Bakuman

[Silverblade]

@Nobodyman:

I'm gonna play devil's advocate here, but if this is a final chapter, shouldn't it feel like one? Why not combine the last two or three chapters into an extra long final chapter (which is common practice in manga) to give a grander more complete feel?

Try harder.

Shonen Jack never does extra long final chapters and has never done so in the last five years I have been reading it. At best, a manga can get extra pages and end with a 23 page chapter. Even the legendary, beyond popular manga like Dragonball or Slam Dunk had the standard chapters for an ending.

[Nobodyman]

And that just goes to show I don't read enough manga (at least, not enough from WSJ).

But Silverblade, may I ask why you're calling it Shonen Jack. Are you just making a reference to them calling it that in the Bakuman anime?

[maxterdexter]

Yeah, that was the issue, the climax was like 3 chapters ago, In one sitting it should be very satisfactory, but what I wanted was more an epilogue than the ending.

[Nobodyman]

Anyway, just gonna post some final thoughts on the series.

First I'd like to say that this is the first manga I've read completely on a weekly basis (that is, I read it the day it's first chapter was released and have read it every week since) and it was a really fun ride throughout the whole thing.

So how does series work (and not work) as a whole? Well, I think it's pretty much all been said already, but Bakuman really is at it's best when it focuses on the struggles, hardships, and achievements of manga-kas, and thankfully that really does make up the majority of the series. The other major aspect of this series is the romance, and I know some people like it, but I personally found it lacking. I actually liked Takagi and Kaya's romance, but as I was re-reading volume 9 a few weeks, I began to notice that Takagi really is kind of a jerk. I find myself having trouble believing that, despite his insistence that they get married, Takagi really is invested in their relationship. Yes, he does some playful teasing and claims that he loves her, but girls like to be romanced now and then. He doesn't have to be all lovey-dovey, but Takagi just doing a little something to make Kaya feel good every now and then would go a long way in helping us care about their relationship.

And you know what, if you like Mashiro and Azuki's romance, good for you. I don't doubt that the two love each other, but that the authro expects us to believe that a relationship like this could be functional and feasible is really quite jarring for me, especially for a series that's supposed to be so grounded in reality.

Honestly, I think Hiramaru's and Aoki's romance, as short and played-for-gags as it was, may have actually been favorite because the two really seemed to care about each other and it happened realistically.

But anyway, back the positives, Bakuman really did have a great cast of characters (however idiotic some of them may have been). I'll admit Mashiro and Takagi aren't the strongest or most likeable main characters, but it had a great secondary cast with the likes of Eiji, Fukuda, Aoki, Hiramaru, Hattori, etc. But then of course you had a few duds like Shiratori, Shizuaka, and Nanamine.

And of course Obata continues to deliver some really awesome art, which helped immensely in adding some shonen-ness, to an otherwise fairly mundane topic for a story.

How does it compare to Deathnote? Well, as we all know, the first half of Deathnote was really strong, then it got pretty bad in the second half (though I personally didn't think it was that bad), but recovered with a strong finale. And, well, I think you could say the same about Bakuman. It's pretty strong up until the announcement of PCP not getting anime. Then the story enters a slump with a bunch of dumb filler arcs and characters, but then it saves itself with the last 10 or 20 chapters, which were pretty darn good. So yeah, I'd say it's about as good as Deathnote, maybe a little better.

All in all, a good series and I'll definitely pick up all the remaining volumes once Viz releases. I think volume 10 is out now, so I'll get it next time I'm at the bookstore.

[igetownd]

At the end, I felt that we need an epilogue. But I was a nice manga overall. There were problems here and there, including the overabundant loose ends that need to be taken care of.

Oh well. I wish Ohba and Obata luck on their next manga.

[Robby]

@igetownd:

At the end, I felt that we need an epilogue. But I was a nice manga overall. There were problems here and there, including the overabundant loose ends that need to be taken care of.

