Jump Start--Hi Fi Cluster
Sep. 22nd, 2014 06:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
skjam posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
scans_dailyHi folks!
Continuing on from last week's post, it's time for another Shonen Jump Jump Start entry. If you missed last week, The online Shonen Jump is now going to include the first three chapters of every new series that appears in the print Shounen Jump Weekly. Last time it was martial arts in Judos.
This week is Hi-Fi Cluster by Ippei Goto. 14 pages of 55. (I'm posting these after the next issue comes out, so if you subscribe online, you already saw this last week.) There's some discussion of disability issues.
We open on a young man named Jugojo who's loading up his pizza delivery scooter. His boss reminds him that he's supposed to wear a driving ability patch on his helmet per the company rules. Jugojo's driving still seems kind of shaky. We learn that about ten years ago, ability labels were invented by someone.
The man in the black suit asks for sauce, and the server asks about his odd-looking stick thing while she hands over the condiment. He calls it his "sidekick, or should I say side-stick!" The joke falls flat. Meanwhile, Jugojo is continuing to have driving difficulties. He explains that he's always known his limitations. For some reason, he's incompatible with ability labels, and must learn all skills the hard way.
Which is why he wobbles enough to sideswipe the man in the suit, knocking the fellow's prosthetic hand off. The man seems less upset about that than losing his lunch.
It's not directly stated, but apparently students use "scholarship" ability patches to keep up with instructors. Jugojo therefore does not do well, because he's effectively learning-challenged.
In the meantime, the man has also picked up Jugoju's phone, which is showing a message that addresses him as "Peta" and wonders why he isn't in school. He recognizes the language as feminine, and asks if it's Jugoju's girlfriend. Jugoju stutters a denial, but then the man is reminded that this kid really should be in school. Jugoju explains about his label disability.
The boy is momentarily distracted by the man picking all the pineapple off the pizza and setting it aside. He'd initially thought the man was in the Yakuza, but the fellow seems too laid-back for that, despite the prosthetic. Then the man abruptly asks Jugojo if there are any black markets in the neighborhood. Some labels have age qualifications or special restrictions, but criminals will sell them to anyone. And apparently there's a really powerful label out there that the man wants.
Jugojo denies any knowledge of such things but is visibly nervous. He's saved, sort of, when some of his fellow students show up. Unfortunately, they're assholes. They taunt him about his disability, then one boots up kicking ability and punts Jugojo's helmet. It's headed straight for a little girl at injuring speed (which the bully did not intend) when the man in the suit makes a gesture like he's drawing a sword. The helmet stops in mid-air.
Nano worries that Jugojo is working at "that sketchy place", which makes the man in black curious, but goes right on to say that Jugojo should come to school and ignore the bullies. He rants that as a person without a disability, she can't possibly understand what he's going through. The school doesn't make any concessions to his inability to use labels, so he can't learn there. He runs off.
Nano decides to ask the man in black some questions about his relationship with Jugojo.
Back at the pizza place, the owner lets Jugojo off with a scolding, but then a text comes that's sure to bring more grief, calling him to Technotrice.
Stary guy wants Jugojo to deliver a little something extra with one of the pizzas. It's a label, supposedly a rare first-generation one with an awesome ability. No one in the gang is compatible with it, so they're going to sell it. Jugojo asks if it isn't a crime to deal in black market labels. Stary guy says it's not a crime if you don't get caught (clearly he is not wearing his legal studies label) and reminds Jugojo that the gang will hurt Nano if he tells anyone what's going on.
Jugojo looks at the label, which has a stylized eye on it, the denotation SCRTS, and the letters "H-I-F-I". Jugojo wonders what "heefee" means. He hopes it's not an ability that harms people. As he makes that observation, the label suddenly glows and attaches itself to his palm. Attaches itself real good.
The man in black has explained the accident to Nano, who apologizes on Jugojo's behalf. He calls her "a good girlfriend" and she promptly denies the "boyfriend" bit. The man in black presses on the "sketchy job." Nano doesn't know any details, but Jugojo became very upset about his inability to use labels once he hit high school, started playing hooky, and fell in with a guy he'd known in middle school who had a bad rep. That upperclassman asked him to deliver "something."
The man in black asks if Jugojo is the type of kid who makes money for a booze or drugs habit, and Nano is pretty sure he's not. She thinks he took the job to gain some confidence that there was something he could actually do, maybe better than some other people. She thinks he shouldn't have to compare himself to others to be happy.
