It's definitely worth reading. It's one of the ones I most look forward to the releases of. And besides, it's only 16 chapters so far, counting Kewl's translation.
Enigma
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This series gets progressively more awful as it goes along.
When it could be developing a serious, moody ambience inside the school, it's got this somewhat lighthearted overtone which sort of ruins any sort of gravity that could and should arise from the situation.
On top of that, it started out with the Dream Journal, an interesting power, and then it started revealing more abilities, each of them getting successively more broken and hax. I thought the handprint ability was rather original, albeit a bit over the top, but Flat World is god damned ridiculous. So he can enter into any photo or painting and then play God inside that world? So he can turn that crowbar into a katana, which is a bit unexplainable and overpowered, but then on top of that no one else can do anything inside that entire world? If he can truly change the matter composition of everything in that world as long as he's touching it, why didn't he just turn the cement Haiba was running on into spikes? Oh! Well he said "to some degree" he can change it. Could that be any more vague? Turning a crowbar into a katana isn't small stuff here: the author really should have specified what he can do exactly. That whole ability is pretty much exactly like the one just revealed in Bleach; I'm not saying that one of them copied off the other, just that the idea is completely retarded on the part of both writers.
This series is all over the place. There's too much weird and completely unrealistic shit going on here. It's really hard to imagine that in a situation like this everyone wouldn't just come out and reveal what their ability is. Even if that person is afraid or is a total recluse, there's literally no backing for them not doing so, especially considering they're in a situation where their respective powers could save everyone's life.
It gives me a bit of a "Doubt" vibe, except it's not an actually decent series.
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When it could be developing a serious, moody ambience inside the school, it's got this somewhat lighthearted overtone which sort of ruins any sort of gravity that could and should arise from the situation.
Well, it is a shounen manga we are talking about here.
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This series gets progressively more awful as it goes along.
When it could be developing a serious, moody ambience inside the school, it's got this somewhat lighthearted overtone which sort of ruins any sort of gravity that could and should arise from the situation.
On top of that, it started out with the Dream Journal, an interesting power, and then it started revealing more abilities, each of them getting successively more broken and hax. I thought the handprint ability was rather original, albeit a bit over the top, but Flat World is god damned ridiculous. So he can enter into any photo or painting and then play God inside that world? So he can turn that crowbar into a katana, which is a bit unexplainable and overpowered, but then on top of that no one else can do anything inside that entire world? If he can truly change the matter composition of everything in that world as long as he's touching it, why didn't he just turn the cement Haiba was running on into spikes? Oh! Well he said "to some degree" he can change it. Could that be any more vague? Turning a crowbar into a katana isn't small stuff here: the author really should have specified what he can do exactly. That whole ability is pretty much exactly like the one just revealed in Bleach; I'm not saying that one of them copied off the other, just that the idea is completely retarded on the part of both writers.
This series is all over the place. There's too much weird and completely unrealistic shit going on here. It's really hard to imagine that in a situation like this everyone wouldn't just come out and reveal what their ability is. Even if that person is afraid or is a total recluse, there's literally no backing for them not doing so, especially considering they're in a situation where their respective powers could save everyone's life.
It gives me a bit of a "Doubt" vibe, except it's not an actually decent series.
It's still early to pass judgement, but I really don't want this series to turn into a shonen where everyone uses their abilities for fighting like was just done with the fight in the picture. It's much more interesting and original when they use their abilities to solve puzzles and pass obstacles.
We'll have to see if that fighting chapter was an aberration or will be the new trend.
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Well, it is a shounen manga we are talking about here.
And? You're saying that just because it's shonen it's off limits to add a bit of realism to the situation?
WE'RE TRAPPED IN A BUILDING FULL OF POTENTIAL SERIAL KILLERS AND IF WE CAN'T ESCAPE IN THREE DAYS WE'LL ALL DIE
GUESS IT'S TIME TO CRACK JOKES
As ridiculous as One Piece is, when things get entirely serious, so do the characters.
Would you expect Luffy to laugh seconds after Ace or Merry's demise? DUH!!! ITS A SHONEN!! -
Well this series didn't have a death that affected the main character so if they crack jokes after that happens I will agree with you.
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After the President was kidnapped only god knew where the hell he went. After being swallowed up by a large black shadow, it wouldn't be foolish to have assumed he was just murdered.
…yet, they strangely assumed "HE'S PERFECTLY FINE LETS GO GET HIM!!" and carried on with their naive, carefree spirit.
