#experience the paths vol 3

[hoyotunes]

Cowboy's Got Business from Experience the Paths Vol. 3 Vinchi, HOYO-MiX

[rikkivoid]

this is my final post! the past few years have been amazing - thank you for everything <3 (more info below the cut)

I will no longer post on this account and wanted to write a note to explain and say goodbye.

Bnha and the bkdk fandom have been a constant source of joy and excitement in my life since 2018 - you were all so kind and encouraging towards me, and I grew so much in skill and confidence as a result! I’ll really treasure my time in this fandom. I loved experiencing so much incredible fanwork and freaking out over exciting moments from the series with everyone in real time. (I still remember choking on my drink and falling to the ground when I saw the vol.29 cover on my tl omg… it was life changing.)

I went on hiatus last year to reconnect with my passion for making art outside of bkdk and learn what I wanted to create without the influence of external validation. I had time to reflect on how much I was influenced by numbers on social media. I thought they didn’t affect me, but in truth, they completely ruled my artistic judgment and decisions. I found new hobbies, new media, experimented with different mediums and subject matters, and in the end… I rediscovered my joy for making art! 

This year, I gave myself a fresh start instead of returning to this account. This is partly because I really enjoy exploring erotic and transgressive themes and I don’t want to share it on a large account to people who followed me under a different pretense haha. But the main reason is that I wanted to create a space without any expectation for what kind of art I should make based on my previous work (since I know the majority of people follow me because I draw bkdk, and I mainly draw ocs and unrelated fanart now). 

All this to say, I hope we can cross paths in the future, but if that day never comes, thank you for the wonderful memories and support you’ve given me over the years! This fandom has so many incredible people in it and I sincerely wish you all the best. PLUS ULTRA!!!! and farewell! :’3

Lots of love,

Rikki <3 

[This account will stay up, but I won't be checking it much. If you have any questions or would like to get in touch, email me at rikkivoid@gmail.com and we can go from there!]

[rabiosantologia]

⸻ 𖤓 | VEDIC ASTROLOGY MASTERLIST (Vol. 2)

→ Volume 1

KARAKAS OF PLANETS AND THEIR HOUSES

THE PLANETS AND THEIR EXTENT OF RULERSHIP

THE 4TH HOUSE EXPERIENCE: PART 1 •

THE 8TH HOUSE EXPERIENCE: PART 1 •

THE 9TH HOUSE EXPERIENCE: PART 1 •

NAKSHATRA'S AND BIRDS THROUGH MYTHOLOGY AND INTERPRETATION

AMATYAKARKA AND PROFESSIONS

KEYWORDS • THE ASTROLOGICAL HOUSES: PART 1 || PART 2

✺ ASPECTS OF EACH PLANET

ᘛ RAHU DOMINANT THEMES: PART 1 | PART 2 |

VAMPIRES & SUN-MOON/RAHU-KETU NAKSHATRAS

KETU DOMINANT

VEDIC ASTROLOGY OBSERVATIONS: KETU DOMINANT MEN

D1 & MOON CHART

KETU PLACEMENT AND YOUR MOST CORE SELF

WHAT NAKSHATRA REPRESENTS YOU!?

JYESTHA NAKSHATRA: INTENSE BEAUTY (PROFILE)

THE PRINCESS DIARIES - COMING INTO YOUR POWER

JYESHTA: THE BATTLE, THE LONELINESS AND THE COST OF VICTORY

THE DARK SIDE OF JYESHTA - ALL AGAINST ONE, ONE FOR THEMSELVES

ASHLESHA: THE VILLAIN ERA NAKSHATRA

THE SPECTRUM OF FEMININITY & CANCER RASHI: A STUDY

★ THE ASTROLOGY OF APPEARANCE: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 |

| RAHU IS YOUR MATRIX, KETU IS YOUR OUT FROM THAT MATRIX

SHRAVANA NAKSHATRA: CELEBRITY CONSERVATORSHIPS & ABUSE BY THE ONES WHO SHOULD CARE MOST

THE "BOND GIRL" NAKSHATRA

🐯 CHITRA AND VISHAKHA WOMEN: STRIKING ENERGY (TIGRESS BEAUTY)

MAGHA NAKSHATRA: PITRI SECRETS

MAGHA NAKSHATRA OBSERVATIONS

[brief introduction] DOMINANT PEOPLE... → KETU | SUN | MOON | RAHU | JUPITER | VENUS | MARS | MERCURY |

▦ NAKSHATRA APPRECIATION: REVATI | DHANISHTA | UTTARA ASHADHA | JYESTHA | ROHINI | CHITRA | ASHLESHA |

♀ BEAUTY & THE BEAST: THE PATH OF VENUS

DECODING VENUS ⋆ A JOURNEY THROUGH THE NAKSHATRAS: BHARANI, PURVA PHALGUNI, PURVA ASHADA

THE ABSORBENT NATURE OF VENUS: AN ASTROLOGICAL EXPLORATION

THE UGLINESS OF VENUS

★ 🐍 | ASHLESHA OBSERVATIONS

WHY JYESTHA, ASHLESHA, AND REVATI PEOPLE USE SNAKES IN A LOT OF THEIR WORK

• SYMBOL: PURVA BHADRAPADA · SHATABHISHA ·

LEARN SIDEREAL ASPECTS

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE & SHATABISHA NAKSHATRA

⬤ VEDIC ASTROLOGY OBSERVATIONS: PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4 | PART 5 | PART 6 | PART 7 | PART 8 | PART 9 | PART 10 | PART 11 | PART 12 |

☰ VEDIC ASTROLOGY SYMBOLISM & RECURRING MOTIFS: PART 1 • PART 2 • PART 3 • PART 4 • PART 5 • PART 6 •

SWATI NAKSHATRA: THE SELF-GOING STAR

BEYONCÉ & CHITRA NAKSHATRA

EXPRESSION OF ENERGY: RAHU | KETU

ALL ABOUT SWATI | ALL ABOUT SATURN | ALL ABOUT KETU | ALL ABOUT RAHU | ALL ABOUT MARS | ALL ABOUT MERCURY | ALL ABOUT THE SUN | ALL ABOUT ARDRA | CHITRA OF THE SEA |

4H PLACEMENTS | 8H PLACEMENTS | 12H PLACEMENTS | ALL ABOUT THE 6H ·

CELEBRITY EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENT PLANETS IN THE ASCENDANT (SIDEREAL ASTROLOGY)