Already covered this at length earlier but… its an ongoing slice of life series. Open endings are the nature of the beast. (ANd open ends aren't the same as loose ends.) Every one of their rivals was addressed at the end, as were all their friends and aquantainces... and they're all continuing with their lives in much the same fashion as they have been for dozens of chapters.

Barring everyone dying or hooking up, what kind of actual resolution do you want beyond "We acknowledge you as a friend and worthy rival, and now we're going to keep trying our best for years to come"? Since... that's what they're all going to do?

[BuryBury]

@RobbyBevard:

Already covered this at length earlier but… its an ongoing slice of life series. Open endings are the nature of the beast. (ANd open ends aren't the same as loose ends.) Every one of their rivals was addressed at the end, as were all their friends and aquantainces... and they're all continuing with their lives in much the same fashion as they have been for dozens of chapters.

Barring everyone dying or hooking up, what kind of actual resolution do you want beyond "We acknowledge you as a friend and worthy rival, and now we're going to keep trying our best for years to come"? Since... that's what they're all going to do?

Couldn't you just accept that some people aren't satisfied with this kind of ending and wanted to see a little bit more? Obviously you got what you wanted from it and it probably is the perfect wrap-up from a professional storyteller's point of view. Ordinary consumers… not necessarily. (The ending is growing on me, but I'm still in my "I'm sorry I whined so much about your characters, come back" mode.) I understand wanting to make people "see the light" - I loved the whole Fishman Island arc and it made my brain itch to see other readers repeat the "horrible chapter in a horrible arc" mantra week after week, not letting it go even in the New World. But what can you do?

[Robby]

@BuryBury:

Couldn't you just accept that some people aren't satisfied with this kind of ending

Sure.

and wanted to see a little bit more?

I keep asking for people to explain to me what that "little bit more" is. I'm waiting for someone to convince me. When someone can put their finger on it, and says what they wanted out of it… that wasn't actually already there in the last several chapters.

Go ahead, make a list. I'd like to hear a legitimate accounting.

[Kisoto]

It's so strange to see a series end for me, I don't know how to respond.

I do know that I was smiling the whole time though, so maybe that's exactly what the author was going for. Completely sweet and where the manga was going the whole while. I will miss Bakuman, but I will never forget it either!

[taboo]

[Zik]

The way the chap ended did seem abrupt even though I see what they were going for and now that it has ended the way it did I don't really care much and definitely don't care for the ending.

[Gizmo]

I thought it was a proper ending for the romance. It would be nice to try to have them act like a real couple, but I like the two stayed true to themselves instead of having the final chapter be like "this promise was stupid" at the very end.

One plot point I would've liked to see is to have Ashirogi Muto start planning on how to tackle on a long running series. Yes, they said their next manga will sell a lot, but it would have been nice to see them start to attempt to figure out their next future hit.

As a Fukuda fan, I kinda wished the story ended with him having a girlfriend, or better resolution then having his date scene, but ending on a gag wasn't a bad send off for his character.

I haven't read old Bakuman chapters in a long time. I remember a fair amount of storylines frustrating me, but maybe rereading the good parts could motivate me to buy the series in the near future.

[igetownd]

@RobbyBevard:

Already covered this at length earlier but… its an ongoing slice of life series. Open endings are the nature of the beast. (ANd open ends aren't the same as loose ends.) Every one of their rivals was addressed at the end, as were all their friends and aquantainces... and they're all continuing with their lives in much the same fashion as they have been for dozens of chapters.

Barring everyone dying or hooking up, what kind of actual resolution do you want beyond "We acknowledge you as a friend and worthy rival, and now we're going to keep trying our best for years to come"? Since... that's what they're all going to do?

Well, ok, I'll tell you exactly, what I want: I want to see the future progress of Hattori as an editor, because he's got potential to be editor-in-chief. I want to see Nizuma Eiji continue on his quest for becoming the best in history even though he has temporarily lost to Ashiroji Muto. I'm curious to see the futures of Aoki and Hiramaru, as well as some hope for the socially hopeless Nakai. There are many minor characters IMO with excessively vague conclusions, and one more chapter to give a 1-panel glimpse would satisfy me.

