By Dustin Cabeal
Much like last week I’ll be looking at and scoring the individual stories that I read from this volume. I will continue to skip things I don’t read (One Piece) or have determined I no longer want to read (RWBY). That said, it’s pretty cool to be checking out new properties. I have no idea if they’re even still going in Japan or how much of a difference there is between them, but it’s cool either way. With that, let's dive right into U19!
U19 – Score: 2/5
Since the story takes forever to tell you what the title stands for I will start with that, it means Under 19. I didn’t care for this one much. From the weird Harry Potter, not Harry Potter scar, to the way that premise was bloated, down to the basic characters. The “grown-up party” has taken control of Japan and brought back things like physical punishment for students and controlling their lives. I don’t get it. Are the youth of Japan this out of control? Are there any youth in Japan? Their population growth has been way the fuck down alongside their marriage as well, so I question everything about this story already. Adults are in charge… like the real world… and they fucking call it the “grown-up party.”
Our main dude is a pacifist, but a rebel… and he likes to sew. He’s a keeper ladies. There’s a ranking system, and that determines what you’re allowed to have in life. Some X-Men shit introduced right after they start testing and ranking blood types. Oh and there’s a goddamn love story wrapped around all of this. There’s too much going on, and frankly, I blame the way that manga is set up since they give these creators a few issues to strike an interest or they’re series is over. The art is good but typical. There was a lot of white on the page, and none of the characters looked unique. Also, none of them were tolerable aside from the leading lady of the story. The main dude is annoying and a contrast of personalities that don’t work because they’re not believable. I could be in the minority on this one, and it’ll become the next big thing, or I could be in the majority when I say it’s not going to make it.
We Never Learn – Score: 3/5
I continue to like the art on We Never Learn. We Never Learn, is another Jump Start series like U19, but it’s a chapter ahead having started in the last issue. The premise as a reminder is that a typically brainy guy isn’t as smart as the two geniuses he sits by in school. He’s offered a full ride to college, which he needs because he’s dirt poor. The catch is that he must help the geniuses get into the college of their choice, which happens to be the opposite discipline for their genius.
This chapter reveals the reason why both girls want to study their opposite field. I wish there were a better way of describing that, but I’m not finding it so whatever. The motivation isn’t bad, but it’s a bit shallow. The rest of the chapter is spent with the girls visiting Yuiga in class and everyone freaking out that he’s got something going on with them, which he starts to view them as women until they comment that he looks gross. I know that Taishi Tsutsui won’t back off on the romantic tension, but I do wish that Yuiga had no interest in either due to the situation he’s in because of them… but, hormones and love stories being what they are, it’ll turn into a love triangle romance soon enough.
The Promised Neverland – Score: 4/5
Seriously why is this flying under the radar? Is it too new? I’m finding this story more and more interesting every time I read it. After Mom broke Emma's leg in the last issue, our gang of kids that are going to be feed to an unknown source, have their plans derailed. What’s worse, Norman is scheduled to be shipped out in a day… to be eaten.
I’m fascinated by this story and the psychology behind the characters. The battle of wits is very reminiscent of an espionage story. Like two spies that know they’re both spies, but can’t prove it and so they’re coy with each other while talking. It’s like that, but it’s children, and their lives are on the line in the worst possible way. If they fail, they’re food. The art is great, and I love the shift that the children make from innocent to pretending to be happy. It makes the story so much better. That and I enjoy that the style is modern, but has a classic feel to it with the designs. I can’t wait to read more of this story and hope that the trades aren’t far behind.
That is sadly all I read from this issue. I don’t read One Piece; I’m trying to catch up on Black Clover, so I don’t want to read ahead. I’m only reading Food Wars! and My Hero Academia in trade. Side note, I hate scrolling through My Hero Academia because I keep seeing a new character that I don’t know and it’s setting my mind on fire with questions that I don’t actually want to be answered. It’s annoying, but the trades are too far behind so oh well. Anyway, that’s it. There are seven series in this issue and I can’t read three of them and won’t read the fourth… maybe next time I’ll will.