Well if that's what the author said it's fine by me.
Soul Eater COMING TO TOONAMI FINALLY
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Anyone have a link to where? Whenever people say things like this, I just gotta ask for proof.
It's a thing.
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What Silence said.
And, well, I don't think I have read any interviews of Ohkubo. Would have been nice to see how this man thinks.
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And, well, I don't think I have read any interviews of Ohkubo. Would have been nice to see how this man thinks.
I have the most recent one, in which he reveals curious things like "his father was the inspiration he took to create the mighty Excalibur", or that he already knows who will be the final villian even though the story is not even in the middle yet.
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Would you be so kind to share it? It sounds wonderful already.
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Here you go. Only problem it's in french, but no worries, translation is written below.
http://www.filmsactu.com/interview-dvd-soul-eater-interview-de-atsushi-ohkubo-7684.htm
! What is your background as a mangaka?
At age twenty, I left university to work in manga. Thanks to contacts acquired during my studies, I was able to work as an assistant on the manga Get Backers for two years. At the same time, I wrote my own work which I sent to a competition organised by the publisher Square Enix. I won a prize, which allowed my first manga B1, which included four volumes, to be published. Then I started the series Soul Eater which is still being published in Japan.
! How did you get the idea for Soul Eater?
All of a sudden, like that! (laughs) In actual fact, I wasn’t thinking of anything in particular and it came like that.
! When reading Soul Eater, we have the impression of seeing a mix between a Tim Burton film and a J-Pop clip. What are your sources of inspiration as a manga artist?
I’m someone who loves music and I listen to an enormous amount of albums. I also watch lots of films. As far as music is concerned, I like all the 90s rock, like Nirvana or Radiohead. For movies, it’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and all the horror classics. As for manga, my major influence is Dr Slump which I’ve read many times. It can’t be said that I’m a big manga reader. When I was little, I wasn’t reading manga, I was reading Dr Slump (laughs). I’m pleased that you feel that, because it’s exactly what I wanted. My ambition for Soul Eater graphically was to mix up Japanese influences with more western features.
! In Soul Eater we find the classic side of shonen but also more humorous elements à la Dr Slump (personalized sun and moon, Death’s slap) [there's also something about extra trash?? I have no clue] Do you have any limits when you imagine your stories?
Indeed, I allow myself lots of things and I go in every direction. But there is one thing that I always keep in mind when I draw my stories: children must be able to read it too. There are young readers who will read Soul Eater, and from there we can no longer do anything. I do sometimes go in very dark or grotesque directions. But even so I limit myself so that the readers who are a bit younger will never be shocked by what I’m going to show.
! [o rly. attempted rape anyone?]
! In the manga, the characters have strong characteristics but also very big flaws, like Kid with symmetry. Are you inspired by your family and friends or by yourself?
By myself, I have a huge number of flaws (laughs).
! Where do you find the reference points to create a fictional universe like that of Soul Eater?
The universe of Soul Eater is very rich. Maybe one does not realise at the first reading, but this story takes place in our world. For example, Death City is situated in the Nevada desert and all the adventures take place on Earth. Thanks to that, I don’t lose myself in my universe.
! The character design of your characters is very fashionable. Are you inspired by Japanese youth fashion in creating your characters?
There is not a particular brand that inspires me, but I find my ideas while going into clothing stores, while looking a little at new models. I draw my inspiration from clothes that people are currently wearing.
! Soul Eater is a success, how does it feel to see your work on such a scale?
You know, the work of a manga artist is to be sitting all day at your table drawing. I didn’t really realise how it felt to have something which works. To say one day, simply by drawing at my desk, I would cross the sea to come speak about my books abroad, is an incredible thing. You ask me what I feel: for me, it’s fantastic.
! You were an assistant at the start of your career. Is that an important step in becoming a mangaka?
I think that it is indeed very important to go through the assistant stage when you want to be a manga artist. Simply because manga are made in a very particular way in Japan. It’s essential to know how a manga is made before launching into a professional production. Although some may know how, personally I knew absolutely nothing when I turned up. It is necessary to be an assistant in order to be on the spot, to understand in what order things are drawn, when to use such and such a technique. When I was an assistant on Get Backers, I saw all the stages, from a blank page up to the ready-to-print version. There are a huge number of things to learn, like the use of ink and frames, which are only learnt by being an assistant.
