Howdy doody and welcome to my read-through of Bakuman Chapter 138: Aggressive and Idea in which I talk, at length, about the most important rule of Rival Club, and spoil Legend of the Galactic Heroes.

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Aggressive and Idea Summary

I Want To See His Face

Crow receives first place for the fourteenth week in a row. Three weeks remain until Issue 34; if the boys can’t clinch it, Nizuma will start making his final chapter and Crow will end.

PCP will get center color in Issue 34. Assuming chapters 32 and 33 don’t get first, chapter 34 is their last chance to beat Nizuma. Ever. Dun dun dun.

Bags under his eyes, Saiko successfully completes the storyboards just in time for Hattori’s review. Shujin decides to invite Hattori over to read it with them so they can see the look on his face when he reads it.

Hattori comes over and reads the work stoically. He breaks into a grin.

He admits that Saiko duped him. He asks for the illustration from last week. Hattori admits that he never realized there was a gimmick in the illustration. The gimmick – and use of color – are both good. Hattori admits he thought of something with the 9 days and 00 minutes marks at the bottom, but because it looked cool regardless, he didn’t think anything of it.

Hattori realizes this is why they asked the logo to be placed in a specific location. The illustration itself is a challenge from Sigma to PCP. Hattori is confident they can beat Crow with this.

Hattori reminds them they’re out of time. They need to start on the final draft now, so the boys jump into action.

Cannot Stop

Saiko approaches the storyboards aggressively to the point where Kaya wonders where the aggro is coming from. Shujin explains he’s desperate to get the number one spot.

Saiko chimes in: he’s going to beat Crow no matter what. He’s confident they can do it, and he’ll make sure they have a series that consistently beats Crow in the rankings. Then, once they have first place consistently, there is no way they’ll be able to turn down PCP for an anime.

Shujin and Kaya remark that he’s totally different than usual.

Succinctly: He’s going to beat Nizuma.

Meanwhile, Yujiro reminds the audience that Nizuma only needs to place first three more times to end Crow. Nizuma apologizes to Yujiro because he will not let anyone end Crow.

Yujiro admires the passion with which Nizuma approaches his manga. Yujiro finally realizes that Nizuma isn’t tired or bored; he simply wants to give his series the best possible ending. He’s moved by the fervor and passion of this selfless desire.

Yujiro wishes Nizuma luck in ending Crow. Nizuma thought he was the enemy. Yujiro, pleasantly resigned, explains that Giri isn’t going to catch up at this point. And if anybody was going to win, it would be PCP, according to Hattori.

Nizuma thinks that there would be no one better to overtake him than Ashirogi. He asks whether they will be placed in the same chapter as this series.

That is correct.

He vows not to lose.

Saiko finishes the final draft and the assistants all admire how it is, by a wide margin, the best work they’ve produced. Saiko swears he’ll get first place. Shujin calls Hattori to let him know the draft is ready.

Hattori is thrilled by the final draft and can feel Saiko’s passion rolling through it.

In PCP, I’m Thrilled About Metafictional Gimmicks with Color Pages (Shonen Jump Issue 34)

Idenvitation

At the classroom, the trio receives an Idenvitation from Sigma (oh shit). Makoto pieces together that it’s meant to be an identity and invitation pun. The third member of the trio thinks that’s silly.

They took a look inside and see a photo. Mai points out that it’s a photo of Makoto’s room taken from inside. How did Sigma get that? Was he hiding in Makoto’s room?

Minoru points out that that’s a photo he took in Makoto’s room. Mai remembers that he mentioned that his digital camera got stolen. Sigma must have taken it. Mai berates Minoru: Sigma might be a thief as well. Minoru points out that the camera was returned to him after it was stolen.

Makoto observes some strange things about this photo. Specifically a note on the back of the photograph: I shall be waiting for you at the date and time you can figure out from this photograph.

Mai wonders what waiting means; Makoto pieces together that this is an invitation and that if they find the location, they will finally meet Sigma. Mai doesn’t know what the date and time is on the photo.

