And hello again!
So, one of my goals is to loop back to old discussion topics and give another fresh look at these Shaman King Zero chapters. So, the most logical place to start is chapter 1! You can find the original post below. If you want to join in the discussion of other chapters, click the links in the menu on the left for more!
Consider this more like a commentary edition. But I won’t talk about everything, just things that catch my eye. I’ll jump around a bit, so be sure to read the chapter first, since I won’t be explaining anything, and there will be spoilers.
[spoiler]
I mean, if someone like me became god… I’m sure I’d kill every damn human.
Takei sure wanted to start off with some powerful here, huh? Personally, I think this sets the tone of backtracking on Yoh’s character alot. There’s alot of points in the series that show other sides to Yoh, and I understand that he wants to give him more of a backstory… but… This just feels like it’s too much. And it’s too soon in the story. We don’t really see trouble until later, so it’s like he is pushing this before the story even began.
I kinda like how Takei wanted to make Yoh’s grandfather look a little younger. The coloring in the hair was a nice touch to give that look. Character design remains the same, but the hair sticks out. But did he have white or black hair when Yoh was 5? I can’t remember. That’s that extra level of research… that I’ll think about some other time, haha!
So Yoh’s “friends” of course have some interesting designs. I mean, take a look at the small kid. You can stack him up twice to match the kid on the left with black hair. Then double that again to match Dokugamushi (the big guy). Scale Takei, it’s way out of wack with these guys.
I love Yoh’s line right here. It’s just Takei saying.. “Hey guys remember Chocolove!?” It’s nice little poke in there.
When I first saw this image, it bothered me alot. Just looking at it, you think she is holding Yoh’s headphones. But she’s a ghost, so that doesn’t work. Luckily if you look down at the next frame… You can see Yoh is holding them out. You saved yourself there Takei. This time!
This image does help show one good thing about Takei taking a break from Shaman King. He’s really using computer assistance in creating his manga. It makes some interesting transparencies that work very well with spirits. I think the only real issue is that it looks better on his computer screen than what actually prints out on paper. I think if we works on it for a little while, we’ll get something that is a good medium. If Takei was making a series weekly, and didn’t have all the assistants, he might not have the time to experiment with these techniques. Alot of this started with Shaman King Kang Zeng Bang, and now it’s really developing into how he makes his manga too.
Oh hi Miki. Nice for you to join us this chapter. I kinda like how Takei was like “Quick, I think we need him in here somewhere, tie this all together.” Thanks Miki. Nice touch. [/spoiler]
Overall, I don’t think it’s the strongest chapter. But you know what? I really don’t like most of Takei’s oneshots. So this “Zero Series” actually ranks pretty low for me, since it’s just a series of oneshots. We’ll see how other chapters go. I’ve got some points to make about “music” and Shaman King, but I’ll save them for chapter 2. Since that one is kinda short, so I’ll save those comments for there.
Hope you enjoyed my opinion on the chapter. Continue the discussion below in the comments if you found anything in the chapter you might not have spotted the first time!
Original post on November 10th, 2011:
Hello, and now that Jump Kai volume 5 has been released… there will be discussion about what is actually happens in Shaman King Zero, Chapter 1! So, post away below with dicussion! And you can use [spoiler_ ][ _/spoiler] (No _) tags to hide things if you want.
If you want to see some pics and a quick review (in Japanese), go check out this Comicsoul post:
[spoiler]http://comicsoul.blog7.fc2.com/blog-entry-1228.html[/spoiler]
I’m sure Dit will be able to fill in any gaps/queestions, since she now has it in hand too.
Loading ...
13 comments
Chishiki
November 10, 2011 at 7:48 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
XP I’m too excited!!
I checked out the spoilers.. hehe.. good thing I don’t understand Japanese…
Anyway.. Takei-sensei’s art sure has changed a lot!!
I find Yoh a whole lot cuter before..
Thanks for that info Andy!!
liz.weith
November 10, 2011 at 10:09 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
hahaha that blog is the BEST source for spoilers!!!
Takei’s new style is kinda exaggerated in my opinion, I think Yoh looks really anorexic. LOL
And his face in some of the pictures is kinda scaring…
;A;
did it say the next one will be anna-centred?
Thanks for everything again .
FungaFufu
November 10, 2011 at 11:18 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
yes, I do hope the next one will be Anna-centered
yoh5
December 7, 2011 at 5:20 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Can i find it anywhere in english plz ?
I mean any translation available ?
Jezzy
December 8, 2011 at 9:27 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
We haven’t released it yet due to various circumstances. Please be patient.
yoh5
December 10, 2011 at 5:59 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
ok just plz …let us know when available :d
yoh5
December 14, 2011 at 9:57 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
guys …one more question….do u know ( not exactly date) when the english translation will be out ? i mean …i am really looking forward to read it …and i see chapter 2 is out, but i havent read 1 yet… plz tell me
liz.weith
March 1, 2012 at 12:27 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I feel somehow Takei is messing too much with the characters in these one shots.
Maybe it’s just me but, sometimes it’s hard for me to relate these stories to the shaman king I know.
I think the only story that I can follow without sitting and thinking too much was ren’s.
And I’m not telling just because of the drawing style, but something else.
I don’t know why, maybe I’m just being stupid.
Thanks for your opinion Andy, I didn’t notice Yoh was holding the headphones xD I thought the girl was holding them!! nice detail nice.
Mudy
March 1, 2012 at 8:36 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I love how Yoh’s mother appeared. It’s nice to remember the she exists hahaha
ps: she’s beautiful! I don’t remember her being this good in the original SK series, but then, at that time the art was a little different, despise all the skinny style, I love the way Takei’s drawing girls/women now.
Jezzy
March 1, 2012 at 1:07 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
She looked really pretty in the oneshot where she and Micky met, IMO. Then again, I’m a sucker for long hair <3
Finale-dizz
March 1, 2012 at 9:56 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
(reposted from the M-t site)
This chapter, i think, exemplifies two major problems I had with Shaman King.
1. Small details that require you to forget previous established details.
- Shamanism is a dying culture, no wait a business man is willing to pay grandpa to perform what’s essentially a publicity stunt for an abandoned train station.
-Yoh is different from (Ren/Faust/Hao/etc.) because he doesn’t wallow in loathing and self-pity, wait scratch that he’s just as hateful anyone. Makes his “only good people can see spirits” motto a little less endearing.
2. Is there a shaman that is actually happy with its life and doesn’t blame the whole of humanity for every misfortune? Three people make fun of you, so everyone must die? I’d hate to see what would have happened without the SF to distract him and Anna from the drama of high school, because yeesh…
Despite my whining I do understand what Takei was going for here, I can never hate on adding layers to the characters. It just takes some getting used to I guess. Plus it was pretty to look at.
liz.weith
March 2, 2012 at 1:04 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
2. Is there a shaman that is actually happy with its life and doesn’t blame the whole of humanity for every misfortune? Three people make fun of you, so everyone must die? I’d hate to see what would have happened without the SF to distract him and Anna from the drama of high school, because yeesh…
I love you.
mutsuDTTCOTS
March 14, 2012 at 8:51 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
yohmei does have blackhair when yoh is 5 (vol 2) and so he also have black hair in the twins’s brirth flashback in vol.16, but the drawing style has changed so much… sigh… old takei drawings just felt more warm, everytime yoh would be in a front face view it was just like he was patting on my shoulder saying “everything will turn out alright” TTTT.TTT I love takei, and his new drawings are beautiful, but often i just miss it, the welcoming feeling, to emphasize with the characters. they are pretty much the same, but often some characters look just so unreal it’s disturbing.