NAKSHATRA CONVERTOR

UNLOCKING THE SECRETS: THE ESOTERIC MIND OF THE MOON

COLORS AND PLANETS

⬤ | ASTROLOGY OBSERVATIONS

[gazetto-no-ki]

LIVE2024 HERESY LIMITED 【HETERODOXY Vol.3-IMMORTAL CREED-】 2024.09.12 Toyosu PIT - spice.eplus Live report

At every live show, the GazettE's vocalist RUKI always says, “First, thank you for sharing this time with us.” These words are not just a formality; they come from his heart, and during this two-hour performance, it became evident that this is the reality of their world. Thousands of fans filling the venue chose to share the same space and time with the GazettE, directly meeting the members’ gaze and creating an intense sense of unity. What seems like a "usual" sight for their live shows—a sea of fans and the band connecting deeply—is, in fact, a miraculous and irreplaceable experience. This night served as a profound testament to that truth, and it will surely stand as an enormous “trace” (shouseki) in the band’s future path.

In April of this year, the band’s bassist REITA passed away, and this was their first live performance after the memorial concert "HERESY LIMITED 'SIX GUN'S,'" held on May 27th. This show was part of their fan club exclusive series 'HETERODOXY' Vol. 3. Ahead of the performance, vocalist RUKI stated that the setlist would be chosen from across the three-disc best-of album they released about two years ago (the GazettE 20TH ANNIVERSARY BEST ALBUM HETERODOXY -DIVIDED 3 CONCEPTS-). He also explained that the title, "IMMORTAL CREED," carried the meaning of an "undying belief." In other words, the purpose of this concert was to reflect on the band’s journey so far, while reaffirming their unchanging commitment, no matter what happens. After watching the two-hour show, this became an undeniable conviction.

As the start time approached, the SE track "HETERODOXY" played, and five flags, adorned with the logo of their fan club ‘HERESY,’ slowly rose. With the five spirits gathered on stage, the intro to "Filth in the beauty" began, featuring graceful female vocals. This unexpected opening song sparked a cheer from the audience. When this single was released in 2006, its innovative blend of heavy rock and R&B created a buzz, and the floor shook with movement as fans jumped and headbanged at RUKI’s command. Applauding the sight, RUKI then transitioned the applause into clapping, signaling the start of "VENOMOUS SPIDER'S WEB." As the distorted guitar sound filled the venue, laser beams, like spider webs, crisscrossed the inside of Toyosu PIT. Uruha (Gt) and Aoi (Gt) exchanged guitar riffs while Kai (Dr) drove the beat forward, overwhelming the space with the band’s signature heaviness.

“Tokyo! Show me how cool you can be!” RUKI shouted as "VORTEX" began. Uruha had already taken the center stage platform, and RUKI moved fiercely from side to side, riling up the crowd with clapping and headbanging. In the powerful chorus, you could clearly hear REITA’s (Ba) voice, and the excitement in the room continued to rise. This unusually fast ignition of energy showed that the band truly craved the live performance setting, something RUKI hinted at in his next MC.

“Can I be honest with you? I’m so happy to see you. Really, live shows are a place where you can let out any feelings, any emotions, so feel free to do whatever. Show me any face you want. You don’t have to worry; we’ll lead you.”

Next, they performed "GABRIEL ON THE GALLOWS," a hard-hitting, vertical-headbanging song, followed by "FADELESS," a catchy melody wrapped in loud rock. Both numbers combined the decadent theme of ‘falling from grace’ after losing wings, delivering a clear narrative. During the latter’s outro, the spotlight turned to the rhythm section, placing the focus on the bass, and chants of “REITA!” echoed through the venue, etching his presence into that space.

RUKI’s vocals, both smooth and on the verge of breaking with sharp shouts, were bathed in blue lighting and smoke, reminiscent of water's surface, as he walked unsteadily, expressing loneliness through "DRIPPING INSANITY." The song introduced a world of quiet sorrow. In "QUIET," where the powerful drumming felt like it could blow everything away, RUKI sang "For now it's goodbye" but didn’t complete the line "The habit of leaving an empty space by your side." This left the audience with a tightness in their chest. After the poignant guitar echoes faded completely, applause filled the venue. RUKI’s silhouette swayed like a shadow puppet under the heavy, drumbeat-like drumming of Kai, while Aoi unleashed the maddeningly beautiful intro phrase of "GODDESS." The performance, drenched in red light, ends with RUKI singing of a broken mind, and just as he repeats the words "Are you testing me?" the curtain lifts on "BABYLON'S TABOO." The red lights flickered like candy threads across the hall, while RUKI whispered the spell-like phrase "ADE DUE DAMBALLA," creating a dark and unsettling atmosphere akin to a ritual. The band's heavy, technical, and tricky performance was captivating. No matter how aggressively they stormed through the songs, the deep tracks that followed were always integral, forming the foundation of the GazettE’s profound world.

"After all, live shows are great. Standing here, I feel like this is a place where you can release any emotion. So, everyone, don’t hold back. Let it all out, everything, and follow us from here," RUKI said.

Emphasizing the word "everything," the band’s physical power began to push the emotions of everyone present. In "TWO OF A KIND," RUKI incited headbanging with calls of "Head! Head! Head!" while the audience unleashed their wild energy under the weighty and brisk sound. But it wasn’t just their bodies that trembled—the lyrics like "Knowing the same pain" and "Every time we share our scars" shook their hearts as well. Under the laser beams, "VERMIN" painted a thrilling sight as the crowd leaped high during the chorus, while REITA’s gritty bass lines intertwined with Uruha’s swirling guitar. When the intro to "ATTITUDE" kicked off, the crowd exploded into a massive sing-along and clapping to "Until die!" RUKI rallied the crowd, shouting, "Come on, shout from your gut! Make it reach!" as the guitarists quickly switched positions, driving the audience into a frenzy.

"You're doing great, Tokyo! Can you keep going? You can do more, right? This isn't all you’ve been holding back! Bring it on!" RUKI roared as the crushing low bass of "ABHOR GOD" reverberated through the venue, sparking a storm of headbanging. As the crowd clapped in unison, Uruha and Aoi stood side by side, strumming their riffs, electrifying the audience with their presence. The intense blast beats of Kai and RUKI’s death growl brought the madness of the final moments to a thrilling close.

