Shonen Jump Issue 02/05/18

Vintage Furby refurbisher and SJ Editor Urian Brown takes a look at this week’s issue.

By Urian Brown February 05, 2018

Cover SmallCover
art by Yamato Yamamoto

Is it just me, or do the characters in Seraph have some of the smartest uniforms in Weekly Shonen Jump? The cuts, the buttons, the medals, the other things I don’t know the name of, all come together perfectly. It’s no wonder this series gets cosplayed so much!

Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign
story by Takaya Kagami, art by Yamato Yamamoto, storyboards by Daisuke Furuya

I think this may be the first time a trumpet has played a major part in an SJ battle. An angel playing a trumpet, nonetheless! But this battle may have some sour notes coming up as one of the Seraph characters is on the verge of losing control! And stick around after the chapter for a huge interview with manga writer Kagami Sensei!

Seraph

One Piece
by Eiichiro Oda

The battle between Luffy and the menacing mochi man he’s been fighting takes a surprising turn when someone interferes! But are they on Luffy’s side or his foe, Katakuri. Not only will the answer surprise you, you may see the battle in a whole new light!

ACT-AGE
story by Tatsuya Matsuki, art by Shiro Usazaki

Kei’s career as an actress has started to take off thanks to her talent being recognized by director Kuroyama. And just with one audition and a curry commercial! And now she's been cast as an extra in a period piece. Can she manage to shine even as a background character? Enjoy the final JUMP START chapter of ACT-AGE . And if you loved it, tell us in the survey!

Act Age

My Hero Academia
by Kohei Horikoshi

It’s a well-known rule that every Shonen Jump manga, no matter what it’s about, must at some point have a school festival. Even if there’s no school. Even if the world’s ending. IT MUST HAPPEN. And now it’s time for the My Hero Academia’s school festival! But Horikoshi Sensei is a top-tier mangaka and does an admirable job explaining the need for one in this chapter. That’s a clever storytelling trick, telling the reader directly that what's happening is a bit silly to get them onboard with it. Smart! Funny chapter too!

Dr. Stone
story by Riichiro Inagaki, art Boichi

In the last chapter…THE WORLD ENDED! Oh, wait, that was the first chapter? Well, it ended again in this flashback! But there’s hope! And hope’s name is Byakuya, Senku’s father. He watched everyone on Earth turn to stone from space aboard the exquisitely drawn space station. And now he’s determined to do something about it. But what?! 

Dr Stone

Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma
story by Yuto Tsukuda, art by Shun Saeki, contributor Yuki Morisaki

Another tasty chapter of Food Wars! The soup’s on and Isshiki, the so-called master of aggressive Japanese cuisine, has served up a delicious bowl that’s full of surprises. But the biggest surprise comes when he confesses his feelings to Kinokuni! Find out what he says!

Robot x Laserbeam
by Tadatoshi Fujimaki

The greatest golf match that’s ever been in the English-language Weekly Shonen Jump is coming to a climax! Robo-kun and Dorian have been knocking balls all over the place and continuously one-upping each other! And now it’s down to the wire, the final strokes of the match. Who will get it in the hole and win?!

Robo Laserbeam

Hunter x Hunter  
by Yoshihiro Togashi

This manga is getting complicated! While Kurapika’s figuring out if some of the guards already know Nen, Hanzo, the bald ninja that broke Gon’s arm wwwwwaaaaaayyy back in the day, goes on a high-risk mission to get intel…and maybe something more. Sneaking and scheming, coming at ya! 

Black Clover
by Yûki Tabata

The Wizard King comes face to face with the leader of the Eye of the Midnight Sun, Licht! You’ve gotta have some serious cajones, or mana, to take on the most powerful wizard in all the kingdom! But Licht’s not a fool, he obviously wouldn’t attack unless he thought he had a chance! What's his game?

Black Clover

We Never Learn
by Taishi Tsutsui

Last week, it was a pervy dolphin that was causing all the bathing suit “malfunctions.” This week, a crab and sea cucumber get in on the action! Why do sea creatures keep causing girls in the manga to accidentally lose their clothes and subsequently making poor Yuiga lose his cool? I’ll give you a hint: it starts with an “F” and rhymes with “bunny.” (Answer: BECAUSE IT’S FUNNY). And this chapter, definitely is funny! Enjoy!

The Promised Neverland
story by Kaiu Shirai, art by Posuka Demizu 

Another chapter that fills in the blanks about the mysterious world of The Promised Neverland! And one that gives us a bit of a glimpse into strange workings of the human/demon promise the manga is named after. And now it’s up to brave Emma and her newfound allies to figure out what to do with the information. The paradigm of the manga has just shifted!

Promised Neverland

Blue Exorcist
by Kazue Kato

The world’s on fire! Rin has been reborn aflame and his fire is threatening to consume everyone! Can his burning flame be extinguished before the whole world’s a burned to a crisp?

Extras: Kagami Sensei Interview, Author Comments, Nihongo Lesson.

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by Urian Brown