What if the World Trigger Reboot Sucks?

Every year, I get charged like $20 to renew the moderngafa.com domain name. Every year, I try to write at least one post on here to justify keeping this old blog running. When I logged in to check things out, I was hit in the face by a big ugly AI feature button. That sucks. Everything sucks now. At least I have World Trigger. World Trigger is awesome. Except the first season of the anime. That sucked. And hey - it’s getting a reboot. However, a new question burns in my trion gland. What if that sucks too?

Which World Trigger Squad Has the Best Jacket?

I've said this many times but World Trigger has without a doubt the blandest aesthetic I have ever seen in a manga series. Author Daisuke Ashihara chose to go with a more realistic approach resulting in its massive cast of characters all being distinguished by their fairly uninteresting brown or black hair styles which are of course in a black and white comic. The more characters that get introduced to the ever-growing cast, the harder it is to tell them apart. Luckily, there's one way to tell most of them apart: they all wear different jackets.

How Will World Trigger End?

Today marks the 10th anniversary of World Trigger's first chapter in Weekly Shonen Jump. It's a huge achievement for any comic series to run as long as World Trigger has, and that's all thanks to the dedication of an author that won't stop and fans that will are willing to see this masterpiece through to the end. But that begs the question: how exactly will it end?

World Piece Ushers in a New Manga Boom

Something happened in the mid-2000s that changed the lives of many comic and anime fans in the west: Tokyopop, and later Viz Media, started releasing manga in English, in bookstores, in the original right-to-left format, and in droves. For a time, manga was new and exciting and everywhere. With the new Viz Originals imprint, that time has come again.

What the Hell is World Trigger?

This week sees the premiere of the second season of World Trigger's anime adaptation. When this was announced at the end of 2019, a lot of people heard the news and all asked one question: what the hell is World Trigger? Since I always seem to find myself drawn to the niche and unknown, I am here to answer that question.

One Year with the Shonen Jump App

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Viz Media's unprecedented Shonen Jump app. Since it's been a little over a year since I first downloaded the app, I thought I'd take a look at how the experience has been. I like reading comics digitally, but how does Shonen Jump compare to the something like Hoopla or other apps I use?

The Pulls: Inkblot, Stargazer, Die, and More

Welcome to The Pulls, my new weekly spotlight on comics in stores now. My previous comic review series, This Week In Comics, exclusively focused on advance reviews of new releases. But I read so much more than just what I get for review from publishers. And sometimes it takes me a while to get to review copies. The Pulls will features a blend of advance reviews as well as reviews of any comics, new or old, that I've been reading throughout the week. Let's get on with the show!

Get Through the Quarantine With These 15 Digital Comic Platforms

This post has been compensated by Inmar Intelligence. All brands and retailers mentioned herein are not affiliated with this promotion. All opinions are mine alone. #WeCreateItForward

The past few weeks have been difficult for all of us, and it looks like it's not going to get better any time soon. Like many introverts, I'm no stranger to staying home and finding ways to entertain myself. One of the things that has kept me going through all of this is digital comics. There are lots of different apps to stream comics - some of which are completely free - so I thought I'd share them with you.

The Shonen Jump App is the Best Deal in Comics

Comics as we've come to know them have been around for a century and the industry backing them hasn't changed much. The digital age has allowed for cheaper and faster distribution, but for the most part Western comics haven't changed much. That's why the Shonen Jump app's business model is a fresh and welcome game-changer and easily the best deal in comics today.

This Week In Comics: 2/26

Another week, another round of new comics. You guys know the drill by now. Although this week is pretty cool because Finger Guns is finally out! Well it will be Wednesday. As per usual: reviews after the jump.

REVIEW: Guardian of the Witch Ch. 1

It's new series season once again at Shonen Jump and this week brings us the final new series of early 2020, a new fantasy story from Asahi Sakano titled Guardian of the Witch. Read on to check out my review of the first chapter.

REVIEW: The Brave-Tuber Vol. 1

Everyone knows that manga is an industry that goes with the current trends. Usually that means one series gets popular and others try to mimic what it did. That's why we have a lot of manga featuring battles, the supernatural, super power schools, special organizations, the other worlds. The Brave-Tuber doesn't aim to imitate any specific genre that's currently popular. Instead, it's imitating real life.

Manga Spice Cafe Unboxing: November 2019

Manga Spice Cafe is a monthly subscription box filled with manga and all sorts of sweets and treats from Japan. Manga Spice Cafe was generous enough to send me their November box, which featured manga about heroes battling the forces of evil. Check out the unboxing video above and hit the jump for info on the manga inside.

REVIEW: Jujutsu Kaisen Vol. 1

I've been having too much fun with the new Shonen Jump app. Getting to read chapters of ongoing series the moment they come out in Japan - for free - is too good. One series I've been putting off is Jujutsu Kaisen. The premise sounded interesting, but I'm not big on horror so the cover put me off. With the release of the first volume in the west, I figured now was as good a time as any to check it out.

REVIEW: Zipman!! Ch. 1

In last week's issue of Weekly Shonen Jump, two series published their final chapters. That means we're getting two new series this month. First up is Zipman!!, and holy crap guys, this series is great.

Why I'm Excited for Finger Guns

I never - and I mean never - post about a comic until the week it comes out. This is a personal blog, not a news site, so I read solicits and press releases and maybe tweet about them, but that's it. So when I write an article about a comic over two months before it's in-store date, you know I mean serious business. Guys, we need to talk about Finger Guns.

GIFT GUIDE: Comics For Kids

Comic books have inspired a magnitude of cartoons, movies, TV shows, and video games - all popular with kids. But the comics themselves? The big tentpole franchies are all written for older fans with stories and elements too complex for some kids. I've had people ask me for comic recommendations better suited for younger readers. So here in one place is my full recommendation list of the perfect comics for kids.

This Year In Comics: 2018

I wasn’t sure how to set up my end of the year comics post. Comics is a huge industry with the Big Two, indies, manga, graphic novels, trades, single issues, digital, and a whole lot of other complicated factors. It’s hard to rank a six-issue arc against an anthology or a ten chapter tankobon. So instead of a Top 10 list, I’m just going to highlight the comics, manga, and graphic novels that defined the year for me.

Manga Spice Cafe Unboxing: November 2018

A look inside the November box from Manga Spice Cafe, a subscription box specializing in manga and Japanese sweets and treats.

Sangawa Project brings a relaxing anime convention to Downtown Pittsburgh

I love all the geeky things to do in Pittsburgh and my all-time favorite is Tekko, the region’s #1 Japanese pop culture convention. The organizers of Tekko, the Pittsburgh Japanese Culture Society, host a sister event called Sangawa Project. Unlike Tekko, Sangawa is 18+ and has previously been held in a venue too far away for me to justify attending. This year, Sangawa was held right in the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh, so it’s time to check in with Pittsburgh’s anime convention for adults.