Do you already have other ideas for after Soul Eater?
Yes, I have some ideas but not enough for me to jump into a creative process. For the moment, I’m fine with Soul Eater.
! Did you participate directly in the development of the animated series or did you just define basic character designs for studio Bones?
I participated very little in the anime, I gave complete freedom to the studio. In the pre-production period there were meetings in order to discuss the direction the series was going to take. The notable thing I did was create some original characters for the video games derived from the Soul Eater anime.
! What were your impressions when you saw your characters come to life for the first time?
I was very happy and I found it very beautiful. The result was really good, so it truly touched me to see my characters move.
! How did you get the idea of a Shinigami who is so shifted from those we know in series such as Bleach?
I love horror films, I love Jason who is horrible but classy at the same time. In part that’s what inspired me in creating my head Shinigami. I wanted to make a character with a bit of class while remaining popular. Even if his appearance is quite frightening, he is still a kind character, very ambivalent.
! What do you think about the dematerialization of the media? Will paper disappear in the future?
At the moment, in Japan, books are still on top compared to mobile/cell phones. People continue to respect books, and as long as this is the case, they will never disappear. If that were to happen one day, I would be particularly affected by it.
[no idea how books and phones are in competition, unless he means as a form of entertainment]
! Can you tell us a bit about your first work, B-Ichi?
It’s a manga which is much more Japanese at heart than Soul Eater. Firstly because the story takes place in Japan, in an area which looks a little like the one in which I grew up. B-Ichi represents a bit of what I had to say when I started.
! What technique do you use to draw?
For the boards, I draw in ink. As for colour illustrations, I did the first covers with markers, but for some time I’ve been doing all the colouring by computer. When I draw in ink, I scan the drawings and colour them by computer.
You work with both computer graphics and traditional methods. Is it important for a professional manga artist to master both techniques?
Today there are more and more Japanese manga artists who do everything by computer, but I don’t think that’s a good solution. Firstly, because I’m hopeless with computers, and secondly, because I think that it’s important to keep the feeling of drawing on paper. Indeed, it’s good to master both approaches, but for me, using the computer only is not the answer.
Do you already have the end of Soul Eater in mind?
I already know who the last Boss will be, the death of whom will end the manga. But I don’t know how it will happen to him yet.
! We see a lot of manga stretch out over numerous volumes in order to take advantage of their success. Are you afraid of doing the same thing and dragging out your objective?
I am very careful about that. I make sure to keep a coherent universe; that way I can’t buy time by sending my characters into space for example. My aim is to do something entertaining. If I can manage to do a 10-volume fight which is still appealing, I’ll do it. But it’s the reader’s pleasure which counts. There’s no point in extending it to infinity if it doesn’t provide anything in terms of reading pleasure.
! You were once an assistant, do you also have assistants in order to keep up with the pace of magazine publication?
I have about four and a half assistants, all men. It has to be said that we all sleep on the spot in the same room… (laughs). The “half” is someone who comes to help me on deadlines. This team is perfect for keeping up with the pace of prepublication. If I had too many assistants it would break the pace, as everybody would come and see me to ask me what they should do on each page. I would spend my time giving instructions.
! What manga are you reading at the moment and what series do you follow?
At the moment I read and re-read Yotsuba and Dr Slump. As for series… Soul Eater (laughs). I watch series when they’re on, but I forget them and I don’t follow them every week.Have a nice read.
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Dammit, I just read the last two chapters.
WHY DID TEZCA HAVE TO DIE? Come on Ohkubo. Pull a kishi and bring him back.
Oh! Oh! It was a mirror reflection! Yeah that's it![hide]:cwy:[/hide]
ΩMEGA PIRATES: ? Members
Captain: Zkaiser
Status: Dejected.
Threat Level: Pink
Goal: Prove the Elemental Haki Theory
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Dammit, I just read the last two chapters.
WHY DID TEZCA HAVE TO DIE? Come on Ohkubo. Pull a kishi and bring him back.