9th 00 Minutes?

They’re confused by the time at the bottom. They wonder if the 9th refers to an upcoming date. Mai is unsure; it could be this month or next month.

Minoru wonders if the clock in the photo has something to do with it: it’s pointing at 10 o’clock. That would be too easy for Sigma, and they don’t even know where they’re supposed to go.

Minoru observes that he remember taking this photo in the morning. Makoto has a realization: the whole photo is colored incorrectly. It’s pitch black outside the window so it’s unnaturally dark.

Makoto pulls out his magnifier cell phone strap and takes a closer look (so cool).

Makoto nails it: The direction of the shadow doesn’t make sense. Based on the direction of the shadows, it’s morning, so Sigma must have shaded the window black!

He also notices that the clock hands are wrong: it doesn’t have a second clock hand, and the hand is silver on the original. The real hand is beneath the black clock’s hands.

That means the real time is… 9 o’clock!

Minoru remembers that he took this photo at 9 in the morning. The shadows prove it. Minoru thinks that doesn’t add up because they have school on the 9th. Mai reminds him that they’ll have that day off to celebrate the school’s founding.

They confirm the date is July 9th, and 9 o’clock in the morning. But they still haven’t figured out the place!

The photo will tell them. They review it, and one of them has an epiphany. The shading on the clock indicates a change from 9 to 10 o’clock. Juji kara; on Makoto’s desk is a book, “Curse of the Cross.” Cross is Jujika. It must be at a church.

Makoto senses something off about this. It isn’t in Sigma’s usual wheelhouse.

Issue 34 Reaction

Center Color Pages Baby

Oh man, I’m so pumped. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a color page used like this before in my many years of reading Jump. Now, I’m reacting before the chapter is truly over because I have to take a break.

You see, unlike when I read a manga that’s all BANG POW WHAM!, in this case this is like a detective story, so I have to try and figure it out before the group does.

Too bad I’m totally hopeless at that.

But I’ll try.

Do they have Churches in Japan? I think they do since, y’know, religious freedom and such. Oh, this is so fun. The introduction of Sigma has been cool lately.

Like, PCP has always been super enjoyable, but since that slump a little bit ago, I’m less excited to read the manga than I used to be. I guess Ashirogi have been a little less enthusiastic, or maybe they’re stressed about the copycat. I hope they’re okay.

But also, this is just a straight flex. I don’t mention this a lot when I do these read-throughs of PCP, but I adore metafiction, and this is a pitch-perfect example of that.

But yeah, who is Sigma?

They Must be a Student

A student, for sure. They have to be a student. Part of me wants it to be Akechi because Akechi is so cool, and he’s actually my favorite character besides Makoto. I’m a sucker for rival types who are super smart. They always make things so interesting.

Depending on how this chapter concludes, it might even be better than Crow! But I don’t know. It’s hard to choose because Crow has been non-stop epic, and each chapter seems better than the last.

The action has been so intense and I admire Nizuma-sensei so much for being so good at manga.

But how does this photo add up? Is that 9th something that has to do with it? I bet it is. that’s the character for day, not the character for hour, which is toki, and that’s confusing. I bet that’s part of it.

Oh, well, I have to jump back into reading this epic chapter. I’ll be back soon!

Until a little later

Horse Race

Back at Jump Editorial on July 19th, the sample issue for Issue 34 comes out. Miura thinks PCP is great and is blown away by the use of the color page. Editor Bowl Cut thinks this might be the key to beating Crow.

Another editor thinks Crow has more pizazz and it won’t be able to get above it. Kosugi thinks that because it’s using the gimmick of the color page, the deductions feel a bit forced. Bowl Cut thinks it’s down to those two as to who is going to win this week. Yujiro is confident that Nizuma will win.

Miura’s confused, but Yujiro explains he’s decided to root for Nizuma. Kosugi’s surprised that he’d let Crow end just like that. Yujiro—in his bishonen from—reminds everyone of the significant accomplishment of getting first for 17 weeks in a row and will get 20 weeks in a row. He wants to witness that historic moment.