Then, as RUKI shouted, "Can you handle the last one? The last one!" and Kai hit the bass drum with a steady four-on-the-floor beat, the audience instantly responded with claps and cheers. In perfect harmony with the crowd, the band launched into "TOMORROW NEVER DIES." When RUKI shouted, "I’m singing for you guys!" fists were raised high, and the front members of the band freely ran across the stage, filled with the joy of performing. As the crowd erupted into cheers before the final chorus, RUKI looked up to the sky, repeatedly asking, "Do you hear it!?" The voices from the audience grew louder with each repetition. Needless to say, by the end of the song, RUKI let out a roar, pouring out all of his feelings.

Though REITA’s physical presence couldn’t be seen, his sound, his spirit, and his soul were unmistakably there. Because through the GazettE’s songs, the memories and presence of REITA were etched into the hearts of everyone in the venue.

"First of all, I want to thank you for sharing this time with us. You all have your jobs and daily lives, yet you chose to come to our live show today, and I’m really grateful for that. Truly, I’m genuinely so happy. No matter what expression you have, show me your faces clearly. To be able to meet again on the day we promised—honestly, I think that’s such a blessing. Time is something that inevitably passes equally for everyone, but today, every single second, let’s make this an unforgettable and amazing moment together, you and us."

Responding to the encore, the band reappeared, and RUKI expressed his gratitude as always, speaking about the happiness of being able to gather for the live show, which was met with applause. He followed it with these touching words: "Memories, you know... they're treasures that will never disappear for a lifetime." Then, he began singing the deeply emotional "Anata no Tame no Kono Inochi." (This Life is for You) with heartfelt love and melodic grace.

As he called out, "Let me hear you!" a huge chorus erupted, and during another early song, "Akai One Piece", the crowd joined in with claps, fists, and headbanging, creating a truly spectacular scene. "Go wild and go home! Can you do it?" he shouted, as they launched into "INCUBUS," sending heavy bass through the venue and creating a sea of raised fists, shaking the hall. This led seamlessly into "Hyena," where REITA's shout echoed across the venue from the start. Although REITA's voice and bassline were not live, the overwhelming live experience born in that moment, with the drums, twin guitars, vocals, and the audience's chorus all coming together, seemed to possess a mysterious, superhuman power.

The last song RUKI signaled was "UNFINISHED," a track that unmistakably declared that the GazettE’s journey is far from over, and they have yet to reach their final or complete form. Aoi leaned against Uruha, layering their sound together, while RUKI brought the lyrics "I'll take your hand" to life by gesturing as if pulling the crowd’s hands into his own. The audience responded with all the voice they had, and the unforgettable stage reached its emotional finale.

"Thanks to all of you, we were able to create an unforgettable and amazing day. Thank you. And next year, thanks to your support, the GazettE will be entering its 23rd year. As a surprise, we've prepared a promise for when we can meet again. We'll be waiting for you like this once more. Please spend your precious time with us again. Thank you for giving us such an incredible day today and for always supporting us. Please continue to support the GazettE from here on. Let's meet again. I love you."

As RUKI spoke these raw and sincere words, he gazed across the floor filled with applause before leaving the stage. On his way out, Kai embraced the bass amp. The flyers distributed at the venue's exit announced the tour 'the GazettE LIVE 2025 23rd ANNIVERSARY TOUR Shouseki,' which will take place in January through March next year. The tour will begin at Nagoya's DIAMOND HALL on January 16, continue at Osaka's Namba Hatch on February 6, and culminate on March 10 at the Tokyo Garden Theater, marking the band's 23rd anniversary.

The title of the tour, "Shouseki" ('traces or a trail that will serve as proof in the future'), reflects their earnest desire to leave behind a solid mark as the GazettE continues its journey. What kind of "trail" they will create along the way will depend on the audience who loves them.

[the-astral-express-archive]

Honkai: Star Rail's new trailer OST, Experience the Paths Vol. 3, is now officially live!

[oluka]

Tony and transhumanism

Tony Stark mentions in Captain Marvel: Dark Tempest (2023) #3.

Setting aside the “even HE knows what hands-off means”, it's interesting to me that when faced with a humanoid-machine blend, Carol's mind goes to Tony. She says that Tony was the original transhuman, and well, he maybe wasn't the first in the marvel universe, but he got his first synthetic heart in Iron Man #19 (back in 1969!), and transhumanism has been a part of his story arc for a long time. Some examples on the top of my mind (I know there are more, this is not an exhaustive list):

-When Tony had an implant in his mind to remotely control the armour while he was paralyzed in volume 1.

-His fight with the sentient armour in volume 3, and the end of it, when it gave him its heart (Iron Man vol.3 #30). And fully replaced Tony's heart with its own "mechanical bio-physiology". An artificial heart that was still implanting itself into Tony and fixing his broken ribs in issue 31 (body horror much??).

-Extremis, of course, which to me is the height of Tony's path to transhumanism. It's one of the two logical conclusions to his search to always perfect Iron Man and himself. Either make his body machine, or forgo the body entirely (looking at the three different Tony Stark AIs Tony has made). Extremis is especially good to me because of how he made himself the perfect blend of man and machine. Tony had until then always had recurring problems with his heart and other physical disabilities, and with Extremis he was finally past that "flaw". He was stronger, could heal, but more importantly, his mind was faster and better. I think he never came closer to erasing the line between Tony Stark and Iron Man than he did then. There was so much potential for this story beat, but Civil War and Dark Reign kind of ruined it. I really wish we could have had Extremis for longer, and really explore the classic "what makes one human" "man vs machine" and other transhumanist questions with Tony. Oh well. As an aside, it's interesting to me that Superior Iron Man decided to bring Extremis back. Clearly to him that was the next step of evolution, or in his words, what made him a god. If we push the analysis further, does this mean that regular Tony has developed an aversion to Extremis and what it entails? Maybe some left-over trauma from the Civil War and brain deletion?

-The repulsor node in Tony's chest after he was brought back. That controlled his brain. And also the bleeding edge armour that Tony casually put into his bone marrow. You know. Like one does.

-The fact that Tony apparently was experimenting on his biology and body and that that was the only reason Carol didn't kill him at the end of Civil War II. And then the fact that he managed to bring himself back to life and synthetize a new body.

