Chapter 197 Reaction Polls

[symbolism-egg.livejournal.com]

Because I enjoy discussion and loving mockery, I bring a poll. Inspired by the previous discussion post as well as my own thoughts.

Spoilers for DGM 197.



[Poll #1602316]

And because I’m curious—or perhaps because I just enjoy polls. I’m not sure how to answer these myself, so help me out.


[Poll #1602317]


[Poll #1602318]

Comments

[attaining.livejournal.com]

Not sure I can rate the storytelling until the English scanslation comes out, but I feel like storytelling is hard to judge chapter by chapter because it generally builds or is dependent upon subsequent chapters.

[symbolism-egg.livejournal.com]

Good point--I was considering a note saying that fans can come back after the English version comes out if so desired, since it's hard to read as is unless you know Chinese.

The second poll can just be your overall impression of the chapter, how much you liked, etc. :) But you're right, it helps to view the story arcs as a whole. All this fighting must be leading up to something, but who knows how the climax will go?

[keelain.livejournal.com]

I just really really don't like where the art is going. It used to be a lot easier to tell people apart and Kanda's hair wasn't like a whole other creature.

[symbolism-egg.livejournal.com]

How could I have forgotten Kanda's Saiyan hair!? That would have had a fighting chance for the winning spot, too.

The art reminds me vaguely of classic shonen battle series with the shapes of their faces, mouths, and eyes (and Kanda's hair) but I haven't read those widely so I'm not sure. I wonder if she's aiming for that intentionally, though?

[ice-flow.livejournal.com]

Title should've been "Canon Love, but WTF". AWESOME Yullen-y goodness, but....WHAT THE HELL?!?! *is still stuck on fact that Kanda's hair has a mind of it's own*...not that that won't be beneficial to fantasies, but still

Storytelling: .....it's Yullen. What else can I say? *fangirl cheers* Okay, honestly, it's a pretty good chapter if you can get over the graphics and the weirdness of how the characters look the same and all that crap like how NO ONE is interfering with Kanda, Allen, and Alma's battle at all...well, the Earl and them are weird like that anyways...seem to just like watching the show...and the long awaited 14th-appears is finally initiated. Who wouldn't be happy? XDDD

Artwork: .....I'd say atrocious, but I've seen worse. HOWEVER. It IS terrible compared to Hoshino's work in the middle of the series. The beginning chapters had the character look slightly strange (they still looked like they were from Zone), but then it got ridiculously good....but now it looks like someone else entirely is continuing the series instead of Hoshino...sure, plot's still good and the same, but the artwork....what the hell is all I have to say...

Compare chapters 195 and 196. There is SUCH a major difference that it's ridiculous...=.=...=0=...@_@....

[symbolism-egg.livejournal.com]

The strong power of fanservice!

I suppose it makes sense for the others not to interfere with Kanda vs. Allen, since the scientists can barely move and the Noahs can watch their enemies fight each other. It makes a lot less sense for them to be fighting each other in the first place, imo. XD But yes! At last the Order and/or the Noah Clan will have to do something about the 14th! I look forward to seeing the fallout from that. Heresy trial plz I wonder if the Order will get him, or the Earl, or neither?

Hoshino's artwork has changed so many times, and now it keeps changing in a short period of time. I dislike how the character designs are less distinct. And in the last couple chapters, the shapes of the mouths looked odd to me, like rather old-fashioned style.

[leafyaki.livejournal.com]

Hello dear ♥ Haven't done the polls yet, but YES I WANNA DISCUSS THIS WITH YOU ♥ Discussed a little with A a few night ago :D

So! I actually quite like the storytelling this chapter :) Maybe it's because we're actually getting somewhere with the blood and gore and killings. What with the incensed fight between Kanda and Allen (and accusations flying around), and Alma crying (showing he isn't actually just psycho but psycho-with-a-reason), and the 14th finally about to appear (really, for someone who's intent on staying alive through the ages even in someone else's body, he sure isn't protecting his host body very well). There's more plot and character development in this chapter (especially...Kanda?).

