User blog comment:GotMilk5101520/Tartarus Arc Part 3 ending soon?/@comment-24039250-20140506192938/@comment-4829046-20140508154431

Meh, a guy ripping off his shirt while fighting seriously isn't fan service to me and neither is it when a woman does it, however the nature of it is what I'm concerned about. If it serves as just randomness and not serious, then I find fault with it. But Mashima almost ALWAYS does a closeup shot when a female is concerned these days and that is blatant fan service, not going with the flow at least imo. I prefer series where losing clothes isn't highlighted and just feels like part of the effect with no time going into detailed closeups. It was better in RAVe and yes I am referring to Julia :D As I have said, I do not consider nudity or partial nudity being present as just fan service but HOW it is shown. In some shows it is so natural you just don't even notice and neither do the characters after a while and so it doesn't mess with the story.

Basically though, I doubt Jellal appearing shirtless will ruin the dark nature. It might actually make it better by showing injuries or something on his flesh itself rather than through a hole in his clothes. Who knows.