[Chopperrules]

I understand what you're all saying and I agree. I'm just one who likes to see a bit more to endings, so I am a tad bit disappointed. However, from a writer's point of view and reflecting on Robby's point, I would agree the series accomplished what it wanted to do.

The talk of the "perfect ending" may be controversial, but you have to give them credit for ending it how and when they wanted to. As for all the side characters, that is just us as fans being greedy. It's fine to be greedy and want to see the characters we love, but don't you think it would be a bit redundant for them to try and squeeze all the many characters in one small chapter? Regardless of whether you like it or not, Miho is the heroine and Mashiro is the main protagonist. Even important characters like Takagi and Kaya are secondary, so it needed to end focusing on the two that started the plot.

This is probably a case where reading the final volume altogether will make for a better ending than just this one chapter. I do hope for an omake of sorts though, and for the third anime season to expand on things a little bit perhaps.

@RobbyBevard:

I keep asking for people to explain to me what that "little bit more" is. I'm waiting for someone to convince me. When someone can put their finger on it, and says what they wanted out of it… that wasn't actually already there in the last several chapters.

Go ahead, make a list. I'd like to hear a legitimate accounting.

These are the things myself and others would LIKE to see:

• The wedding
• A taste of life after they are married
• Some of the other characters getting a bit more attention
• Aoki's wedding with Hiramaru
• A bit more with Eiji
• More with the editor's department

But as I said, this is all just fans being greedy and wanting to see everything. So while I'm admiting my own selfishness, I'm also agreeing with you.

The fact that some fans feel this way actually means the author accomplished something. Why? Because this gets people thinking. Thinking means rereading the series and not simply tossing Bakuman to the side. This leads to fanfictions and shippings for those who are into that, again keeping the series alive.

I will most certainly be reading this manga and watching the anime for years to follow. Truly good writing does not give you everything outright. It makes you think. Those complaining should really think about that a bit.

I am definitely going to read their next work when it comes out. I loved Death Note and I loved Bakuman. Both are probably in my top 10 series. I own Bakuman up-to-date with the English releases and will continue to buy it as they come out. I have faith that their next piece will be even better.

[BuryBury]

@RobbyBevard:

I keep asking for people to explain to me what that "little bit more" is. I'm waiting for someone to convince me. When someone can put their finger on it, and says what they wanted out of it… that wasn't actually already there in the last several chapters.

Go ahead, make a list. I'd like to hear a legitimate accounting.

I… give you the long version of "different strokes for different people, man" and you go "sure, but only if you can justify your feelings to me." Quite a few people have already said what it is they want, which is a little bit more of what was already in the last several chapters, because we're understandably greedy and in withdrawals after something we mostly enjoyed is over. I even agreed it's probably the best possible ending and will accept it once I've calmed down a little, I don't have to write a bullet point presentation for the right to linger on it a while longer. It's not like anything we say here can change the last chapter, anyway.

[Robby]

@Chopperrules:

These are the things myself and others would LIKE to see:

• The wedding
• A taste of life after they are married
• Some of the other characters getting a bit more attention
• Aoki's wedding with Hiramaru
• A bit more with Eiji
• More with the editor's department

@BuryBury:

Quite a few people have already said what it is they want, which is a little bit more of what was already in the last several chapters, because we're understandably greedy and in withdrawals after something we mostly enjoyed is over.

So… its nothing about the ending, you just want the series to run for another five years, is what you're saying.

That at least I can understand.

[Sonic Youth]

Who's that guy on page 308 in this thread?

[Chopperrules]

@RobbyBevard:

So… its nothing about the ending, you just want the series to run for another five years, is what you're saying.

That at least I can understand.

Five years is an overstatement, but I was hoping for a year. That was, of course, before I came to accept that it was ending right before the official announcement was made.

As I said, the fact that we want it to continue means Ohba accomplished his goal as a writer (Ohba does the writing, right? Or did I mix them up again?)

