Medaka Box [Manga]

[Rejuvenation]

As I said before, Medaka is fine for the rest of the year. 2011 is where I'd feel a bit uneasy depending on if those series suck as much as the majority of 2010 has or not.

Spoiler for Raw 69:

Hurray! Unzen is back and out of the coma!

Also its absolutely nuts Kumagawa spotted Nabeshima and Unzen peeping him through binoculars. He never ceases to amaze me.

Looks like Zenkichi's pathetic attempt to beat Kumagawa is unraveling. I wish Kumagawa would stop messing around so much and end it so we can get on to the next one. That or Nishio throws a curve ball to make this not end how I was expecting it to the whole time.

Also Medaka's behavior whenever Kumagawa is around is priceless. I love her normal behavior but its always so amusing to see her fly off the handle so easily when the Big Bad Minus is around.

Also looking forward to the color for chapter 70.

[KLGChaos]

Spoiler:

Pathetic attempt? Just get it over with? Man, you sound like you really hate Zenkichi.

Anyway, I wonder what was going on this chapter. Looks like Zen beat down Kumagawa pretty good, but he then said something that surprised Zenkichi and got him to open his eyes. Medaka looked at the red, so I'm wondering if Kumagawa said "I give up..." but said he lied about it and the ref let the match continue. Medaka getting heated was pretty funny, but I'm really wondering what Kumagawa said at the end. It seemed to surprise everyone.

[Doc Astaroth]

Okay...

Spoiler:

Zenkichi has won!

Too bad, Kumagawa doesn´t care about this, and can now slaughter Zenkichi in a private fight!


And it looks like Kumagawa has shown Zenkichi a little magic trick... if you saw Dark Knight, you know what I mean.

Of course, he used his power to regenerate Zenkichi´s eyes... But not his view! Zenkichi is blind now!


So, but what did he said to surprise Zenkichi so much?

Kumagawa: "You don´t know... The reason why I had to come to this school."
Zenkichi: "The reason you had to come? What was it..."
*Get stabbed*
Kumagawa: "The reason, why I had to come to this school was because my parents bothered me to graduate from a High School..."

Ah, Kumagawa... I don´t know if I should love you or hate you... Certainly the character in this manga who makes things more exciting. And bloody... And cruel...

[Rejuvenation]

Originally Posted by KLGChaos

Spoiler:

Pathetic attempt? Just get it over with? Man, you sound like you really hate Zenkichi.

Spoiler:

Not hate but more like apathy. I find the majority of other characters more interesting than Zenkichi.

Plus it was clear to me Kumagawa wasn't taking this seriously and always made it seem like Zenkichi had nothing about him he should give a damn about since he first showed up in the story.

Originally Posted by Doc Astaroth

Okay...

Spoiler:

Zenkichi has won!

Too bad, Kumagawa doesn´t care about this, and can now slaughter Zenkichi in a private fight!


And it looks like Kumagawa has shown Zenkichi a little magic trick... if you saw Dark Knight, you know what I mean.

Of course, he used his power to regenerate Zenkichi´s eyes... But not his view! Zenkichi is blind now!


So, but what did he said to surprise Zenkichi so much?

Kumagawa: "You don´t know... The reason why I had to come to this school."
Zenkichi: "The reason you had to come? What was it..."
*Get stabbed*
Kumagawa: "The reason, why I had to come to this school was because my parents bothered me to graduate from a High School..."

Ah, Kumagawa... I don´t know if I should love you or hate you... Certainly the character in this manga who makes things more exciting. And bloody... And cruel...

Spoiler:

So my suspicions were right and Kumagawa was just dicking around the entire time.

Kumagawa turned Zenkichi into a blind man?! Haha what a clever bastard with an ironic sense of humor. My like for Kumagawa just shot up a few more points.

[Doc Astaroth]

Originally Posted by Rejuvenation

Spoiler:

Not hate but more like apathy. I find the majority of other characters more interesting than Zenkichi.

Plus it was clear to me Kumagawa wasn't taking this seriously and always made it seem like Zenkichi had nothing about him he should give a damn about since he first showed up in the story.