-The Tony Stark AI that ran around during Secret Empire. Who made himself drunk, and also remembered Civil War somehow, and had all of Tony's character traits and regrets (see Secret Empire (2017) #6). I know it's probably an error on the writer's part, but I choose to believe that somehow this artificial version of Tony really remembers the Civil War. On top of AI Tony acting and thinking like the flesh and blood one, everyone around him really treated him like the "real" Tony. Hydra Steve even said that Tony downloaded his consciousness into the AI. Making it essentially Tony. I don't know where I'm going with this but I have Feelings about AI Tony.

-The whole mess of Tony Stark: Iron Man and Iron Man 2020 where Tony was wondering if he was just a soulless copy of the original dead Tony Stark (Which, weird that he now starts to worry about this after all his deaths and comas and whatnots), decided he was just an AI in an artificial body, and then with the help of his friends remade his body. Again. Also, he spoke with AI Tony for like five minutes and then AI Tony sacrificed himself. I am still mad about that.

Transhumanism is one of the most important beats in Tony's character, right alongside his quest to make the future better and his alcoholism. It's a facinating subject that I will never get enough of, especially not in relation to Tony, who for a very long time has dealt with physical disability, and whose mind and genius is maybe the one thing he can rely on and one of the rare things about himself that he is proud of.

Right now, Tony's just a regular man in a can again, but I really hope that we'll see more of his journey into transhumanism, because to me it's an essential part of his character. And done well, it's an excellent source for angst, too.

[gorogues]

Spoilers for comics in April!

These are from the official solicits for that month, which you can see in full at Adventures In Poor Taste.

SUICIDE SQUAD: KILL ARKHAM ASYLUM #4 Written by JOHN LAYMAN Art by JESÚS HERVÁS Cover by DAN PANOSIAN Variant cover by ARIEL OLIVETTI Variant cover by DAVID NAKAYAMA $4.99 US | 32 pages | 4 of 5 | Variant $5.99 US (card stock) ON SALE 5/7/24 It takes more than a boomerang to survive a riot at Arkham Asylum, and all its super-powered rioters. This in particular sucks if a boomerang is your weapon of choice, and your name is Captain Boomerang. So, to survive you join up with some allies. But be careful who you join with, because nobody is to be trusted, and your allies just might be worse than your enemies. Presenting the most brain-bending, backstabbing, boomeranging-est episode yet of Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League! Each print issue includes a redeemable code for a bonus weapon doll digital token in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League inspired by the comics. Get the new Mad Hatter weapon doll digital token with issue #4. Paying subscribers with a DC Universe Infinite Annual or Ultra subscription (U.S. only) who read the digital issues of Suicide Squad: Kill Arkham Asylum will also receive these bonus digital codes.* *Terms Apply. See dc.com/suicide-squad-faq for details. DC UNIVERSE INFINITE is not intended for children.

Ah Digger, never change.

This next book reprints some Webtoons strips, which has a new Mirror Master.

RED HOOD: OUTLAWS VOLUME TWO Written by PATRICK R. YOUNG Art by NICO BASCUÑÁN, JAVIER RODRÍGUEZ VÉJARES, and SEBASTIÁN FRANCHINI Cover by VASCO GEORGIEV $14.99 US | 208 pages | Softcover | 6″ x 9″ | ISBN: 978-1-77952-689-2 ON SALE 7/2/24 Jason Todd, Bizarro, and Artemis know what it means to play second fiddle to the Justice League…but now, that is even more the case as they’ve been contracted into work-for-hire duty by none other than Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. All aboard the Watchtower as the new Outlaws tackle a meddling Medusa and take a trip to the Mirror Dimension to face Mirror Master himself (along with some other Bizarro versions of our great trio). Can the Outlaws handle the twisted reflections of themselves? Or will they succumb to pressure from all (literal) angles?! Collecting episodes 12-22 of WEBTOON’s smash-hit series, optimized for a brand-new reading experience in print. Your new favorite series continues!

And we're finally getting a William Messner-Loebs Omnibus! For those not familiar with it, this (partially) covers the run which introduced Hartley's reform and coming out. However, this particular volume won't contain the coming out issue; that'll probably be in the next one.

THE FLASH BY WILLIAM MESSNER-LOEBS AND GREG LaROCQUE OMNIBUS VOL. 1 Written by WILLIAM MESSNER-LOEBS and MIKE BARON Art by GREG LaROCQUE, BUTCH GUICE, and others Cover by GREG LaROCQUE $125.00 US | 986 pages | 7 1/16″ x 10 7/8″ | Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-77952-581-9 ON SALE 6/18/24 Following the death of Barry Allen, Wally West will don the red suit and become the new Fastest Man Alive. Kid Flash no more, Wally must pave his own path forward and live up to the legacy of the man who saved the universe. Collects The Flash #1-28, The Flash Annual #1-3, Manhunter #8-9, Secret Origins Annual #2, and pages from Invasion! #2-3, featuring over a dozen never-before-collected issues.

[age-of-moonknight]

Thank you for pointing us towards the Moon Knight vs Shroud issue in your tags. Much appreciated! I'd be curious if you have any other information on the Shroud and any other times he and Moon Knight have crossed paths. Besides his appearance in the Avengers Unlimited arc, I am not terribly familiar with the character. Thank you again for all you do - I look forward to your commentary on the new release every month.

Hello!!! Thank you for submitting an ask as it’s always great to hear from you! :D Unfortunately, I wouldn’t consider myself a Shroud expert (although I would be fascinated to meet anyone who does???), with most of my experience with the Shroud coming from brief encounters with other characters while reading through their comics.

What I do know is Maximillian Coleridge has a rather Batman-like origin (common criminals gunned his rich parents down in front of him and he consequently dedicated his life to fighting crime), but instead of learning from the League of Assassins, Max threw in with the Cult of Kali. The graduation for that group however involves getting a forehead mark that grants extrasensory perception at the expense of one’s eyesight. The cult booted Max out after that and he seems to have spent most of his career since on the darker side of gray, with one of his first plans to make a name for himself as a hero, for example, being to just straight up assassinate Doctor Doom (oh and he also has his own means of shadow travel, make of that what you will). One reoccurring theme for him seems to be getting involved with criminal or villainous organizations to subtlety manipulate them into doing good. That brings us to how him and Marc meet, by the way! In Solo Avengers (Vol. 1/1987), #3, Max is leading a villain group called the Night Shift and sets up a test of combat to show that Marc should be the group’s leader (although he fails to tell Marc this until only after Marc has thoroughly trounced him and nearly smothered Max with his own shroud).

Looks like Marc called in what he owed as Max then helped Moon Knight wrangle Taurus for the West Coast Avengers in West Coast Avengers (Vol. 2/1985), #29.