Oh! Oh! It was a mirror reflection! Yeah that's it![hide]:cwy:[/hide]
Actually Tezca is a mirror, indeed, and he already pulled illusions before. Plus Enrique is nowhere to be seen.
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Well, the dude's wearing a bear head. It's not like he could've grabbed Grunt A, slapped his clothes and said bear head on Grunt A, and had Noah kill him instead.
I called it wrong, so long ago. I guess this needs to be changed.
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Here you go. Only problem it's in french, but no worries, translation is written below.
http://www.filmsactu.com/interview-dvd-soul-eater-interview-de-atsushi-ohkubo-7684.htm
! What is your background as a mangaka?
At age twenty, I left university to work in manga. Thanks to contacts acquired during my studies, I was able to work as an assistant on the manga Get Backers for two years. At the same time, I wrote my own work which I sent to a competition organised by the publisher Square Enix. I won a prize, which allowed my first manga B1, which included four volumes, to be published. Then I started the series Soul Eater which is still being published in Japan.
! How did you get the idea for Soul Eater?
All of a sudden, like that! (laughs) In actual fact, I wasn’t thinking of anything in particular and it came like that.
! When reading Soul Eater, we have the impression of seeing a mix between a Tim Burton film and a J-Pop clip. What are your sources of inspiration as a manga artist?
I’m someone who loves music and I listen to an enormous amount of albums. I also watch lots of films. As far as music is concerned, I like all the 90s rock, like Nirvana or Radiohead. For movies, it’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and all the horror classics. As for manga, my major influence is Dr Slump which I’ve read many times. It can’t be said that I’m a big manga reader. When I was little, I wasn’t reading manga, I was reading Dr Slump (laughs). I’m pleased that you feel that, because it’s exactly what I wanted. My ambition for Soul Eater graphically was to mix up Japanese influences with more western features.
! In Soul Eater we find the classic side of shonen but also more humorous elements à la Dr Slump (personalized sun and moon, Death’s slap) [there's also something about extra trash?? I have no clue] Do you have any limits when you imagine your stories?
Indeed, I allow myself lots of things and I go in every direction. But there is one thing that I always keep in mind when I draw my stories: children must be able to read it too. There are young readers who will read Soul Eater, and from there we can no longer do anything. I do sometimes go in very dark or grotesque directions. But even so I limit myself so that the readers who are a bit younger will never be shocked by what I’m going to show.
! [o rly. attempted rape anyone?]
! In the manga, the characters have strong characteristics but also very big flaws, like Kid with symmetry. Are you inspired by your family and friends or by yourself?
By myself, I have a huge number of flaws (laughs).
! Where do you find the reference points to create a fictional universe like that of Soul Eater?
The universe of Soul Eater is very rich. Maybe one does not realise at the first reading, but this story takes place in our world. For example, Death City is situated in the Nevada desert and all the adventures take place on Earth. Thanks to that, I don’t lose myself in my universe.
! The character design of your characters is very fashionable. Are you inspired by Japanese youth fashion in creating your characters?
There is not a particular brand that inspires me, but I find my ideas while going into clothing stores, while looking a little at new models. I draw my inspiration from clothes that people are currently wearing.
! Soul Eater is a success, how does it feel to see your work on such a scale?
You know, the work of a manga artist is to be sitting all day at your table drawing. I didn’t really realise how it felt to have something which works. To say one day, simply by drawing at my desk, I would cross the sea to come speak about my books abroad, is an incredible thing. You ask me what I feel: for me, it’s fantastic.
! You were an assistant at the start of your career. Is that an important step in becoming a mangaka?
I think that it is indeed very important to go through the assistant stage when you want to be a manga artist. Simply because manga are made in a very particular way in Japan. It’s essential to know how a manga is made before launching into a professional production. Although some may know how, personally I knew absolutely nothing when I turned up. It is necessary to be an assistant in order to be on the spot, to understand in what order things are drawn, when to use such and such a technique. When I was an assistant on Get Backers, I saw all the stages, from a blank page up to the ready-to-print version. There are a huge number of things to learn, like the use of ink and frames, which are only learnt by being an assistant.
! Do you already have other ideas for after Soul Eater?
Yes, I have some ideas but not enough for me to jump into a creative process. For the moment, I’m fine with Soul Eater.
