Template:TMITM/July2013

 

So, after a month of hiatus, This Month in the Manga is back. We missed an issue... and then Mashima decided to go all Superman and write three chapters a week for two weeks.

Greeeeeat.

So, seeing as I'm missing something like 15 chapters, I guess I'll be giving you guys my opinion on the recent developments, focusing on what I thought was most interesting, and leaving out the rest.

Alright, let's start off with the end of the Grand Magic Games arc, which degenerated into a draconic confrontation due to the ambition of a cunning, disenchanted Dragon Slayer from a dark future.

Uninteresting.

The whole thing might have made sense, if handled in a better way, but Future Rogue went down just soooooo fast... Atlas Flame being Igneel's friend and thus helping Natsu out was something, but definitely nothing too special.

Something I did appreciate about the final part of this debatable, irritating, flashy, pretentious arc was the way Ultear saved the situation with her Last Ages spell, what such spell prevented and, most importantly, the consequences she had to pay.



Initially, I couldn't believe it. Mashima would renounce one of the series' most prominent bouncy racks and springy asses, making them droopy and wrinkled? MASHIMA? He'd seriously let go of this



and this



(she's wet)

and this



not to mention this and this

?    Well, it looks like he would. Kudos to him for putting his perversive tendencies aside, this one time.

Jokes aside, I really liked the way the whole Ultear matter was handled. One of the most touching moments in the series, in my humble opinion. The way only Gray, Ur's apprentice, realized what was hidden behind the wrinkled mask of stolen time, and the way he compared mother to daughter, was simply majestic. '''Farewell, Ultear. May you find your redemption.'''



On to some more positive aspects of these last "apocalyptic" chapters, Cobra was frickin' badass. He's up to something, and knows more than anyone... Tartaros is coming, folks. And it won't be good.

Last good thing about the whole matter (I started off by saying the arc was uninteresting, and yet I keep mentioning stuff positively... Fuck) is the way the Dragon Slayers realized, in the end, how powerless they were before the big reptiles themselves.

On to other stuff...

"Obra" being Zeref's minion was something I didn't expect, and the whole Zeref-Mavis apocalyptic matter was... Well, apocalyptic. Is Mashima trying to end Fairy Tail no matter what? First Dragons, then Zeref... It looks like he's putting the whole series through an ordeal.

Whatever.

So, on to something else... What looks like the new arc starts out with a perv bath scene. Anything new?

Natsu and Gray go on missions together and argue. Anything new?

Walrod Cken, a Wizard Saint and the 4th God of Ishgar, asks Natsu and Gray to go on a Job for him. Anything n...

WAIT, WHAT?!

That's right, the new arc starts with a heavy fellow like one of Earth Land's top Mages asking the main characters (yeah, since Lucy & Co are inalienable in such cases) to handle a mission. It's like going back to the series' real essence, but on a higher league.

I'm kind of liking this.

Anyhow, I'm pretty sure Walrod is the only one thinking the title of Wizard Saint is a mere formality. Pretty sure the other three Gods will be full of themselves like hell.

And oh, right. Green Magic, a Magic which controls the nature? Amazing, for real! It's most definitely something new to the series!

I didn't expect one of the Gods being a former member of Fairy Tail, and definitely not one of the founding ones. And who's that Sting look-alike by Hades' side?

Still, this new setup seems interesting. Forests to stop desertification, a village of giants and a legendary flame frozen... Damn, this is One Piece-ish. And definitely not ignorant as Mashima's usual plots.

I also have to admit the Treasure Hunter Guild is a breath of fresh air. It'd been too long since we'd seen a non-magical organization. The fact that they can go toe-to-toe with the heroes just by using weapons is nice... Man, there's even a sniper rifle! What more can I ask for?

I kind of like how the current saga is bringing back the initial setup on Galuna Island. The ice and Moon Drip assure us Mashima hasn't forgotten what he's written up 'till now. Guess it's something heartening.

I'm currently in love with Lala's weapon. I find it freaking awesome that something born as a hammer can be manipulated in such a versatile way. I'm betting the tool doesn't just serve as a weapon, but also as something meant to handle the Treasures the three fellows are always after. Will we get to see him carrying the Eternal Flame around like a torch?

And, damn. Minerva. Never been a fan of her, but I must say the way she was re-introduced, while nothing too special or surprising, was indeed pretty good. If Minerva was to pop up in a Dark Guild, my money would have been on Tartaros. Since that ain't the case, I'm wondering whether this Succubus Eye thing is affiliated with the real deal, and the "Lady" is trying to gain her entrance in Tartaros. Her partner, on the other side, is somewhat unaware of what happens "on the surface". Is that supposed to be a reference to Dark Guilds being the "underworld", or do these guys really live in an empire of evil, anthopomorphous moles?

