Bakuman and Fury of the Phoenix
37. 1 volume of Bakuman (バクマン。).
wiki
Manga Updates
Story by Tsugumi Ohba and Art by Takeshi Obata
From Viz:
Moritaka is hesitant to seriously consider Akito's proposal because he knows how difficult reaching the professional level can be. Still, encouragement from persistent Akito and motivation from his crush push Moritaka to test his limits!
Some points:
- I've read scans when the series first came out couple of years ago and thought it was interesting and was glad that Viz licensed it that was when I stopped reading scans.
- Borrowed from LPL volume 1-3 but dragging my feet reading it. I'm not sure if it was because it's not re-readable or I've read many reviews regarding how anti-feminist the series is so it turned me off (!?)
- It seems that Moritaka has things a bit too easy - his late uncle's studio is still available for him. So he didn't have to get necessary trade utensils.
- The way Akito accesses the girls in the class bugs me I'm sure it was an influence from a review I've read. It didn't before!
- I still have volume 2 and 3 to read.
Bottom line, on the fence.
38. Fury of the Phoenix. First sentence: "Chen Yong was already on board the ship."
wiki
Written by Cindy Pon
Some points:
- Borrowed from IIL.
- I've read Silver Phoenix and liked it a lot. I'd looked forward to continue reading about Chen Yong and Ai Ling.
Lots of rants: - I was a bit disappointed in this volume. After betraying how obssessive Zhong Ye was about Silver Phoenix last volume. He was cast as a starting-out nice character in this one. I wouldn't care less if he got redeemed at the end. I didn't care about his character at all. It was nice to read about Silver Phoenix but I wish it was told from a different point of view than that of Zhong Ye! I can't think of him as anything but an obsessive demon he was. I skipped a lot of Zhong Ye's views.
- So Zhong Ye became an enuch very young, how did he got to save that part of his. I must have missed something. Anyway, I didn't like the part where Ai Ling had to find it and other Silver Phoenix's stuff and kept it. I'd rather that part of the story wasn't there.
- The switching when Ai Ling's different memories came to her was a bit confusing at times.
- It didn't make sense to me that Silver Phoenix would commit suicide so I had guessed that she was killed by Yokan.
- Really, I don't think it's necessary to detail how emperor root works and what one had to go through to achieve eternal life. Yet the scene was detailed 3 times!
- The end where Ai Ling went to Other World to search/save Chen Yong remminded me of Dragon Sword and Wind Child when Chihaya did the same for Saya. I must say I like the later better.
Bottom line, reread? maybe parts of Ai Ling's point of view. Recommend? Not sure.