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[JoshuaFH]

I'm the 'someone' that quote came from Neon, so I guess I'll reply.

Quote about Akagi that someone said earlier

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

This is just something I thought up in the last episodes, since I've basically been rooting for Akagi to beat Washizu, but stunned by his lack self-preservation. I keep thinking to myself, even if not consciously, "When's he going to transfuse the blood back into himself? He can do it! It'll give him the breathing room he needs! How can anyone insist on playing, knowing that just a glancing blow means certain death?" And then when he takes his vials of blood, his very last life lines, and purposefully ruins them, effectively throwing them away, before challenging Washizu to the last two Han Chans... and knowing that that was the only way to get him to not give up and go into the final face off... just the effect of that was so profound to me. That that was the difference between a legend, and normal, lesser people. A normal person at that point would have taken their prodigal earnings and ran, happy in their amazing success, but Akagi was running by different priorities, it wasn't the money he was measuring his success by, it was by how thoroughly he crushed his opponent, and when opportunity to obtain complete, unambiguous greatness stands in front of him, he'll risk everything and more to try to get it. That actually... got to me.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Actually he already pretty much said his reasons for not using the transfusions. If he had used him Washizu would have simply left. It was the fact that he could kill Akagi at any moment that kept him comming back for more. He wasn't sent there to earn as much money as he could he was sent to take Washizu down.

The reason it doesn't to me translate into Akagi being some great man is essentially that for Akagi almost the entire point is that he could die. He is self-destructive and his lack of self-preservation lacks any sort of courage or bravery. Afterall why preserves something inherantly useless?

I have a lot of trouble getting into Akagi simply because by all means he is a sociopath. He easily could be turned into a villain and frankly the only reasons he tends to "do good" (if you can call it that) is because he just happened to be up against the villains. In fact I think that is the point, he is a villain himself. Just one who takes delight into crushing other villains.

Though Akagi seems to suffer from the inability to gain enjoyment or thrills from just about anything and lacks stimulation of any sort.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

That's the thing I was trying to get at Neon, the ability to do the insane things is, in itself, an admirable quality. It's what makes Akagi such a hard character to understand, because his entire life philosophy is so alien to common thought, that from an outside perspective he's just mentally ill. What I was trying to say was that his priorities and desires run against conventional thinking, that's the point, and Akagi is nothing but consistent with himself.

After all, remember his personal philosophy: "The essence of gambling is a meaningless death".

He wasn't trying to be courageous or brave, because we already know that Akagi casts himself as the outsider. He has nothing to prove to society. He doesn't even play for himself, he plays to crush his opponent, and crush him thoroughly.

The story of Akagi isn't even one of heroes and villains, so trying to think of the story in that way is pointless. Akagi doesn't even have anything against Washizu, he's just the next big challenge to take down, and unless he's decimated completely, there's no point in even playing him to begin with. If that means putting yourself at a hairsbreadth of dying yourself, then so be it.

As I stated, it's the reason I find it admirable, because while rational thought is the unquestionable ruler of the ordinary man, only Akagi is the master of Akagi.

(Double Spoiler: In the manga, the reason he went to the doctor before heading to the match was to get extra blood transfused into him, so he actually had more breathing room than Washizu originally thought. In a way I'm glad that the anime ended early, since that would have detracted from Akagi's mad philosophy.)

[AussieGuy]

As a person who has only seen (and enjoyed) anime on TV, could anyone recommend me something to watch? I've seen One Piece and Naruto, and thought they were pretty neat.

[JoshuaFH]

As a person who has only seen (and enjoyed) anime on TV, could anyone recommend me something to watch? I've seen One Piece and Naruto, and thought they were pretty neat.

We have many things to show you. Many things indeed.

Most anime in American television falls under Shonen, that is, shows aimed at young men. These include Bleach, Naruto, One Piece, Inuyasha, Pokemon, Digimon, Yugioh, Dragon Ball z, and some others.

Anime is often mistaken for it's own genre, when really it's just a style; and anime encompasses the entire spectrum of genres like any other medium.

Feel free to bounce ideas off us, like if you enjoy one thing or a certain genre, then we're often more than glad to help you find what you're looking for.

Just a few initial suggestions: Fist of the North Star, Wakfu, Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood, Those Who Hunt Elves, and literally almost anything Hayao Miyazaki has personally touched.

[IronyOwl]

Bleach is usually paired with both of those. Fairy Tail is similar to One Piece but with wizards (well, kung fu wizards), I think. Soul Eater's another Shonen title that most people seem to like.

