basedkikuenjoyer

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Hey buddy! I want to give Raizo a hug like Tama. I am now jealous. Speaking of, daww. So here's our new Daimzo of Udon coming in clutch with the food. And now we snack! We're happy to see Raizo and Tama happy. And I feel like I've said this a bit but this probably does mean we're about to move on to Hakumai and returning the sword. It'll be fun to see all the maples again.

Been a while since we checked in on this too but...here we are. Late in the serial. Raizo's shown up for Udon. That means we're moving into the end game with the last two retainers being Kawamatsu and Kiku. Ever since Academy played a similar shell game I've really figured we'll see something weird with the foils at the end. Few ways you could take that for a cool effect, but our girl's still a mystery even as we come towards the end.

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Maternophobia

I could use our bone boi getting stepped on, head cruelly cocked back so he can't see dem panties. Part of me wanted the image to be them all tied with with Nami hilariously giving Jinbei shit because he's supposed to be able to handle things. But no. Boney get a "whiteout" panel and that makes this a true red-letter day. This is subtle, but it is exactly what I wanted to see out of Brook & Gunko. He seems to recognize something about her. He's able to learn she's a fan. So even given this tense situation, he's very polite in his rejection to be a music slave. But specifically highlighting how Luffy gave him a new lease on life.

We've established the idea that Gunko might be somewhat a victim in the sense of never really knowing she had a choice. Brook is providing proof that circumstances can change and relationships can change them. Do you know how badly I wanted Brook to have a moment like this with Kiku? Obviously Gunko is an antagonist and that makes things very different in a lot of ways, but I love how even the framing here and following that bit from Nami serve to highlight what we talked about last time. Brook is getting a chance to show where his specific experience and wisdom can do what Jinbei cannot. And that is something very cool and very hard to express so I want to highlight it and admire it when it happens.

With that out of the way...iconic. You know what? No. It's peak "Wife Bad" Boomer Humor™ but it works because it is so unabashedly peak Boomer Humor™ and doesn't feel like it needs to put on pretentious airs of justifying itself. This is hilarious. The real monsters have awoken from the children's dreams...THEIR MOTHERS!!!

Fuck it, based. I have mother issues, stopped being scared of a pathetic drunk as I got older but when I was a kid that shit was terrifying. I don't think these giant moms are that bad, but they sure seem strict and imposing. A serious challenge indeed. We also have Spooky Gregg back hanging around a few panels so that's nice. It seems our eulogy was premature. But he is already a ghost so it's never fully inaccurate to honor his memory.

Jokes and personal trauma aside, there's a bit more thematic harmony with this gag than just lol scary moms. A land like Elbaph is now where kids are well behaved and focused on education kinda sounds like a land of strict, strong moms keeping them in line. Not a huge deal, the gag is good on its own, if they were actually Dorry/Brogy's wives I'd be on their side because you better not have run of on a 100yr duel if you're married. But it does connect more to what's going on than just being a silly goof.

Speaking of cool, very impressive Collun. He's jumped up to the front of the line and willingly got involved in the compulsion to follow the arrow just for a chance to help and keep things calm. Down below with Ripley & Scopper finding this out is hilarious...and kinda feeds back into that point about parents. Gaban's all like, hell yeah that's mah boy. Ripley's not having it and demanding he go save the kid. Hilarious and they're cute together.

And it leads to the cool part at the end! Sure there's a former Roger Pirate heavyweight jumping into the fray but they have angered the Devil Child and that is not a smart thing to do if you like things like being alive. I will never ever ever not love the series treating Robin like a core threat on the Straw Hats rather than a smart pawn to try and capture. Show Saul how far you've come by showing how fiercely you'll protect the friends you've found girl.

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One Piece 1147 first thoughts.

Brook is the MVP of the chapter. Him disregarding Gunko's wishes here is awesome. And it's interesting that she seems pained to hurt Brook, the person who makes the music she likes.

Gaban and Ripley meet up this chapter! He's a proud dad, awww!

I'm really excited to see him in action. Gaban seems pretty levelheaded and someone who thinks things through.