Also I'm superficial and like the cover page where Timcanpy is wildly jealous over cathorsemanfishthing (I'm convinced Zuu kept the horsemanfish and made it into the thing Allen calls a catfish).

LOL at stabbity-stab between Kanda and Allen. I could sense the Allen/Kanda fans going wild. The scene was dramatic, to be sure.

BUT THE TAIL. THE TAIL. Wrapped around Allen and flinging him wildly around! A told me, from the discussion you two had, that miles away Madarao weeps at the injustice. I totally and emphatically agree. Even as I LOL-ed hard over that scene. The tail actually had some use and wasn't just for decorative purposes! STILL, HOSHINO WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?

With regards the art, I'm just confused now because sometimes Bak seems like Allen and I'd think Bak is Allen, which is very troublesome. Kanda's crazy hair makes him easy to identify though. Besides that - I don't have too much qualms over the art this time round. Perhaps because of getting used to it or...it just isn't too bad this time around? IDK. Not very good at judging art :/

Mm yes I'm pretty sure I have more to add and I'll do that later when I come back ♥

[symbolism-egg.livejournal.com]

Hello there! Yes, we should discuss it. <3 I discussed it with A already as well, haha.

It does look like the Alma subplot will be wrapped up soon what will the Crows' fate be, I am on edge for that and more excitingly, someone, somewhere will have to react to the 14th now! Personally I disliked this chapter, though. It just seems silly for Kanda to be fighting Allen while the Earl and co. look on. I know he's not the brightest character, and he's probably in some emotional turmoil, but I wouldn't think he'd blame Allen when there are several more plausible targets. Like the Earl, or the Leverrier who he knows first-hand does stupid human experiments.

Oh questionable leg placement. I'm not a fan of that pairing, but I found that amusing. XD

AAAAAAAH the tail. And the elf ears and the shoulder thingies--Akuma-Alma's whole character design, really. Yes, Madarao is ashamed that he is somewhat related to that.

To find Kanda, just look for the hair explosion? Jasdevi is being overshadowed here. I don't hate the artwork, and Hoshino's still a damn good artist no matter what the style, but I do miss the more distinct character designs. And has Allen been growing into this hairstyle for awhile, or did he just sprout Alma hair this chapter?

Please do. &hearts

[starcrossed-sky.livejournal.com]

Well, he wouldn't care too much, would he? Since the Noah themselves all reincarnate, they probably don't care too much about their individual human bodies. The humans-that-host-the-Noah-memories care quite a bit, but not so much the actual Noah-memories, I'd imagine.

In fact, since Allen is a bit of a troublesome host with his stubborn refusal to just give up already, I can imagine why Mr. Fourteen might want to switch him out for someone more pliable.

ALMA TAIL MAKES ME HAPPY BEYOND MEASURE SO I MUST SPAZZ ABOUT IT EVERYWHERE OBLIGATORY SPAZZ.

[starcrossed-sky.livejournal.com]

I lol'd hard at "The Noah of Falling Over." Allen sure does seem to do that a lot, doesn't he?

I've been trying to restrain myself from actually looking at the scans until the English comes out, but... Ugh, must resist. So I don't really have much to say at the moment.

I am celebrating that prehensile!Alma tail, though. Because I'm just like that, hurr.

[symbolism-egg.livejournal.com]

I was expecting the Noah-ness to convey magical healing abilities. But no!

All: The Fourteenth Noah!!! He's appeared!!

14th: *falls over*

...Although I appreciate that Hoshino's not giving a character a shortcut to healing, and now I suppose one side or the other can drag the 14th off and Allen will have to deal with the consequences.

I admire your restraint. (There wasn't too much dialogue, so I read it alongside with the original script.) Feel free to share once the scans do come out. Hopefully someone's still scanlating it.

The many possibilities of the prehensile tail, huh? XD I can't take it seriously....

