Chapter 90 - Attack
Manic Dogma
This, I can't deny.
- Location
- The far side of tired
- Pronouns
- Whatever
Chapter 90 starts hot on the heels of the last one, as Sayaka stirs up the audience's energy between matches by hyping up the one they just watched. What speed, she says, such speed that nobody's quite sure what happened! So quick she didn't even see the blow that ended it.
Then, a bit more subdued, she expresses a more quiet sort of awe at just how good Mikazuchi is. It's the single most dominant display of prowess in the whole tournament so far. And the guy who gets to fight him next is sat right next to her. When she points out to him that he's going to have a heck of a time with it in the second round, Saw Paing agrees, fist tensed and shaking with veins standing out. Yeah, he'll be tough alright.
So obviously he screams at the top of his lungs about how fucking hyped he is. As if you expected anything else.
Saw Paing isn't the least bit worried. He's very much a shonen boy in the grand tradition of fight-loving morons like Goku and Luffy, albeit with a much cannier understanding of the nuances of combat than either of them ever really demonstrate. This kind of display isn't going to intimidate him, or cut the legs out from under his drive.
Nezu isn't so lucky.
We cut to one of the empty service corridors beyond the arena entrances, where the punk is slumped limply against one of the bare, concrete walls. His pompadour stands as erect as ever, but nothing else about him is. Across from him stands the Honald costume, completely silent, in a way that suggests to me that its occupant is wracking their brains for anything to say. Anything that might help. Nezu ends up speaking first. This was supposed to be his last goodbye, to the land of dreams…before it gets bought out by Toyo.
Oh, honey, no. Disney hasn't been about free expression and love in a long time, if it ever really was at all. Though I guess disney isn't actually the best comparison, is it? TDL isn't an arm of a vast, international media empire, it's a single chain of amusement parks. A successful one, you don't get that high up the Kengan Rankings without having serious clout, but not the same at all. There's no way in hell Disney is getting bought out by a fucking power company.
The view inside the suit is very good, though, and oddly appropriate. On the one hand yes, it's obviously incredibly goofy, there's no denying that. But at the same time it also kind of drives home how much this actually meant to him? Like, that's not comfortable at all, it's clearly a huge strain for him. And yet his smile still seems genuine to me. He's so deliriously happy to be living a dream, in his beloved land of them.
For a manga that was putting so much into framing Nezu as a massive, unpleasant weirdo, in these pages it's suddenly showing a lot of respect for the heartfelt emotions driving him.
Speaking off, going into the next page he continues the introspection, clarifying that he was fighting more for the heart of his blorbo than anything else. He wanted people to remember Mockey for the ideals he loved in the character, so there in that Arena he'd…"end the dream." I'll be honest, I'm still not sure what he actually means by that, or how it follows. The TDL brand will live on in all likelihood and people will engage with it as they always have, regardless of what goes on in this tournament. People will keep buying Mockey themed lunchboxes and shit. I understand that the whole thing meant much more to Nezu personally, but it's not clear here what shape that really took in his heart. Probably a consequence of getting so little time on screen to process these feelings, which is a shame.
Anyway, he starts beating himself up over it, musing on how ridiculous it is to think he could win with such a pessimistic mindset, until he's interrupted by Honald decapitating themself. Out of the costume steps another punk, this one a young blonde woman in a sarashi, bellowing how Tochigi's thugs are the best in the world. Whatever that means. She's introduced as Takemaru Miki, the "second head of Mermaid", which I assume is another gang Nezu's group absorbed? It's not clear, this page is basically all the screentime she gets aside from that one appearance before the second bracket started. Anyway, she declares that she'll follow him all her life, and when Nezu disbelievingly asks if she'll start over with him, her confirmation is loud and effusive.
I guess the Soldier of Dreams is turning out to be another Warrior of Love after all? This certainly feels like a confession of some kind.
Anyway, I wonder how his employer is doing.
'Not Well' is the answer, lol.
Yeah, whatever shenanigans he's been pulling in the background trying to cultivate connections with "them", whoever that is, he fully expects that it has Hayami on his tail. I'm not sure why, specifically, it's not like he had the sort of very explicit agreement Ajiro Fisheries did that he's actively reneged on. He just failed to win the fight. For all his thuggish behaviour, Hayami did manage to accrue a large and loyal following, which I can't imagine would happen if he sics assassins on anyone who fails in any way. And it can't be the "them" connection, since he very specifically seems to believe it's displeasing Hayami that's causing the risk to his life, and in a very immediate way. Very strange.
