Gamaran Chapter 178: Anticlimax of The Officer of Muhou School

Comments
Battle between Sengoku Iori and Ango Kuryuu headed towards the climax and ended up with an anticlimax. Even though no one died the author wanted us to see how powerful Sengoku Iori actually is. He's certainly very well designed character who is easy to like. I hope that we'll get to see him and Jinsuke meeting in the next chapter and the battle between them to begin very shortly

 Sengoku Iori beating Ango Kuryuu with his bare hands

I'm still feeling very anxious about what the result of their clash will be.. After all I'm going to give out a prediction that Iori will most likely suffer a very gruesome death to impact the readers. Man, I'm sad already.

Recap of Gamaran Chapter 178:

-The Battle between Iori and Kuryuu is heading towards the climax.

-Despite looking like he has lost, Kuryuu refuses to give up. He plans to give up his own life to end Ioris.

-They dash towards the final attack, but Iori suddenly lets go of his sword and hits Ango Kuryuu with his bare hand making him unconscious. It's time for Iori to face Jinsuke

-Scene however changes to Ranmaru and Naoyoshi who managed to beat several bakufu warriors.

-Suddenly Gama appears there reuniting with Naoyoshi.

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Gamaran 176: Sengoku Iori vs. Angoo Kuryuu

Comments:

A great chapter with a fight between the strongest officer and Sengoku Iori.

I honestly got some anxiety because Manjirou said that he can't see Sengoku Iori losing this fight, but somehow that remark feels like a counter-foreshadowing or something like that. Of course I'd like for Iori to easily decimate Ango Kuryuu, but it wouldn't be suitable since he is in the end the strongest officer, maybe the second strongest villain in the whole series.

Author Nakamaru Yousuke managed to make the second strongest feel like someone that doesn't stand a chance and I hope that in the end he doesn't. I'm just too eager to see Jinsuke vs. Iori fight happen in the near future, it would be waste of hype for Iori to be stopped here.

Recap of Gamaran chapter 176:

-Battle between Sengoku Iori and Ango Kuryuu begins. It seems they have fought before and were stopped by Jinsuke.

-Manjirou's thinking that Ango Kuryuu is considered as the strongest among the officers, it may be hard for them to pass through him to free Riko.

-Sengoku Iori plants for finish Ango Kuryuu in an instant.

-Nagamaki "Chousimaru" is an extra heavy weapon and if dropped to the wooden floor it will splinter it.

-Ango Kuryuu hits with extreme speed and heaviness but the attack gets dodged by Iori. Iori counters and hits, but the wound is too shallow.

-Kuryuu takes a stance where he holds his weapon over his head and uses Gaun school secret technique Houkaizan which get dodged by Iori.

-Chapter ends and will be continued in Gamaran 177

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Gamaran Review: Generic but good shonen

Gamaran tells us the story of Gama who is nothing short of a genius swordsman. At the beginning of the series we are told about Kurogane Jinsuke, a leader of  Ogame school who has killed thousands of martial artists throughout years, he however has disappeared and only one holding the Ogame dojo up is Kurogane Gama, the son of the legendary thousand man slayer. Gama has only one goal to become stronger. To what end? you will have to read to find out..

As the title says, Gamaran is generic but good. It's a traditional growth story which is composed and paced very well. It manages to keep readers interested enough to plow through the next chapter. Obviously battles and the growth story by learning new skills and gaining strength are the main points of this manga and they are done in very good manner. Especially the battles are very well drawn and there are enough twists to keep readers on their toes. One of the great things is absolutely that Gamaran doesn't try to be anything else that it is.

Gamarans art is very good and it is in fact one of the those series that manage to constantly upkeep very good quality of drawing from beginning to the latest chapters. One of the reasons is of course that Gamaran is relatively new. However I'm pleased with the art since it doesn't create any misconceptions when reading of the intense fights that are present in this manga. This series is, unlike shonen usually, very brutal, which only increases the enjoyment in my eyes.

Characters of Gamaran vary from decent to good: The main character thankfully isn't a tryhard or doesn't try to be funny but is often very content. There are also couple of very good side characters which I like very much, in example Sengoku Iori. Villains are interesting, but heavily dependant on their choice of weapon, which isn't a bad thing at all.

 

The story of Gamaran is its weakest point, but it fortunately isn't dependant on it. It's very generic and doesn't offer many or even any incredible plot twists. The whole weight of this manga relies on it's characters, their growth story and on it's amazing battles that are undoubtly interesting stuff to read. I could say that it can be considered a story element that the battles have managed to be interesting and they haven't really never dragged on too long I believe. That's certainly a good quality in manga that focuses mostly on battles against enemies stronger than the last one. I also must say that the author has done very good job in designing the opponents for Gamaran: they are imaginative and often based on real world martial arts which always brings sort of a authenticity feeling to the manga.