! Did you participate directly in the development of the animated series or did you just define basic character designs for studio Bones?
I participated very little in the anime, I gave complete freedom to the studio. In the pre-production period there were meetings in order to discuss the direction the series was going to take. The notable thing I did was create some original characters for the video games derived from the Soul Eater anime.
! What were your impressions when you saw your characters come to life for the first time?
I was very happy and I found it very beautiful. The result was really good, so it truly touched me to see my characters move.
! How did you get the idea of a Shinigami who is so shifted from those we know in series such as Bleach?
I love horror films, I love Jason who is horrible but classy at the same time. In part that’s what inspired me in creating my head Shinigami. I wanted to make a character with a bit of class while remaining popular. Even if his appearance is quite frightening, he is still a kind character, very ambivalent.
! What do you think about the dematerialization of the media? Will paper disappear in the future?
At the moment, in Japan, books are still on top compared to mobile/cell phones. People continue to respect books, and as long as this is the case, they will never disappear. If that were to happen one day, I would be particularly affected by it.
! [no idea how books and phones are in competition, unless he means as a form of entertainment]
! Can you tell us a bit about your first work, B-Ichi?
It’s a manga which is much more Japanese at heart than Soul Eater. Firstly because the story takes place in Japan, in an area which looks a little like the one in which I grew up. B-Ichi represents a bit of what I had to say when I started.
! What technique do you use to draw?
For the boards, I draw in ink. As for colour illustrations, I did the first covers with markers, but for some time I’ve been doing all the colouring by computer. When I draw in ink, I scan the drawings and colour them by computer.
! You work with both computer graphics and traditional methods. Is it important for a professional manga artist to master both techniques?
Today there are more and more Japanese manga artists who do everything by computer, but I don’t think that’s a good solution. Firstly, because I’m hopeless with computers, and secondly, because I think that it’s important to keep the feeling of drawing on paper. Indeed, it’s good to master both approaches, but for me, using the computer only is not the answer.
! Do you already have the end of Soul Eater in mind?
I already know who the last Boss will be, the death of whom will end the manga. But I don’t know how it will happen to him yet.
! We see a lot of manga stretch out over numerous volumes in order to take advantage of their success. Are you afraid of doing the same thing and dragging out your objective?
I am very careful about that. I make sure to keep a coherent universe; that way I can’t buy time by sending my characters into space for example. My aim is to do something entertaining. If I can manage to do a 10-volume fight which is still appealing, I’ll do it. But it’s the reader’s pleasure which counts. There’s no point in extending it to infinity if it doesn’t provide anything in terms of reading pleasure.
! You were once an assistant, do you also have assistants in order to keep up with the pace of magazine publication?
I have about four and a half assistants, all men. It has to be said that we all sleep on the spot in the same room… (laughs). The “half” is someone who comes to help me on deadlines. This team is perfect for keeping up with the pace of prepublication. If I had too many assistants it would break the pace, as everybody would come and see me to ask me what they should do on each page. I would spend my time giving instructions.
! What manga are you reading at the moment and what series do you follow?
At the moment I read and re-read Yotsuba and Dr Slump. As for series… Soul Eater (laughs). I watch series when they’re on, but I forget them and I don’t follow them every week.Have a nice read.I sure did have a nice one. Thank you, very much obliged. Especially for translation, french isn't among the languages I know.
I knew he started as assistant. But that was pretty much it. Never thought he colours computer. And he mentions Jason - only to have his mark appear in the most recent chapter. Though nothing on Excalibur here.
The best part - how Ohkubo tries to do entertaining and appealing manga without any constraints. I can actually see it in his work, in his use of art, paneling, pacing etc.
Oh! Oh! It was a mirror reflection! Yeah that's it!
Actually Tezca is a mirror, indeed, and he already pulled illusions before. Plus Enrique is nowhere to be seen.
Now there only this bit we have to hope Ohkubo fixes.
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I knew he started as assistant. But that was pretty much it. Never thought he colours computer. And he mentions Jason - only to have his mark appear in the most recent chapter. Though nothing on Excalibur here.
I know. For some reason this one is missing. He says Kilik's name is actually Kirikou, inspired by the french animated movie Kirikou and the sorceress, and where he also says he based Excalibur on his father.
