Anime

Chris Walden

Hunter x Hunter Episode 41

Gon and Killua are still searching for information on the super rare RPG, though they do manage to learn a few things about it. The fact that you need to use nen to play it, and that you can't escape the game without finding a save point, seem to be pretty important if you ask me. What I want to know is how long it takes for someone to make a Monster Hunter clone on the PSP and slap some light Hunter x Hunter branding on it.

We also get to see the grand reveal of Kurapika's employer, a very young girl with an abnormal taste for rarities. It explains the request to hunt down some rare items to even get the job, but I'm not entirely sure that the whole crime boss thing has much to do with her. Still, she certainly seems like an incredibly powerful human, and her nen ability that allows her to make predictions of the future is also pretty crazy. 

Still, even with all of this happening, the highlight of the show comes to the not-so-grand reveal of the Phantom Troupe. It was pretty impressive and all, but the opening and ending saw to it that we weren't too surprised. What they are capable of is still a mystery, though they've been ordered to steal everything from the upcoming auction in Yorknew City. Action is about to happen guys, and I'm really excited for it.

[Hunt for this over at Crunchyroll!]

Kristina Pino

Fairy Tail Episode 142

Continuing the nice change of pace, all of the Fairy Tail guild members who are out have met their opponents except for Erza's team. On top of that, they're also meeting with Legion members whose current objectives are unknown. Samuel came to the Exceeds saying he wants to help them for now, but then Gajeel and Juvia run into another Legion team that have just destroyed a church.

What it looks like to me, more than anything, is that the other Legion members are following in Coco's steps one by one and doubting Zentopia.

So, we got the typical result. Natsu, Elfman and Lucy's summons don't seem to be getting along long enough to fight the stupid puppet dude, while Tako man watches. I'm not sure whether he plans on interfering or if he's simply observing, but my hopes are he'll side with Fairy Tail. As for Wendy and Bikslow, they've encountered Grim Reaper, the new, forgetful and whacked-out version of Erigor. Wendy tries to showcase her support skills once again, but they are bested by cows by the end of the episode. I think they'll prevail, though.

Finally, Lexi and Gildarts are continuing their search and find dolls are running some Zentopia abbey.  They're probably going to run into... was that Midnight?

Looking at the current fights and the next episode preview, I'm not sure what's going to happen with the Exceed party. When it comes to Samuel, he's always got some plan - so I wouldn't be surprised if he were trying to use the others for his own purposes. Then again, female Hughes is probably going to go the way of Coco, and I already know that Dan doesn't like what's going on, either. Things are getting stickier, so I'm looking forward to next episode and hopefully some great fights. It's nice to see Juvia and Gajeel together again, and it's great to see Wendy stretching her skills a little by working with Bikslow instead of the powerhouse team.

[Catch Fairy Tail streaming on Hulu, FUNimation and Crunchyroll!]

Pedro Cortes

One Piece Episode 558

What impresses me so much about this arc is just how outclassed Hordy and his crew of clowns are compared to the Strawhats. In particular, Hordy just cannot handle an updated Luffy on dry ground. The introduction of Noah crashing toward Fishman Island is the only thing that kept this arc from being a total wash for the bad guys. 

Wadatsumi falls off Noah onto the island, so it becomes clear that Decken is the one behind this bit of treachery. The wack-a-loon is ready to take everybody out in his rather extreme display of "love." To save the island, Shirahoshi leaps up on an air bubble and draws Noah away from the island to save her people. After taking a knife from Decken, she swims toward the open water to get away from danger, drawing Noah even further out. Hordy catches a ride on Noah's chain while Luffy follows via an assist from a sky-walking Sanji.

[One Piece can be found over at FUNimation!]

Manga

Pedro Cortes

One Piece Chapter 676

Now that Smiley ate the candy, we see that the big blob is capable of producing a gas that petrifies who ever breathes it in. Zoro, Kinemon and Sanji-Nami haul ass to avoid the smoke, staying one step ahead of their incoming doom. As Caesar exposes the captured Strawhats, Law, Smoker and Tashigi to the elements and the oncoming gas, Chopper watches from the shadows unable to do anything. His thoughts are interrupted when somebody throws a note at him telling him to do nothing. Hmmm, wonder who that could be?

With Caesar's prisoners now outside with the stranded Marines, things aren't looking to hot for our heroes. This of course means that they have a plan to get out and it's time to start it next chapter.

Josh Tolentino

Naruto chapter 596

Kishimoto promised us that we would be learning the identity of Tobi sometime in the coming weeks, but while this week isn't it, it does throw out some curious evidence that may hint as to the identity of the masked man behind all this chaos.

The "evidence" seems to pop up during Kakashi's mid-battle analysis of Tobi's powers. Apparently his intangibility and his ability to suck things into the Negative Zone (or whatever is in that guy's eye) are really just one jutsu, and both are somehow related to Kakashi's own Kamui, which sucks crap into a weird Negative Zone...where they can hurt him.

What does that have to do with Tobi's identity? The nature of Tobi's unique jutsu, and its relation to Kakashi's Kamui suggests that Tobi and Kakashi may be more deeply connected than is immediately apparent. And which Uchiha has any sort of connection to Kakashi, besides Sasuke? Yes, I'm talking about Obito, the boy who gave Kakashi his own sharingan. 

It's a bit of a stretch, to be sure. Obito has no apparent motivation for wanting to conquer the world, so it'll be a bit out of left field if left inadequately explained. But, if a proper motive can be revealed or ginned up, it would make a surprising amount of sense thematically, what with most of the war so far being about facing one's best friend on the field of battle.

Bleach chapter NOTHING, because it was on break.

I wish creator Tite Kubo the best of health and luck. Health, because he was sick, and that's why Bleach was delayed, and luck, because he'll need it if he's going to pull this storyline off. That said, Kenpachi seemed poised to do something real cool next chapter, and I can't wait until Kubo gets well to draw whatever it was.

In the meantime, here's Aizen doing the laundry.