[pattypimp.livejournal.com]

i going to be honest... i think the art work is going down the drain. it use to be so much nicer. im not sure what she is going but its just not working for me. you would think that the chapter would look nicer seeing how she has most time to work on them... but the art is just sad to look at... well to me at least. its just so hard for me to see things sometime, like in the chapter cover Allen looked like Alma.. i mean just make the scar off and color in the hair and you got a Alma. even trough out the manga i kept thinking that if Allen didn't have white hair he would look just like Alma. and Kanda's hair... wtf? over all the art is going from curves done using a curving tool on paint to lines using the line tool on paint. over all... one of the reasons i read the manga just went down the drain for me.

as for the story... i cant say much seeing how i have to wait for the english translation. but if its bad you will see a rant. =/

[defade.livejournal.com]

THIS. Seriously, this. DGM used to be the prettiest out of all shounen manga, what has happened? The artwork in Ark arc was brilliant, and only continued to improve even after we reached the 14th first awakening. It was still pretty good when she first moved into monthly releases, but something started happening last month and I really don't like it. Her current Allen looks completely different now.

[riot-of-flowers.livejournal.com]

THIS.

The artwork has changed a lot, I can tell it has more dynamics (?) but seriously I see twins, not two different characters and the faces, they make me suffer a lot and I miss the gothic like initial style and well, it feels like a doujin sometimes.

[ice-flow.livejournal.com]

YES!!! I SOOOO agree...I actually only recognized Allen because of his scar....@_@...figured hey, no one else has such a scar, irght? lol....but yeah, I really miss her distinct character designs.....everyone had a different design and it was sooooooooooooooooooooooo good and beautiful...

...and I liked Kanda's hair a few chapters ago....T_T...it was so beautiful and silky and long and *squeals*.....and now it's like, POOF, split-ends and tufts and tentacle waving and everything...*twitch* *is shot for her Yullen fantasy involving Kanda restraining Allen with his hair and *cough*-ing him*

[hellzabeth.livejournal.com]

Title wise, I picked "but where is Lavi?" though "Why didn't I learn Chinese" and "shut up, it's a chapter" were good as well XD

I'm looking forward to the 14th Noah appearing. Like, properly would be nice. Might even get a name to go with it. Plz kthx.

*watches that tail, hypnotised*

The art style... I'm not gonna comment. Apart from on Kanda's shonen hair ahahaha.

I wish I knew more kanji so I could maybe decipher what they were talking about. I could only catch Kanda's name...

[symbolism-egg.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm looking forward to what happens with the 14th next chapter, too. I wonder if we'll ever get a name. If so it had better be a good one. XD (Although if Mana is a Walker, then I suppose the 14th is too? I'm not sure if that's an assumed name or no.)

I don't know Chinese, but I do know Kanji, which was enough to match up the Japanese lines with the scanlation. If you want more names, Allen is 亞連 and Alma is...what Kanda's saying on the last page, I can't seem to write it with Japanese input.

[citatsce.livejournal.com]

The artwork isn't terrible or bad (in fact, the amount of detail is stunning!), but it's definitely different to what it used to be some arcs ago. :/ It's not that her art quality is going down the hill, she's just changing styles and people apparently still aren't used to it. (Am I the only one who didn't mind Kanda's hair? I thought it was pretty cool.) Not to say that I like this style of artwork the best, since Allen did look like Alma in this chapter and I sort of missed Allen's feminine-ish look, but the artwork didn't distract me from what was going on, which is good. :)

That said, I'm glad the plot is starting to pick up now, and hopefully Hoshino will finally settle on a style she likes soon!

[sharkgrinder.livejournal.com]

It's not that her art quality is going down the hill, she's just changing styles and people apparently still aren't used to it.

Thiiiis. People complained at the Ark Arc style. People complained at the Grey Arc style. People complained at the post hiatus style. Honshio's always been one to change her style vastly, and as a result we just have to get used to new art over and over. It's a little annoying, but eh.