He's aware of the Knights being here due to sensing them, even while they are attempting to hide their presence.

I think he may have a plan to put a stop to the kids being taken, though it will be pretty different from what Luffy, being more reckless, would do.

Thought this was very funny. Love to see badass mothers, even of the illusory sort.

[basedkikuenjoyer]

Aww, how about that? It's a visual novel based on my graduation year all about reminiscing on the halcyon days of being a carefree high school girl. This will surely be great for nostalgia...

I'm not much one for visual novels but I heard just enough about this one to go in blind. And I was actually class of 09 myself. Now, just the setting alone is pretty fun. I'd say it's mostly accurate to the Class of '09 experience. The T-Mobile Sidekick, the Hollister clothes, the way people treat Youtube like it's still just a minor, accessible type of fame. The one that really sticks out though are all the MySpace jokes. Too late for that by a few years, Facebook was opened up to the public by then and honestly even by Sophomore year in 06/07 most peers had migrated. Same with the nerd kid just getting beaten up for being the one weirdo who likes anime at all, I wasn't the only kinda "popular" kid who still read a manga or two back then. These would be the third graders when Pokemon hit, the girlies who had a preteen awakening to Inuyasha boys. The aesthetics do generally remind me of my high school days though. And the prescription drug abuse was 100% on point.

Obviously that's not what you're here for. This game, as the tagline implies, is not your run of the mill dating sim. It's the opposite, your protagonist is a girl who gets a lot of unwanted attention from men. A lot of the progression and getting better endings in contingent on being generally more of a mean, frosty bitch and I love that. We support women's wrongs here. There's a lot of humor in this in the same way I find Boa Hancock hilarious. Girls abusing their good looks will always be pretty fun to me. The best parts of this experience were the scenes where MC Nicole is having great banter with her bestie Jecka. Who gets bonus points for sounding just like Ginger Foutley. Seriously, worth the price of admission just for getting this close to hearing Ginger say schools need a second floor so we can push fat kids down the stairs.

Underneath the shock value of endings like a school shooting or suicide there's a real point that made me like this. Everything may be exaggerated but it does stay close to this consistent core of the power and curse of beauty. I've talked about this in a more serious context with Skip & Loafer and my personal experience is more geared to college but there's something very real about how jaded suddenly becoming more attractive can leave you feeling. Part of that struggle being that it sounds really conceited to even mention it's a problem you're having. But I spent my college years in a situation that's very relatable to Nicole. At a certain point you have to learn to be a "bitch" or you're just constantly dragged around being a people pleaser.

This was a fun little experience. Well worth the $5 I got it for. Once again you at least get the novelty of some funny dialogue with the added bonus of one of the main girls sounding like an obscure hidden gem Nicktoon lead. Some pretty heavy content but it's all so exaggerated it isn't hard to keep some distance.

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Next entry in our dinnertime fluff queue. Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister caught my eye. I'll admit at first the description made it sound like a more serious romance but the first few episodes shifted it pretty clearly to harem territory. Dude goes to live with three shrine maidens. They all end up wanting him. The first leg of this was definitely laughing at how bad it was and we almost gave up...but I'm glad we didn't.

Partway through the series introduces a lot of wacky divine shenanigans. A looping week, and alternate world, body swap shenanigans. While that was happening the series did get closer to a more serious show exploring better romantic dynamics and the overall found family vibe of Uryu and the three sisters. Ended up being pretty cute. Worth the watch.

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At this point my only response to people that get mad about someone using masc pronouns for Yamato is just "you're mad he gets more girls than you bro." Ulti's all over him! This is funny. Ulti's change of heart, Page One/Tama confused as hell, but of course the best is Yamato's very Odenesque disgust at the idea of attracting followers like this.

I take back what I've said about our time in Udon. Last serial was incredibly moving and this one is incredibly funny.

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Slings & Arrows

And in this chapter, we see why the God's Knights think they only need three members to take down Elbaph. Gunko gets a chance to open up and really set her own pace in a fight with the Collon group that gets nasty. I absolutely adore this panel of turning Brook/Jinbei's attacks against each other.