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Gamaran 175: Sengoku Iori awesomeness

Recap and Comments of Gamaran 175

Finally, the plot thickens. Unabara, Gama, Zenmaru and Iori aim for the Unabara's inner citadel, where Jinsuke awaits. It seems the time has come for the final battle.

Sengoku Iori and Manjiro are running through the corridors of the inner citadel and Manjiro is thinking how tough the guards are, but at the same time watching amazed how they are nothing in front of Iori who slashes through them like they are nothing.

Iori is getting annoyed how weak the guards are as he is just decimating them left and right as he is progressing.

Suddenly two spearmen attack Iori from behind, it looks like he's in trouble, but he deflects one spear with his sword and grabs another with his left hand stopping both of them.
What can I say? Sengoku Iori is awesome.

Iori gets to kill two for one: he uses Iori Sengoku Secret Technique Kosen and pierces both of them at the same time with a sword.

Iori Sengoku not the Strongest of the Ogame School for nothing.

They finally get to the jail where Riko is being there behind bars. Iori tells to Riko that he's going to fight with Jinsuke.

They start looking for the key and suddenly someone comes holding them. It's Ango Kuryuu holding a huge polearm and he wants to fight with Iori who is pleased to have him as a warm-up match.

A chapter full of Sengoku Iori awesomeness? Yes please. I think that he's one of the most well designed characters in many mangas, since it always feels great to see him do his stuff: decimate opponents and smoke his pipe.

I hope that we will get to see more of Iori in the weeks to come, chapter 176 will hopefully be Sengoku Iori versus Ango Kuryuu, who doesn't seem to be a pushover. Part of me wishes that this fight would last at least a couple of chapter, but part of me thinks that it should be a quick run over.

As for predictions, I think that this may as well be a turn point for this manga end especially for Sengoku Iori: Gama is still mangas protagonist who I'd imagine should be the one to kill Jinsuke, so I don't think it's impossible for Ango Kuryuu to somehow beat Sengoku Iori for the story telling purposes. Of course I don't hope for that to happen, but I think I wouldn't be surprised by that, since we actually don't know anything about Ango Kuryuu.

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Gamaran 174: Sengoku Iori vs. Jinsuke draws near

Recap of Gamaran chapter 174:

Ranmaru and Naoyshi are feeling the bloodlust behind the door.

Suddenly, between the door comes a huge hand holding the guard of this room, apparently dead.

On the next page a huge bald character who has scar on top of his head comes through the door asking where is Naoyoshi-shama..

This huge monster seems to be one of Bakufu's dogs and is ordered to kill both Naoyoshi and Ranmaru. Of course Bakufu's goal isn't just the obliteration of the Muhou school but all of Unabara.

Naoyoshi and Ranmaru are completely surrounded by Bakufu forces.

The huge monster reveals the weapon he uses, it's a metal rod shaped a bit like sword (looks a bit like a kendo sword)

After showing off his metal rod Ranmaru instantly cuts the hand holding the rod off and quickly after slashes his neck so that his head almost comes off. Ranmaru intends to kill all of the Bakufu forces surrounding them.

We see that Bakufu forces have infiltrated everywhere. Gama is slashing them right and left and even people who were with Gensai are having some trouble with being surrounded by them.

Shin and Zenmaru are talking somewhere, it seems that Shin had predicted the infiltration of Bakufu forces to some extent. He then tells Zenmaru to go to the innter citadel and settle his destined battle.

And finally we see some of Sengoku Iori smoking his pipe and talking with some dude. He's going to head into the inner citadel also to face off Jinsuke.

Comments and Predictions

A set up chapter, but not a bad one by all means.

Regardless the other people in this chapter, it's great to see Sengoku Iori once again, he's easily one of my if not even the most favorite character in Gamaran. He's going straight towards Jinsuke and I think that the battle between them draws really near. He may encounter one or two enemies before arriving to him.

As sad as it may be I think that Jinsuke will kill Sengoku Iori, since it wouldn't really be suitable for him to beat Jinsuke since it's in the end the main protagonist's aim for the whole series. Regardless of that I'm very interested to see the battle between the two.

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Gamaran 173: Tsukikage and Bakufu

Recap of chapter 173

 The chapter begins with a strange man lurking in the shadows, when both Ogame and Muhou schools are fighting against each other. One of theirs have been captured and they know that Kizaki has died and Shinnojou and Nakaizumi can't fight.

Strange man rises up and says that it's time for them to move as well. He says that Jinsuke will be surprised once he finds the name of a traitor hiding in the Muhou School.

Scene changes to a man who's being tortured by Jinsuke: he's being asked about Tsukikage's location and name of the traitor who's hiding among them. One of Jinsuke's underling is bothered by the bloody cough and him being in hurry as of late.

The tortured man is a warrior serving the Bakufu Shogunate, and won't yield information: it seems he was hiding poison in his mouth and decided to intake it now? He provokes Jinsuke about the traitor and dies.

