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, Ken and Robbie check in with “Agravity Boys” and “Dr. Stone Reboot: Byakuya.” If you have thoughts on these or any other current Shonen Jump titles, please let us know in the comments!
Agravity Boys Chapter 1
Written & Illustrated by Atsushi Nakamura
Reviewed by Ken Godberson III
You know, when a new series begins in Shonen Jump, one of the most difficult things about trying to review it is having an idea on the future for it, having to take the “Well, we’re gonna have to wait and see” route. But I am glad to say that “Agravity Boys” bucks that trend very well. In one chapter, it tells one everything they need to know that it’s just a bit shit.
“Agravity Boys” is the story of four teenage astronauts, Saga, Chris, Geralt and Babazragi, who have been launched into space to find a new planet to colonize. Two days after their launch, there was a nuclear war on Earth that may have killed everyone, leaving them the only humans left. They soon are interrupted by a mysterious cosmic entity who gives them the Elixir of Reincarnation, an elixir that will turn one of them into a girl. So begins the debate on which of them should drink it and the pros and cons.
If it seems like the plot is thin is because “Agravity Boys” is a comedy series. It’s just not funny.
I’ll just be straight with it: the book’s attempts at comedy are just massively cringy. Perhaps the biggest moments are with Chris, the least traditionally masculine looking and the other three boy’s attempts to get him to drink the Elixir. Then you have Geralt with his theory that the change could see the person’s breast size be proportional to the penis size and it was at this point I just wanted to go back to me “Berserk” reading. By the time these four come to the realization that even if one of them changed, there wouldn’t be enough of a population to prevent extinction, the reader has been subjected to enough sexist and transphobic nonsense that you feel miserable by the end.
Artistic-wise, Nakamura’s art is fine. It’s serviceable. Each of the four have their own unique designs from each other, but mostly fit into their stereotypical roles of charismatic leader (Saga), the “feminine” boy (Chris), the aloof one (Geralt) and the “big guy” (Baba). I’ll give it credit; the story didn’t go into creepy and gross fanservice with its art, considering the plot could’ve easily gone into that territory. But at the end of the day, there is very little uniqueness to the style being presented.
As discussed before, the best thing about “Agravity Boys” Chapter One is that it’s bad. But it is bad right off the bat. This is just a comedy manga that delves into just tropes that I wish we could step away from. I truly do not see this series lasting anywhere near long enough to try and change it up. Then again, the last time I said something like that was when “We Never Learn” came out and that’s on its second anime season… so what do I know.
Final Verdict: 2.9- A really awkward, cringy and trite start to a comedy series that just isn’t funny.
Dr. Stone Reboot: Byakuya chapter 7
Written and illustrated by Boichi
Reviewed by Robbie Pleasant
The past few chapters of “Dr. Stone Reboot: Byakuya” have been something of a twist on the typical “Dr. Stone” narrative. Instead of Senku rebuilding the world’s technology from a stone age environment, we have the robot REI (who could technically be considered Senku’s brother) maintaining a space station with limited resources. Going in, I expected more of the same, as REI focuses on different repair projects.
Continued belowI was not expecting to have my heart torn asunder. So let’s get spoilery!
This chapter leaps ahead several years at a time, cutting back to Byakuya on Earth and REI in the space station. REI’s scientific space exploits are mostly glossed over, so the chapter can focus more on the characters as they grow older. We see Byakuya as an older man and the descendants of the space station, showing how much time has passed and how close he is to the end. We see REI struggling to repair itself and the station, as well as send a final signal to Byakuya down on Earth.
We’ve seen Byakuya’s final moments before in the pages of “Dr. Stone,” but this adds another level of heartbreak to it when we see REI’s message to him.
Going in, we knew how Byakuya’s story was going to end. The side story would always end thousands of years before Senku woke up. But boy did Boichi stick the landing.
Of course, the manga is enhanced immensely by Boichi’s artwork. The art is immaculately detailed, while remaining clean and solid the whole way through. The scenery is beautiful, especially the shots of Earth from outer space. In spite of the more serious nature of this chapter, Boichi still gives us some of the humorous expressions that add so much flavor to the characters and their voices, even on the robotic face of a spherical machine (and an imaginary Vegeta).
When Boichi needs to make a moment land, it lands hard. We get a full page shot of Byakuya holding a bottle filled with precious metals and reaffirming his dedication to helping future generations restoring humanity. We get a heart-wrenching image as he sees the light from the space station reflected in the water. The visual elements alone add so much power and emotion to every moment, it’s beautiful, but tragic.
Final Verdict: 8.9 – An emotionally powerful chapter backed up by beautiful artwork.