Since then, they haven’t interacted much! They were in the same Heroes for Hire network in Heroes for Hire (Vol. 3/2010), but I haven’t found any instances of them interacting on-panel there. Also, as you mentioned, they had a brief team-up in the Avengers Unlimited infinity comic (issues #33-36 specifically for anyone curious), but while friendly, it was a pretty utilitarian team-up that focused mainly on Jessica Drew and Moon Knight and the Shroud only had the most surface-level interaction.

But I guess that first meeting really had an impact on Max (I mean, me too, but wow)! Again, I’m no character expert, but it seems that Max tends to cycle through periods of great violence and/or mental/emotional volatility (his wiki page straight up calls him a sociopath which….hmmmm….), so while I have very little faith that that was handled with any care in past comics, I look forward to seeing what Mr. MacKay might do with his character.

Fun fact: Max was however in the Bar With No Name when Mr. Knight strode right in and made one of my favorite proclamations of all time in Moon Knight (Vol. 9/2021), #7.

[the-nysh]

Would it be ok to start my path to the trigun hell hole with trigun stampede? I just KNOW that this show would consume and hurt me in many ways so any advice would help. Thank you.

👀👀!! Oh yes, absolutely you can - because for many newcomers who never got the chance 20+ yrs ago, Stampede was their first introduction to the series! So you wouldn't be alone there. :3 (I grew up with the 98 anime however, so that one was my first.) Stampede's also likely the shortest time-investment too, at a speedier 12eps for the current season vs the 98 anime's longer 26eps. So you're very welcome to try that when braving your first Trigun plunge~

Just note that every iteration available (old anime, new anime, manga) is different, with regards to their own plotlines and modified characterizations, so you'll gain something new out of all of them on each watch or (re)read.

For example, Stampede draws its lore/inspiration from the completed Trimax manga (but does not follow the exact same plotline; Stampede is its own separate retelling, not a 1:1 adaptation), which was not possible when the 98 anime was made, as the manga had not been completed yet. So the 98 anime adapts the first few manga vols (along with inserting many fun/silly slower character building eps, before switching to darker/heavier content in the later half) and has its own unique anime-original lore & ending (kinda like how the first fma did it), but the themes it presents are still quite solid and universal, so it's very worth a watch too! Even though yes, some parts are noticeably dated with 90s tropes (which you can 100% safely ignore, as both Stampede & Trimax Vash are not like that), just so you're aware.

I recommend at least watching the 98 anime before tackling the harder manga though, as the manga greatly expands into territory the 98 anime could never do or show at the time, so if you go say, from the manga to 98 in reverse order, there's a chance you may not enjoy the older anime as much? (Your mileage may vary.) In my experience, I went 98 -> Trimax manga -> Stampede (basically in release order), and since Stampede is very much a love letter + passion project for both new/older fans alike to enjoy, it's full of references to spot if you're already familiar with the series. I had lots of fun catching those (ep12 alone is like AAAA!!! *____* with so many Trimax elements thrown in) So you can start with it AND rewatch Stampede a 2nd time after completing the manga too, to get the most out of it! :D (Plus, the Stampede story isn't even over yet; it was more like a deliberately planned prelude, with plenty more endgame Trimax material to possibly explore in future seasons. You'll see when you get there~)

As for the manga, it begins with 2 volumes titled Trigun, before switching genres/publications to a darker/heavier seinen retitled Trigun Maximum (abbreviated as Trimax), which continues the same story right where the other vols left off, and for many fans, is considered to be the definitive Trigun ~experience~ (that'll change your life~)

It can be a difficult read, with regards to the serious subject matter presented and even for comprehending the vaguer 'up to reader interpretation' scenes (bc you can't speed-read this; there are times you may have to pace yourself with breaks to process if needed, and bc the expressive artwork itself does much of the talking through strong vibes and impression, which requires your full attention to grasp what's happening.) And since Nightow, the author, rarely draws speech bubbles with directional tails to indicate who's talking - cues which instead are understood thru context and the characters' unique accents/speech patterns, which while obvious in Japanese, is a much harder challenge when translated into english. So if you ever feel lost/confused by what's happening with the need for clarification, there's many bookclub fans here, including the main fan translator, who'll gladly help you out!

Be prepared for much mental trauma, emotional damage, character death(s), morality/reality checks and pain and suffering abound....but it's done in a very cathartic, soulful, healing way...where you suffer and heal in the same boat along with Vash instead of leaving you permanently hurt, it may leave you coming out of it feeling quite changed and enlightened refreshed and comforted by its messages instead. :')) (I've seen plenty who consider it their comfort manga bc of this, as well.) The enduring good faith Vash has in humanity, pursuing kindness as a choice for a better future (where things are not doomed when there's always a second chance to continue), and the ability to survive and recover from almost impossible, terribly hopeless (to downright suicidal) odds are what resonate strongly with me. :'3 Again, it's an ~experience~ you just have to feel to decide for yourself how it impacts you. But for some extra reassurance, the ending is not a tragic one, but something more bittersweet leaving off on a positive note, which is most importantly, hopeful. I hope you enjoy it!

And just fyi, after personally reading and comparing both the official Darkhorse and the Overhaul fan translations, I highly recommend the Overhaul manga over the official one for a much better time (since the official tl unfortunately has many mistakes, missed line callbacks, and misplaced speech bubbles, etc leading to more confusion, so yeah!) You can find the nicely accessible Overhaul manga translation (plus it seems there's plans for an improved ver2.0 fan translation in the works), along with their online reader too, right over here~

[richardsphere]

My conclusive overall review of RWBY Vol 9

Now that my feelings on the finale have had half a day to settle. I feel it is time to give my opinion on the season overall instead of just the finale on its own.

