Reading Recommendation #2: Shonen Edition!
I've had a lot less to do these past few weeks, and for a few months now I've been hankering to follow a new weekly series seeing as I have precious little to keep up with (with Bleach advancing slowly, Reborn advancing decently, DGM being monthly and fucked up as hell, No Bra ending a few months ago and ES21 ending last year). So, I've been clicking around on whatever series catch my attention on my favorite online reader site; I did find an interesting psychological title called Oyasumi Punpun, which is sort of slice-of-life about a boy and his family drawn as caricature birds.
But this entry isn't about that, no siree. Today, I'm here to talk to you about a Weekly Shonen Jump title that's been out for two years now, and I'm ashamed I didn't know about it sooner. The title is Nurarihyon no Mago ("Grandson of Nurarihyon") by newcomer Shiibashi Hiroshi. It's sooort of like the shenanigans and family-gathering of Katekyo Hitman Reborn! meets the supernatural ass-kicking and mythology of Bleach - only our young hero is younger than the protagonists of both series, and is an absolute pimp. As crystaldawn put it, as I've been spazzing and flailing and getting her to read it with me:
❝This is a story about Rikuo and him bitches. That are a lot of bitches.❞
We are not even joking.
Meet our hero, Nura Rikuo. As mangatoshokan's summary goes: "Nura Rikuo, a kid that is part human and a quarter youkai (demon), lives in a house full of spirits along with his youkai grandfather. Trying to escape his fate of acting like one, he does good deeds in order to avoid becoming evil despite his grandfather's wish to succeed him as master of the Nura youkai clan."
Seems like your standard fare of big-eyed woobie student by day, and badass pwning mother-fucker by night; another case of hero with a semi-evil and/or powerful alter-ego, right?
Yeah. Wrong. For one, the summary is misleading, as one will find not too long after reading the series. Rikuo here isn't another case of a hero running from his destiny - he just doesn't grab it by the balls immediately. While the series may start off at first similar to Reborn, with the hero trying to deny this life and going on wacky adventures with classmates, it doesn't stay that way for long. Nope, Rikuo doesn't spend the whole series waffling over his choice, like Tsuna; in fact, he finds his resolve by chapter 16 or 17 when the shenanigans come to a screeching halt, and the real shonen adventure begins. And oh MAN, does it begin.
Rikuo has grown up his whole life knowing he was to inherit the title of being the commander of all the demon clans in this area of Japan, seeing as his particular clan is the head clan, and despite an incident when he's a mere nine years old (that isn't traumatizing, actually), Rikuo mans up and decides he'll become boss - meaning he'll gather his own army of one hundred demons to command - just a few years later, when the story really kicks off.
It's really hard to believe he's just thirteen when this happens, since him gaining the loyalty of said demons looks a little like this:
Yeah. YEAH. AS YOU CAN SEE, bitches love Rikuo's ass, and damn near break down walls (among other things) to show just how much they want to be owned by him. To put it simply. And these people falling all over themselves to be Rikuo's? Are various, countless youkai of Japanese lore: everything from yukionna and kappa to bakemono and tengu and likely tons of other demons you've never heard of.
He's got bitches in all kinds of places, too.
See, he's got bitches that admire him, bitches that want him, bitches fighting over him and bitches who don't even know they're his bitches.
Naturally, the one to notice this is a nasty bitch himself.
SOBOLD.
The cast so far is varied and likable, with the good guys, bad guys, and obligatory group of school friends. I'm just past chapter 50 and so far have been wishy-washy on the girls, as they're not just mindless cheerleaders, but also seemed to be robbed of their badass moments a bit, so while I like them enough they're really out shined by the male cast.
It's not very obvious or gets in the way of enjoying the series, though, because there is lots of eye-candy throughout. Nurarihyon not only starts off with good, strong art (compared to seeing other artists come into their own, like in Bleach, DGM and ES21), but there is also a strong ukiyo theme as seen with all the demon motifs. Which lends itself well to obligatory action and CMOA shots.
In short, Nurarihyon is about a middle school student coming into his own as a supreme commander of his own personal demon army and how he goes about it - which consists of going about his town and beyond, gathering bitches and showing them how shit's gonna be run. Rikuo is truly a magnificent bastard, as will be made even more apparent when the anime starts next month, as he's voiced by none other than Mr. Lelouch vi Brittania. Who commands you to start reading this series, right now. Come on, the guy can even use Kyoka Suigetsu. You know you wanna see that.