I did rate her down at average for the unfinished pages, though. I wonder, whatever happened to her assistants? Does she not have any anymore?

And Kanda's hair is well drawn, but it's just so... poofy. Had that been its style from early on it wouldn't have been a problem but it came out of nowhere so people are still like 'whoa what'. It looks like it's only a 5th Illusion thing, so it should go back to normal.

[unforgivingtime.livejournal.com]

I'm a shameless Kanda/Allen fangirl, so... *cheers* When I wasn't cringing at Kanda's ridiculous hair, or Allen's pain (seriously, that kid always gets so beat up) I was pretty happy with this chapter. Although the art is confusing me a little now.. I hope Hoshino get's it sorted out soon.
I'm also a little surprised that there are a few Allen/Alma shippers making themselves known after this chapter. O_o Hoshino should probably bring a few female characters in to balance this out LOL. Seriously though, I miss Lenalee. ;n;

And I am totally looking forward to seeing the 14th. ♥

[sparklishh.livejournal.com]

Allen/Alma is probably more crackish than anything else, but I guess the shippers just can't resist the tail 8D

I demand the Earl in a red dress or else! (and for Hoshino to grow fond of the gothic style again)

[riot-of-flowers.livejournal.com]

I was very fond of the chapter but the artwork not so much.

Don't get me wrong, in fact, I'm love with the fact the guys are getting their daily dose of testosterone and showing they have grown up and that Kanda won't end as Lenalee's twin sister (a shame to Lavi and Allen and Bak, because, you know, twins fantasy FTW!), but the faces are making me recall other mangas because I swear her style is starting to have influences, heavy influences, from other styles.

As for Alma's tail, I screamed NightWalker from X-men and then grew some expectations to find some sort of parody of it in the shape of a fanart (capslock comm, I shall monitor you FTW); I'm having difficulties to tell apart Alma from Allen, thank all the gods for the mutated scar (why purple now, Hoshino? Red so totally fits him!).

But now, trying to be somehow serious (chocolate, I overdosed myself with it to carry on studying for the exams): I MISS THE GOTHIC-ESQUE STYLE D8

Really, before it was all so dark and it was like if the manga was made on black pages with liquid paper because it had so much ink and details and it had a dark atmosphere and somehow it was a light mood; now it has a dark mood and a light atmosphere and well, I had grown used to the fact that "ink everywhere = Hoshino's signature".

Give me frills, Hoshino, give me excess of ink, ugly Noahs, complicated akumas (well, I like these ones but it looks as if she stared at Dali's paintings or something) and the wacky drawings (http://i308.photobucket.com/albums/kk352/riot_of_flowers/DGrayMan/DGray-manv01c001p045.jpg).

*hugs*

Re: I demand the Earl in a red dress or else! (and for Hoshino to grow fond of the gothic style agai

[symbolism-egg.livejournal.com]

I miss the earlier style(s) as well. I hadn't thought about the use of a lot of ink, but I agree it suits the story's atmosphere better than the mostly-white tones. At the very least, I wish the character designs were more distinct, like they used to be! I don't hate the current art style, though.

[sparklishh.livejournal.com]

YEAH, WE NEED TO SEE MORE LAVI D:<

Though I voted "good" in in terms of artwork on the poll, I have mixed feelings about the new art style. On one hand, the detail is amazing and the characters, especially Fou and Kanda (yes, even with the hair) look better than they did before the hiatus.

The only character who I think didn't turn out well is Allen, it's nice to see him look more manly and all, but I really prefer how Hoshino used to draw his eyes, which are bigger and more childish looking. And the hair... I liked it better when it was still neat and tidy and not a bleached version of Alma's hairstyle.

