The last volume had a good setup for what will be the concluding arc of this segment of the series, which is a mouthful, but that’s the only way to put it. Soma and his dad have put everything on the line, with Daddy dearest agreeing to join the Evil Dean of the institute should his son/side lose in a group battle. It's drama at its finest.
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Well if this wasn’t the volume, I was fucking waiting for! Since I first started with this series, the biggest question I had has always revolved around Soma’s dad. As more small details emerged, it only made him more and more curious to the reader. With this latest arc, it became clear that whatever Azami was up to involved Joichiro.
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Hey, remember the Fall Classic? When Soma was up against Subaru? Yeah, this is pretty much the same thing. The entire issue is dedicated to the build-up of the battle between Soma and Akira. Granted, the build-up isn’t much of the story because Yuto Tsukuda really likes spending a lot of time with the cooking and the judges.
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The amazing thing about the shonen style of storytelling is that something can reach twenty-one volumes and yet the story hasn’t completed a full year. It also makes me wonder how long I’ve been reading Food Wars! for since I started reviewing and reading this series from the start of the trades. Is it any wonder that the dishes have gotten a little boring.
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031 - Well I finally got an episode done! I guess that landmark 30th episode was just too much to top right? Huh? Wasn't it? Fucking whatever. After I rant, I do cover some current news that will probably excite some of you! It's about Vertigo Comics so just put on your jizz shorts and get ready! Now, I know I usually cover comics, but I've been reading nothing but manga this week in an effort to clear off my desk... so I'm only talking about manga. Enjoy!
Manga covered in this episode:
While the return of Erina’s father has provided some great moments, the overall story seems to be lacking a real overall cohesiveness. There have been plenty of loopholes for Soma and his gang to skid by, be it Erina’s father letting her stay at Polar Star or Soma’s challenges. It hasn’t been all bad, but there have been some languid moments.
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029 - I've got a manga filled episode for you this week. Don't worry I still cover two books releasing this week, but let's be honest it's just "that" week in the month in which nothing looks that damn interesting. Rely on your go-to's this week.
Manga, Graphic Novels and Comic Books covered on this episode:
Okay, that cover is just weird. You have to read the volume to understand it and even then… it’s weird. But hey, nineteen volumes later it’s probably hard to come up with covers that are super interesting and different without relying on T&A. Let’s all just be happy that it’s a deer and not a woman dressed as a deer because we know how that would look.
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Bombshell, bombshell, bombshell… bombshell! There’s probably more than four bombshells in this volume, but you get the idea of just how important this volume is to the series. When last, we left Soma, he was facing off against the leopard tank top wearing douche in a rigged Shokugeki. Everything was on the line, but no true outcome insight.
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Did you read the last volume? That twist huh? It is so damn good. It completely refreshes the direction of Food Wars! because let’s be honest, Soma just continuing to have battle after battle and winning and losing and growing would have been fine, but not interesting. Now, now some real character development can go down, and I would say that the ending of this volume is just the start to that.
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Holy. Shit.
I can honestly say that I did not see this story direction happening. Volume Sixteen completes Soma’s challenge of the food festival, and if you were feeling burnt out on all the festival challenges, well don’t worry, apparently, the creator was too so he kind of brushes this one under the rug in favor of what he reveals. Hint, look at the cover.
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Find out why Food Wars 2 made our “Best of 2016” list.
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That’s right, more Food Wars! Those of you enjoying the anime will be looking forward to this volume since it picks up after the second season of the show. But wait, hold that excitement some.
Read MoreIt’s the second test of the Stagiaire Challenge and Yukihira has been sent to work with the chef that he challenged during the spring… challenge. You know what? They have far too many season theme challenges. Hell, I’m not even sure it was spring… summer? Doesn’t matter. Yukihira is working in Shinomiya’s kitchen, the man that failed Megumi.
Read MoreWelcome back to another podcast episode of Super S, an anime podcast from ComicBastards.com. Today we have a different show for you as we grow and adapt. First, some news from Viz Media that tie-ins to the much talked about One-Punch Man. After that we go over to Robert's favorite JoJo's Bizarre Adventure which is getting a live-action movie version, find out who's directing it! In-between the reviews we have something new that we'll be doing for the next five episodes... our TOP FIVE ANIMES!!!!! That's right; we've each got a top five to cover so sit back and enjoy. We'll also post them in a special "Spoiler Box" at the bottom of this post so you can see them after you listen.
Read MoreWe're back with our 10th episode! We thank you for listening and hopefully you'll stick around for another ten and more after that! This week's question is: Do we like or dislike live action adaptations of anime? Now for shows discussed and who discussed them!