Nurarihyon no Mago can be read online here; I don't know if this series is available yet for purchase outside of Japan.
But this entry isn't about that, no siree. Today, I'm here to talk to you about a Weekly Shonen Jump title that's been out for two years now, and I'm ashamed I didn't know about it sooner. The title is Nurarihyon no Mago ("Grandson of Nurarihyon") by newcomer Shiibashi Hiroshi. It's sooort of like the shenanigans and family-gathering of Katekyo Hitman Reborn! meets the supernatural ass-kicking and mythology of Bleach - only our young hero is younger than the protagonists of both series, and is an absolute pimp. As crystaldawn put it, as I've been spazzing and flailing and getting her to read it with me:
❝This is a story about Rikuo and him bitches. That are a lot of bitches.❞
We are not even joking.
Meet our hero, Nura Rikuo. As mangatoshokan's summary goes: "Nura Rikuo, a kid that is part human and a quarter youkai (demon), lives in a house full of spirits along with his youkai grandfather. Trying to escape his fate of acting like one, he does good deeds in order to avoid becoming evil despite his grandfather's wish to succeed him as master of the Nura youkai clan."
Seems like your standard fare of big-eyed woobie student by day, and badass pwning mother-fucker by night; another case of hero with a semi-evil and/or powerful alter-ego, right?
Yeah. Wrong. For one, the summary is misleading, as one will find not too long after reading the series. Rikuo here isn't another case of a hero running from his destiny - he just doesn't grab it by the balls immediately. While the series may start off at first similar to Reborn, with the hero trying to deny this life and going on wacky adventures with classmates, it doesn't stay that way for long. Nope, Rikuo doesn't spend the whole series waffling over his choice, like Tsuna; in fact, he finds his resolve by chapter 16 or 17 when the shenanigans come to a screeching halt, and the real shonen adventure begins. And oh MAN, does it begin.
Rikuo has grown up his whole life knowing he was to inherit the title of being the commander of all the demon clans in this area of Japan, seeing as his particular clan is the head clan, and despite an incident when he's a mere nine years old (that isn't traumatizing, actually), Rikuo mans up and decides he'll become boss - meaning he'll gather his own army of one hundred demons to command - just a few years later, when the story really kicks off.
It's really hard to believe he's just thirteen when this happens, since him gaining the loyalty of said demons looks a little like this:
Yeah. YEAH. AS YOU CAN SEE, bitches love Rikuo's ass, and damn near break down walls (among other things) to show just how much they want to be owned by him. To put it simply. And these people falling all over themselves to be Rikuo's? Are various, countless youkai of Japanese lore: everything from yukionna and kappa to bakemono and tengu and likely tons of other demons you've never heard of.
He's got bitches in all kinds of places, too.
See, he's got bitches that admire him, bitches that want him, bitches fighting over him and bitches who don't even know they're his bitches.
Naturally, the one to notice this is a nasty bitch himself.
SOBOLD.
The cast so far is varied and likable, with the good guys, bad guys, and obligatory group of school friends. I'm just past chapter 50 and so far have been wishy-washy on the girls, as they're not just mindless cheerleaders, but also seemed to be robbed of their badass moments a bit, so while I like them enough they're really out shined by the male cast.
It's not very obvious or gets in the way of enjoying the series, though, because there is lots of eye-candy throughout. Nurarihyon not only starts off with good, strong art (compared to seeing other artists come into their own, like in Bleach, DGM and ES21), but there is also a strong ukiyo theme as seen with all the demon motifs. Which lends itself well to obligatory action and CMOA shots.
In short, Nurarihyon is about a middle school student coming into his own as a supreme commander of his own personal demon army and how he goes about it - which consists of going about his town and beyond, gathering bitches and showing them how shit's gonna be run. Rikuo is truly a magnificent bastard, as will be made even more apparent when the anime starts next month, as he's voiced by none other than Mr. Lelouch vi Brittania. Who commands you to start reading this series, right now. Come on, the guy can even use Kyoka Suigetsu. You know you wanna see that.
Nurarihyon no Mago can be read online here; I don't know if this series is available yet for purchase outside of Japan.