I'm sure everyone will calm down and realize they can simply reread the series to continue seeing this wonderful characters. In the end, that's what is boils down to. Hardcore fans get so attached to the characters that it's hard to see them go, but nothing can last forever. And Bakuman ended right where it needed to.

[taboo]

can we have a spin off about eiji now

[Robby]

Did the bonus Otters chapter get published in any of the trades between 10 and 17? If not, that could be used to fill some of the extra space in the final volume.

@taboo:

can we have a spin off about eiji now

I'd prefer Hirimaru.

Actually, I'd prefer the entire side cast, and leave Mashiro and Takagi out entirely.

[Hiroy]

I could not stand seeing Hirimaru taking up page space no reason every chapter at one point(I think they stopped after realizing this).
A whole manga based on him? Pass
Homewrecker is where it's at.

[superquotpetquotrobot]

My Verdict: Amazing manga-ka manga, kind of average romance manga. To those that want to see the life a manga-ka after marriage, Head on over to crunchyroll and watch Kaasan: A Mom's life.

[Chopperrules]

@Hiroy:

I could not stand seeing Hirimaru taking up page space no reason every chapter at one point(I think they stopped after realizing this).
A whole manga based on him? Pass
Homewrecker is where it's at.

Please. That guy made every page he was on!

What I would like is a spinoff showing Bakuman from the rest of Team Fukuda's perspective, which is essentially what Robby said, only I would like cameos from the main cast here and there.

[Hekti]

I think that would work as an spin-off anime but not a manga.
I'd like to read some of those Bakuman manga chapters like the Otters 11 special.
Give me one chapter of PCP, Crow or Zombie Gun already!

[Silverblade]

A Hiramaru spin off would be the perfect masterpiece of Ohba and Obata duo's career. As such, it cannot exist.

But it would be nice to see them remember Bakuman from time to time.

@RobbyBevard:

Did the bonus Otters chapter get published in any of the trades between 10 and 17? If not, that could be used to fill some of the extra space in the final volume.

It didn't appear in the trades, as far as I know. But it is sold as bonus to the Bakuman art/databook Charaman.

@Nobodyman:

But Silverblade, may I ask why you're calling it Shonen Jack. Are you just making a reference to them calling it that in the Bakuman anime?

A-yup, it started from there. A friend of mine was watching the anime, and he liked what a fitting name it was to mock Shueisha's policies. I got it from him, and over time it became more of habit than anythingelse.

[Maron]

So all I know is that Bakuman is actually over. I'm really tempted to read the last two chapters, but I'm on Alpha…

I did a little searching for the DVDs since I've heard the episodes from the first set online and thought the dub was really good months ago and found out that Media Blasters actually put the second set on hold due to low sales. I went ahead and got the first set since I wasn't helping by waiting for more sets to come out.

It sucks but I guess it makes sense the anime wouldn't sell too well over here, while the manga seems to be doing great for VIZ, what with the monthly releases and all. What confuses me though is that a Blu-Ray for "Season 1 Part 1", containing the first 13 episodes is due for release next month, meaning it'll contain episodes of the series exclusively on the Blu-Ray. I don't have a Blu-Ray Player so there's no way I could support the anime series apart from already getting the first set…It's ridiculous.

[Chopperrules]

@Maron:

So all I know is that Bakuman is actually over. I'm really tempted to read the last two chapters, but I'm on Alpha…

I did a little searching for the DVDs since I've heard the episodes from the first set online and thought the dub was really good months ago and found out that Media Blasters actually put the second set on hold due to low sales. I went ahead and got the first set since I wasn't helping by waiting for more sets to come out.

It sucks but I guess it makes sense the anime wouldn't sell too well over here, while the manga seems to be doing great for VIZ, what with the monthly releases and all. What confuses me though is that a Blu-Ray for "Season 1 Part 1", containing the first 13 episodes is due for release next month, meaning it'll contain episodes of the series exclusively on the Blu-Ray. I don't have a Blu-Ray Player so there's no way I could support the anime series apart from already getting the first set…It's ridiculous.