Fittingly, we don't get anything like Gunko fangirling over Brook but Boney does get to step up a bit this time and remind you he's an old, old pirate with a lot of experience. It's him that recognizes one of the Knights when faced with one and it's him that points out the absurdity of forecasting your attacks. I think there's a lot to be said for how Gunko is developing around these concepts in a very interesting way, but we have to acknowledge something first.

What a lovely chapter for our tangerine queen Nami. She gets to be so fun and silly here and it's just great. I love shaping Zeus like a shark because it's cuter and you can do that now. Using Brook as a human shield and the double thumbs up are hilarious. Then Nami going feral and trying to force the arrow to curve is just plain peak. Never change girl, I still hope you got your backpack of diamonds from Egghead.

But seriously, there's some really interesting dialogue all around this fight. Especially when we might just be bending this towards a hot new single from the Soul King. I don't mean a literal song though that would be cool to incorporate, but we knew Gunko was a fan and we're letting Brook have the really strong dialogue about her even with Jinbei here. I'd love a segment probing at how these two former second captains are different, especially in a way that shows what Brook can do that Jinbei can't since it'd normally be the other way around.

He's right here of course, deep down Gunko's attacks are ridiculous. Sure she can pull it off for now but telling your opponent exactly what you're going to do is absurd. Gunko does add some of her own lines that really play into this idea she has trouble thinking for herself. A limited perspective that makes the straight arrow choice seem like the only one. She seems angry that humanity couldn't just remain peacefully ignorant in the face of a massive culling. She doesn't really understand the concept of hostages. There's just such a good fundamental conflict here with Gunko and I sure hope Brook gets to crack it. Gunko seems to have this unerring belief that everything's laid out already and we're all just following the arrow...when she literally can control the arrow. Gunko could change the fate of the world today by her own understanding of how vital the giants are. There's potentially a part of her that wants that, but she just doesn't see the possibility through needing to realize you can act independently.

But it wasn't all Gunko either. Sommers and Kiringham are taking charge too. It seems like the latter went to hijack communications systems while Sommers moves to stop Saul from doing something about the kids. You better not break poor sweet Nico Robin's heart by making her watch this guy die a second time. Especially not by hiding in his beard while it happens. Though I do love the visual of this sea of thorns.

The fight's really on and Luffy's still tied up with Loki having to digest a big meal. But in the end we get our detail. Sounds like the idea is King Harald tried to pacify Elbaph just so the World Government would lose interest in seeking an alliance. So not out and out evil but I can see where Loki would break from that mindset. I'm sure we'll see more about that idea soon.

[basedkikuenjoyer]

put three f/f ships you like in the tags. doesnt matter how obscure or embarrassing the media, go for it. and no, your m/m ship doesnt count as women

[basedkikuenjoyer]

The fight continues! The back half of the chapter really does just wrap this up. Jinbei was angy at Ace for using his bowl. Naturally he sumo wrestlers Luffy over it. Ace shows up to stop it, Sabo comes in with food from the Revos restaurant. Everybody's happy.

What I really liked this time though were the action panels. I've said it before, but Sohei Koji has been getting really good at action panels lately. The Sumo fight looked really cool. Speaking of sumo fights, we don't see them this time but if it's all wrapped up with Jinbei I'll definitely be curious to see if Izo/Marco make it to the scene next time around. Them following Jinbei's arrival even makes some amount of sense based on the canon story.

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I still, enthusiastically and wholeheartedly, endorse this view on York. You made a genius-level poopbot based on your greed and didn't expect her to want more?

I'm not saying York's a "good" person, I'm just saying I think we could be friends (I know some great burger joints) and if I were in Luffy's position I'd sympathize enough to tell myself I shouldn't get involved in the conflict between one man and his six clones.

Best girl is back. I love how much fun she is having, finally deciding to do what she wants, rather being told how to live by the other Vegapunks, and being taken for granted by them.

York has the scientific creativity and ambition of any of the VPs, we directly see this in how much effort it takes from three of the Punks to take back control of the island's systems. Yet all she was allowed to do by Stella is to laze around. She never was allowed to express herself.

Is a life where one is only allowed to do the most basic functions to survive really living?