The new cast of characters is also somewhat wanting. While one-off characters Jinxy, Herb and the King fulfill their purposes perfectly well. some crucial characters important to the seasons overall narrative (Cat, Lewis, Alyx and Little) were with all either one-note (little), Hollow shells of plot serving to sell a future spin-off book(Lewis and Alyx). The cat was fine though, and fulfilled its purpose well.  For the first half,  Volume 9 suffers from a major disconnect as the plot relies on the characters familiarity with the fairytale. which makes it sort of unsatisfying to watch cause we have no idea how the fairytale even went. As a result we spend half the season wandering around, seemingly aimlessly, while neither characters nor audience have a clue what they are doing besides vaguely advertising an RT’s eventual spin-off book release.  Sort of like the early Sherlock Holmes books, where the plot is moved by sherlock but we only have Wattsons’ knowledge of events to guide us through. Its a clueless mystery with no fulfillment to it. Then moving into the later-half of the season, Where the show attempts to handle difficult topics and, in true RWBY style doesnt always handle it well. While the eventual handliing of ruby’s self-acceptance issues is in the finale is good . The decision to have Jaune’s problems of self-worth be solved by “yes you werent the hero, but would you like to be one now?” leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It feels like its trying to say “Ruby, your impostor syndrome was a bad thing, you should learn to accept yourself for who you are. You’re actually fine as is dont worry about it you are good enough”. meanwhile to Jaune the tree’s messaging is: “yes you’re right, you do suck major ass. and while we dont have any tips on how to improve yourself as a personi can put you in the right time and place to be usefull for just this once because your woodshell happens to be above the cat RN.” and now for  the origami-paperes elephant in the room. The race of little star-shaped Alexanders-the-Great, who commit mass ennui-motivated suicides because they ran out of acre to conquer and/or decorate, and are portrayed as right for taking the easy way out of their boredom. Now i’ve had someone respond to me on an earlier post about the stars, that they believed the stars were meant to be an allegory for people with terrible wasting diseases that leave them frail and in terminal misery, and the process of them making the difficult choice of euthenasia, as well as the difficult path of a family member to come to acceptance with that choice. Which is a heavy, nuanced and important topic that I do not want to make light of in the slightest. So please take no offense when i say that; While I could see the space in which people with those experiences could project themselves into Jaune’s struggle with Penny’s death. I cant actually see that as being the actual situation facing the paperstars themselves. Because the way the stars explain their problem to RWBY is verry much one of boredom and listlessness rather then any state of terminal misery of which only death could possibly grant relief. So the star-subplot either tried to tackle euthenasia and missed the mark by a mile due to framing issues (which is dangerous), or it just said “Remember suicide is an acceptable cure for boredom” which is actively evil. as messages go. Add onto that the fact that, in the long term their solution doesnt actually work, as they’ll redecorate the acre with gems instead of paper. Run out of acre to decorate again like they did the first time and have find a new way to kill themselves again and this subplot fails critically. And because the latter half of the plot is trying to tie 3-or more such heavy topics together in quick succession all together (Ruby’s attempted suicide, Jaune’s grief over Euthenising Penny, Ruby’s self-worth issues, Jaune’s sisiphean hell, Jaune’s self-worth over failing Alyx) the toxic messaging given by the stars subplot spreads across the adjacent plots like a malignant viral infection. Tainting all of them with a “pro-suicide” undertone that i can only hope was never RT’s intention. Top that all off with a the rather unsatisfying finale, focussed more on loredumping then tying together or resolving the seasons emotional beats and I can only say that, Despite its promise for the tone of the series going forward by presenting hope as an actual thing instead of a mere nebulous concept, This season was in my opinion nonetheless, the worst season of the series so far.

[shiningdesignersreflections]

Yexiao: Deep In The Clouds

Designer's Reflection: Deep In The Clouds

Obtained: Qingxiao Legend event

Rarity: SSR

Attribute: Gold/Elegant

Awakened Suit: Hiding Moon

Story - transcripts from Designer's Reflection

Chapter 1 - Rainy Night Meeting

Chapter 2 - Moment of Awakening

Chapter 3 - Crimson Crisis

Chapter 4 - Unknown End

Story - summarized

Back when the outskirts of Cloudcrest weren't urbanized yet, Yexiao heard of a loner living on a nearby hill. Everyone gossiped about him and called him a "psycho." Nevertheless, she was curious about him, so she drew up a design and went to go visit him during a heavy storm.

He tried to turn her away, but she shoved her design prints into his face: she wanted to create a living monster and observe the unknown. The man, Insay, was a mix of interested and scared. Could this even work? But he invited in Yexiao and they started their experiments.

The local villagers still gossiped about them, fearful of what was going on but not willing to check. Finally, Yexiao and Insay created their monster and successfully brought it to life. The villagers could hear the monster's roar, terrifying them more. This did not upset Yexiao in the slightest when she would come to the village market for food and supplies. The unknown was scary, she reasoned, so naturally others would be put off by it.

But one day, when she went to the market, a child dashed into the center and cried about a monster on the loose and blood in the river. Everyone panicked and raced for their homes, while Yexiao ran as fast as she could back to Insay's house. The man was gravely injured, but he had managed to lock and secure the trapdoor to the underground lab.

The monster still tried to escape. Yexiao made her way down there and searched the destroyed lab for any signs of the monster. It tried to sneak up on her, and she barely escaped. She was scared. When all seemed lost, she shut off the light. The monster hated the darkness.

When she saw its glowing heart, Yexiao grabbed a scalpel and stalked the creature until she plunged the scalpel into its chest, killing it. Its scales glowed as its life drained away. She thought she had prepared for everything, but no one can truly fathom the unknown.

Connections

-Yexiao may be gentle, but she has always embraced the unknown: from her leaving the Ark in Blooming Magnolia, to this adventure, to her leaving the village of Banyan in Spring Forest and the events in Mind Maze 5.

-In Vol. 1 Chapter 7, Nikki is overwhelmed by the power of Designer's Reflection, causing her to experience two realities at once: Miraland in Path A and the Ocean of Memories in Path B. Yexiao appears to Nikki in Path B through visions to help her through the unknown and avoid drowning. Much of her advice can be traced back to her experiences with Insay and the monster.

Fun Facts

-The monster's species is never given, but its description matches that of a dragon: has scales and a huge body, roars loudly, prefers fresh meat, and moves in a writhing motion. (East-Asian dragons are more snake-like than other dragons.)

-Yexiao's favorite motif is flowers, and this Reflection managed to work it in when she describes the monster's blood and scales as like blooming flowers.

-Since Yexiao could feel the creature's emotions so clearly, it's possible that she is tied to the monster.

-This story shares many similarities to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: stormy night, fearful gossip, wild creature, the desire to create life and dive into the unknown, and the creator (just Insay in this case) dying in an attempt to stop/catch the monster.