I have a Blu-Ray player and will be getting it. But I understand what you mean. I think they should have made a DVD set with the same amount of episodes and not just the first 7. Plus, the DVD quality was pretty low, to be honest. Still, as you said, how can you support it if it's not available for your form of media? I used to not own a Blu-Ray player, so I understand how it feels.

[Hiroy]

@Chopperrules:

Please.

No thanks.

[Benjaman]

Thank you Bakuman. Im going to miss reading this manga every week.
Bravo for the ending.

[Silverblade]

Volume 12 or volume 18? Now I don't now which one is the best.

[Hekti]

Oh Hiramaru, you crazy dude!

[Robby]

The cover to 12 was fun, but 18 is definitely the better one.

Hirimaru is becoming a digimon lead character!

[Elisabeth Heart]

Nice cover ! Great composition as usual :)
I hope that since the series ended, the french publication will catch up fast. 10th is the last that was published here.

[Robby]

@Elisabeth:

Nice cover ! Great composition as usual :)
I hope that since the series ended, the french publication will catch up fast. 10th is the last that was published here.

Its quite possible. The English release is speeding up considerably, from quarterly, to bi-monthly, and now its going to be monthly for the next several volumes, at least 11-15.

[cwDeici]

First of all I just want to say the person who made a tumblr account to express his opinions had a lot of valid points in his arguments (such as that most people will think a romance like that is crazy, though to each their tastes as the manga points out), though overall I think he's going way overboard and that the romance was part of a strong backbone to the story (the career and side characters were far more important to me though). Anyway I can appreciate he was probably ignored completely because of his way of expressing himself. (Also, why does he call the author and artist mysogenistic? And then he tails it off with a joke about Mashiro trying to rape Azuki…? Now that's mysogenistic.) I would agree with him that the author has a warped ideal of romance, except given the 60 billion lives that have passed on this Earth I'm sure a few million have had experiences like this, and it is sweet when it happens and noone does or flakes off in the meantime (which happened to Mashiro's uncle).

Anyway, I'll justify the feelings I have on the ending, (also not sure why Robby said Bury wanted 5 years... (I very much doubt he does)) since I don't find myself to be greedy because I feel an otherwise good ending of a fantastic manga was unfulfilling in part.

The last three chapters before the final chapter should have been six chapters to expand slightly on the directions the various characters were going and include a few more secondary and tertiary characters. Given their strong personalities and sometimes expansive arcs a slightly in-depth look at their own hopes and feelings would have been good rather than just a slice-of-life shot and their congratulations to the main characters. The ending chapter doesn't fulfill their developmental journey (secondary characters as previously mentioned being one of Bakuman's greatest strengths) other than as satellites to Mashiro and Azuki.
This problem is magnified with Takagi. As Robby has pointed out the final chapter mirrors the first, with one exception, Takagi is missing. It's true maybe he doesn't belong there in the completion of the romance, but that goes true for the beginning too (except to show that he has grown enough not to need a crutch to propose to Azuki). Takagi is the secondary primary character, if it was the intent of the author to treat him as another satellite (something he accomplished for a few short moments (generally when the arcs were weaker as Mashiro and Takagi work better together with a dual focus)) to Mashiro and Azuki's journey, then he mostly failed at that; Takagi was a vital primary character for most of the manga, even though the PoV was primarily that of Mashiro. He was there at the start when their careers, their fates, their lives were enjoined in the promise Mashiro made to Azuki and he should be there in the fulfillment.

Regardless, I find it to be an acceptable, even good ending, that's disappointing in part - an ending to a fantastic manga of course.

Anyway, it's been nice to read all the reactions here to the ending, and I feel the funny epilogue video gave me some closure, except for the most important part - that Takagi should have been there at the end, but though that's disappointing I still love the story, and it's not an ending that weakens the story and characters that we've come to love and it certainly fulfills the romance (though I feel it'd fulfill their career arcs for Takagi to be there). I am very happy to have read this wonderful manga that they made together with all of you and to have read this otherwise good ending that I am thankful for having been made for us with the utmost care.
I respect anyone who might disagree with me of course. And I wish everyone here and the author and artist and their associates and the readers the best.