Spoiler:

So my suspicions were right and Kumagawa was just dicking around the entire time.

Kumagawa turned Zenkichi into a blind man?! Haha what a clever bastard with an ironic sense of humor. My like for Kumagawa just shot up a few more points.

Well...

Spoiler:

... The problem is that Kumagawa may not be a fighter, but his "All Fiction" is one of the ultimate hax the Superpower Lottery can offer: "Time Reverse", the ability to make any effort senseless by rejecting the effects of an action.

Other examples in the world of manga for this kind of ability are Golden Experience Requiem in the fifth part of Jojo´s bizarre adventures and recently the Izanagi from Naruto.

In case of Jojo, this is a skill the hero recevies in the last minute and he ISN´T even aware about it!

And in Naruto´s case, it is just another expansion after Kishimoto realized the Sharingan is still not broken enough.

[KLGChaos]

Originally Posted by Doc Astaroth

Well...

Spoiler:

... The problem is that Kumagawa may not be a fighter, but his "All Fiction" is one of the ultimate hax the Superpower Lottery can offer: "Time Reverse", the ability to make any effort senseless by rejecting the effects of an action.

Other examples in the world of manga for this kind of ability are Golden Experience Requiem in the fifth part of Jojo´s bizarre adventures and recently the Izanagi from Naruto.

In case of Jojo, this is a skill the hero recevies in the last minute and he ISN´T even aware about it!

And in Naruto´s case, it is just another expansion after Kishimoto realized the Sharingan is still not broken enough.

Spoiler:

Reminds me of Orihime's ability from Bleach, which can basically reverse anything as well. Never been a big fan of that type of power because it's just nearly impossible to beat. How can you beat someone who can make everything you did moot? The only way would be to kill him outright. In the end, the author usually has to use an ass pull or a dues ex machina to actually have the good guys win, which is never really a good way to finish a story.

My question is, will Zenkichi now be blind for the rest of the manga? That's not going to make a lot of his fans happy.

[Iron21]

Where did y'all get chapter 69 from?

Can anyone pm the link to me please.

EDIT: Got it.

[Rejuvenation]

Originally Posted by Doc Astaroth

Well...

Spoiler:

... The problem is that Kumagawa may not be a fighter, but his "All Fiction" is one of the ultimate hax the Superpower Lottery can offer: "Time Reverse", the ability to make any effort senseless by rejecting the effects of an action.

Other examples in the world of manga for this kind of ability are Golden Experience Requiem in the fifth part of Jojo´s bizarre adventures and recently the Izanagi from Naruto.

In case of Jojo, this is a skill the hero recevies in the last minute and he ISN´T even aware about it!

And in Naruto´s case, it is just another expansion after Kishimoto realized the Sharingan is still not broken enough.

Spoiler:

I'm aware of both abilities you mentioned. GER gets used in vs. debates often in a forum I visit. Since I figured it was something along those lines its why I've felt Zenkichi has no business fighting Kumagawa. Just kicking him when he can easily reverse everything isn't going to stop him. Also since Kumagawa made it clear he doesn't give a shit about Zenkichi(Much like Miyakonojou did) the character aspect of this fight didn't interest me either.

I just find it hilarious that Kumagawa decided to be so ironically evil to take Zenkichi's sight away from him after the whole "I'll fight you blind folded" stunt.

[Last Carpet]

Spoiler:

So my suspicions were right and Kumagawa was just dicking around the entire time.

Kumagawa turned Zenkichi into a blind man?! Haha what a clever bastard with an ironic sense of humor. My like for Kumagawa just shot up a few more points.

I can't say I'm surprised, but something still bothers me. If Kumagawa's the Big Bad that not even the God-like Beast Medaka can touch, why is his fight first?

Could there be something planned in the future that will pale in comparison to this?