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Excalibur as his father? Ain't that a healthy parent-child relationship.
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Excalibur as his father? Ain't that a healthy parent-child relationship.
Well, at least there certainly isn't any lack of communication there.
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Do you guys think there should be a soul eater PS3 game? Also what do you guys think of the dub?
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You're talking about the English dub right?
Dubbed black star makes my ears bleed. Mainly because the voice actor tries TOO hard to shout all the time. It just ends up sounding corny and forced… which, like 4kids one piece, makes my ears bleed.
The Japanese one is ok though, there's more emotion and honesty behind it.
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I do agree that it's kind of annoying but it's not bad, at least as far as I am in.
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@MDL:
You're talking about the English dub right?
Dubbed black star makes my ears bleed. Mainly because the voice actor tries TOO hard to shout all the time. It just ends up sounding corny and forced… which, like 4kids one piece, makes my ears bleed.
The Japanese one is ok though, there's more emotion and honesty behind it.
Hows it bad? it sounds pretty good to me.
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it probably comes from seeing the japanese version… the english voice just feels wrong to me.
for example, 4kids one piece was the first version i ever saw of it, and i thought sanji's voice was awesome. It was only after i discovered the japanese version that i realised what a murder they'd actually done to his voice.
we all have our opinions anyways, and my opinion is that i hate most of the english soul eater castings.
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I like the voices on the dub personally. They just seem to fit. Especially Tsubaki.
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I've only seen the first volume, but Eruka in her frog form strikes me as best of the cast for some reason.
…Shut up. -
@Cuddles:
I've only seen the first volume, but Eruka in her frog form strikes me as best of the cast for some reason.
…Shut up.whos eruka? i dont remember her.
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Frog witch .
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lol if she was only in the manga then how would we hear her voice? Cause he's talking about how her "voice" was the best. XD
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Seriously, I know I should feel bad, especially considering how cool the rest of the cast is, but her voice in frog form just sounds so appropriately goofy but still natural.
I've still yet to watch the episodes a second time or get volume two, though. -
I think Kidd's voice felt really wrong, to me. Like, he had kind of a british accent, but only sometimes, and it just felt strange. And not near deep enough.
besides that, the voices were fine. oh, except memorably mosquito. where the hell was the gravel in that failure of an old man voice, that was lame.
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are we talking about the english voices? cause I watched 1 episode dubbed and I couldn't stand it. Medusa, Stein and Free's voice's were the only one's I liked in the dub.
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I just finished the battle over Brew. I really like this four way fighting mechanic in the story. I've got to say,though, I cracked up at this page.
[hide]
[/hide]
Especially along with his name.And the guy with chainsaw chains all over his body is awesome.
Edit: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! End of chapter 39 :cwy: !
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Joe is my favorite Soul Eater character along with Syd, Free and Eruka.
ΩMEGA PIRATES: ? Members
Captain: Zkaiser
Status: Dejected.
Threat Level: Pink
Goal: Prove the Elemental Haki Theory
-
I never really like English dubs because they try to make the voices match the personality/appearance to much and always have these really cliche sounding people, either macho, high pitched voice, regular evil boss voice, etc. to be honest I think it would be more productive to just use normal voices so it sounds like a normal conversation and not something to forced. well to be honest I haven't watched to many English animes but that's what it seems like to me, I probably should see more before I say something like this but it's just a feeling I have… rip it apart however you'd like
Member of Beelzebub is Freakin' Awesome Group
what I'm catching up on currently: Gintama, lone wolf & cub, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and lost in poem (by our very own AP member GEPPETTOSMONSTER)
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I never really like English dubs because they try to make the voices match the personality/appearance to much
Hm…............................
I like Giriko, Maka, and Free.
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never seen her. shes only in the manga isent she? then again iv only seen the first 7 episodes of the anime so maybe thats why.
People check this AWSOME anime out! It may not be as good as one piece but its still pretty awsome non the less!
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then again iv only seen the first 7 episodes of the anime so maybe thats why.
that is why
  -
@Tamaki:
never seen her. shes only in the manga isent she? then again iv only seen the first 7 episodes of the anime so maybe thats why.
