chairman Election arc - a political thriller that picks up directly in the aftermath of the chimera ant threat. Gon is out of commission and this time Leorio and Killua get the focus split between the political and the thriller. We managed to talk the longest about one of the shortest arcs in the series, so check out to see if we think this would have been a satisfying conclusion to the series as a whole. Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction - the final ‘complete’ arc in Hunter x Hunter 4:44 Togashi’s most concise arc - a focused political thriller 10:14 Let’s talk about Ging - a really bad dad or the worst dad in history? 11:46 Leorio’s arc and his best moment in the series 14:20 Would we have voted for Leorio in the election after the punch? 15:33 Our favourite Zodiacs? 20:10 Pariston Hill, the intelligent troll in it for the game, his similarities with Netero - is he evil? 29:30 The B-Plot: Killua’s task to save Gon - what’s Togashi’s intent with the Alluka’s gender? 35:42 Nanika and potential Dark Continent origin, one of the Five Threats 36:38 Killua’s mindset with rescuing Gon vs the relationship with his family 41:14 Hisoka’s role in this arc as a chaos element, him “killing’ Killua 45:00 The anticlimaxes: Cheadle winning the election + Killua countering Nanika’s repercussions 49:35 Gon and Ging’s reuniting, completing Gon’s goal - is it satisfying? 56:39 Gon and Killua’s ‘Departure’- an inconclusive resolution to a broken relationship? 1:03:20 Chapter 339 - the best chapter in the entire series 1:07:40 Enzo’s Recommendation: Kingdom by Hara Yasuhisa 1:11:40 Samu’s Recommendation: ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Department by Natsume Ono 1:13:40 Overview and final scores

It’s a double bill this time as we delve into the two pillars of Mitsuru Adachi’s iconic career: Touch and Cross Game (with a bit of Mix in the mix). These two series represent a bookend (more on less) on Adachi's catalog, and are the product of a writer at two very different stages of his life and career. Do you prefer a young and vibrant wine that practically jumps out of the glass, or a mature and subtle one full of bittersweetness that demands contemplation? Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction - Mitsuru Adachi, a giant in the industry, our feelings on him in general 7:56 Touch vs Cross Game 12:50 Do people expect a big twist in an Adachi series? 14:02 Touch - Why did it become a cultural phenomenon? 19:38 Touch spoiler discussion begins 20:10 The big ‘moment’ - its impact and effect on the series’ popularity 25:19 Cross Game - modern take on familiar tropes 28:00 Cross Game spoiler discussion begins 28:18 How do the twists in both series compare to one another? 32:04 Adachi’s minimalist artwork and smart way of panelling in those dramatic moments 34:34 Mix, Touch’s sequel - its own late moment and his restraint with returning characters 38:22 Which series is most focused on baseball? Comparing the Touch vs Cross Game 41:50 Aoba’s character - annoying or understandable? 49:19 Enzo’s love for Kou Kitamura as a protagonist 50:45 Supporting cast, Adachi’s fanservice critique, breaking the fourth wall 54:00 Comparing the endings 55:36 Samu’s Recommendation: Straighten Up! Welcome to Shika High's Competitive Dance Club by Takuma Yokota 59:15 Enzo’s Recommendation: Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day by Chou Heiwa Busters and Izumi Mitsu 1:02:58 Touch - overview and final score 1:04:39 Cross Game - overview and final score 1:07:00 Mix - overview and final score

We’re bringing back the JUMPing to Conclusions format, where we check-in on the new Weekly Shonen Jump serialisations (Nice Prison and Otr of the Flame) to give our initial impressions and give our predictions on their chances of survival in the roster, while also doing a check-in on what else has left us (Astro Royale) and how we’re feeling of the magazine as of late. If you’re curious for a new potential breakout then perhaps you’ll fine one here after listening to our thoughts! Timestamps: 0:00 Returning feature: JUMPing to Conclusions 8:11 Check-in from previous serialisation round: Embers + Star of Beethoven 12:26 Saying goodbye to the series that left - Astro Royale 16:40 Jump Future Project 2025 one-shots 17:27 Nice Prison by Tatsuya Suganuma 29:59 Otr of the Flame by Yuki Kawaguchi 51:49 First impressions ratings + predictions for its survivability

Continuing on our arc-by-arc breakdowns of our personal favourite battle shonen, we’re onto Samu’s all-timer: Bleach by Tite Kubo. Much like with Rurouni Kenshin we’re focusing on the first arc (Agent of the Shinigami) for this episode. Check it out to get a glimpse into Enzo’s first proper experience with any of the Big 3! Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction - Samu’s journey with his favourite manga 6:27 Enzo’s experience with the Big 3 and expectations for Bleach specifically 8:32 Comparing the first arcs of the Big 3 9:05 Ichigo as a main character - not having an obvious goal, a more human motivation 14:35 Bleach’s ‘cool factor’ 15:17 Tite Kubo’s efficient artwork, critiques of the lack of backgrounds, prioritising panel flow 20:49 Bleach has the best chapter title pages in manga, period 21:34 A series that feels like it’s made to be in black and white - it’s meant to be a manga? 23:51 The volume poem’s - Orihime’s being the highlight of this arc 24:46 Spoiler discussion begins 24:58 Orihime’s character - Samu’s love for her, her mistreatment by fans, her tragic backstory 29:21 June 17th, Grand Fisher/Masaki Storyline and Ichigo’s guilt and white knight complex 33:30 Rukia’s character, her dynamic with Ichigo + a fight to protect life or to preserve honour 36:49 Isshin Kurosaki - Enzo’s least favourite character so far 39:52 The hit-or-miss humour (Kon and Don Kanoji), exceptions that are actually funny 41:10 Chad - Enzo’s favourite character so far 45:56 Uryu Ishida, the Quinces - the rival to Ichigo and the Shinigami 48:09 Byakuya and Renji’s arrival - when Bleach truly ‘begins’; set-up for Soul Society arc 52:36 Kisuke Urahara as a mentor/training figure 55:48 What currently running Jump series is the most direct descendent of Bleach? 1:01:02 Samu’s Recommendation: Yu Yu Hakusho (Spirit Detective arc) by Yoshihiro Togashi 1:02:26 Enzo’s Recommendation: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba by Kyoharu Gotougehi 1:05:18 Overview and final scores