The outcome of this entire arc is incredibly predictable; I'm willing to bet the house that'll go one of two ways: either Enigma is an actual bad guy and the escapees team up to take him down for the rest of the series or Enigma is a good guy who was trying to find an elite team that he could use to take down a greater evil (he saw potential in the President, and is giving him another chance). I'm pushing towards the latter.
And should it go either way, it'll end up with retarded SUPERPOWER fights.
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I just hope they start explaining what the hell is up with their powers in the first place.
I mean the president said the previous group of people had powers too.
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Read it (due to Bakuman). Don't know if I already posted in here but it's okay. I understand the situation and how they would react but for a group of ppl with special abilities I don't like how a lot of the chaps for a while were so panicky. It messed with how chaps flowed, wasn't an easy read from that standpoint.
Like the recent twist with the president being in the test before and coming back to save his senpai. I totally saw the twist that the senpai(forget his name) was the shadow. Now I just wonder where the real Mizaru(think that was his name/guy in the suit) is.
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Agree with Bucephalus. Enigma imo probably isn't the bad guy the way I see it and is either facing a greater foe or is in some predicament where he'd need an elite team (to probably save thee world/city/etc.). It does seem it will be boring if it just strays to superpower fights or if every conflict is dealing with getting out of it with your ability. Some of these tasks to get a password seemed like watered down versions of Liar Game and Gamble Fish(plus Gamble Fish is already very watered down) with superpowers.
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They actually have already said that, about Enigma's goal. They go into it in chapter 16.
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Last chap I see up is 15.
EDIT
Didn't see your previous post. Goes to read trans
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The first few chapters seemed to me like the author was trying to take it slow, but at the same time needed to get through it fast enough that she'd keep people interested because the manga was only just starting. Just from that perspective, I think it'll get better at pacing itself as time goes on(hopefully) and everything will flow a bit better.
I still think it's more interesting than good at this point, and how much better or worse it'll get depends on where the series goes from here. It'll probably lose the interesting aspect if it ends up as a battle manga, which is really what made the series worth picking up in the first place.
So it does explain some of Enigma's goal in chapter 16? I haven't read the translation for chapter 16 that you did yet as I'm waiting for the scanlation, but cool.
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Seeing how enigma has been popular in the TOCs and such already without being a battle manga, I don't think it's likely to suddenly change courses. This seems to be more of a supernatural story that sticks close to normal situations.
! In chapter 16, Matsurigi describes what happened after he was the only person to escape the previous e-test. Enigma told him "he's looking for strong people who can escape without losing anyone". He says "He'd like to meet people like that." and he "doesn't need weak people like Matsurigi." Also enigma has these checkerboard/dotted tattoos on his hand. It's dark and that's all we see.
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Also, why did that guy dressed up as a bear not take off his costume for fuck's sake?
"Woah! Where am I??! Guess I'd better keep this cumbersome, stifling hot bear costume on! I'm sure that'll help me in running away from speedy shadow kidnappers!"
I mean what the hell is the reason for keeping on that costume? And did anybody even bother asking why he didn't take it off? In a situation where you've just been kidnapped and are put in an incredibly intense and life-endangering situation, wouldn't it be somewhat wise to know what everybody looks like? And it's even more stupid that Haiba almost immediately accepted that imposter guy as the same person in the bear costume; I understand if he's in naive, but this is pushing it: did Haiba just pop out of the womb or something? What kind of person trusts people that easily?
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He wanted to dress up like Teddy from Persona 4.
That's my guess anyways.
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He claimed that the zipper broke and he was stuck in it.
The shadow/Kurisu had an easy time taking him out of it though.
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Well they haven't exactly explained him yet.
The characters who HAVE been explained gave pretty detailed stories about why they did what they did and why they withheld information.
Matsurigi wanted to help Kurisu, but didn't want to do it until everyone trusted him due to the problem of them only being able to get a maximum of 7 people out.
Hiina basically just said "I was keeping it a secret but planned to tell you eventually", and about how usually she got alienated and wanted to form bonds with peopl.
Moto said he felt like a freak (he called his ability a curse) and wanted to avoid having to get involved with ANYTHING to try and live his life safely.
Sumio basically explained from the get-go
Shigeru, as far as she knows, doesn't have an ability so has nothing to explain.
Sudou just calls everyone weirdoes for some reason. He hasn't been explained yet.It's a very logically sound series if you read all the details.