Anyway, he tells the two men who're presumably already on his payroll that he'll pay them anything to protect him with their lives. They don't respond, but they don't get a chance to anyway. Mr Buttchin is informed by a lurking shadow that such measures won't be necessary, before ball-bearings slam into the upper lip of both his bodyguards, knocking them out instantly.
Oh hey, look who's decided to show his face in the Kengan Dome. He doesn't deny it either, just humming merrily as he tells Buttchin not to resist like Mr Ajiro did, which I guess confirms what happened there. Then there's a loud scream, a banging noise, and silence. Kaburagi's here as the cleanup man, one supposes. He might be a mediocre fighter, but a fighter all the same. A fair choice to deal with CEOs away from their own Martial Artists For Hire.
Then we cut to another corridor and-
…
Sigh.
Okay, so Rei and Rino have done a lot of snuggling onscreen and I've found it broadly cute. It's been intimate, in a very casual way.
This scene begins with Rei's entire face stuffed between Rino's tits as she she coos at him over how proud she is that he kept his promise and he wordlessly grunts. This feels over the line. Gratuitous, in a way that strikes me as infantilising and faintly pathetic.
Not to suggest that this manga couldn't benefit from more women in positions of dominance over men, it absolutely could, but when it's done like this it feels like an extension of that old tired line of bullshit about women being seductive harpies who by nature manipulate the poor helpless male with their alluring bodies.
I don't even hate the idea of the scene really? Rei's background in assassination and very likely poor socialisation would lend itself to being near incapacitated by honest, genuine expressions of pride and affection. He's clearly not used to being in love, or coping with the emotions that come with it. Just…the way he's hunched over, right in her chest, grunting like a dog is offputting. Hell, just put him in the same lap-pillow position he's been during most of the first round's commentary! Or just cuddling normally, maybe with a few monosyllabic answers and the odd "I love you." There's so many ways to get a good, interesting emotional impact from this without being so fucking overpoweringly weird about it.
And then the scene has to go and lean even further on my freshly poor mood by having Kure fucking Raian turn up and start smacktalking. I'm at least thankful he doesn't comment on Rei's relationship with Rino, as doubtlessly toxic as his opinions on the matter are. No, he's more interested in talking about how the Raishin Style actually has a history with the Kure, meeting them on the field of battle often in the past, and how disappointed he is that this last fight is all the lightning fist has.
My guy, were you fucking watching the same fight? Rei looked a damn sight more impressive than you did in your showing. If I were feeling generous, I'd suggest that Raian is thinking of this in terms of efficiency as an admission of weakness, that if the Raishin Style were stronger Rei would have felt confident enough to toy with his opponent and express his dominance in a way that vibes more strongly with Raian's values. But I'm not, so fuck him.
And then the scene has to go and make my mood even worse by validating the juvenile little scrote, as Rei asks Rino to forgive him, but he has to break his promise because he can't beat this guy without killing him. Which would be pretty cool if it were being directed at a character I had half an ounce of respect for.
Bullshit, frankly, you'd fold him like a tea towel Rei. Raian has no answer to anything you're capable of.
We get one more two-panel spread of Raian smacktalking and the chapter, and volume, ends.
Well, this chapter was kind of limp. The first bit had some strong ideas, starting with great reinforcement of Saw Paing's characterisation and then moving on to a surprisingly genuine presentation of Nezu's despair. But that's also where it started failing, since the ideas at play there are kind of let down by how little there really is to Nezu's presence in the story. He's been an active participant for three chapters, two of which he mostly spent as a joke. There simply isn't enough material here to properly sell an emotional conflict. I appreciate the attempt in the end, there's enough of a basic level of respect for Nezu as a character to portray his emotions with clarity and empathy in the few pages he does get, but I can't say it really lands for me.
I can say that the broad tactic of revealing the biggest emotional gutpunches after the relevant character has already lost, after foreshadowing them previously, is looking like a consistent tactic now. I think it worked better for Karo though, since he got more respect prior to that moment, and even then that match was lacking. I don't think it's a bad tactic so much as Kengan is, so far, failing to build proper support around it.
And then the last stretch starts bad and gets rapidly worse as shitface mcgee decides he needs more screentime. What more need be said.
Anyway, before I sign off until next time, how about a palate cleanser? There's an extra chapter following this one, involving a lot of content with Hanfusa in the infirmary, but it's pretty purely a comedy chapter. Going over it, even in my freewheeling style, would just sap all the jokes of their energy. So I encourage you to go and read it yourself. But, it is followed by a couple of pages of Yonkoma strips, a few of which I'll share since they're very fun.
I guess every centimetre counts when you've only got a hundred and fifty of them to go around. And don't worry Byo, I'm sure your student is very fulfilled.