Jinsuke says that he will put an end to everything.

Gama finds out that Bakufu inteds to eliminate them. Gama and Toujou talk a little bit about it and suddenly realize, that they are already surrounded by swords of the Bakufu spies. Toujou says that he will take them on and let Gama go. He says that He's taken a real liking to Gama.

Ranmaru and Naoyoshi are in the southern palace, talking about Jinsuke. After a while on of them feels someone with bloodlust on other side of a door.

Last scene of the chapter consists of Tsukikage / Bakufu shogunate. Tsukikage is making some plans how their first objective is the backbone of Muhou school and the the Ogame school. They even have a special objective: target the leader of Unabara, Naoyoshi Washizu.

Will be continued in Gamaran chapter 174

Comments and Predictions

In chapter 173 we got something new: information about the third party of this war, Bakufu Shogunate and especially Tsukikage, who aims to join the battle as of now. He was most likely waiting for the most possible amount of damage for both sides before joining. Nothing special about this chapter, Gama begins to move towards the castle so that's a good progress. His battle against Toujou didn't happen, but that doesn't concern me much.

I hope that next time we will get some new information about Muhous traitor and hopefully a glimpse of Jinsuke utterly obliterating this traitor. It's interesting to see who the traitor turns out to be. Gamaran going towards the castle implies that his meeting with Jinsuke draws closer. I still don't get what Jinsuke is truly aiming for.

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Gamaran 172: Jinsuke has terminal illness

Recap:

At the beginning of Gamaran chapter 172 we are getting a "post mortem" of "Sword Fiend" Kizaki Gensai's and Kudou Shimon's battle. Gensai did die in the end and Shimon says that his determination comes from fighting for Jinsuke-san.

Kamedenbou Oizumi speaks a little bit with Shimon and says that he must be next one to fight him. Kamedenbou talks about how they acually need a miracle to win.

The scene finally changes to battle of Kurogane Gama and Toujou Shungaku. Toujou notes Gama's "Eyes of divine sight", which enables Gama to see every small detail or change in the field of vision to take advantage of enemy. On top of that Gama has abnormal speed. Toujou also realizes that Gama is stronger than he was when he killed Yakushiji.

Gama's and Toujou's battle begins for real. Toujou a bit earlier mentioned how Gama isn't powerful enough to take him down, but Gama manages to almost instantly cut him in the corner of the eye - that was something that Toujou didn't expect. If Toujou hadn't managed to swung his naginata soon enough he would have lost his eye.

They speak again some: Toujou mentions that they will be encountering a lot more enemies after him, Gama says that he will save Naoyoshi-san and defeat Jinsuke and he won't stop until he has accomplished those goals.

This chapters final scene changes to Jinsuke, he is being reported to some stuff and we see him coughing. His underling asks if something is wrong with his condition.

Jinsuke says that he must end this war soon and we see that he had coughed blood on his hand.

Comments and Predictions

This was a good chapter and we got some new information. There may be a battle of Kamedenbou Oizumi and Kudou Shimon, we may or may not see it. I don't think that it will be long.

I think we'll be seeing Gama's and Toujou's battle in the coming weeks and it's a excellent chance for Gama to improve once more. Toujou has certainly noted how limitless his potential truly is. Gama of course prevail.

Then we have the issue with Jinsuke. His condition and how he coughed blood on his hand pretty much always means terminal illness. In my opinion this is a good thing regarding the story progress: we may be seeing end of Gamaran sooner than we think. What I'm particularly interested of is that what are Jinsukes true intentions and how does his illness affect them. I think that Jinsuke will be moving to the battlefield soon enough, it will most likely be awesome.

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Gamaran 171: End to the Kannari School clash

Recap

At the beginning of the chapter 171 Shimon announces that he has mastered the final ultimate technique of the Kannari school - only after seeing it once. Then he proceeds to explain the technique to Gensai (I wonder why?) after analyzing it. It seems that it may be Manjinuki vs. Manjinuki, final clash.

Shimon was faster. Gensai only managed to pull the sword just a little while Shimon had his own at Gensais shoulder. However Gensai still stands up after receiving a deep wound but not long after he drops his sword and either faints or dies.

Comments

Gamaran chapter 171 was a decent chapter. We finally got to see then end for this fight and we'll have some other fight beginning next week. There's really nothing to say about this fight: it was a decent, a bit enjoyable thing to read through. Nothing else.

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Manjinuki, Ultimate final technique and greatest secret of the kannari style

Gensai utterly owned his old disciple in Gamaran 170 chapter, which actually makes me wonder how that disciple is now going to perform the same technique after seeing it once and being wounded so that it could be pretty hard to swing sword with his right hand. We most likely will see end to this fight next time - or so I hope. Gamaran has been pretty interesting until now and I think it's nearing it's end. And that isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's quite often better to end the series while it's still good instead of prolonging it too much. Maybe we'll get to see 30-50 more chapters?

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