I really can't blame her for wanting more than what Stella was willing to let her have, even if she is misguided in thinking the best option is to live at Mariejoa(and Stella would likely have sought to live at Mariejoa himself, if he hadn't made a Satellite for his greed, after making the other five,) though it's the only other life she's been exposed to, when Vegapunk took her to Mariejoa.

And something fun I realized about the Satellites SBS question for Luffy, he'd be all Atlas/Yorks, which are numbers 5 & 6. 56. the Luffy number. Under different circumstances, Luffy and York could be friends I think.

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Okay, I swear I was joking about swiping ganmodoki yesterday...but naturally I spent the night crying about how they can never be together enjoying the crown jewels of my collection binder. So, ganmodoki is a fried tofu fritter. Looks a lot like what Kiku has in her bowl.

Seeing them close up, I feel like the intent with the special print pair is that Kiku's card is a few moments before the scene in Izo's. You can see she has what looks like ganmodoki if you know the lore about the group's preferences. You can see Izo slightly cocking his head towards the simmering pot in the background. In his card he's sitting down eating shooting a wary glance at his sister clearly giving him some guff. What a little brat! "Oh dear brother, you must try the ganmodoki today. Oh dear...it's gone. Like you were."

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The second half of OP Academy's 56th chapter brings Luffy and Jinbei's clash to a close with a sumo match! Awesome.

There are a ton of fun action panels this time. And during the match, Jinbei recounts his five-day fight with Ace prior in a fairly one-to-one manor as the main manga told it.

There is one key different however, and it's a fun one.

Mango pudding. Ace decided to eat mango pudding using Jinbei's donburi bowl! It's got Jinbei's name on it and everything! Tsk Tsk. That would have been a good time for Ace to remember the manners that Makino taught him.

Joking aside, I love this. It makes sense the reason for the feud between these two is less severe, given the more lighthearted nature of Academy, and it's so perfectly in character for both. Nicely done Sohei Koji.

The chapter then concludes with Jinbei conceding defeat, due to him breaking ground outside the ring, then making a big gesture of camaraderie in the name of Whitebeard, with Luffy and Ace.

Next update releases on the 1st/2nd of May!

[basedkikuenjoyer]

A banner day for the collection indeed. So glad to finally have this alt art Izo, and not just because his purchase symbolizes that I've found work again. I still adore how he's getting roasted by baby sis in his big fancy artwork. What in the world is she giving him that much sass for? Did she swipe the last ganmodoki?

I also got a Pudding. She make the cake. It's cute.

[basedkikuenjoyer]

I have achieved victory! Radical Red lived up to it's advertising as a challenging romhack of Fire Red. Impressive what they did with it really. Tweaked the story, added almost all the Pokemon from Gens 1-9. even implemented stuff like Mega Evolutions and Dynamax Raids! All the charm of the old Kanto region with all the new gameplay features. So cool and you'll need to know your stuff to beat this one. It isn't just gym leaders and the Elite 4 with buffed teams, even route progression can be halted by very tough challenges if you don't build a solid bench of quality monsters...and train them right. The romhack implements features to make EV/IV training, natures, etc. easy but you'll need to do it to win here.

This was my team that made it through the final gauntlet. I know from plenty of Nuzlocke races with friends all you really need is a good electric & water type to anchor your team through the Elite 4. Jolteon is a classic and how could I not get the lovely Milotic? Who shared defensive duty with (Mega) Aggron to lay down a brick wall. Jolteon w/ Volt Switch was great for controlling tempo and Mismagius has great type coverage. Nhilego a late addition to set up entry hazards. Breloom rounding out the gang, who of course can really get a lot of mileage out of the amazing Technician ability.

Highly recommend this romhack if you've ever wondered what a really hard but fair version of Pokemon would look like.

[basedkikuenjoyer]

We finished Season 2 of Blue Lock! Know sports series aren't as popular here but they do have a strong tradition of homoeroticism that I know many a Fujoshi appreciates. A strong tradition Blue Lock doubled down on this season and then some. It starts with my new boy Aiku represented here by a massive snake. Because he's a good antagonist in this series, now we're not competing with rival forwards and playing against Japan's U-20 team it makes sense for their imposing defender to be the problem.