Black suit asks if they're borther and sister, no they're just childhood friends and could you please stop grinning that way? A call comes in from Jugoju, and she hurries off.
When Nano gets to the Technotrice warehouse, Jugojo is lying on the ground, beaten up, and stary guy has his phone. It was actually him that called. Since Jugojo has made the merchandise unsalable, the gang now gets to do the same to something of his.
Jugojo objects, and one of the gang boots up boxing and starts to beat him. He reflects that he wanted to be a someone, to get back at "all of them" by showing he was better than they thought. But the only person he really cared about is now in trouble because of him, and he can't do anything to help her. Just as the gangster is about to finish him off, the thug drops.
The man in black has shown up. He criticizes Jugojo's appearance, one eye having swollen shut. Turns out the man in black is from the Metropolitan Police Department, Investigation Squad Six, Special Labels Unit.
Kandera notes that Jugojo's girlfriend is in trouble, and the boy denies the girlfriend part--because he's useless, with no strength or abilities. Even in a situation like this, he has nothing to offer her. Kandera replies that that is no excuse to do nothing. Even with no skills or powers, everyone is capable of love and bravery.
Jugojo freaks at the sight of guns, and stary guy explains that the gang all have military-grade restricted labels. One cop doesn't frighten an army. Kandera seems pretty calm for a fellow who doesn't himself carry a gun. This is explained when all the bullets bounce back.
Turns out that Kandera has a super ability label on his prosthetic hand. It has a stylized swallow and the letters SSK=KZR. "From the early Edo period, the wielder of the unusually long blade..."
Jugojo sees something there, but doesn't understand it. Kojiro Sasaki could cut down a swallow in flight thanks to his reflexes, hand-eye coordination and sword skills. So bullets are easy. Kandera promises he won't kill anyone with his "side-stick", as they won't learn anything if they're dead. He much prefers beating sense into people. Stary guy decides it's a bluff and pulls a shotgun.
The shotgun is useless against Kandera, so stary guy switches to CQC and grabs Nano.
Sure enough, Jugojo manages to hit stary guy's blindspot and force him to drop the knife and Nano. Stary guy is still fast enough on his feet to reach a van and rev it up to try and run the good guys over. Kandera reveals that his side-stick is an oversized extendable police baton. Cue van saliced in half.
After directing the backup to haul away the criminals, Kandera turns his attention back to the kids, only to find that Nano has already gone to the hospital with a twisted ankle. Jugojo mentions seeing "something" just before he tackled stary guy. Kandera exposits that there have been many ability label related crimes, so his squad is comprised of special ability users. Jugojo asks about the prosthetics, and there's a panel of chopped up cops on the ground, and a man apologizing to Kandera as he turns off his Miyamoto Musashi label. Kandera declines to reveal this to Jugojjo.
Oh, and kid, did you see a "Hi-Fi" label? Jugojo hasn't seen any of those, only this "Hee-Fee" thing that got stuck to his palm. Kandera corrects his pronunciation.
TO BE CONTINUED
Your thoughts and comments?
SKJAM!
Continuing on from last week's post, it's time for another Shonen Jump Jump Start entry. If you missed last week, The online Shonen Jump is now going to include the first three chapters of every new series that appears in the print Shounen Jump Weekly. Last time it was martial arts in Judos.
This week is Hi-Fi Cluster by Ippei Goto. 14 pages of 55. (I'm posting these after the next issue comes out, so if you subscribe online, you already saw this last week.) There's some discussion of disability issues.
We open on a young man named Jugojo who's loading up his pizza delivery scooter. His boss reminds him that he's supposed to wear a driving ability patch on his helmet per the company rules. Jugojo's driving still seems kind of shaky. We learn that about ten years ago, ability labels were invented by someone.
The man in the black suit asks for sauce, and the server asks about his odd-looking stick thing while she hands over the condiment. He calls it his "sidekick, or should I say side-stick!" The joke falls flat. Meanwhile, Jugojo is continuing to have driving difficulties. He explains that he's always known his limitations. For some reason, he's incompatible with ability labels, and must learn all skills the hard way.
Which is why he wobbles enough to sideswipe the man in the suit, knocking the fellow's prosthetic hand off. The man seems less upset about that than losing his lunch.