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Actually I have the opposite view. If I was among that group I'd be more wary of the situation and the trust I'm supposed to give the ppl with me. If anything the entire predicament caused by the President was his on fault and showed why with holding information can lead to deadly if not terrible outcomes.
If Matsurigi had told everyone from the beginning his back story they would've all been better off. What if Kurisu actually managed to escape with Shigeru or kill Sumio in the picture?
Not that it changed much, but Hina for no apparent reason omitted the truth of her ability when Sumio's group came to the library and asked about all the hand prints everywhere. She should've just told them then and there.
Hell after what Enigma originally said I would've asked everyone to confess their ability and what they know so we have a better chance of getting the passwords and escaping. Then we still could've got that shadow antidote and possibly not have the president be infected.
The series only appears to be logically sound because characters are forced to reveal what they know and their abilities then make excuses about why they didn't speak up earlier.
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Like I said, they couldn't be sure they could trust each other at first. It may have been a more practical idea given what happened, but in the characters' situations and personalities they didn't do that. The characters had no way of knowing what would've happened if they'd said they had alternative plans to the situation and their own agendas, that would've made them look really suspicious. I think the route the manga's taken is a much more realistic way than what you're saying.
Like they said in chapter 2, the most important thing to have in that situation was "unity". Also, at first they themselves didn't know if their abilities were important, if that was what enigma was referring to when he said "special abilities", and so on. Matsurigi or somebody even asked if they knew what he meant by that and no one answered. Even when Sumio first showed his technique, Sudou started calling him a weirdo, and they were arguing about how there was no way they would be able to work together. Your version of events infers that everything would've worked out well for everyone had made lots of risky confessions to strangers they didn't know if they could trust, casting suspicion onto themselves.
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I understand they couldn't trust each other at first and even a little while after but after the short argument where the president then butted in and gave his speech about unity he should've came clean right there. If anything that would strengthen the bond of unity. So even after he got captured they would've known Kurisu is the one that took him and they would need to save him some way as well.
I don't really get stressing the importance of unity but then not being completely honest and forthcoming with information pertaining to the situation and abilities that can help them acquire the passwords and escaping.
Also, at first they themselves didn't know if their abilities were important, if that was what enigma was referring to when he said "special abilities", and so on.
That doesn't even make sense. After Sumio came clean with his ability all who were aware of their abilities should've. How is making things disappear not something you divulge when a symbol calling itself Enigma locks you in a school for 72 hrs?
I can't call it with Sudou but he could be like Shigeru and have no idea what his ability is but for the rest (even the guy in the suit) I get the feeling they know and were all holding back without good reason.
I am in no way inferring EVERYTHING would've worked out well in my version but it does not take a genius to know that communication and the sharing of information pertinent to the situation helps tremendously in reaching a common goal.
I in no way see how "it's a risky confession to strangers" when first off you know you have a fucking super power. Predicting the future when you sleep, having a 3rd hand, making shit disappear, shrinking shit had I possessed any of those abilities after Enigma said they were all unique ability users it's common sense to see how you all could work together in using them instead of waiting until you're forced to.
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Chapters 16 - 18 posted up on mangareader.
! Police Mascot character confirmed to be Teddie from Persona 4, waiting for his human form to be a dazzling bishie. Interesting how they dealt with the password being in his brain.
! Loved that second to last spread with him jumping off the roof, really liked that for some reason. -
I was wondering what was up with Enigma not being out for a while.
! Glad to see Aru is back, and that he isn't hiding his ability anymore.
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Also, why did that guy dressed up as a bear not take off his costume for fuck's sake?
"Woah! Where am I??! Guess I'd better keep this cumbersome, stifling hot bear costume on! I'm sure that'll help me in running away from speedy shadow kidnappers!"
So, I guess that question got answered.
! Yeah, I agree Taka. I really liked that spread, and I even liked the one when they first got on the roof(like it was such a relief, being stuck inside the school for all these chapters, and them bam, we're suddenly outside again). We got a bit more information on Enigma, and I think the assembly in the gymnasium is a good way to break up the action. It might get a bit tiresome if it's just them constantly working on getting the passwords, but this way it breaks up the action and let's us see more of Enigma.
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We actually get to see an obscured version of what Aru's human form looks like in chapter 19.
I'm having fun translating this series anyhow. The author's done a good job keeping people guessing while still making everything make sense.