We'll see.

On a side note, Minerva's new outfit is cool and evil in its sheer simplicity and lack of originality. She reminds me of someone... and I can't say I dislike it.

The Moon Drip not being enough to achieve anything (nor the Hunters' nor the Mages' wishes) was a pretty simple but pretty nice twist. And, back to the "love for weapons" section... The Chain Blade. Oh, the Chain Blade.

Thanks Mashima.

In the end, it turns out the whole child thing happens thanks to the Magic of Minerva's Dark Mage partner. Didn't expect a hefty fellow like him to use that kind of spells... Guess that's something to be pleasantly surprised about, too. I'm pretty much rooting (not unlike many people on the Wiki) for a scenario where Lucy and Wendy (or maybe, who knows, only the Exceeds... Wouldn't be the first time) have to protect the others. Maybe with the Sylph Labyrinth members' help.

Now, I'm gonna do something special to end this rather straight issue: I'm gonna "review" (like I "reviewed" the previous chapters... Lacking time, lacking ideas, people) the last omake, Fairies' Penalty Game. As before, I'll be focusing on the most interesting aspects.

Lightning-Fast Food Delivery First off, Laxus was great in his simple wish. Him being an asshole in that simple way must have been annoying to his victims, but at least he didn't destroy Natsu and Elfman's self-esteem.

Wet Dreams I find it frankly stupid that Juvia didn't use her chance to rape Gray. C'mon, we all know she'd do that, and this time she had nothing to stop her. Why did she merely feed him?!

And, seriously... Juvia's water is supposed to be made of body (that's how the sentence came out when I wrote it down, and I decided to leave it as it is because recently I'm having quite a remarkable amount of these Freudian slips...), but I hardly think I'd drink something coming down from her armpit.

Volaaaare... Pantherlily's wish was... a wish. Everyone from B Team had one, so he did too. As to how he used it... Guess it did satisfy him in some way.

Musical Genius Gajeel's treatment for Lucy was nothing we couldn't expect... Not to mention Levy once again realizing she's flatter than a pool table.

Servitude... Alright, let's take the bull by the horns.

Oh My Fucking God.

Seriously, sometimes I think Mashima is sure he's writing some hentai, and not a shōnen.

This dominatrix thing was weird even in a manga which has boobs for foundations and whose builders mixed cement using female asses as mixers.

And still... I frickin' enjoyed it.

You guys know me (and likely disagree with it): I can't stand Erza, and I've always cheered for Mirajane in their ethernal rivalry. I longed for Satan to give the armored "Mage" a lesson she wouldn't forget. And still, Erza's been bossy and acting like she was the chief for the entire series.

Folks, she frickin' deserved it. Her face prior to the weird "treatment" was priceless... Not to mention Mirajane's usual look and her joined hands during the whole thing. The only thing missing is a larger audience: it would have been great if Ichiya, Jura, Minerva, Kagura, the always-so-author-raped Bacchus and Jellal were present. Thinking about it, the entire cast might have passed by to enjoy the show.

Jellal would probably have ended up with an erection.

You know I usually bear Mira's Nakama Crap speechees better than other characters' (e.g. Natsu and Erza)... But I don't think I've ever liked her so much as I'm doing now.

"Bows" Thanks, Mira-san.

Oh, right, another good thing about the whole "punishment"...

On to something else, the grand finale...

Young Hearts

So, during the course of this omake we went from this

and this

to this

And all thanks to

(In case you were wondering, yes, I'm starting to like this comparation thing)

I admit that, when I saw the priest after Cana stated she was readying Wendy for a "dirty old man", I kind of thought Mashima wanted to go for the usual "pedophile priest" stereotype... Which would have been a bit too much even for Fairy Tail.

Now, seriously speaking... Cana's "punishment" was one of my favourite moments in the series. It gave new traits to a character I love (she's experienced povery. She's more than a drunkard), pulled out important topics which'd been neglected so far (the generation thing is something One Piece is about from... Well, from generations), and, dammit, was so frickin' cute. Did you see all those children? I tend to be a child-hater when it comes to manga, but this time... Hell, those orphans were one of the most heartwarming sights in Fairy Tail. There was even a girl looking like a doll (Wendy's left side, beady eyes)... Damn, how can you help but to love the whole thing?!

"Realizes he's letting out his feelings and soft side before the Wikia community"

"Takes on a harsh tone"

You guys' best jobs are hand and blow.

"Leaves"

See you next month, dear readers.

Goodnight.