Previously on Super S...
I decided to review volumes 12 and 13 of Food Wars because they’re so interwoven in their start at this point of the series, that it makes more sense to just discuss them together. As with any manga volume of an Shonen style story, it’s not set up to be a standalone story. it’s not like an American graphic novel which typically has a goal of each volume standing on its own.
With that, volume 12 gives a bit of rollback conclusion to volume 11. Then volume 13 is the conclusion to volume 12 and the fall classic. If you’re watching the second season of the anime, then you should just stop reading this review because I’m very sure that the conclusion to this story arc is going to be the entire second season of the show which does a hell of a job following the source material.
Volume 12 sets up the three-way showdown between Soma, Ryo and Akira which is of course the first time in the history of the school. The ingredient is revealed as well and while I actually won’t tell you what it is, it’s deceptively simple. This factors into the story of course because Soma is behind the curve compared to his two other opponents. The big day comes and we get to see what trick Soma has up his sleeve and of course what the other two are up to as well. What’s particularly interesting about volume 12 isn’t the outcome or the battle. Instead it’s what we learn about Soma and the forces at work behind the scenes that are trying to defeat him. There’s a great scene flashing back to his dad’s visit that is really important to the entire series because it lays out the creator’s views of what makes Soma special.
In volume 13 we of course learn who the victor is from the fall classic and I won’t spoil it for you. Frankly it doesn’t really matter because it doesn’t factor into the next chapter of the story, but instead builds a three-way friendship between the three cooks that faced off. Which is probably the most interesting development thus far. The rest of the volume is spent on the next challenge that is a bit like the student’s time in the hotel hell week. This time they’re sent out on location and asked to make a visual accomplishment… which is vague to say the least. Thankfully this part of the story only follows Soma who is paired with Hisako Arato aka Erina’s assistant. Erina is paired with Megumi which is pretty damn great though I found how they both passed the test to be a bit strange. Erina takes over the kitchen completely which I think would go against the point of the test and Megumi made one alteration which was really the only thing to happen. The rest is just funny because of Megumi’s personality and responses.
The next volume will continue the Stagiaire Challenge which should provide some interesting challenges depending on where the creator goes with it. Otherwise the character development for Soma and his cast of characters continues to be spot on and well-paced. I’m still not particularly fond of the harem-esque quality that the story presents as it doesn’t seem to do anything for the overall story and has hinder one character’s development, but it’s a minor gripe in the scheme of things.
The artwork is of course great because you don’t get into a top monthly manga without having great art. In particular I enjoy the comedic moments and artwork more than the serious moments, but they too are great looking. Also I appreciated that it didn’t get too crazy with the “foodgasam” parts during the final test because it really wouldn’t have taken away from the outcome which is basically what everyone wanted to see. That’s smart storytelling on every level.
If you’ve been reading along with Food Wars, then these are the two volumes you’ve been waiting for and they are worth the wait. I continue to be really impressed with this series and can understand why it’s been one of the top new franchises. It goes to show that great idea aside, great storytelling will stand out more.
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Food Wars is back with it’s long awaited Season 2. Okay, so long awaited might be an overstatement. Could be worse, like all those losers (Dustin) waiting for Attack on Titan to return next year.
Within the first minute (literally), you're able to gather the story. The eight first year contestants that won the preliminaries are to duke it out in the main competition of the Autumn Elections. Soma’s up first in what I guess you would call the quarter-finals. His opponent is Alice Nakiri, the prodigious granddaughter to Academy Director. Their battle? Bento. For those of you that don’t know what Bento is, let me [attempt to] give it to you in layman’s terms: Japanese lunch with the presentation of a TV dinner.
Soma is a character that I feel like everyone could get behind. Tough exterior, but deep down there's more to him. He's confident but not overly confident making him a prick. He knows how to cook but he also knows how to deliver what people want to feel while eating. Soma's pretty nifty, too, thinking of a molecular gastronomy technique by simply reading the ingredients from a cheap candy product. Who the hell does that?
Food Wars never failed to deliver something beautiful to look at. The quality of the animation is by far the best out there. The food... oh, man. How often have you seen an anime where the food looks so damn good that you want to rip it out of the screen and stuff it in your mouth? The “foodgasms” also make their triumphant return and they are as colorful as ever. Nothing like seeing a bunch of grown ass men frolicking through a grassy plain.
The pacing was a little fast in this first episode but it was never much of an issue. I’m assuming it’s going to a constant theme throughout the season as it’s only slated to be 13 episodes. Episode 1 held back no punches and it was every bit as exciting and enjoyable as I thought (and hoped... fuck you, Berserk) it would be.
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