User blog comment:IamJakuhoRaikoben/Sorcerer Magazine, Issue 52: April 2016/@comment-24039234-20160503165323

1: I like Irene's design, but at this point I'm kinda worried about any and all plot threads/characters that have a connection to Erza (or Laxus...). Nah, scratch that: at this point I'm worried about any and all plot threads. >_<

2: Dat Lucy though...

4: One of these days, I'm getting the favourite milf of FT to win that pol. Go, Bisca, go!

5: I would argue with you about Azuma. He played an insanely significant role in the Tenrou arc: he attacked the Tenrou tree, and if Erza could not've defeated him, the battle plan of Grimoire Heart woul've been a success. I think this was Erza's first key battle for high stakes: all the other fights before had more of a personal streak to them. However, I seriously doubt Mashima-san thought this out in this detail. I believe he just wanted to summon every opponent, who gave Erza a challenge, and that description fits Azuma. He was cool, he was strong enough to pose a real threat, he was one of the few opponents of Erza who had a semblance of honor and did not toy around. For me, that is more than enough to include him. :)

Jegura FTW.

8: Why does anybody think that Gildarts will one-shot August (or somebody), by the way? To my mind, he is the classic old mentor figure who is to be struck down to provide some bullshit hype to a bad guy, and some even "bullshitter" development to Natsu who will be able to indirectly surpass him by defeating his killer. This would fairly horrible and cliché, and this is the reason why I will be content if Gildarts sits out this arc.

9: Juvia. :D

10: Blanania never fails to deliver some awesome art.*_*