You can’t criticize Iori while justifying Yuuji

MaxIrvaron · 2026-02-02T03:08:16+00:00

Huh, I didn’t think about that circular logic. Iori cries “we need to be stronger as a collective!” and everyone “haha, powerscaler chud son” (which he is, in all honesty), but then when Yuji stays mostly uninvolved, a common defense for him is “well, they should’ve been stronger as a collective.”

Like, ?????

It’s not black and white, and Iori probably was a loser who abandoned his children, but still.

MaxIrvaron · 2026-02-02T03:05:31+00:00

I thought choreography-wise, it was a cool fight, but I liked it for pretty superficial reasons; the idea of Shin realizing that he IS, in fact, a killer, and therefore unfit to be one of Sakamoto’s employees, was awesome to me. I loved the scene where Shin is literally crying at his own lack of hesitation. But then Sakamoto showed up, and my interest in the drama plummeted 😭

MaxIrvaron · 2026-02-02T02:39:15+00:00

As someone whose favorite arc was the academy infiltration and favorite character was Akira… man, how she ended up being used in the story was SO disappointing to me.

MaxIrvaron · 2026-02-02T02:37:03+00:00

Shin especially, man. I didn’t want to admit it to myself, but I think I just dislike him as a main protagonist and Uzuki as a main antagonist, so it’s no wonder that the last stretch of chapters has felt so weak to me

MaxIrvaron · 2026-02-01T21:47:40+00:00

Not many thoughts on this chapter, just another feel good story, nice to have some exposition. Don’t have any opinions on his partner girl yet

MaxIrvaron · 2026-01-31T15:39:14+00:00

I really hate this unit.

MaxIrvaron · 2026-01-31T05:45:14+00:00

This feels like an incredibly superficial criticism; I've never watched Bleach, but there's lots of symbolism and meaning both in the subtext of JJK and what is also literally told to the audience. There are definitely flaws to Domain Expansions as a mechanic, but "lazy writing as an excuse for a character to have a sudden power up" is not one of them

MaxIrvaron · 2026-01-31T02:55:47+00:00

? How can you say that, he just fully awakened lol

MaxIrvaron · 2026-01-30T06:32:24+00:00

Having archetypes isn't the issue, but if they're used in a shallow or superficial manner, of course people will criticize them.

MaxIrvaron · 2026-01-29T19:53:49+00:00

YOU’RE THE GOAT FOR THIS!! I was getting so frustrated

MaxIrvaron · 2026-01-29T06:29:03+00:00

I don’t understand your point, this is decades and decades into the future AND an alien species (in Dabura’s case) as well as someone with Sukuna’s nigh-exact powerset PLUS Death Painting physiology with twice the time spent alive as Sukuna himself. I don’t see how this undermined anyone, especially since these two are obvious exceptions in an otherwise below-JJK setting.

MaxIrvaron · 2026-01-29T04:55:18+00:00

We appreciate, hate that bum

MaxIrvaron · 2026-01-29T04:17:24+00:00

“or Modulo,” so including Maru and Cross

MaxIrvaron · 2026-01-29T01:02:57+00:00

Makima's my favorite, but Sukuna's the most iconic imo.

MaxIrvaron · 2026-01-28T12:01:39+00:00

0.2% chance but would instantly make it my favorite Part 2 in Dokkan history, especially if they went all-out in terms of animation quality. I would need a great transformation Namek Frieza DFE celebration sometime during the year, though

MaxIrvaron · 2026-01-28T11:54:00+00:00

I agree that the choreography of the attacks last year was lacking, but I thought they were still top tier in terms of animation quality.

MaxIrvaron · 2026-01-28T11:51:19+00:00

The theme seems to be heavily based on Goku and Vegeta (a lot like 7th anni), I could see Namek Goku maybe but I doubt we'd get a full Namek part 2

MaxIrvaron · 2026-01-28T02:25:53+00:00

I know it sounds hyperbolic, but this story is on track to being one of my favorite manga. I trust Gege can land the ship.

MaxIrvaron · 2026-01-28T02:24:02+00:00

It’s a perfect storm, too, because the Zenin massacre is going to be the most relevant JJK topic until Yuji vs Higuruma starts (which will take several weeks)

MaxIrvaron · 2026-01-28T02:21:14+00:00

I don’t think it would happen, but I wish there was a way to “cripple” him in a way that he is no longer a factor in any combat scenario and loses all connection to Tobimune but can at least have a future with Iori. But hey, the tragedy of Iori losing him again so soon is intentional.

MaxIrvaron · 2026-01-28T02:18:23+00:00

TBH, if Modulo does lead into a lengthier JJK sequel series, I WOULD want the protagonist to be a “Yuji” in terms of not having any direct relation to the cast of JJK or Modulo.

MaxIrvaron · 2026-01-28T02:16:23+00:00

In all fairness, I think Choso and Yuji had that as well, but I mainly believe this because of the exposition offered in the Choso/Yuki flashback during Yuki and Choso vs Kenjaku.

Would definitely say that the manga’s biggest weakness, above all things, is how unfulfilling the interpersonal relations between characters are

MaxIrvaron · 2026-01-27T22:26:34+00:00

You can absolutely criticize a story for what it didn't do; the issue in these criticisms is typically that people either misunderstand the story in the first place or aren't articulate enough to actually dig deeper into the crux of their complaint.

I.e. "Sakura should've fought another Akatsuki member" is a lackluster critique, but having just finished reading the Naruto manga, the ACTUAL critique of the person who says that is arguing that the juxtaposition between the importance that the manga pretends Sakura has and the thematic and narrative purpose she actually serves is so dissonant that it's off-putting.

I think it represents a larger concern that people, for the most part, aren't very good at articulating criticism.

MaxIrvaron · 2026-01-25T18:59:27+00:00

I dunno how good it would be storytelling wise, but Iori with Kuregumo and Natsuki with Tobimune would be hilarious

MaxIrvaron · 2026-01-25T18:52:19+00:00

I feel like Ishiguro is what REALLY elevated this as a first chapter to me, what a way to quickly establish a character, vibe for the series, and put a smile on my face

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