(I'm still hoping for an evil-Zenkichi)

[Westlo]

Medaka had 4 color pages this week, 2 for the results of the character poll.

http://www.turboimagehost.com/p/4402587/022.jpg.html#

[Arabesque]

Originally Posted by Westlo

When they get around to a popularity poll (prob next color) I'm gonna laugh when Medaka crushes everyone else in the poll (like every main character does in Jump comics) and half the people in the English fandom will be just like @_@

So is this a Joker howl or just a quite chuckle?

nice to see Kikaijima in the top 10

[Rejuvenation]

Well that kills that argument too and I was waiting for it. Medaka is more popular than Zenkichi like I thought. Kills that whole "character popularity" thing people tried to use whenever Medaka was spotlighted. Not like her fight against Miyakonojou didn't already do that. Seems like Westlo and I get to gloat.

Just as I thought, Munakata is extremely popular as well. As far as #3 even which explains things perfectly for me.

Originally Posted by Last Carpet

Spoiler:

So my suspicions were right and Kumagawa was just dicking around the entire time.

Kumagawa turned Zenkichi into a blind man?! Haha what a clever bastard with an ironic sense of humor. My like for Kumagawa just shot up a few more points.

I can't say I'm surprised, but something still bothers me. If Kumagawa's the Big Bad that not even the God-like Beast Medaka can touch, why is his fight first?

Could there be something planned in the future that will pale in comparison to this?

(I'm still hoping for an evil-Zenkichi)

His fight is first because its very likely this isn't his final fight. Chances are he has more uses for All Fiction that he hasn't shown. Just like Miyakonojou didn't reveal Unreasonable Taxation until the final fight of the Flask Plan arc.

[Last Carpet]

Originally Posted by Rejuvenation

Well that kills that argument too and I was waiting for it. Medaka is more popular than Zenkichi like I thought. Kills that whole "character popularity" thing people tried to use whenever Medaka was spotlighted. Not like her fight against Miyakonojou didn't already do that. Seems like Westlo and I get to gloat.

Just as I thought, Munakata is extremely popular as well. As far as #3 even which explains things perfectly for me.



His fight is first because its very likely this isn't his final fight. Chances are he has more uses for All Fiction that he hasn't shown. Just like Miyakonojou didn't reveal Unreasonable Taxation until the final fight of the Flask Plan arc.

Hmm....that sounds reasonable.

As glad as I am to see this get drawn out, I can't help think that this'll give Medaka time to come up with a skill that'll beat Kumagawa. Proving, as usual, that she's just better than everyone.

Medaka's got an almighty ability that can't be matched by a Plus, but can be used against a Minus. If she finds a way around this and takes down Kumagawa on her own, (which she couldn't do before), I'd say the manga is doomed.

My hopes lie with Zenkichi. Either turning evil and seeing how Medaka tries to get by without her emotional crutch. Or finding that Zenkichi is an Abnormal in his own league.

Only time will tell.

[Doc Astaroth]

Originally Posted by Last Carpet

Hmm....that sounds reasonable.

As glad as I am to see this get drawn out, I can't help think that this'll give Medaka time to come up with a skill that'll beat Kumagawa. Proving, as usual, that she's just better than everyone.

Medaka's got an almighty ability that can't be matched by a Plus, but can be used against a Minus. If she finds a way around this and takes down Kumagawa on her own, (which she couldn't do before), I'd say the manga is doomed.

My hopes lie with Zenkichi. Either turning evil and seeing how Medaka tries to get by without her emotional crutch. Or finding that Zenkichi is an Abnormal in his own league.

Only time will tell.

I never really understand the appeal of Zenkichi becoming evil or an Abnormal. Why can he stay a Normal, this would make his victory even more awesome.

Also, I think, Medaka already developed such a method: The Perses mode.
This mode didn´t seem to match her general behavior, but now I understand: By giving up her reason, Kumagawa couldn´t any longer influence her. This is why he became so desinterested in her.

However, she lost this "advantage" of the Perses Mode now, so yeah...

I still hoping on a Medaka vs Shiranui fight.

[Last Carpet]

Originally Posted by Doc Astaroth

I never really understand the appeal of Zenkichi becoming evil or an Abnormal. Why can he stay a Normal, this would make his victory even more awesome.

My main standing is for Zenkichi becoming Evil. Not for him turning into a full-blown Big Bad like Kumagawa. Maybe just losing his way for a while, or even just so he can see what it's like. To err is human after all.

