REVIEW: This Week's ALPHA - Aug 20, 2012

Part-time zombie tickler and SJ Alpha editor, Urian Brown, gives his take on this week's issue.
By August 20, 2012

 

Cover 
art by Nobuhiro Watsuki
If I was a fangirl and I saw this cover, I’d squeal so loud every dog within a two-mile radius would start barking. But since I’m a professional I’ll just say, WHAT AN AWESOME COVER!!! The art, the colors, the look, everything works perfectly together making Kenshin look extra cool! 

Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration
by Nobuhiro Watsuki
Action-packed chapter! Kenshin’s met his match when he crosses swords with Saito, a tough-as-nails Captain from the Shensengumi! A deadly dance of swords crescendo in clash of incredible techniques! Watsuki Sensei’s art in this chapter is amazing. His sword fight has tremendous energy and impact. Good stuff. 

One Piece
by Eiichiro Oda
Another beautiful color spread from the master, Oda Sensei! Flying through the air in giant tea cups drinking wine and having a feast! Things are taking a turn for the worse for the unlucky inhabitants of Punk Hazard. Caeser Clown has unleashed his terrible weapon of mass destruction! With Luffy in chains, and the rest of his crew scattered, the outlook isn’t good!

Blue Exorcist
by Kazue Kato
Well, this is a very different chapter of Blue Exorcist. After defeating the giant sea monster in Kyoto, the gang heads off to a rock concert! And not just any band, but Renzo’s brother’s hardcore band! I have to say, the band has some pretty amazing lyrics! 

Takama-ga-hara
by Jyuuzou Kawai
This manga is really growing on me! I find myself really looking forward to each week. And this week, a funny new female character is introduced, as well as a hulking new enemy. The art is amazing! It's deceptively simple, but if you have a trained eye, you can see it’s a lot more complex then it seems. So far, it’s just been fighting, but I’m really curious to see where the story’s going. 

Toriko
by Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro
The battle between the Four Kings and the Four-Beasts is in full swing! Having learned how to honor food like Toriko, Coco, Zebra and Sunny’s powers have grown exponentially! So far they’re holding their own against the ultra-powerful beasts, but there’s something they don’t know…

Naruto
by Masashi Kishimoto
The fight with Tobi continues! Although it seemed hopeless at first, Naruto and team have managed to make a crack in Tobi’s mask! It’s not much, but at least they know they can damage him! Kishimoto Sensei’s battles are amazingly clear considering how much is going on. For a lesser artist, trying to draw all these characters battling amidst a constant shower of rocks would be nearly impossible. But he pulls if off with ease. This is a master at work! 

Barrage
by Kouhei Horikoshi
The gang is heartbroken at the loss of Tiko’s adoptive father. Astro takes it especially hard and begins to have doubts about himself. Can he pull himself together to fight another day? Find out!

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by Urian Brown