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I do like this series. Seems like Enigma will probably be some sort of recruiter for some greater goal…
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Chapter 19 is out on Mangareader:
http://www.mangareader.net/enigma/19 -
Just read chapters 1 - 8 good so far. I can see why this has been getting top spot on the TOC.
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Chapter 25 is out thanks to CxC Scans.
I love this manga. That infinite corridor is freaky. My brain would melt trying to figure a way out. It seems Takemura will be the star of this test. The way he talks may be a clue to his yet to be discovered power. He said that "he wouldn't allow this kind of irrationality". IIRC, he mentioned how he hated irrationality in the last chapter. The "twisted" corridor is something that could be considered irrational. Maybe his power will be to magically make sense of things that don't make sense. He could "untwist" the corridor or something. Whatever it is, it is very intriguing. I can't wait for more.
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Yeah it seems like this manga keeps getting better and better.
I guess whatever Takemura's power is will save the day. Though bleeding doesn't seem very helpful at the moment.
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I'm wondering what's this new room is about. I started to read yesterday and got up to date today, in the beggining it was really slow and the pacing was a lot worse but it got better with the time, it's really insteresting and I'm looking forward to everything.
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Got caught up a week ago, good series.
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Enigma vomic, the first of four segments occurring throughout April.
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Really nice Vomic. I like Sumio's voice actor. It'd be nice to see enigma as an anime at some point. I hope it eventually gets popular enough to get there.
Over the next few weeks there'll be more of these and we'll get the voices of the other of the seven mains. -
Chapters 28 and 29 are finally out:
http://www.mangareader.net/enigma/28Really good ones, too.
! I guess we finally see Enigma in the flesh. Awesome. It makes sense for him to be a teacher. I'm really excited about the 6th password. I've been really wanting to see them using all of their powers together. It's already started, the teamwork was pretty fun ^^ I wonder we'll see Shigeru's powers this time.
I'm really enjoying the series. After One Piece and Beezlebub this is probably my third favorite currently running series.
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Since it said "thanks to everyone" I wonder if that means Shigeru's talent will finally be revealed.
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This looks even more like Persona 4 now with the teacher.
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I think I gotta catch up on this, since I always tend to enjoy this kind of mystery setting.
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This is getting really interesting now.
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I hope this password is accomplished in the next chapter, Kijima's really interesting.
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That teach Kijima is the same teach that kept visiting Aru in the hospital.
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Chapter 30 and 31 are out at MangaFox
! So Shigeru's been using her power all along huh?
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Caught up. Really interested in the recent developments. I kind of think Enigma's ability might be like D4C, in that he seems to be able to create new spaces.
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You know, Shigeru reminds me of Ai from The Law of Ueki, the protagonist's female friend/love interest that seems to be just a normal person amongst the super powered beings, but it turns out later that she actually have a power of her own as well. Ai's power is pretty silly though, even by Ueki's standard, so I hope Shigeru's is pretty cool and not something abstract like 'causing harmony to cause this ragtag group to trust each other and work together' (that's not Ai's power btw, I won't spoil it for you).
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Chapters 32 and 33 are out: http://www.mangareader.net/enigma
Edit: Kijima has a cool design and all, I liked him on the last time we saw him too but… I don't really think he is Enigma, he totally can be but for now I don't think so, even more with that airplace crash where there was a false culprit and the other got away, maybe there's Enigma and Kijima as two people doing the test... maybe even more to be able to kidnap the participant's loved ones... also Enigma is kinda supposed to realise some not so easy to do wishes too, right?
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This new development seems weird. Up until now it was really mysterious with all the clues and different ways to solve puzzles, but it seems that Enigma has had enough of clues and is going all-out. And of course, we can't really tell if it's really Enigma or not. Definately interesting to see where it goes from here and where were the others sent?
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Chapter 34 is out. An ok chapter.
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Chapter 35 is out as well. I guess it's up to everyone to decide whether they consider this new development an asspull or a foreshadowed revelation. It was interesting, I'll say that.
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It wasn't great but I didn't feel like it was horrible, I can live with that if the series gets better that way.
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I'm just interested in how Enigma himself will be taken down with his ridiculous power to do basically anything he wants with the school. My judgement on the series will currently be based on how that turns out.
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Chapters 40-42 are out now. http://www.mangareader.net/enigma/40
! So as some have predicted, the E-Test was part of a larger scheme to fight a bigger threat. I didn't expect Enigma to be Kirio at all though.