And oh Hoshino, did you dye Allen's eyebrows or something? -shakes head-

As for the story, is anyone starting to feel urges to ship Allen/Alma? I mean, the hand holding, and how Allen carried Alma bridal style for a panel there. And the tail, don't even get me started on that heehee. On a more serious note, the 14th finally shows after such a long time! I'm hoping that Hoshino loves Allen enough to make him be able to revert back though. Augghh, I can't choose who I love more @A@

[starcrossed-sky.livejournal.com]

See, it makes sense to me that Allen would be drawn more older looking, now. When you figure in the amount of travel and how long it took in that time period, even assuming they used the Ark for just about everything once they got it, he's probably been with the Order at least a year now, probably more like a year and a half to two years.

[behaxeltzi.livejournal.com]

too many good titles to choose from.
However plan B seems like a good idea at the rate Allen and Kanda are going the Noah and the Earl wont need to lift a finger, they can just watch.

as for alternate title like I said on skype

"Allen Walker, the noah of head hittery"

or

"Allen Walker...what is his head made of?"

[symbolism-egg.livejournal.com]

The Earl's plan is working so far!

Allen does get thrown around quite a lot, doesn't he? Of course, there are a lot of battle scenes and he's the main character.

tl;dr

[yamamoto-kou.livejournal.com]

How about "Allen takes friendship VERY seriously" as an alternative title? Because I couldn't choose ONE from the ones already there.

I admit it, I loled a bit at the sheer ridiculous-ness of Allen trying to make peace between two clearly deranged/enraged individuals, one of which is supposed to be cut down anyway, while the Big Bads of the series are just across what's left of the room. Bak and Fou also look like they could really use some help about then...

...but that's just Allen being true to himself, I guess. Seriously: "I can't just abandon what's in front of me; I want to protect everything I can." (http://read.mangashare.com/D.Gray-man/chapter-014/page009.html)

As extreme as he's being, there really isn't much he can do in that scenario. I mean, there's no way he can take on the Noah, no way to escape, and killing the Akuma dotted around the place won't save anyone. The other options left (e.g. joining the Noah, just standing there) won't sit well with him so he had to try the next best thing: Put himself in a suicidal position and believe that THE POWER OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP will prevail. This! This is why I love the shounen genre!

-! Okay, stopping there because I could go on for ages. My Allen-admiration is showing. u_u

Basically: the storytelling is still great to me, since I was entertained but still getting a tragic vibe from the whole thing. The art wasn't as bad as I thought it would be; I voted 'good' for 'good enough' and it'll be 'great' once in tankouban format. @u@ Still, the current state of art-style fluxes keeps me worried for Hoshino's health. Well, it's either that, or her brief stint as an animator (where they'd have do different styles often I think) is a factor here. idk

Re: tl;dr

[symbolism-egg.livejournal.com]

I can see how it fits in with Allen's characterization and desire to save everyone, everywhere. :) To me, this particular instance doesn't make him seem that smart, though, and ends up with him and Kanda in a ridiculous situation.

The manga artist workload is very stressful, and she's had trouble with deadlines before, which would explain the few sketchy panels. But I don't how that would cause the whole style to change, since the current style's still complex. Interesting theory about her days as an animator, though.

[gem2niki.livejournal.com]

i haven't paid attention to the story because the art is waaaay too distracting!! I used to be influenced by her older art styles which is why I followed the series. It took a long time for me to get used to each previous styles she had...but this one takes the cake. They all have the same head/eye shape. I can't tell allen/kanda/alma apart anymore without having the hair give me a clue (but then kanda and allen hair is getting wonky every chapter...)!! orz;;;

honestly i don't care about kanda or allen anymore... *gimme lavi!!*

[symbolism-egg.livejournal.com]

Strange things have been happening to the hair. I have to go back and look at 196 to see whether or not Allen's hairstyle changed in the course of a few minutes....

Lavi deserves a lot of screen time after this Lavi drought. XD

[criaze.livejournal.com]

I cried a river for the sudden change of its art style. I refuse to believe that this is Hoshino's work.

[symbolism-egg.livejournal.com]

Her art style's changed before, but yes, it was very sudden.

Your icon is perfect in many ways. XD