Return of the Toxic Femboys, and finally somebody actually says it. Misasa, you're a real one.
See you all next time, for the leadup into match 11, where Rihito will finally get to make his move.
Then, a bit more subdued, she expresses a more quiet sort of awe at just how good Mikazuchi is. It's the single most dominant display of prowess in the whole tournament so far. And the guy who gets to fight him next is sat right next to her. When she points out to him that he's going to have a heck of a time with it in the second round, Saw Paing agrees, fist tensed and shaking with veins standing out. Yeah, he'll be tough alright.
So obviously he screams at the top of his lungs about how fucking hyped he is. As if you expected anything else.
Saw Paing isn't the least bit worried. He's very much a shonen boy in the grand tradition of fight-loving morons like Goku and Luffy, albeit with a much cannier understanding of the nuances of combat than either of them ever really demonstrate. This kind of display isn't going to intimidate him, or cut the legs out from under his drive.
Nezu isn't so lucky.
We cut to one of the empty service corridors beyond the arena entrances, where the punk is slumped limply against one of the bare, concrete walls. His pompadour stands as erect as ever, but nothing else about him is. Across from him stands the Honald costume, completely silent, in a way that suggests to me that its occupant is wracking their brains for anything to say. Anything that might help. Nezu ends up speaking first. This was supposed to be his last goodbye, to the land of dreams…before it gets bought out by Toyo.
Oh, honey, no. Disney hasn't been about free expression and love in a long time, if it ever really was at all. Though I guess disney isn't actually the best comparison, is it? TDL isn't an arm of a vast, international media empire, it's a single chain of amusement parks. A successful one, you don't get that high up the Kengan Rankings without having serious clout, but not the same at all. There's no way in hell Disney is getting bought out by a fucking power company.
The view inside the suit is very good, though, and oddly appropriate. On the one hand yes, it's obviously incredibly goofy, there's no denying that. But at the same time it also kind of drives home how much this actually meant to him? Like, that's not comfortable at all, it's clearly a huge strain for him. And yet his smile still seems genuine to me. He's so deliriously happy to be living a dream, in his beloved land of them.
For a manga that was putting so much into framing Nezu as a massive, unpleasant weirdo, in these pages it's suddenly showing a lot of respect for the heartfelt emotions driving him.
Speaking off, going into the next page he continues the introspection, clarifying that he was fighting more for the heart of his blorbo than anything else. He wanted people to remember Mockey for the ideals he loved in the character, so there in that Arena he'd…"end the dream." I'll be honest, I'm still not sure what he actually means by that, or how it follows. The TDL brand will live on in all likelihood and people will engage with it as they always have, regardless of what goes on in this tournament. People will keep buying Mockey themed lunchboxes and shit. I understand that the whole thing meant much more to Nezu personally, but it's not clear here what shape that really took in his heart. Probably a consequence of getting so little time on screen to process these feelings, which is a shame.
Anyway, he starts beating himself up over it, musing on how ridiculous it is to think he could win with such a pessimistic mindset, until he's interrupted by Honald decapitating themself. Out of the costume steps another punk, this one a young blonde woman in a sarashi, bellowing how Tochigi's thugs are the best in the world. Whatever that means. She's introduced as Takemaru Miki, the "second head of Mermaid", which I assume is another gang Nezu's group absorbed? It's not clear, this page is basically all the screentime she gets aside from that one appearance before the second bracket started. Anyway, she declares that she'll follow him all her life, and when Nezu disbelievingly asks if she'll start over with him, her confirmation is loud and effusive.
I guess the Soldier of Dreams is turning out to be another Warrior of Love after all? This certainly feels like a confession of some kind.
Anyway, I wonder how his employer is doing.
'Not Well' is the answer, lol.
Yeah, whatever shenanigans he's been pulling in the background trying to cultivate connections with "them", whoever that is, he fully expects that it has Hayami on his tail. I'm not sure why, specifically, it's not like he had the sort of very explicit agreement Ajiro Fisheries did that he's actively reneged on. He just failed to win the fight. For all his thuggish behaviour, Hayami did manage to accrue a large and loyal following, which I can't imagine would happen if he sics assassins on anyone who fails in any way. And it can't be the "them" connection, since he very specifically seems to believe it's displeasing Hayami that's causing the risk to his life, and in a very immediate way. Very strange.
Anyway, he tells the two men who're presumably already on his payroll that he'll pay them anything to protect him with their lives. They don't respond, but they don't get a chance to anyway. Mr Buttchin is informed by a lurking shadow that such measures won't be necessary, before ball-bearings slam into the upper lip of both his bodyguards, knocking them out instantly.