No, she still plays a prominent role in the Anime. She appears around… Episode 10-11 and is in most episodes until the end.
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that is why
Alright. once i get the dvd boxsets i check out the rest of the episodes and maybe even read the manga. speaking of which should i get the existing boxsets or should i wait for the upcoming Blu-Ray release?
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Hm…............................
I like Giriko, Maka, and Free.
too much being the key words they usually sound cliche and not at all like normal people, if they just had normal voices like actors do, so it sounds believable that a person would talk like that then I'm fine
too often they sound like there trying too hard to portray there character just regular voices should do
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It's so hard to keep track of who's who during the assault on the castle.
Edit: I really like that cover where Maka is hanging on Edward's (?) arm.
Edit 2: Lol at Mosquito's form 400 years ago.
Edit 3: …that form's no laughing matter.
Edit 4: Mizune is hot. In fact all the witches are hot.
Edit 5: Eibon looks like someone out of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.
Final Edit: Soul Eater is so good. I need to hurry and catch up so I can read it monthly.
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Eruka is possibly my favorite character along with Free, Mizune and Blair are also pretty cool.
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Edit 4: Mizune is hot. In fact all the witches are hot.
Are you including Mabaa in that statement? If so… yuck.
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Oh yes… Mabaa. I think not. It's the exception that proves the rule.
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I dont really liked the last chapters. Blackstars and Kids fight has an odd favor, seeing how easily their mentors were dealt with. Furthermore its a shame that Ohkubo abandoned the "7 sins"-theme at the end. The last sins were totally ignored and didnt had any affects whatsoever.
And there is one thing that bothered me a long time already: Was there ever any solution to Steins madness? I mean, he went totally nuts, went after the murderer of Joe… and than came back completely healed of his insanity? And he doesnt react to the news that medusa is alive again either, what is strange, looking at their "special" relationship. I only hope this topic will be properly adressed at a later point in the story.
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And there is one thing that bothered me a long time already: Was there ever any solution to Steins madness? I mean, he went totally nuts, went after the murderer of Joe… and than came back completely healed of his insanity? And he doesnt react to the news that medusa is alive again either, what is strange, looking at their "special" relationship. I only hope this topic will be properly adressed at a later point in the story.
The reason Stein hasn't went nuts up until now is because of his weapon partner, Marie. Reread ch.23 for further info.
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I really like the multiple enemies all doing their own thing at once. I do have a question, though. Are Noah and his followers working for Asura? With as little spoilers as possible please.
Because I want to know what he's up to.
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I really like the multiple enemies all doing their own thing at once. I do have a question, though. Are Noah and his followers working for Asura? With as little spoilers as possible please.
Because I want to know what he's up to.
from what I can remember is that no one is really working for asura, they all just want to use his power.
and just like most series with multiple villians you never see the opposing villians battle one another, the only time i've ever seen this happen is in one piece and flame of recca.
Member of Negima is Super Awesome
MY YOUTUBE channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/Mcwhirlpoolinc?feature=mhee
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from what I can remember is that no one is really working for asura, they all just want to use his power.
and just like most series with multiple villians you never see the opposing villians battle one another, the only time i've ever seen this happen is in one piece and flame of recca.
! What about medusa vs Justin
Member of Beelzebub is Freakin' Awesome Group
what I'm catching up on currently: Gintama, lone wolf & cub, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and lost in poem (by our very own AP member GEPPETTOSMONSTER)
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! What about medusa vs Justin
I don't think Justin is a bad guy on purpose; I think he's just like Stein in the sense that he's gone mad because of Asura. However, because Stein had Marie, he was pulled back from the brink of insanity. Justin, being the only solo Death Scythe, was not, and therefore went crazy.
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! What about medusa vs Justin
Sorry I would have to agree on FFA on that, plus I never counted lone agents, yes for the time being he was working with noah but it's obvious that he preferred to work alone.
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The Book of Eibon is really cool. These chapters kind of remind me of Greed Island from HXH.
Edit: That bear Death Scythe scares the crap out of me.
Edit 2: Oh God it's Excalibur again
Edit 3:
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Excalibur's return is the highlight of this arc. That chapter had me cracking up with every single page.
3DS Friend Code is 3823-8664-3087