Miura and Kosugi kind of understand.

Fukuda is pleased by Ashirogi and wants them to win if Giri cannot. Takahama admires his rivals and thinks he has so far to go.

Yoshida tells Hiramaru that PCP might beat Crow. Hiramaru – now unable to fulfill his wish of being called Kazutan – doesn’t give a fat shit.

Yoshida and Hiramaru start fighting each other, and Yoshida scolds Hiramaru for falling for such an obvious trick. Yoshida’s glad he managed to squeeze 10 weeks of good work with that carrot, though.

Yoshida then reminds him that this week’s PCP is really good. If he can get it this good, he might get first place, and Aoki will be all over him. Hiramaru wants to read.

In PCP, I Was Right Motherfuckers (Issue 34 Continued)

Makoto Figured It Out?

Makoto tells Mai and Minoru he’s figured out when and where Sigma wants to meet.

He explains the setup, saying they can use the photo to figure out the date and time. He points out that the cross/church idea was close. But it’s not a Western place; it’s a Japanese one.

Oh shit.

Juji kara juki: From 10 to 9 o’clock can also be read as Jujika Rakuji. The Kanji for Curse of the Cross. But the character for Tree is missing. The only day on which the 9th is Mokuyoubi (tree day/Thursday) this year is in July. So Thursday, July 9th is correct.

Since the omitted radical is a clue, the place can be deduced using the same technique. Makoto was struck by the oddity of using Nichi (Day) and Fun (Minutes) instead of hours and minutes. It should be KujiReibun.

If you pay close attention, you can see a radical is also omitted from Nichi since it is smaller than the minute marker. The correct Kanji is Kuji, which means 9 o’clock, not the 9th. The missing part, which indicates that, is also the character tera (temple). So, the place is a temple.

Minoru pieces together that the area must be Tanuki Temple since that’s the only temple in the area. Makoto agrees.

Issue 34 Reaction part II

Neener Neener

I called it. I totally called it.

This is one of those rare cases where knowing Japanese is to my direct benefit.

I’ve been studying japanese long enough to know these basic Kanji, so it was a real joy seeing how Kanji construction was used so expertly to craft the solution.

It also made me feel smart knowing these intricacies of various readings of various characters. Can I do it like a native? No, but I can do it. And that makes me feel special. Neener neener.

I will admit that I didn’t get all of it, but I did get most of it, and I feel good about that.

Will we meet Sigma soon? I want to meet him. I bet we’ll meet him soon. If not this chapter, then definitely the next chapter.

Or maybe they’ll Jebait us into reading further. I don’t know. I guess we’ll have to see. Either way, I’m fucking pumped.

I’m as pumped, or maybe even more, than Crow.

Until next time

The Results Are In and…

Yujiro loves the gimmick used in the color page. He admires Ashirogi and is moved by the grand battle between the two. Nizuma agrees that this is peak Ashirogi behavior, which makes him even happier that he’ll be able to end his series by beating them.

Yujiro wants to know why he’s so happy it’s Ashirogi.

Nizuma explains that he was struck by lightning when he met them for the first time at the editorial department. Particularly Saiko, who glared at him with fiery eyes. It was fate for both of them: they never wanted to lose to each other and were destined to become each other’s rivals.

At the studio, Hattori thinks the chapter is even better in the magazine. The boys thank him. He especially likes that they end on a “will we meet Sigma” cliffhanger.

Hattori mentions that Crow received first place in chapter 32 and that Issue 34 will probably be the last chance to beat him for everybody.

Saiko confirms Hattori’s suspicions. Issue 34 will be the last opportunity as Issue 33 also has Crow place first. Aida freaks out over one more week left, Bowl cut thinks its time; Miura thinks PCP should not be discounted; Yamahisa thinks that Crow has so much momentum that no one can stop it. Yujiro agrees.

Yoshida wonders if Yujiro’s historic win will really come to pass.