[hoyotunes]

The Golden Touch from Experience the Paths Vol. 3 Vinchi, HOYO-MiX

[saintsofwarding]

Chapter List

Vol. 1: A Gift

Prologue

Vol. 2: Saints of Warding; Hungry Demons

Chapter 1: In Which Lycans Encounter Magnetism

Chapter 2: In Which Children Become Accessories to Violent Crime

Chapter 3: In Which A Certain Someone Learns their Actions have Consequences

Chapter 4: In Which Things Start to Get Freaky Deeky

Chapter 5: In Which Comes Sorrow

Chapter 6: In Which the Lycans get A New Alpha

Chapter 7: In Which There Is No Mercy; We are All Frightened Children in the Dark

Chapter 8: In Which Mommy and Daddy Come Out to Play

Chapter 9: In Which Nothing Beside Remains

Chapter 10: In Which When Inspiration Strikes, It Strikes, Baby

Chapter 11: In Which Even Devils Have Their Day

Chapter 12: Epilogue

Vol. 3: Embryo

Chapter 1: A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes

Chapter 2: Waiting for Cadou

Chapter 3: Rose Above it All

Chapter 4: Electricity Puns

Chapter 5: Burger Fool

Chapter 6: I Am the Master of Gelatin 

Chapter 7: House of Infinite Horrors

Chapter 8: My Little Pony

Chapter 9: February 27, 2021

Chapter 10: Welcome To My Twisted Mind

Chapter 11: Rose to New Heights

Chapter 12: Monster Box

Chapter 13: I Wanna be a Cowboy, Baby

Chapter 14: Sister, Sister

Chapter 15: Epilogue

Vol. 4: We Shall Be Monsters

Chapter 1: A Long Time Ago

Chapter 2: A Ghost Tale

Chapter 3: A Friendly Face

Chapter 4: A Brand New Life

Chapter 5: A Story for Donna

Chapter 6: A Funeral Rite

Chapter 7: An Escape starts with E

Chapter 8: An Ascent, A Descent

Chapter 9: A Fox in Sheep’s Clothing

Chapter 10: A Heavy Burden We Saints Must Carry

Chapter 11: An Honorable Death

Chapter 12: A Midwinter Gift

Chapter 13: An Experiment

Chapter 14: A Mirror

Chapter 15: A Changed Man

Chapter 16: A Corpse of A God

Chapter 17: A Little Back Alley Surgery Never Killed Nobody

Chapter 18: A Deep, Dark Place

Chapter 19: A Miracle

Chapter 20: An Explosive Conclusion

Chapter 21: A Family Meeting

Chapter 22: A Dream of Sunlight

Chapter 23: An Awakening

Chapter 24: A Traitor’s Bargain

Chapter 25: A Family Feud

Chapter 26: A Lost Cause

Chapter 27: A Long, Dark Path

Chapter 28: Epilogue

Burial

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Epilogue

[engshoujosei]

No. 6

9 volumes (singles), 3 3-in-1 omnibus volumes as of 5/9/2023

Licensed by Kodansha

The classic dystopian manga returns in three 3-in-1 omnibus editions!

 An elite student named Shion lives a seemingly perfect life in the city of No. 6, where life is carefully controlled down to the last detail. However, everything changes one fateful night when Shion offers an injured young man shelter from a storm. Known only as Rat, this boy is a VC--a fugitive living outside the computerized tapestry of city control--and helping him throws Shion’s life into chaos and starts him down a path to discovering the appalling secrets behind the superficial perfection of No. 6.

Anime Start/End Chapter

Starts at Vol 1, Chap 1 Ends at Vol 9, Chap 35 (Alternate Ending)

Related Series No. 6 (Novel) (Adapted From, not licensed)

Status in Country of Origin

9 Volumes (Complete) 

Tags:

Adapted to Anime

Based on a Novel

Boys' Love as a Subplot

Childhood Friend/s

Conspiracy/ies

Dystopia

Experiment/s

Fugitive/s

Futuristic City

Genius/es

Human Experiment/s

Important Non-Romantic Relationship/s

LGBT Character in Non-Yaoi/Yuri Manga

Naive Male Lead

Near-Death Experience

Opposites Attract

Politics

Poverty

Prodigy

Robot/s

Scar/s

Slow Romance

Social Hierarchy

Strong Male Lead

Sudden Death/s

[afrobeatsindacity]

2023 Round-Up: The Year In Music

With Wizkid’s EP, Soundman Vol. 2, arriving ten days to the close of the year, 2023 has delivered an experience that confers on it a special place in Nigerian music lore—an album by each member of our putative big 3. Timeless, Davido’s well crafted, much appreciated comeback piece arrived in March, while Burna Boy's seventh studio album, the sonically brilliant but thematically petulant I Told Them… debuted in August. It is the first time since 2020 that these three stars have aligned in a single year, but this convergence is only one in a long list of the truly significant events of Nigerian music in 2023.

The music scene this year has delivered the expected good, with underground artists breaking through barriers to emerge the year's most successful singers; the unexpected bad, in the mysterious death of the young, promising Mohbad; and the numerous ugly, best-forgotten events, like when artist Oladips appeared to fake his own death in promotion of his new album. To navigate through this topsy-turvy sea, here is our round-up of the biggest Nigerian music happenings in 2023.

Our 2022 edition of this round-up was expectedly dominated, much like the year was, by tales of the exploits of Asake, who was a mainstay in the year's music scene, successfully arresting the attention of an entire country with a series of hits, each a little more fiery than the last, until his debut album arrived to cement his place in Nigerian music. 2023 has seen him continue his run with no break in stride, as he released his sophomore album, Work Of Art in June, which spawned tracks like "Lonely At The Top" and "Amapiano" that ensured his name continued to ring out in the new year. At the same time, it was also a gathering of the harvest of last year's sedulous work. He received Headies Awards for Album Of The Year and Next Rated, a Trace Award for Best Anglophone artist, and a nomination for the inaugural Best Afrobeats song at the MTV VMAs. And with his song, "Amapiano" already receiving a nomination for the 2024 Grammy's new Best African Music Performance category, it remains to be seen if Asake can bring his dominance to a third consecutive year.

Elsewhere, other rising stars continued to follow the paths that were first charted years ago. Rema, long earmarked to be Afropop's future prince, took several large steps towards his throne in 2023. The most visible of these was securing a global hit, "Calm Down", which, with its Selena Gomez–assisted remix, was a fixture on UK and US charts, eventually peaking at number 3 on Billboard Hot 100 in September. For these exploits, accolades came in droves, from national platforms like The Headies and Soundcity, to African award organisations like AFRIMMA and Trace Awards, with his crowning moment coming at the MTV Video Music Awards, where he clinched the prize for Best Afrobeats song alongside Selena Gomez. Seyi Vibez, another artist who had made a standout showing of consistency last year, sustained his momentum in 2023 with two albums and two EPs released over the course of the year.