Oh hey, look who's decided to show his face in the Kengan Dome. He doesn't deny it either, just humming merrily as he tells Buttchin not to resist like Mr Ajiro did, which I guess confirms what happened there. Then there's a loud scream, a banging noise, and silence. Kaburagi's here as the cleanup man, one supposes. He might be a mediocre fighter, but a fighter all the same. A fair choice to deal with CEOs away from their own Martial Artists For Hire.
Then we cut to another corridor and-
…
Sigh.
Okay, so Rei and Rino have done a lot of snuggling onscreen and I've found it broadly cute. It's been intimate, in a very casual way.
This scene begins with Rei's entire face stuffed between Rino's tits as she she coos at him over how proud she is that he kept his promise and he wordlessly grunts. This feels over the line. Gratuitous, in a way that strikes me as infantilising and faintly pathetic.
Not to suggest that this manga couldn't benefit from more women in positions of dominance over men, it absolutely could, but when it's done like this it feels like an extension of that old tired line of bullshit about women being seductive harpies who by nature manipulate the poor helpless male with their alluring bodies.
I don't even hate the idea of the scene really? Rei's background in assassination and very likely poor socialisation would lend itself to being near incapacitated by honest, genuine expressions of pride and affection. He's clearly not used to being in love, or coping with the emotions that come with it. Just…the way he's hunched over, right in her chest, grunting like a dog is offputting. Hell, just put him in the same lap-pillow position he's been during most of the first round's commentary! Or just cuddling normally, maybe with a few monosyllabic answers and the odd "I love you." There's so many ways to get a good, interesting emotional impact from this without being so fucking overpoweringly weird about it.
And then the scene has to go and lean even further on my freshly poor mood by having Kure fucking Raian turn up and start smacktalking. I'm at least thankful he doesn't comment on Rei's relationship with Rino, as doubtlessly toxic as his opinions on the matter are. No, he's more interested in talking about how the Raishin Style actually has a history with the Kure, meeting them on the field of battle often in the past, and how disappointed he is that this last fight is all the lightning fist has.
My guy, were you fucking watching the same fight? Rei looked a damn sight more impressive than you did in your showing. If I were feeling generous, I'd suggest that Raian is thinking of this in terms of efficiency as an admission of weakness, that if the Raishin Style were stronger Rei would have felt confident enough to toy with his opponent and express his dominance in a way that vibes more strongly with Raian's values. But I'm not, so fuck him.
And then the scene has to go and make my mood even worse by validating the juvenile little scrote, as Rei asks Rino to forgive him, but he has to break his promise because he can't beat this guy without killing him. Which would be pretty cool if it were being directed at a character I had half an ounce of respect for.
Bullshit, frankly, you'd fold him like a tea towel Rei. Raian has no answer to anything you're capable of.
We get one more two-panel spread of Raian smacktalking and the chapter, and volume, ends.
Well, this chapter was kind of limp. The first bit had some strong ideas, starting with great reinforcement of Saw Paing's characterisation and then moving on to a surprisingly genuine presentation of Nezu's despair. But that's also where it started failing, since the ideas at play there are kind of let down by how little there really is to Nezu's presence in the story. He's been an active participant for three chapters, two of which he mostly spent as a joke. There simply isn't enough material here to properly sell an emotional conflict. I appreciate the attempt in the end, there's enough of a basic level of respect for Nezu as a character to portray his emotions with clarity and empathy in the few pages he does get, but I can't say it really lands for me.
I can say that the broad tactic of revealing the biggest emotional gutpunches after the relevant character has already lost, after foreshadowing them previously, is looking like a consistent tactic now. I think it worked better for Karo though, since he got more respect prior to that moment, and even then that match was lacking. I don't think it's a bad tactic so much as Kengan is, so far, failing to build proper support around it.
And then the last stretch starts bad and gets rapidly worse as shitface mcgee decides he needs more screentime. What more need be said.
Anyway, before I sign off until next time, how about a palate cleanser? There's an extra chapter following this one, involving a lot of content with Hanfusa in the infirmary, but it's pretty purely a comedy chapter. Going over it, even in my freewheeling style, would just sap all the jokes of their energy. So I encourage you to go and read it yourself. But, it is followed by a couple of pages of Yonkoma strips, a few of which I'll share since they're very fun.
I guess every centimetre counts when you've only got a hundred and fifty of them to go around. And don't worry Byo, I'm sure your student is very fulfilled.
Return of the Toxic Femboys, and finally somebody actually says it. Misasa, you're a real one.
See you all next time, for the leadup into match 11, where Rihito will finally get to make his move.
