#bllk chp 232 | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

boinin · 8 months

Text

This chapter illustration from the latest chapter really struck me, outside of being gorgeous. It's not obviously connected to the manga arc, until you start thinking about it.

Firstly, from Wikipedia: "A torii is a traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine, where it symbolically marks the transition from the mundane to the sacred and a spot where kami [deities or spirits] are welcomed and thought to travel through."

The location depicted in this artwork is the Fushimi Inari-Taisha, dedicated to the kami Inari. Among many things, including foxes, Inari is associated with general prosperity and success, as well as swordsmiths. It's a fitting setting for these teammates. Bastard Munchen's crest predominantly features a sword.

Secondly, let's consider the positions and actions of the characters.

Isagi is walking the furthest ahead, having passed many sets of gates already, pointing at something. Kurona is at his side.

Yuki lags behind them. Instead of watching Isagi, he's consulting a leaflet or a map. His glasses are opaque, maybe a stylistic choice. But (at a stretch), this depiction is a nod to his literal and figurative short-sightedness. Yukimiya doesn't accept Isagi as the protagonist or take orders from him. Hence he remains behind.

As for Hiori, he is depicted at the beginning of the gates, alone. Unlike the others, he is looking backwards, not forward. With the way the wind is blowing, and the autumnal motif (autumn representing harvest, change and approaching death), the image evokes a sense of melancholy and farewell despite the bright colours.

Hiori is looking back at the mundane for the last time, before stepping through the gates onto sacred ground. He finally joins Isagi, Kurona and Yukimiya on their footballing journey.

#dusting off my degree in literature to overanalyse pretty manga art #i could keep going (dead leaves = fallen players) but i'll stay in my lane #“sometimes the curtains are just blue” NEVEEEER #blue lock #blue lock manga #blue lock manga spoilers #blue lock spoilers #bllk official art #bllk chp 232 #hiori yo #isagi yoichi #kurona ranze #yukimiya kenyu #bastard munchen #mine #boinin talks bllk

164 notes · View notes

boinin · 8 months

Text

the new chapter is so damn hype

nearly everyone gets a moment to look cool as hell. I'm also really enjoying the scanlation team's dialogue choices this week.

starting with Kaiser and Ness, who are doing nothing to quell the D/s vibes with this exchange

and Kaiser isn't limited to metavision or predator eye... those aren't irises, those are wheels VRRRRMM

New ability revealed, VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER /s

more low-effort takes on the new chapter below the cut

This is the impact Isagi's persistent annoyingness has had. Kaiser's actively taking account of his position when aiming for the goal. That's exactly what Isagi wanted (from back in chp 221). Now he better live with the consequences.

Kaiser's eyeballs can apparently speak now too. Rawr.

Isagi: tells anyone who asks about his skills, including his opponents Isagi when said opponents turn it back on him: >:(

Aiku looks extra unhinged here, love to see it.

More seriously, it's heartwarming to see Barou's growth over the course of the series. He's gone from king -> villain -> Snuffy's successor -> archvillain with a team full of henchmen.

He looks dope generally this week, I love his lightning motif. Aiku's panel with the snake is my pick for this chapter, but Barou is the artist's favourite and it shows.

But they're not alone! Look how cool Niko looks here! We're on a metavision count of four this chapter (following Kaiser, Isagi and Aiku).

Also his commentary on the work conditions is a mood. Niko's such a shady kid, love it. He's also going to be terrifyingly good, given he's only sixteen or so here (assuming his birthday takes place before or during the NEL). He's a full three years younger than Lorenzo and Aiku, yet still manages to keep up and hold his own. What a legend.

There's something inherently hilarious about imagining a teenage boy yelling "what are you guys, some friggin' chimera??!" at his rivals on a football pitch

Never change, slursagi.

Speaking of swearing, here's Hiori!

Who 1) looks DOPE in this panel, look at his flow eyes, and 2) would never fucking say fucking fucking ever /s

Isagi roaring at him to come is also funny. no context blue lock quotes continues to be a gold mine.

