Garth2The2ndPower

I figured I'd try out that Six Fanart Challenge going on at Twitter right now:

twitter.com/Garth2the2ndPwr/st…

I'm open to any suggestions, preferably something outside my wheelhouse. One at a time, no OC's, please.

Also, here's some more puppy pics of Mileena for the heck of it. She's growing up nicely, as well as exponentially.

With all the mounting stress and sadness in my life, my depression and my worsening financial troubles due to being on disability, I felt the need to just disappear for a while. I've mostly been playing MK11, going to the gym a lot, and occasionally taking the time to just Netflix and chill....

 

What? Like the phrase implies, I've just been chilling out while binging some Netflix. What else could it possibly mean? 

Anywho, in the time I've been away, I've done a lot of reflecting, and have come to a very stunning revelation about myself: 

I'm non-binary.

Even just typing that feels so damn good. this may sound weird, but it's the same kind of feeling I had from discovering I have Major Depressive Disorder, in that I just make more sense; like another piece of the puzzle that is me has fallen into place. And I plan to better embrace this side of me in the future.


The other reason I've been away for so long is due to this little critter. Meet Mileena!






Nothing can ever replace Miko and the impact she's had on my life, but there's still a vacancy in my heart that needs filling. Mileena has only been with me for a couple of months, but she's grown so much from the little powder puff I got from that farm. During that time, I've been constantly caring for her, helping her get housebroken, and playing with her. She's still pretty needy, as I can't even go to the bathroom without hearing her whine because she misses me. Regardless, it's always reassuring to come home to a happy face eager to greet me. It's what I've been missing for nearly six months before then.

I guess you could call this period in my life my training arc, because now I'm ready to get back to uploading my art, feeling pretty good, and ditching that bothersome sense of urgency that my work tends to suffer from. Better get to that work then, after playing with 'Leena for a bit. 

If this were a Youtube video, I guess I'd introduce this list by spouting some hackneyed, grade school level description of manga, how it "comes in all shapes and sizes," and how there have been some good and some bad series throughout the year, but I've been putting this off for too long, so screw it.

I want to start off with some honorable mentions. These are manga series that I've enjoyed, but can't talk about in much detail because there are too few chapters out, or the story is minimal in terms of characters. Also, keep in mind that not all of these series are necessarily new, but also ones that I've only recently come across which I feel deserve more attention. Okay, let's do this:

Nami yo Kiite Kure/ Wave, Listen to Me: Made by Samura Hiroaki of "Blade of the Immortal" fame, this series has been ongoing for a few years now. It stars a waitress by the name of Minare Koda, who, dumped and drunk in a bar, pours her heart out to anyone nearby. A director for a local radio station becomes fascinated with her articulation and gets her a job at said station.

Although it's on this list, I do have troubles keeping an interest in reading. I like the humor and the art style, and I have a genuine interest in the story. It could be that Minare talks on the radio a lot about stuff that relates to life in Hokkaido which I don't quite understand, and that would be why I can't really focus on reading through the chapters as easily as I can other manga. I can't keep an interest, sure, but I would really like to, and that's why I would recommend it.

Chainsaw Man 
  
This new series by Tatsuki Fujimoto may not need my recommendation, but I can't help but gush about it. I deeply relate to the struggles of Denji as he tries to pay off his debts to the Yakuza by becoming a devil hunter (I mean, selling his testicle?! Yikes.) , as well as his love for his chainsaw dog, Pochita (Yes, 'chainsaw dog.' It's a thing, apparently.) I also like how he doesn't suffer the superior attitude of edgelords, as he demonstrates with the series' version of Sasuke, Aki, by repeatedly pummeling his testicles. Anyway, with Pochita's help, Denji overcomes demons and the Yakuza by merging with him to form.... CHAINSAW MAN!! He also joins a devil hunting organization for food and free room and board, which seems rough, but it's like heaven to him compared to his old life. Now he helps to hunt devils on a larger scale, and even the devil may cry.... if he keeps going for the nut shots.

Senpai is Annoying/Senpai ga Urusai Kouhai no Hanashi

I got into this series by Shiro Manta as recently as a couple of weeks ago, and I was immediately hooked. The story centers around Igarashi Futaba, a rather diminutive and petite twenty-something woman and her daily life working under her senpai, a bear of a man by the name of Takeda. I never thought of myself as the romantic comedy type, but seeing these two develop their relationship and watch out for each other hit me square in the feels. That also goes for the subplot involving their coworkers, Kazama and Sakurai.

The chapters are short, but sweet, and the plot focuses solely on these four characters, plus Igarashi's grandpa and her friend, Natsumi. Easy to pick up, but hard to put down, and so I strongly urge you to give this manga a try.

Under Ninja
Move over Naruto (You too, Boruto.) The real greatest ninja is gracing the pages of manga, courtesy of Kengo Hanazawa. He may not be able to summon giant frogs, or hurl swirling balls of chakra at his enemies, but if you're ever on the can and the roll of toilet paper is out of reach, Kumogakure Kurou is your man. It's hard to explain the story, as there are only five chapters out. It tells the tale of Kurou, an out of work ninja who looks like a Japanese Phelous, who receives his first assignment in ages. Not much is known, since he is only handed a couple of outfits and has to deduce the specifics on the assignment for himself. It's a pretty neat story so far, and I can't wait for more chapters.

Also, it teaches the valuable lesson about public urination in Japan, in that if you try, a ninja will chop your dick off.


Fight Class 3
This manga by 2hakk actually originates from Korea, which threw me off at first, since I had to read it left to right, LIKE A SAVAGE!!!! (jk) The plot pretty much steamrolls you right off the bat, as it begins with Jiu Ji-Tae at his mom's funeral, and then his burly father arrives, kicks his ass and kidnaps his sister. Cut to years later when he's in high school, still ruminating on rescuing his sister but being to weak to do anything about it. Things feel hopeless for him until he catches the eye of one Maria Dacascos, who agrees to help him train and level up to take on his father. However, to do so, he has to survive...FIGHT CLASS 3!

This manga has a great art style and very intense action when it comes to the fights. There's also the muscular women, which, if you know me, kind of seals the deal.