145. ODDMAN 11

Going through everyone I know there's a 50/50 split between people I know would love this and people it'd be completely impossible to recommend it to. Very off-kilter in pretty much every aspect of how it's made, refreshing to have something go entirely at the beat of its own drum.

144. TATSUKI FUJIMOTO 17-26

While I can't say the stories here blew me away, it was really cool to see a step by step evolution of Fujimoto as a creator through them. These adaptations especially are wonderful labors of love towards them which all bring very unique styles.

143. SISTERS

I hoped it would personally resonate with me a bit more but I still enjoyed it quite a bit. This one coming out after Fire Punch's serialization really shows with how well Fujimoto's settled into his style by this point.

142. NAYUTA OF THE PROPHECY

This is like a microcosm of everything I like about Fujimoto as a creative. It's got a very twisted dark sense of humor that's used to package a story about a kid struggling to communicate and being hated for it.

141. WOKE-UP-AS-A-GIRL-SYNDROME

Sets up a lot of really fascinating introspective with how the change affects Toshihide and their relationships with others as a result of it, but kinda falls short of sticking the landing with it. Could've done without the "being a man is being strong!" talk.

140. "NANI MADE NARA KOROSERU?"

What did Nisioisin mean by this

139. MERMAID RHAPSODY

The author's note for this one says that Fujimoto wrote this to prove to Jump SQ editorial that he can write a normal story. And yep, he sure proved it! Aside from how beautiful the sea is drawn I don't have much to say. It's super generic.

138. SHIKAKU

A lot more of Fujimoto's dark comedy is present here than before. This premise honestly feels like something that could go on a bit longer beyond just a one-shot.

137. LOVE IS BLIND

This one's just really goofy. It ramps up the absurdity around a really simple premise so much, with each punchline landing super well. I'm too much of a sucker for this sense of humor to not be really charmed by it.

136. SASAKI STOPPED A BULLET

Delivers a standard message about belief in yourself very effectively. More of the really human feel to Fujimoto's writing shines through here with what emboldens Sasaki to stand up for himself here in a really bad situation.

135. A COUPLE CLUCKING CHICKENS WERE KICKIN’ IN THE SCHOOLYARD

I'm watching the Fujimoto oneshot compilation and thought it'd be fun to compare the versions. This one was okay. Has some early signs of Fujimoto's weirdness but doesn't quite have his style down. Reading after the anime was a mistake.