Welcome to This Week in Shonen Jump, our weekly check in on Viz’s various Shonen Jump series. Viz has recently changed their release format, but our format will mostly remain the same. We will still review the newest chapters of two titles a week, now with even more options at our disposal. The big change for our readers is that, even without a Shonen Jump subscription, you can read these most recent chapters for free at Viz.com or using their app.
This week, Rowan and Kerry check in on “Black Clover” and “Mashle: Magic and Muscles.” If you have thoughts on these or any other current Shonen Jump titles, please let us know in the comments!
Black Clover Chapter 243
Written and Illustrated by Yuki Tabata
Reviewed by Rowan Grover
This chapter of “Black Clover” is where Tabata gets to really flex his hyper-kinetic superpowered fight scene talent. To demonstrate this right from the start to readers, the first panel we see is a shot of Gauche being stabbed through the chest by a giant sword, followed closely by a demonic-form Asta standing in front of a heavily fissured earth. Be warned, there’s not a whole lot in terms of character and general storytelling, but this chapter is acting as a huge amount of emotional and narrative payoff. Asta is reduced being little more than a rage-induced beast here, with Dante constantly provoking him yet being surprised at the power that Asta is able to channel at every move. It’s a little tell-not-showy, but the dialogue is restrained enough that it pairs well with describing the visceral art taking place.
There are some great plot points being filled in here through Dante’s dialogue, however, which seems to be a good use for it other than over-egotistical monologuing. The ranking of high-level demons is a distinctly Shonen-manga type of deal when you consider other systems of power organization like Power Levels in “Dragon Ball” and bounties in “One Piece”, although it still seems vague enough here to keep it mysterious and interesting. The name dropping of Zagred also is a nice bit of information drip-feeding, keeping the world-building alive even 243 chapters into this manga. Focusing more on Dante, however, his personality is very typically machiavellian here as he constantly mocks Asta’s attempts to attack him. Tabata hams it up to the point that it stands out, however, especially in a series that has had only a select few villains of this type.
The visuals are the real key to this chapter, as interesting as the story element is. Tabata has a great sense of scale, perspective, and camera angling throughout this issue that pairs fantastically to show how larger than life this action is. The second page introduces this idea well, showing a closeup of Asta’s demonic rage before shooting outwards to show his sword shooting forward and snaking like a bent shadow. From there, Tabata uses it all to demonstrate how vicious this battle is. Going from solid black silhouettes that invoke the terrifying Lucifero, to tight use of speed lines and negative space to show brutal impact and pacing, this fight scene is one of the tightest in the series thus far, showing how far Tabata has come as a regular mangaka.
Naturally, being such a climactic moment in the series means that emotions are running high, and Tabata establishes this on every character’s face. Asta, whilst being a ton of fun to watch, is probably the least interesting in this aspect. It’s still a high baseline, however, considering that he’s meant to embody pure rage due to his demonic possession and channeling, and the kind of blood-curdling anger being drawn here hits heights that Rob Liefeld’s “X-Force” could only ever dream of. Meanwhile, support characters sob in dramatic frenzies over what could be the potential death of the best boy Gauche, but the real show-stealer here is Dante. He has a constant, maniacal and Shakespearian grin that is slightly altered to fit every scene, even being gently twisted when Asta harms him on the final page. That kind of character detail does wonders for their personality, and Tabat understands this idea well.
Continued below“Black Clover” hits another high point in this chapter, delivering on emotional beats and superb action sequences. The momentum is still rolling by the end of the chapter, and I can’t wait to see how this fight continues.
Final Score: 9.0 – Fight manga at its finest, with high drama and slick supernatural action.
Mashle: Magic and Muscles — Ch. 8
Written and Illustrated by Hajime Komoto
Reviewed by Kerry Erlanger
“Mashle: Magic and Muscles” remains one of the more bonkers series I’ve read in awhile. Manga plots generally require a suspension of belief on the part of both the reader and the characters, but the level required here is almost absurdly consistent. I have to hand it to Hajime Komoto, though, because the only thing it does is add to the story’s charm. How have none of these characters figured out yet that Mash has no magic ability? How has he not failed out of school or been expelled? How is he going to keep this up for four years? Who cares? I don’t, and I love it.
Chapter 8 has Mash finally meeting a worthy adversary in Lance Crown, a fellow first year student who has not one, but two magic marks on his face. We learn for the first time that the number of magic marks you have equates to how powerful your magic power is, which is an interesting detail that I’m sure will come into play later. Of course Mash once again proves that the power of friendship and 24/7 workout regimens can best even the most talented wizards. The chapter ends with Mash towering over Lance after temporarily overcoming his gravity spell to knock him on the ground with a giant tree root, or something. Lance looks up at him somewhat impressed and, dare I say, almost fond? We’ll have to wait until next week’s chapter to see where this cliffhanger takes us, but I sort of get the feeling that no matter the outcome, this won’t be the last time we encounter Lance Crown.
Speaking of Mash’s unending rivals, it’s interesting how characters in this story continue to feel threatened by him. Sure, he’s managed to overcome every obstacle set out in front of him and fooled them all into thinking he has some magic ability (although has he? I almost feel like they’re all just baffled by him and choosing to ignore the fact that no one has ever actually seen him pull off a magic spell), but aren’t there more “worthy” magical opponents for all these bullies to waste their time on? I guess not, or at least not yet. Considering this manga keeps skirting the fringes of a Harry Potter AU, there might yet be some evil lurking around the corner, though that almost feels like too much commitment to a serious plot for “Mashle.”
Ridiculous premise or not, I do like the fact that the underlying message to this manga is basically that everyone is worthy as long as you try and it doesn’t matter if you were given a leg up by the circumstances of your birth. Mash never seems to give a damn that society has decided he’s lesser than his classmates simply because he doesn’t have a dumb mark on his face. His constantly impassive stare would be evidence enough of that if not for his unending ability to never let anything get in his way. It’s nice too that he’s managed to gather a posse around him despite not caring or trying to do so. People like him, presumably, for who he is, a spectacle for sure, but also just a good dude.
(I think the Dumbledore look-alike headmaster might be onto him, but we’ll have to wait and see about that.)
Of course last, but certainly not least, the artwork continues to be just as fun as the story itself. They compliment each other well. Hajime Komoto does a great job establishing the personalities of each of his characters through his illustrations, especially in their facial expressions. The situations are extreme, their reactions are extreme. I’d have it no other way.
Final Verdict: 7.0 — Another solid chapter in this bananas story.