On Tuesday, July 26, the early results of Issue 34 come in, and Hattori is shocked by what he sees. Aida reminds him that it’s only the early results. Hattori doesn’t say what it is, but Yujiro is equally shocked by the news.

Back at the studio, Kaya confirms they won’t be seeking the early results. The boys remind her that the final report is the only thing that matters. Shujin’s confident that they’ll beat Crow.

Saiko is determined to win as the chapter concludes on a massive cliffhanger.

Aggressive and Idea

It’s Going to Be a Tie

Maybe I was a bit premature in announcing that this arc was over quite yet. Ending the battle so quickly in only three chapters felt a little premature. But now that I think about it this is the final rival battle, so they have to pull out all the stops to take Nizuma.

Sidenote: this chapter was straight gas. Bakuman is firing on all cylinders again as we head into a climax, but not, perhaps, the climax.

If they do get first, that’s great. But my honest assessment is that they are going to tie, similar to how they did all the way back in Akamaru Jump. Because there’s one thing we haven’t discussed in detail, but is probably the key component of the Rival dynamic.

We’ve discussed Rivals here a lot, so you’ll excuse me if I have even more lore to drop on you about the fundamental nature of the rival that I have not yet shared.

You cannot defeat the Rival character with a one-sided victory. Beating the rival means either tying or otherwise negating them.

The reason for this is what I would call Taoist or Jungian, but as we’ve discussed, the Rival is a mirror character. They are the actualized version of the protagonist, the mountain the protagonist must climb, or an inversion of the protagonist in all the key ways—not just their hair color being different or their demeanor being the opposite.

The Rival character is a twin flame to the main character in most stories.

And if the Rival character dies, the main character will follow.

*SPOILERS FOR LEGENDS OF THE GALACTIC HEROES (DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE WATCHING)*

To use one of my favorite examples of this trope is taken to its logical conclusion: In Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Reinhart von Lohengramm, our blonde haired earnest, ambitious, imperial protagonist, is constantly beset by his black-haired, republic-loving, cynical, ambitiousness Yang Wen-Li. They cross swords several times throughout the series.

They are true rivals. And in the third season, something happens to Yang Wen-Li – he dies. And it totally unmoors Reinhart.

And in the final season, absent his greatest foes meddling, Reinhart takes an illness and, as his empire fractures under its own weight, dies soon after of a mysterious illness. I would call it a broken heart.

This is one example of the rival dynamic, where the rival dies, and the main character follows. But if you read any stories with Rival characters at the forefront, you will find similar results.

Naruto doesn’t beat Sasuke in his final duel; they negate each other.

Asta, Yuno, Deku, and Bakugo are no longer at odds.

Kageyama and Hinata balance each other out.

That’s the central conceit of the Rival: they balance out the main character and give them something to strive for.

So, beating them is killing something within the protagonist.

If The Joker were killed – and he is very much Batman’s rival fuck you fight me – The Batman would stop existing because they complete each other. Order and Chaos complete each other. They are two sides of the same coin, and you can’t remove one side of a coin without destroying the other side.

This is the rule of rivals. I’m sure you can find other examples where I’m wrong, but this is what I’ve noticed.

All that is to say, Nizuma and Ashirogi are probably going to tie, which means:

Yujiro’s going to have a logistical headache

I imagine there will be a sudden death-type follow-up to this development, assuming I’m right – and Yujiro will have to contend with the absolute headache of dealing with the final chapter pivoting to another story abruptly. It’s going to be interesting to see how they deal with it.

But my current guess is that they are going to have another run of chapters that will run for x chapters, and whoever gets the most wins first, wins. And because Nizuma will have “finished” his manga, it will be a more even matchup than the previous ones. Or something.

Anyway, we haven’t talked much about this actual chapter yet, so let’s get to it:

The Metafiction went crazy here

Yeah, so there were a bunch of fun layers to the metafiction in this chapter that don’t extend to the fact that we got another chapter in a chapter (somewhat squee).