It's not directly stated, but apparently students use "scholarship" ability patches to keep up with instructors. Jugojo therefore does not do well, because he's effectively learning-challenged.
In the meantime, the man has also picked up Jugoju's phone, which is showing a message that addresses him as "Peta" and wonders why he isn't in school. He recognizes the language as feminine, and asks if it's Jugoju's girlfriend. Jugoju stutters a denial, but then the man is reminded that this kid really should be in school. Jugoju explains about his label disability.
The boy is momentarily distracted by the man picking all the pineapple off the pizza and setting it aside. He'd initially thought the man was in the Yakuza, but the fellow seems too laid-back for that, despite the prosthetic. Then the man abruptly asks Jugojo if there are any black markets in the neighborhood. Some labels have age qualifications or special restrictions, but criminals will sell them to anyone. And apparently there's a really powerful label out there that the man wants.
Jugojo denies any knowledge of such things but is visibly nervous. He's saved, sort of, when some of his fellow students show up. Unfortunately, they're assholes. They taunt him about his disability, then one boots up kicking ability and punts Jugojo's helmet. It's headed straight for a little girl at injuring speed (which the bully did not intend) when the man in the suit makes a gesture like he's drawing a sword. The helmet stops in mid-air.
Nano worries that Jugojo is working at "that sketchy place", which makes the man in black curious, but goes right on to say that Jugojo should come to school and ignore the bullies. He rants that as a person without a disability, she can't possibly understand what he's going through. The school doesn't make any concessions to his inability to use labels, so he can't learn there. He runs off.
Nano decides to ask the man in black some questions about his relationship with Jugojo.
Back at the pizza place, the owner lets Jugojo off with a scolding, but then a text comes that's sure to bring more grief, calling him to Technotrice.
Stary guy wants Jugojo to deliver a little something extra with one of the pizzas. It's a label, supposedly a rare first-generation one with an awesome ability. No one in the gang is compatible with it, so they're going to sell it. Jugojo asks if it isn't a crime to deal in black market labels. Stary guy says it's not a crime if you don't get caught (clearly he is not wearing his legal studies label) and reminds Jugojo that the gang will hurt Nano if he tells anyone what's going on.
Jugojo looks at the label, which has a stylized eye on it, the denotation SCRTS, and the letters "H-I-F-I". Jugojo wonders what "heefee" means. He hopes it's not an ability that harms people. As he makes that observation, the label suddenly glows and attaches itself to his palm. Attaches itself real good.
The man in black has explained the accident to Nano, who apologizes on Jugojo's behalf. He calls her "a good girlfriend" and she promptly denies the "boyfriend" bit. The man in black presses on the "sketchy job." Nano doesn't know any details, but Jugojo became very upset about his inability to use labels once he hit high school, started playing hooky, and fell in with a guy he'd known in middle school who had a bad rep. That upperclassman asked him to deliver "something."
The man in black asks if Jugojo is the type of kid who makes money for a booze or drugs habit, and Nano is pretty sure he's not. She thinks he took the job to gain some confidence that there was something he could actually do, maybe better than some other people. She thinks he shouldn't have to compare himself to others to be happy.
Black suit asks if they're borther and sister, no they're just childhood friends and could you please stop grinning that way? A call comes in from Jugoju, and she hurries off.
When Nano gets to the Technotrice warehouse, Jugojo is lying on the ground, beaten up, and stary guy has his phone. It was actually him that called. Since Jugojo has made the merchandise unsalable, the gang now gets to do the same to something of his.
Jugojo objects, and one of the gang boots up boxing and starts to beat him. He reflects that he wanted to be a someone, to get back at "all of them" by showing he was better than they thought. But the only person he really cared about is now in trouble because of him, and he can't do anything to help her. Just as the gangster is about to finish him off, the thug drops.
The man in black has shown up. He criticizes Jugojo's appearance, one eye having swollen shut. Turns out the man in black is from the Metropolitan Police Department, Investigation Squad Six, Special Labels Unit.
Kandera notes that Jugojo's girlfriend is in trouble, and the boy denies the girlfriend part--because he's useless, with no strength or abilities. Even in a situation like this, he has nothing to offer her. Kandera replies that that is no excuse to do nothing. Even with no skills or powers, everyone is capable of love and bravery.