And he was a cool character, even if the only thing hetero about him was -chromatic. This season was just plain gold for passionate sports series sounding fruity in the best way. Haiku going off about how forwards are lil burgulars and he's the big bad cop had us rolling...then we get the wild child Shidou popping off about how soccer is his equivalent to spreading his genes and trying to score a Hat Trick for a dude's number. Even soccer Kurama Chigiri has to deal with guys dropping the pretense and calling him stuff like "missy."

Beyond the camp, the season was a good sports story. I liked taking a lot of time on one big game. Sorta had a Chimera Ant feel where every single little movement started to matter. The conclusion sets things up well too. I really thought they'd take the cop-out ending and right when you're sure that's gonna happen it shocks you. I'm guessing this is the start of getting away from the soccer gauntlet test facility stuff that would only last you a season anyways. Moving into a real team dynamic as the gang rises up the ranks.

[basedkikuenjoyer]

She has arrived! I wanted this promo Kiku for a while. So pretty and flowy. Also finally got a pic that kinda shows off the texturing effects on higher-rarity cards. Look at the sword handle or the big Chrysanthemum on her kimono.

Ive finally got a decent income again, so expect a very important counterpart in the near future.

[basedkikuenjoyer]

It's been a minute since our proud tradition of Late-Night Togashiposting, and I don't need an excuse to be rewatching the old Yu Yu Hockey Show. Such a good example of how much the English dub improves on a masterpiece with Genkai's cold, cold retort to Shishiwakamaru here. The middle rounds to me are the beating heart of the Dark Tournament and really put what elevates this above most tournament arcs on full display. It's not about just the fights, the areas around the tournament have a lot of great room for storytelling as well. I've been in plenty, Chess tournaments as a kid or sports ones growing up or TCG ones as an adult...the memorable human experiences often happen around the competition itself.

Every time I see Dark Tournament I appreciate having the shadow quartet of girls there as spectators. They're a great example of fleshing out the tournament through stuff around the fights. Shizuru the menace heckling Toguro, the little girl power moment after Genkai opened a can of whoop-ass. "Think about this, if demons had toilets would you want to sit on one?" Good stuff. Not as good as Platinum-Tier blorbo from the arc, the sadistic and sassy announcer Koto!

Never underestimate how much a good sportscaster can elevate the action. The middle rounds couple that spirit with another great source of drama, hostile rules, in a very organic way getting into these two middle rounds against Team Masho & Team Uratogi. And this time around I'm really getting what they show about the overall story of the tournament. It's all in a line Genkai delivers to Yusuke in the hotel room between the rounds setting up a key part of the story. Prodding him about who the leader of team Urameshi is.

Team Masho shows how Yusuke isn't quite ready. When dealt a bad hand by the corrupt organization he barely keeps things together because Kurama steps up and Kuwabara pulls off a miracle win to bail him out. Sure Yusuke wins his fights but gets too caught up with Jin he gets that disqualification. Obviously I love Kurama getting a chance to hold the main stage for a while, especially in a way that shows off his head for strategy. None of that was ever really hard for me to get.

What really struck me this time about the Uratogi round though was how it plays with the same ideas to build an arc around Genkai. Even right down to the Beautiful Suzuki being a great foil. Part of that threat to Yusuke was that Genkai could lead this team if needed. Beautiful Suzuki is the antagonist who took that too far, showed a team where a veteran leader was too heavy handed. What it would look like if Genkai made this tournament about her revenge on Toguro instead of letting go and letting the next Generation take the reins. Which...is like, the fundamental difference between her and Toguro. The second Suzuki pumps himself up he really shows how much of a parody Toguro he is. The full-blown dimwit Genkai sees in her old partner.

I dunno, that was my big revelation this time. Made me appreciate two fun fights of Genkai just getting to kick ass even more. Which I didn't think was possible. We love you granny, we stan Genkai here. Togashi's 2-for-2 on convention-breaking female mentors for his shonen protagonists and it might just be my favorite hallmark of his manga.