62 - Hunter x Hunter Retrospective

62 - Hunter x Hunter Retrospective

Hunter x Hunter is back! To celebrate, we're talking about highlights of the series, ranking our favourites characters ad arcs, re-iterating why I love the series as much as we do, and guessing how long we think it has left - and more. Timecodes: 0:00 An overview episode on Hunter x Hunter 2:54 Is Togashi a gardener or an architect? 5:31 What is the one reason we love Hunter x Hunter? 8:39 If you were going to recommend this series, what would you say? 10:46 Best characters in Hunter x Hunter 14:40 Ranking the arcs 20:19 Why are fans of the 1999 anime hostile towards the 2011 anime? 25:43 Comparisons in fetish-y elements between Made in Abyss and Hunter x Hunter 31:44 Who is going to win the Succession Contest? 37:53 Favourite chapters of the series? 44:03 Which mangaka is most influenced by Hunter x Hunter? 45:47 Would we want someone to conclude the series without Togashi? 47:06 Guessing the final chapter of Hunter x Hunter?

61 - Weekly Shonen Jump 2026 Mid-Year Check-In

We’re midway through 2026, what better time to do a retrospective so far on Weekly Shonen Jump? Is Weekly Shonen Jump dead? Why is it struggling to find hits? What series deserved to live that got cut? Are female characters treated better now than they used to be? All our takes on these, and more! Timecodes: 0:00 Mid-year retrospective instead of our Jumping to Conclusions for 2026 1:34 “Weekly Shonen Jump is dead” - why is it struggling to find hits? 11:40 What cancelled series would we have kept around? 26:19 New and ongoing titles in first half of the year 41:24 Finished/cancelled titles in first half of the year 51:16 The series that might end soon 57:43 Our favourites from the rest of the magazine 1:09:16 Ken Ogino’s recent comment about female leads being sexualised in Jump

60 - Magus of the Library by Mitsu Izumi

We’re discussing one of Enzo’s favourite manga this episode (Magus of the Library by by Mitsu Izumi) one that he’s shouted out multiple times in the past, and now we get to delve into this dense series and all it has to discuss: racism, sexism, environmentalism, and plenty more topics in a high fantasy setting, about an optimistic young boy who loves the power of stories and sets out on the journey to become a librarian, with all the trials that come with it. Timecodes: 0:00 Introduction - Enzo’s latest recommendation for Samu to read 4:54 An incredibly dense, dialogue- and idea-heavy fantasy series 6:19 “Too woke” critique - a series heavy on commentary on history and present day 11:16 Theo Fumis - the adorable young book-loving boy who wishes to be a Kafna 15:28 The all-knowing narrator, a story-within-a-story, and the love of storytelling 18:42 The worldbuilding and language influences 23:12 The recurring Fumis surname? 24:36 Spoiler discussion begins 24:43 The role racism plays in Magus of the Library 33:02 Knowledge is power, censorship, and misinformation - does it ever feel too modern? 39:05 Our highlights of the Kafna exam and life as as apprentices 51:27 Sophie Schwimm as a device and a character 55:54 Sedona and the book with no name - is she a mentor? Rival? Villain? 1:01:43 The Third Act (The Liaisons Office) section of the story now 1:07:42 Why hasn’t it gotten an anime yet? 1:10:07 Tei’s character and her importance within the narrative + Aya shoutout 1:12:40 Enzo’s Recommendation: A Bride Story (Otoyomegatari) by Mori Kaoru 1:15:21 Samu’s Recommendation: Yu Yu Hakusho (Chapter Black) by Yoshihiro Togashi 1:16:23 Comparisons to Witch Hat Atelier 1:19:02 Final overview + ratings

59 - Bleach (Lost Agent) by Tite Kubo

We’re onto the Lost Agent (aka Fullbring) arc of Bleach now; one with a sour reputation in the eyes of plenty of fans of the series, but this concise and more focused arc has a lot to delve into with regards to Ichigo’s character, some impactful twists, and how it shakes up the status quo of the manga until now. Listen to find out where this ranks for us amongst the bigger, flashier arcs that came before it. Timecodes: 0:00 Introduction - the arc for Ichigo to get his powers back 2:27 The (negative) impact of this arc and its reputation with fans 6:18 Was Kubo himself fatigued with the Arrancar arc? 10:48 Is this a mirroring of the first arc of the series or something completely different? 13:06 The most Ichigo-centric arc so far where he’s at his lowest in every sense 19:58 Fullbring and Fullbringers - our thoughts and standouts 24:47 This being “Chad’s arc” - did it live up to that? 28:25 Full psychological thriller once Tsukishima enters the scene 34:47 Orihime’s prominence in this arc - highlighting some standout moments 36:45 The big reveal: Ginjo’s betrayal and his reasonable position against Soul Society 47:46 Rukia’s return! Ichigo gets his powers back! The shinigami are here! Ginjo’s tragic end! 57:31 Samu’s Recommendation: Yu Yu Hakusho (Chapter Black) by Yoshihiro Togashi 59:10 Enzo’s Recommendation: Soul Eater by Atsushi Ohkubo 1:02:05 Final overview + ratings

58 - Fool Night by Kasumi Yasuda

Just like last time, we’re recommending each other our highest regarded ongoing series we think need more appreciated. This time Samu’s pick for Enzo is Fool Night by Kasumi Yasuda - a dystopian sci-fi story where clouds have prevented the sun from shining through and humans have adapted in horrifying ways to sustain life. Plenty of bleak, heavy themes ensue and we both get into what’s trying to be said in with this visually striking series is exploring.  Timecodes: 0:00 Introduction - Samu’s most underappreciated ongoing manga pick 7:38 A mixture of multiple genres: dystopian, political drama, thriller, body horror, black comedy 10:40 It presents truths of what’s happening and doesn’t push an agenda/message 12:10 Early volumes focusing on more self-contained stories to establish this world 14:58 Our differing journeys with the artwork and its presentation 20:44 The upcoming anime and our hopes/expectations 22:23 Spoiler discussion begins 22:28 Akira’s gender revelation - becoming one of Enzo’s favourite characters 26:45 Standouts to the various bleak and dark storylines throughout the series without easy answers 35:20 Pro- and Anti-Transfloration argument and the politics around it 40:54 Dr. Kudai, Antartica, Central - the scale of the story expanding 44:54 Our disconnect with the latest long-running story arc in the second half of the series 49:52 The series could have been a short think piece but is becoming something larger 52:32 Samu’s Recommendation: Heavenly Delusion by Masakazu Ishiguro 56:22 Enzo’s Recommendation: Chainsaw Man Tatsuki Fujimoto 58:45 Final overview + ratings