Jugojo freaks at the sight of guns, and stary guy explains that the gang all have military-grade restricted labels. One cop doesn't frighten an army. Kandera seems pretty calm for a fellow who doesn't himself carry a gun. This is explained when all the bullets bounce back.
Turns out that Kandera has a super ability label on his prosthetic hand. It has a stylized swallow and the letters SSK=KZR. "From the early Edo period, the wielder of the unusually long blade..."
Jugojo sees something there, but doesn't understand it. Kojiro Sasaki could cut down a swallow in flight thanks to his reflexes, hand-eye coordination and sword skills. So bullets are easy. Kandera promises he won't kill anyone with his "side-stick", as they won't learn anything if they're dead. He much prefers beating sense into people. Stary guy decides it's a bluff and pulls a shotgun.
The shotgun is useless against Kandera, so stary guy switches to CQC and grabs Nano.
Sure enough, Jugojo manages to hit stary guy's blindspot and force him to drop the knife and Nano. Stary guy is still fast enough on his feet to reach a van and rev it up to try and run the good guys over. Kandera reveals that his side-stick is an oversized extendable police baton. Cue van saliced in half.
After directing the backup to haul away the criminals, Kandera turns his attention back to the kids, only to find that Nano has already gone to the hospital with a twisted ankle. Jugojo mentions seeing "something" just before he tackled stary guy. Kandera exposits that there have been many ability label related crimes, so his squad is comprised of special ability users. Jugojo asks about the prosthetics, and there's a panel of chopped up cops on the ground, and a man apologizing to Kandera as he turns off his Miyamoto Musashi label. Kandera declines to reveal this to Jugojjo.
Oh, and kid, did you see a "Hi-Fi" label? Jugojo hasn't seen any of those, only this "Hee-Fee" thing that got stuck to his palm. Kandera corrects his pronunciation.
TO BE CONTINUED
Your thoughts and comments?
SKJAM!
no subject
Date: 2014-09-23 01:35 am (UTC)The ability to just gain a skill without actually putting in the effort to learn it is something we've seen before--Shaman King kinda touched on that at the beginning, with collecting ghosts of various skills that could possess Yoh; Battle Angel Alita had Kaos, who could use psychometry to learn the skills of people who handled an object; in The Matrix they downloaded information to people's brains. But those were just a few people who could do that, and they didn't focus on those things. Here, the label is a piece of technology that pretty much anyone can use that has utterly transformed their society. I could be very interested in reading a manga that explores what that technology means for society.
But I don't think the manga's going to go down that route. I mean, we're only two chapters in, but it seems this is just going to be a shonen battle manga with labels.
Using Heita's inability to use labels as a way to write a character with a learning disability, and the different ways they have figure out how to navigate through life would also be interesting. But instead it looks like we're going to go with "Oh, it turns out you were actually super special all this time, with your ability to use the Hi-Fi label."
Oh well.
no subject
Date: 2014-09-23 02:12 am (UTC)One of the things I wondered about was how this story would come across to people with learning disabilities.
no subject
Date: 2014-09-23 03:40 am (UTC)Well "Even a Monkey can Draw Manga" explains it pretty well.
http://i1320.photobucket.com/albums/u525/Malcolm_Loo/monkeybattle-1310612101_zpsba747827.jpg
It looks like the mentality of this mangaka. Is that people are downloading Apps for all kinds of thing and it looks like the future of our society. Let's modify apps so it can science fiction shonen fighting manga.
no subject
Date: 2014-09-23 04:49 pm (UTC)But, yeah, I'm guessing that's the direction this is headed.
no subject
Date: 2014-09-24 12:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-09-24 06:05 am (UTC)Hmm... I guess one of the things that made Attack on Titan a breath of fresh air is that it specifically avoided a lot of Shonen tropes. The Power of Friendship? Hahahahhahaaha *chomp*. Ok, that's a simplification too. Attack on Titan is doing a lot of things thematically.
And "Even a Monkey can Draw Manga" is a parody.
I think the most brutal evisceration of not manga but anime is probably Sky Crawlers by Mamoru Oshii. Kind of a big middle finger to anime, it's formulas, and it's viewers. So I think it's worth watching for anime-fans.
no subject
Date: 2014-09-23 04:57 am (UTC)It does seem as if part of it reads left-to-right and part right-to-left, or am I just missing something?
no subject
Date: 2014-09-23 12:25 pm (UTC)