Medaka's "dragged" him around for years without caring how the situation affects him. To this day he still follows her around. What if one day he decides to go off on his own, to do what he wants without any say from Medaka. Without caring about what she wants or what she thinks. Who knows where it would take him?

And even so, it's not just for Zenkichi. We all know that Medaka was lonely as a child(and is implied to still feel this way sometimes). Zenkichi is her emotional crutch, without him around, she'd come apart at the seams.I want to see if Medaka can get by without him.

With her "The End" Abnormality, you'd think there's nothing she can't do. She's said before that she can't do anything unless he's around, I want to see if that's really true, because I seriously doubt it. Plus if it is true, I'd like to see Medaka try and get by without her boy toy. To see if she really does appreciate him, if she really does hold him to a higher regard than anyone else.

As for Zenkichi's Normal status, I don't think he's Abnormal but he's not completely Normal either. Throughout the manga, from the Start of the Flask Plan arc up to now, it's been hinted that Zenkichi isn't the Normal that everyone, including himself, believes him to be. And I'm kind of sick of the beating around the bush. I want them to just come out and say where he stands among all the students that are supposedly "better" than him.

[Johnny]

I agree, as I don't know any normal people that can run up the side of a building...

Maybe it's something like Superman banged Lois Lane and Zenkichi was the product of said romp type of thing. He's not completely normal or completely abnormal either...

[Rejuvenation]

Originally Posted by Last Carpet

Hmm....that sounds reasonable.

As glad as I am to see this get drawn out, I can't help think that this'll give Medaka time to come up with a skill that'll beat Kumagawa. Proving, as usual, that she's just better than everyone.

Medaka's got an almighty ability that can't be matched by a Plus, but can be used against a Minus. If she finds a way around this and takes down Kumagawa on her own, (which she couldn't do before), I'd say the manga is doomed.

My hopes lie with Zenkichi. Either turning evil and seeing how Medaka tries to get by without her emotional crutch. Or finding that Zenkichi is an Abnormal in his own league.

Only time will tell.

Honestly, this seems rather simple to me though harder to actually do for Medaka I guess. Technically Medaka controls the abnormalities she copies in her P-Mars mode but she doesn't ever appear to control her own abnormality. Looking over the series and explanations again, its like Medaka can't turn her ability off.

Similar to how Takachiho couldn't help his reflexes, Medaka can't help her ability to copy and master. If she learned how to not automatically copy everything she encounters, the threat of facing off against a minus wouldn't cause her the psychological damage of absorbing their abilities and perfecting their abilities. Medaka taking down Kumagawa hardly dooms the manga. She is the main character and its to be expected. Its like expecting Naruto not to fight Sasuke, for Luffy to not be the one out of all his crew mates to take on the opposing pirate boss, for Yusuke not to fight the opposing group's leader etc.

I've hardly any interest in Zenkichi. Kujira called him "unchangeable" and that really gets confirmed throughout the story. Since he is mostly a static character I know he is not going to be the one to deliver things on par with some of my favorite moments of this series. Even if he were to awaken an abnormality, I'm not sure if that would spark my interest if his character doesn't progress from there.

Every time he has the chance to do something he just proves to me that he is who I thought he was. The perennial Robin to Medaka's Batman. And really there isn't anything wrong with that. He will always be Medaka's sidekick and always have no business trying to take on end of arc bosses who keep messing up his name(Miyakonojou) or showing no interest in him(Kumagawa). Let alone when they show the true scope of their abilities.

[AQVXZ11]

Originally Posted by Rejuvenation

I've hardly any interest in Zenkichi. Kujira called him "unchangeable" and that really gets confirmed throughout the story. Since he is mostly a static character I know he is not going to be the one to deliver things on par with some of my favorite moments of this series. Even if he were to awaken an abnormality, I'm not sure if that would spark my interest if his character doesn't progress from there.