[Robby]

Takagi being missing in the last chapter is not a huge deal… when he was on the last several pages of the previous chapter. He's at the end of the story as much as possible, except for the very last scene.

If you absolutely insist on a perfect mirror, he wasn't in the very first scene of the first chapter, which was about Mashiro and Miho... and didn't appear until 15 or 16 pages into the first chapter... (which WAS a double sized chapter) while Mashiro's uncle was on the first page.

Just consider the last two chapters a single double sized chapter and see if that soothes your problems.

And for the record, you're a new member so you wouldn't know.... we're ignoring Lion Chan because he's been aggressive and hateful about this series for a long time, and regularly makes very divisive arguments about it that pretty much no one agrees with.

[TLC]

I think everyone is ignoring me because they can't deny the validity of my points.

[freedom]

@Thousand:

I think everyone is ignoring me because they can't deny the validity of my points.

No, it's because you're TLC. You didn't use the honeybadger defense!

[RPGJay]

@Thousand:

I think everyone is ignoring me because they can't deny the validity of my points.

Or alternatively no one bothered reading it because you're the one that wrote it.

[Hiroy]

Things to expect from a TLC rant
Skim over it and keep a counter of the word
CHARACTERIZATION

To make things fun, spice it up and start a drinking game.

I know this may sound mean of me, but your rants are usually tideous.
And the only people I see discussing these rants are a bunch of tideous hacks that fancy overanalyzing trivial entertianment like manga themselves.
I mean, if you like that sort of thing, make a website like TGWG that specficially aimed at tidously critizing children comic books that was illegally read off scanlation websites. OR OR. Make a Youtube channel. Get some fans. With luck, you can get alot of fans that agree with pretty much anything you say. I mean, look at Doug.

[Maron]

@RPGJay:

Or alternatively no one bothered reading it because you're the one that wrote it.

16 chars of Oh snap

[TLC]

@RPGJay:

Or alternatively no one bothered reading it because you're the one that wrote it.

i.e. can't deny the validity of my points. If only for the reason that you'd rather stay ignorant of opinions that disagree with your own. Very open-minded of you.

@Hiroy:

Things to expect from a TLC rant
Skim over it and keep a counter of the word
CHARACTERIZATION

To make things fun, spice it up and start a drinking game.

I know this may sound mean of me, but your rants are usually tideous.
And the only people I see discussing these rants are a bunch of tideous hacks that fancy overanalyzing trivial entertianment like manga themselves.
I mean, if you like that sort of thing, make a website like TGWG that specficially aimed at tidously critizing children comic books that was illegally read off scanlation websites. OR OR. Make a Youtube channel. Get some fans. With luck, you can get alot of fans that agree with pretty much anything you say. I mean, look at Doug.

i.e. can't deny the validity of my points. So you do an ad hominem on how it's just a children's comic-book and that I'm wasting my time. Yet this entire forum which you are a part of is dedicated to over-analyzing a children's comic book?

[Elisabeth Heart]

I personally didn't really feel like reading everything because, the first thing I saw on your tumblr was 'Mission Impossible 4( i.e. The movie that resurrected a franchise)'. After that, it was really difficult taking anything you would say seriously. I mean, I knew how different we would be…

"I cannot even put into words how much I hate Mashiro and Azuki’s romance" I'm denying that. You kinda did -put into word how much you hate it-, and you hate it, sure.
For the rest, let's say your points are valid. Would that make you happy ? -I actually don't think so since what you seem to be looking for is a sparring partner- What I can't agree on most, is the result 'Bakuman’s Ending (And why it blows)'. No matter how sappy, stupid, irrealist, idealized, and stuff the romance was, I still really liked the ending. shrugs