For personal recommendations, I'd second Full Metal Alchemist.


Also, if you're accepting manga, read Dragon Ball. It's awesome.

[AussieGuy]

As a person who has only seen (and enjoyed) anime on TV, could anyone recommend me something to watch? I've seen One Piece and Naruto, and thought they were pretty neat.

We have many things to show you. Many things indeed.

Most anime in American television falls under Shonen, that is, shows aimed at young men. These include Bleach, Naruto, One Piece, Inuyasha, Pokemon, Digimon, Yugioh, Dragon Ball z, and some others.

Anime is often mistaken for it's own genre, when really it's just a style; and anime encompasses the entire spectrum of genres like any other medium.

Feel free to bounce ideas off us, like if you enjoy one thing or a certain genre, then we're often more than glad to help you find what you're looking for.

Just a few initial suggestions: Fist of the North Star, Wakfu, Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood, Those Who Hunt Elves, and literally almost anything Hayao Miyazaki has personally touched.

Cool, thanks A few of my friends watch anime, but it's mostly just the more mainstream stuff like Bleach or Dragonball, I want to see what else is out there

Bleach is usually paired with both of those. Fairy Tail is similar to One Piece but with wizards (well, kung fu wizards), I think. Soul Eater's another Shonen title that most people seem to like.

For personal recommendations, I'd second Full Metal Alchemist.


Also, if you're accepting manga, read Dragon Ball. It's awesome.

Cheers! There's a convention held yearly in my city, a mix of anime and video games, so there's lots of manga being sold, but I never buy any of it because I'm a bit overwhelmed :p I'll look into it.

[JoshuaFH]

Just to let you know, all merchandise at Conventions are deliberately overpriced to take advantage of the crowds they generate.

If you're not interested in collecting, then there's actually quite a few websites where you can just read or download most manga for free, legally.

[AussieGuy]

Just to let you know, all merchandise at Conventions are deliberately overpriced to take advantage of the crowds they generate.

If you're not interested in collecting, then there's actually quite a few websites where you can just read or download most manga for free, legally.

Quite true actually but there's not many shops that sell that stuff usually, where I live. I'd rather have a physical copy then read it online but how can it be legal? xD

[JoshuaFH]

Well, the exact legalities are beyond me, basically it's that there's many many manga simply unlicensed in America, and it's not that it's legal but that there's a complete absence of people willing stop them. That's as good as legal as far as most people are concerned.

EDIT: And I'm saying "in America" to a guy that obviously lives in Australia. 

[Neonivek]

"As I stated, it's the reason I find it admirable, because while rational thought is the unquestionable ruler of the ordinary man, only Akagi is the master of Akagi"

Dang it they got you too! You fell for the majesty that is Akagi.

Next thing you know you will say something like "What Akagi does is far beyond that of human comprehension".

Akagi is rational, especially since he explains everything he does. He just lives in a world where it is impossible to handle stress and where he doesn't feel any. Thus psychological attacks are magical.

Which come to think of it. Akagi's greatest weakness would be a match against someone who performs under pressure.

[JoshuaFH]

Oh no Neon! I've fallen down the slippery slope! Don't try to save me, you'll just fall down too!

[Neonivek]

Oh no Neon! I've fallen down the slippery slope! Don't try to save me, you'll just fall down too!

JOSHUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

[zchris13]

What is this shit.

[klingon13524]

Just to let you know, all merchandise at Conventions are deliberately overpriced to take advantage of the crowds they generate.

If you're not interested in collecting, then there's actually quite a few websites where you can just read or download most manga for free, legally.

Could you link to a few? Hopefully one will actually work in Europe, and will have a vaguely interesting series in it.

[Micro102]

So, due to lack of manga to read I am forcing my self to read the popular negima sensei  manga.

I feel like stabbing myself. How is this so popular?

[shadenight123]

So, due to lack of manga to read I am forcing my self to read the popular negima sensei  manga.

I feel like stabbing myself. How is this so popular?

fan service and shota.

there are many, many perverted womans in japan.

and mens.

and a classroom of girls with a boy teacher attracts both.

then magic for the magic fans.

but that's just the excuse.

that said, another harem manga in the making:
"Heaven"

and started reading Nisekoi
(about a son of yakuza leader and a daughter of a mafia gang having to date to avoid a war in the city, while a third love interest is the "promised one" who refuses to admit it.)