As these stars ascended the next stages of their respective careers, 2023 provided a new set of upcoming acts writing the first chapters of their mainstream stories. Two of them, Odumodublvck and Shallipopi, spent the year dividing opinions for the sounds and themes of their music, but what is surely beyond argument is how much progress they made in 2023, propelling themselves to clinch the headlines this year, for good and bad. Odumodublvck released Eziokwu and its deluxe, that held fan favourites like Dog Eat Dog and Declan Rice side by side with new entries like "Blood On The Dance Floor" and "Kubolor", ensuring he remained in circulation on radio channels for most of the year. Shallipopi's debut EP, Planet Pluto and album, Presido La Pluto also debuted to strong reactions.

And 2023 was a year that would bring the spotlight to emerging female acts as well, which merits acknowledgement in Nigeria’s male-dominated music industry. Qing Madi's "Ole" featured Bnxn, and was propelled by its combination of brilliant storytelling, exquisite delivery and smart collaboration to a spot in the top 20 of the Turntable top 100. She quickly built on this with her eponymous debut EP, which included other tracks like "Vision" and "American Love" that are providing her with.

Bloody Civilian is another female act whose career has been driven thus far by a combination of talent and an eye for ingenious collaboration. It was how she made her entry on the most auspicious of stages, singing opposite Rema on "Wake Up", a track off the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever album. If that debut flew under the radar for most Nigerians, then her feature on "Blood On The Dance Floor", providing a piquant variation to Odumodublvck and Wale's rugged sensibilities, did not. In 2023, she released first her debut EP, Anger Management in June, before its sequel arrived in November, this time sporting remixes from the original that featured stars like Joeboy, Odumodublvck, Fave and more. For female acts higher placed in the ladder of Nigerian music—Tems, Ayra Starr and Tiwa Savage, and Fave—it was a relatively quiet year, so we can expect a lot more in 2024, especially from Tems, who has already released two singles in anticipation of her debut album.

A dark cloud was cast over the musically prolific year with the passing of Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, AKA Mohbad, best known for tracks like "Feel Good" and "Ask About Me", under circumstances that are yet to be fully understood. Whilst the initial outrage over his maltreatment at the hands of Marlian Music, his record label, has now waned, Nigerian music lovers still carry in their hearts the memory of an artist whose music brought peace to millions, even as it seemingly eluded the singer himself.

As Nigerians struggled, and still do, to accept his untimely death, a few other singers took to the studio to pay him proper homage. Bella Shmurda released "My Brother" in his late friend's honour. Chiké and Zoro released their cross-country collaborations with the artist, titled "M.A.D." and "Egwu" respectively. The latter took his tribute a step further, pledging the proceeds from the song to Mohbad's family, a wholesome gesture similar to that made by fast-rising singer Khaid when he released his own tribute to Mohbad, "Forever".

2023 was also a year for big albums by big artists. Already counting the projects by Davido (Timeless), Burna Boy (I Told Them…) and Wizkid (Soundman Vol. 2), other Nigerian music veterans glided the year with full length projects, including Wande Coal (Legend Or No Legend), Olamide (Unruly), Adekunle Gold (Tequila Ever After) and Kizz Daniel (Maverick). Also sustaining Nigeria's relatively new album culture were the younger stars, who logged in albums like Ru The World (Ruger), Boy Alone Deluxe (Omah Lay), Emeka Must Shine (Blaqbonez) and Tears Of The Sun (Teni, making a long awaited return)

In all, a lot of indicators from 2023 suggest Nigerian music's global flight will not be ending anytime soon—with global music platforms like The Grammys and MTV carving out categories for Afrobeats, and Wizkid and Burna Boy bolstering their UK profiles with performances in Tottenham Hotspur and London stadiums respectively. In sound, Nigerian music gained more depth and diversity, with artists like Odumodublvck, Zlatan, Blaqbonez Jeriq and Kcee helping to incorporate Igbo culture, and especially its iconic Oja flute, into mainstream music. With so many young talents making their entrances, and a host of seasoned veterans showing no signs of slowing down, 2024 promises to be an even more enjoyable experience for lovers of Nigerian music.

This article was written by Afrobeats City Contributor Ezema Patrick - @ezemapatrick (Twitter)

Afrobeats City doesn’t own the right to the images

[lgbtqmanga]

New Releases Feb. 28, 2023

Hitorijime My Hero vol. 13 by Memeco Arii

Masahiro finds himself working day and night to save up funds again after his mom spends the money he'd been saving for the big school trip. Kousuke's desperate efforts to dissuade Masahiro prove ineffective, and he reluctantly signs off on Masahiro's nightmarish work schedule. Meanwhile, all's well between Hasekura and Kensuke...until Hasekura's mother makes a surprise return home and utters one dreaded phrase: “school transfer.”

A Home Far Away by Teki Yatsuda

In the winter of 1990, a young man name Alain finds himself lost and searching for direction. He currently cannot find it at home nor through the church. But when he meets Hayden, a free-spirited cook, he at least finds someone he can relate with. He may not know where his life is going but at least he has someone to lean on. But Alan's new life, filled with new feelings and many new challenging experiences, may force him to find his path on the road...

ROLL OVER AND DIE: I Will Fight for an Ordinary Life with My Love and Cursed Sword! vol. 3 by Kiki and Sunao Minakata

After risking her life to obtain a healing herb for a merchant, Flum Apricot is gifted with a house to use as a home base for her and Milkit. Not long after they settle in, Flum is reunited with her former comrade from the Hero’s Party, Eterna, who claims to know the remedy for Milkit’s disfigured face. Flum doesn’t have much time to enjoy this happy turn of events though. The villainous Dein who rules the West District has decided to make his move. But Flum will stop at nothing to protect her home with Milkit!

Shonen Note: Boy Soprano vol. 2 by Yuhki Kamatani

Now that Yutaka has officially decided to join the city opera, he's cast in a leading role in the ghost story The Turn of the Screw. Meanwhile, school choir president Betsuyaku struggles to prove that he and his choir are capable of winning the gold prize in the NHK All-School Choir Competition. But can he bring the choir together to achieve greatness, or will he alienate all of its members?