Every time he has the chance to do something he just proves to me that he is who I thought he was. The perennial Robin to Medaka's Batman. And really there isn't anything wrong with that. He will always be Medaka's sidekick and always have no business trying to take on end of arc bosses who keep messing up his name(Miyakonojou) or showing no interest in him(Kumagawa). Let alone when they show the true scope of their abilities.

Well all this proves is that the revelation of Zenkichi's abnormal ability/dramatic change in personality will be all the more shocking and important. Besides Kujira has been wrong in a few instances in this series already. Not saying he will take down a boss but all this underestimating him only makes him seem more important. And do you really see him as a sidekick? I thought they were 50/50 more like a Zatch/Kiyo or Soul/Maka (Sorry could not think of anything better) accept that they don't fight together. Although a "normal" guy is okay too. It would be kinda cool if he stays the way he is but if he were really normal, he would not have defeated Munakata. At one point Munakata even said: "This guy's not normal!"

[Doc Astaroth]

Found some spoiler:

Spoiler:

また少し修正しました。
「『僕の友達になってくれるのなら、その目を治してあげるよ』」
球磨川の言葉に激しく葛藤する善吉･･･遂には、球磨川の前に跪き、両手もつくが
その口から出た言葉は･･････
「俺はお前が大嫌いだ、だから友達にはなれない」
何かを決意した善吉、穴の上のめだかにこれまでの思い出を語りかけ
「･･･でも、全部いまならいい思い出だぜ。･･･好きだったぜ、めだかちゃん」
「そんな、今わの際のような台詞はよせ！善吉ー――――――――――――！！！」
“震脚”で、金網を奈落のそこまで落とす善吉、大量の毒蛇が善吉と球磨川にまとわりつく
「あの蛇の毒は出血性だ！あれなら球磨川も･･･！！」
「『僕の“マイナス”の力を使って戻してしまえば･･････』」
巨大ネジを取り出して“マイナス”の力を発揮しようとする球磨川、その球磨川を
後ろからではなく正面から球磨川の腕を掴んでいました。
「お前とは友達になれない、だが、一緒に死んでやる事はできる！！」
球磨川の絶叫が響き渡る！！　善吉の名を叫ぶめだか！！
「善吉ー――――――――――――！！！」
次回につづく！！

I´m not exactly sure about the contents, but it seems like...

Spoiler:

... Kumagawa offers Zenkichi to become his friends and heal his eyes, but Zenkichi replies he hates him and therefore can´t become his friend.

But he grips Kumagawa and tells him that they can die together!

Wait, what?

Mhm...

With her "The End" Abnormality, you'd think there's nothing she can't do. She's said before that she can't do anything unless he's around, I want to see if that's really true, because I seriously doubt it. Plus if it is true, I'd like to see Medaka try and get by without her boy toy. To see if she really does appreciate him, if she really does hold him to a higher regard than anyone else.

In that case it would be enough if he just dies, right? He must not become evil for that.

[KLGChaos]

Originally Posted by Doc Astaroth

I never really understand the appeal of Zenkichi becoming evil or an Abnormal. Why can he stay a Normal, this would make his victory even more awesome.

Also, I think, Medaka already developed such a method: The Perses mode.
This mode didn´t seem to match her general behavior, but now I understand: By giving up her reason, Kumagawa couldn´t any longer influence her. This is why he became so desinterested in her.

However, she lost this "advantage" of the Perses Mode now, so yeah...

I still hoping on a Medaka vs Shiranui fight.

The problem with him being a normal is that while he's managed to survive next to Medaka, he hasn't exactly proven a match for the abnormals. His fight against Munakata he won... but ONLY because Munakata was holding back. He would have been killed otherwise. He was destroyed by Medaka when they fought and when Kumagawa got serious, he was completely owned then, too. Zen as a normal has proven to be nothing more than a beating toy, which is why his fans (note, despite Rejuv's apathy towards him, he does have a lot of fans-- he's in second after all) would want to see him level up, so he can actually stand up to them. Right now, it seems like Maguro or Kujira, both non-fighters, could still destroy him.

As for him turning evil, I don't want that. However, I would like to see him break away from Medaka and the StuCo and actually think for himself for once instead of just following Medaka around like a puppy.