At this point, this gimmick is starting to lose a bit of steam when we switch into the story within a story because it was done to perfection in the Nanamine arc, but here, it’s a little more worn out. Similar to how it felt when we had the copycat rehash.

But we had so many layers to unpack.

One note that I think is really interesting and it’s such a minor detail, but the PCP chapter margins are explicitly made to look like a professional manga. In Manga production and book production, the borderlines on the page you see are called the bleed, where the binding device cuts the pages to bind them. Anything drawn outside the bleed will not appear in the final pages.

When we read Classroom of Truth, Nanamine’s bleed margins were sloppy and amateurish. Screentones were cut haphazardly, and lines drifted off. In PCP’s bleed, everything is extremely clean and neat. The lines are almost perfect, and nothing is overdone. It’s a testament to Obata’s skills as a draftsman that he can create such clear differences between mangaka with such minor details.

It’s also a good character development for Saiko, who we know is a good artist. Now, we really see what that means. It’s not just in the art itself but in how it’s presented, how clean it is, and how precise it is.

I also like that they showed us both a preview draft and the magazine draft and delineated them with the paper and comic book margins, respectively. All these touches matter.

But this is also where metafiction gets crazy. We’re cross-cutting between PCP and Sigma and Ashirogi and Nizuma, who are both barreling towards a climax. The rival is forcing their partner to go to insane lengths to beat them. These insane lengths are building up excitement and hype for the rest of the battle. The story happening in one is the story happening in the other. They’re using the gimmick of showing us PCP to show us the gimmick within PCP, which is also technically a Gimmick for Bakuman.

It’s fucking great.

This chapter was paced like a climax chapter, so I might be wrong, and I loved that it felt climactic, even if curtailed.

I will also admit that knowing Japanese made the chapter conceits so much more interesting to me. I tried to figure it out, but I’m bad at these types of stories, which is why I don’t like reading them.

That said

I Kinda Agree With Kosugi

It did feel a bit manufactured, like, “We have to fit this gimmick in somehow, so we’re gonna connect the dots really aggressively,” or at least that’s how I felt on the initial read-through when I didn’t try to do it myself.

But when recapping—and doing my own crazy metafiction—I had more fun with it. So I can land on two sides. We don’t see Crow, but I imagine it’s a nutty balls-to-the-wall action sequence that’s finally wrapping up now.

But I don’t think I will be in the majority here. This chapter was very much a manga-as-character chapter, which we’ve had before, and also a Nizuma/Ashirogi double whammy. The minor characters were not doing much – Fukuda was sweet, Takahama too, and Yoshida and Hiramaru continue to annoy, but i’ll let it pass in this case. But they all had that look of contentment from an excellent chapter of manga, so I think I know how this will probably end.

Either a tie or victory.

And the boys didn’t count their chickens before they hatch. So that’s also a good sign.

Who knows how this is going to end?

I liked that the series baited us with two cliffhangers about who was going to win. I cannot wait to read next week’s chapter when I’m done with this read-through so I can get some sweet, sweet resolution. Holy shit.

But I do want to focus on one other thing

Yujiro, and the Rival Dynamic

I really fucking loved how much this is ultimately an expression of love and care between Nizuma and Saiko. While it is more than a little frustrating that Saiko treats Miho like a trophy to win, I think he does have a competitor for most important relationship.

And that’s Nizuma.

Nizuma explained that his passion for winning his fate was about as loving as one can be while making manga. Saiko’s aggressiveness – which permeated the chapter – really lent itself to this sense of devotion between the two characters. And frankly, that’s beautiful.

Seeing these rivals so passionate about the things they do and who they do it for really gave this chapter the oomph it needed, even if it wasn’t necessarily giving me the highs of earlier metafictional detours.

But I also love that Yujiro finally understands Nizuma better. He understands that he doesn’t want to quit but just loves manga. it’s obvious to the audience that that’s the case, but seeing Yujiro realize it, admire it and accept it was some of the best character development of this chapter.

I really want to know what happens next. I really want to know.

So, I’m going to read that chapter now.

Until next time,

Peace