Still no MV eyes from Hiori yet, even though he's confirmed to have it. I can't wait to see what his looks like.

Lastly, there's this. I have no idea what they're going for (uber-rous?), but it's hilarious:

his face is all banged up but he's so happy still 🥹

@echari3 you'll enjoy this panel

#blue lock #blue lock spoilers #blue lock manga #blue lock manga spoilers #bllk chp 232 #boinin talks bllk #michael kaiser #isagi yoichi #aiku oliver #baro shoei #niko ikki #hiori yo #don lorenzo #shitpost

55 notes · View notes

boinin · 8 months

Text

One last rambly post before I go be productive. This one is less shitposty... though it's also about Kunigami so, you know. Expect copium from a stan.

He features in four panels during this week's chapter, which is a development. He features once in each of the preceding chapters (230 & 231), minor appearances in either case. Squint or you'll miss him altogether.

That said, the mangaka and writer continually remind us of his presence, much as they have with Hiori in the run up to and during the Ubers match. Although he hasn't had a proper line of dialogue since chapter 218, and he hasn't done anything particularly meaningful since chapter 219.

But that's to be expected.

What happened in chapter 219? It's the build up to Kaiser's goal in the following chapter (220). As a reminder, Kunigami initiated that attack himself, and cleared many of the defenders single-handedly. But without support, his attack chances were goosed. So Isagi intercepted the ball, and through a series of plays, Kaiser ended up scoring.

What's happening now (in chapter 232)? Another Bastard Munchen goal attempt, this time spearheaded by Kaiser from the start.

Kunigami has fallen into operating as a goal poacher. Where he positions himself in chapter 232 is reminiscent of his positioning in chapter 185, where he scores against Manshine using Isagi's shot attempt. You can understand why he continues to use this method. Compare his placement here with where he positions himself beside Aryu, in the leak panels above.

It doesn't work out for him this time though, because Lorenzo deflects the ball away from him... and he doesn't have metavision like Isagi, allowing him to foresee that chain of events. He waits around for the opportunity like a scavenger, unable to use his mind to play the potential scenarios out. It's less efficient, and he also has no one to support his plays. Respectfully, Isagi would be a lot less efficient too if he didn't have Kurona, Hiori or even Yukimiya for assists.

Kunigami himself isn't playing up and down the pitch because he's a forward, and in part because he has no metavision. Tellingly, he barely featured during the Star Change system, when Ubers were the dominant attackers. But is he still an effective player overall?

Certainly. Had Lorenzo been sloppier about that deflection and sent it the other direction, it'd have been on Aryu to keep that ball out of Kunigami's reach within a split second. Kunigami's a difficult player to contain, even two on one. Ubers would have been in danger there, had the ball gone his way rather than Isagi's. While the deflection could be random, I wonder whether that's something Lorenzo considered. If the choice was Aryu V Kunigami, or Aiku V Isagi... well, I'd put my money on Aiku every time. No shade, glam king, you're still an icon ✨

The point I'm making is, Kunigami is always present when Bastard Munchen are attacking. If he's not driving the attack himself (as he was in chapter 218/219), then he's hanging around to see if he can steal a goal opportunity from another forward (Isagi, and now Kaiser too).

As much as I enjoy the jokes about Kunigami being absent in this match due to his shinigami side hustle, it is tiresome to read through people slandering his ability to play overall. He can, and he continues to pose a danger to the goal whenever the ball is in play in that area. We can dump on him for being inflexible, for not having metavision, or for his shitty personality change. But I wanted to highlight as per the latest chapter, how he's shown to be engaged and present within this match.

Further reading: I did a deep dive on what Kunigami's role is in the Neo-Egoist league here.

I take the piss out of him here and here, if memes are more your speed.

#blue lock #blue lock spoilers #blue lock manga spoilers #blue lock manga #blue lock analysis #kunigami rensuke #i have spider senses for spotting this idiot in new chapters #i just about found him in chp 230 that was sneaky #bllk manga #boinin talks bllk #bllk analysis #bllk chp 232

14 notes · View notes