Wanted to knock out Grand Jump 2024.4 first, as proof that this is still my main project. I’ll have an Afternoon manga write-up done this week as well, but that will probably be after Harta 76, since I do need to work on that too!
Grand Jump 2024.4
New Stuff:
A new (super short) series! And its by the mangaka of The Strongest Lawyer, a series which I haven’t covered for reasons that will become obvious the second you look at the new series.
Oh, its just because his art is uglier than sin.
Oh, you think I’m joking. You might be looking at those pictures and thinking, come on Sean its not so bad. You misunderstand, those are the best two pictures I could take in the entire chapter. I couldn’t put the worst of it in here as they are more risque (and just fucking awful) than what I like to post.
Do you know what kills me though? This is a BODYSWAP STORY!
Why does that piss me off? Well, I actually really love bodyswap and genderswap stories. For example, my favorite manga for most of my life has been Ranma 1/2, which I unabashedly love. In general I think these stories can really really fun and the premise usually has so much potential for interesting storytelling. I know that a lot of them are bad, and by their nature they are all quite problematic, but they are a guilty pleasure of mine, and so I’m always on the lookout for good new genderswap/bodyswap stories (and if you know any good ones please let me know!). But I also understand for some people they can be triggering, and that they aren’t everyone’s cup of tea! I like stories with interesting explorations of gender that ask interesting questions, or are at least have some good-natured charm like Ranma or Your Name.
This has none of that. This is the lowest common denominator of body swap stories, while being overly crude and perverted and lacking any ounce of creativity and just so goddamn ugly I’m surprised my eyeballs haven’t withered up already. Not like due to lack of skill, its not like he can’t draw, but I’m pretty sure this is intentionally designed and drawn in a way to cause me maximal harm. I am saving you all so much trouble by not sharing more of this manga, but in case you want something that will casually be in a nightmare of yours two weeks from now, here is just a cute little treat.
This all pisses me off so much not just cause I like the genre, but since this is a relatively rare genre, when something like this comes out, it just pushes back the chance for a good one to come out in the same magazine! I just… hate this manga so much… I think this is the most angry I’ve been reading for this project by a long shot…
If you are morbidly curious to see some more (not fully NSFW but questionable and I would avoid it in a workspace personally) content from this manga, well, don't say I didn't warn you...
God I want to vomit…
Returning Series:
Kamo’s Negi:
Solid chapter, the baseball club is being used as a swindling operation by instituting behavioral fines, but got there was this multi-page monologue that just kept going on and on!
Zashisu:
Great chapter that is mostly a recap honestly, though it is a recap in a much more gruesome way!
This face sums up my experience:
Can We Live Together?:
Short commentary by me today, because we went from the best girl to an idol… she is alright, but probably tied for my least favorite character ngl. The chapter was fine and I’m sure our MC will protect her, but it feels more… juvenile? than the last story. Also I’ve never been able to get into media about idols, aside from Perfect Blue and Oshi no Ko, which each have very good premises surrounding their idol content.
Wear the Sky:
Get more time with this crazy new girl, and its enjoyable to watch her paint because she is very 一生懸命 about it!
Living in the Karakida Bookstore
Great admissions from Tsugumi about her personality and some silent reflections from Ichika about her love for her senpai!
Also, SHOCKING NEWS
Shrink:
Are we… Actually getting a nuanced take on drugs in Japan?
Holy shit I think we are!
Shrink, I’m proud of you! Good job!
And what a great note to end on, much better than how the read-through started!
Stay tuned in this feed for a new manga that I bet you haven’t heard of (that will have an anime in the next year or so!) and in the Harta thread for Harta 76 (finally!)
Also yeah any good genderswap/bodyswap manga recommendations are always appreciated! Hopefully something that redeems the genre from the monstrosity I read today…