[TLC]

I'm not looking for a fight, I just want my voice to be heard without me being dismissed over stuff other than the actual issues. You liked it? Good for you, that's your prerogative. I'm not saying it's bad if you liked it no matter how manic I got in my review. I just wanted to say I hate it and why I hate it, nothing more or less.

now cue rant on how I deserve everything I get

[Robby]

No one wants to just read an angry rant. Same thing happens with Roger Ebert reviews, or Thatguywithglasses… sometimes they negatively review movies that people love and there's an instant aversion to not watch them because "I don't want to see them rip on something I love for 20 minutes!". But as long as they don't go in with nonstop bile and instead show respect, and have something funny in there, and then people are okay with it and can listen to an honest critique and maybe even agree with a point or two.

A comedic farce of a rant as often seen in Naruto sure,or the transformers movies, thats funny, but no one wants to just read straight up just "SEETHING RAGE" at length.

It's not your argument TLC. It's how you're presenting it, and yourself, (and have been for a long time) that leads to no one caring.

[TLC]

@RobbyBevard:

No one wants to just read an angry rant. Same thing happens with Roger Ebert reviews, or Thatguywithglasses… sometimes they negatively review movies that people love and there's an instant aversion to not watch them because "I don't want to see them rip on something I love for 20 minutes!". But as long as they don't go in with nonstop bile and instead show respect, and have something funny in there, and then people are okay with it and can listen to an honest critique and maybe even agree with a point or two.

A comedic farce of a rant as often seen in Naruto sure,or the transformers movies, thats funny, but no one wants to just read straight up just "SEETHING RAGE" at length.

It's not your argument TLC. It's how you're presenting it, and yourself, (and have been for a long time) that leads to no one caring.

Oh wow, I can predict the future.

I just like to tell it how it is. And I'm sorry if I came off as berserk but the ending pissed me off to no end. I'm not angry for angry's sake.

[x20a]

The sad thing about Bakuman's ending is that now I know exactly how the end of HIMYM is going to play out :(

Other than that, it was fine. In terms of the relationship between Mashiro and Azuki, it was nice to see that each couple can still express love in their own way. I never had a problem with the level of innocence, and when you consider how many fucked up couples there are out there, any arguments dismissing it as being unrealistic are too simplistic.

I can't wait to see what the mangakas put out next!!!

[taboo]

@Thousand:

i.e. can't deny the validity of my points. If only for the reason that you'd rather stay ignorant of opinions that disagree with your own. Very open-minded of you.

i.e. can't deny the validity of my points. So you do an ad hominem on how it's just a children's comic-book and that I'm wasting my time. Yet this entire forum which you are a part of is dedicated to over-analyzing a children's comic book?

[Silence]

I'm kinda with the crowd on this. You get extremely passionate, but sometimes it just comes off as extreme.

Hyperbolic declarative statements are like a seasoning - you sprinkle them here and there, you can't just dump the whole container at once! It ruins the rant.
It's not what you're saying, but how you're saying it. An argument doesn't have to be "my way or the highway!" to be effective.

Cuz, you make extreme statements all the time.
If you aren't careful and say "THIS CHAPTER SUCKS HITLER'S COLD, SAGGING LEFT TIT" or "That guy cameoed! BEST CHAPTER EVER," too often it makes you seem like you lack objectivity.
You're get emotional talking about stuff and that's sort of what Hiroy's talking about. You work yourself up to the point people might not listen to you - they're quietly nodding but you're chopping the heads off weeping baby deer and bathing in their fresh blood and tears.

All these posters are responding to you this way for a reason, mebbe dial it back a bit. Just sayin'. (Also I enjoyed Mission Impossible 4.)

[TLC]

I try, I try. The majority of my posts are pretty mellow and respectful I think. Unfortunately, I come across that one thing that drives me off the edge and that's the only thing that sticks in people's minds. Which sucks. I'll try and divert my frustations to my tumblr from now on which is good since that's a more general area and not a thread dedicated to subject x that people like.