Next year, its time to DEUL!

Yu-Gi-Oh thread coming soon...

I haven’t been this excited to read something in a while.

Few things to know before going in:

I’ve been fan of the Duel Monsters anime since I was in 4th grade. Can’t say I’m a fan of the franchise as a whole since I stopped keeping up around 5Ds.

This is my first time reading the manga in its entirety, but I’m aware that this’ll be a totally different experience from the anime, which makes this really exciting!

Not an authority on the actual card game but I used to play as a kid.

Lastly I’m sorry ahead of time if I switch between both original and 4kids names. Its gonna happen.

Kazuki Takahashi’s early art is a fascinating combination of ugly, uncanny and cartoony all at the same time.

From Tristan’s creepy faces to Yugi’s noseless expressions.

I’d keep reading, but I’m just so confused at how Tristan complains about how boring things are when just a second ago he actively stops Joey from picking on bigger bullies.

Not much of a thriller seeker, which is probably why him and Yugi become friends. (lol)

The first chapter of Yu-Gi-Oh is a pretty solid one! Even if I weren’t already familiar with the franchise, a series about a good natured boy possessed by a thrill seeking spirit who loves to play games would have me hooked for sure.

Yugi bonding with his new friend, Jonouchi.

One of my favorite moments from early Yu-Gi-Oh is when Yugi tricks an escaped convict to light himself on fire.

I just imagine a bunch of hand slapping sound effects playing while this happens.

Who needs psychic powers when you have chloroform?

Having little games the readers can play while reading the manga seems like a very Takahashi thing to do.

The Rare Hunters before Duel Monsters became mainstream.

And from this day forth, Kazuki Takahashi would never run out of money again.

Wanted to showcase Ch 10’s title page for how perfectly aligned and framed the image is.

I am legitimately shocked that Joey has any kind of decent attendance record.

Our first peek into Joey’s home life, and it ain’t a happy one.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is one of Kazuki Takahashi’s favorite manga, and you can tell in every one these scenes. From Yugi’s poses, to the sound effects and how they’re framed.

Only 3 vols in and Yugi & Joey’s friendship has grown exponentially.

Theres a joke about comics fandom in here somewhere

Tried out the Duel Monsters Dice Game included in the back of Vol 3 of Yu-Gi-Oh. Made for a fun little time waster. I’m got Game Master.

Roommate on the other hand lost in 2 rolls.

Ah yes, I remember Mokuba. Kaiba’s kid brother, 30% hair and had his own gang heavily armed grade school kids.

Really just wanted to make note of how Kaiba caused someone to commit suicide. Over a trading card.

If only we were all as brave as Joey.

As much as I’m hoping for Tristan to have more opportunities to be an actual character with things to do, if this all we get, I’ll take it.

In the Yu-Gi-Oh manga, the “Heart of the Cards” are less of a metaphor and more like a Life Alert.

Are we sure Jigsaw’s real identity wasn’t Seto Kaiba?

As someone who is a little more used to seeing Yu-Gi-Oh use friendship as a superpower to win card games, its nice to see the characters take the time to have a conversation about how friendships help you grow. How they make you want to be a better person.

I didn’t know Yugi was diabetic????

If nothing else, Gozaburo Kaiba was anything but a sore loser.

One of the most surprising twists of the Yu-Gi-Oh manga so far:

Yugi has a mother (who is still alive).

These guys will make a game out of anything, bless their hearts.

The sad thing is, I can’t tell if this is an idea for another death trap from the mind of Kazuki Takahashi, or if this is just normal Japanese game segment.

Only a real gamer could take down a serial bomber.

There are actually two chapters of Yu-Gi-Oh where Joey and Yugi confront a gang that use yo-yos as weapons.

You cannot make this stuff up.

As much as the idea of fighting against a yo-yo gang had me bursting with laughter, I have to admit, this was still probably Joey’s coolest moment so far.

“If you can cheat... I can too!”

Spoken like the true King of Games.

As much as I don’t think I have any interest in table top gaming, I genuinely think I could have read another few volumes of Kazuki Takahashi’s D&D arc.

Gotta give props to Takahashi for getting rid of his possible deus ex machina early on.

And so it begins...

How are Mai’s cards just not absolutely ruined from all the different kinds of perfume she sprays on them.

I really don’t know what to say about Yugi storing his grandfather’s lost soul in a camcorder because I’m too busy losing my mind about him just carrying around the same camcorder while participating in Duelist Kingdom.

I think my favorite era of Duel Monsters in Yu-Gi-Oh! is when the game functioned around the surrounding fields and how they affect different monsters. This moment in particular is probably my favorite example of such.

My favorite freaky fish guy

Joey Wheeler: A Terrible Altruist.

This is basically going to be me when I finally become rich.

The most surprising part of the original Yu-Gi-Oh! manga is that Pegasus is ONLY 24 years old.

A really sad moment from the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga where Yugi just assumes Anzu is in love with the pharaoh and h himself. Something that wasn’t really explored in the Duel Monsters anime.

Really appreciate Takahashi taking a moment to show how that makes Yugi feels.

Kaiba has no right to be as cool as he is.

I had no idea that Takahashi used suggestions for cards from fans. This is really cool!

Joey’s duels throughout Duelist Kingdom are always the duels I’m the most invested in. This one in particular against Bandit Keith’s zombie goon is especially satisfying because he wins completely on his own. Proud of my boy

Yugi & Kaiba’s rematch at Duelist Kingdom was already one of my favorite duels, but seeing it as it was originally drawn by Takahashi is a whole other experience.

So many great spreads!!

I have so many feelings about the end of this duel. I don’t even know where to start.

For as little as Anzu gets to do throughout the series, her clapping back at Kaiba is such a satisfying moment. Her recontextualizing Kaiba’s resolve as something cowardly is really something else.

Yugi’s inferiority complex towards his other self makes him feel like a lesser person, which is why its so important that he has both Mai repaying her debt to validate his kindness and friends like Joey to validate his feelings and what he wants.

Pride doesn’t mean anything if it keeps you from protecting who you love.

This one page pretty much sums up why I love Joey.

Tristan actually has motivation to do something. These moments alone are worth a tweet.

Bandit Keith getting beaten up by Joey is something I’ve been desperately needing.

Mai handing her qualification card to Joey is probably one of my favorite moments in the Duelist Kingdom arc.

And its made even better with Joey’s retort to Keith. So goddamned cool.

Of course the American has a monster thats just all guns.

What I wouldn’t give to have another Joey starter deck.

Whether it be being shot in the head, or falling through a trap door, Bandit Keith gets what he deserves and thats all that matters to me.

Imagine reading Duelist Kingdom weekly for over a year and finally making it to Yugi vs Pegasus.

This is possibly my favorite two paged spread in the series so far.

Duelist Kingdom was already my favorite arc in the series, but reading Takahashi’s original manga only cemented that sentiment further.

Of course Seto Kaiba was based off of some gatekeeping asshole that one of Takahashi’s friends happen to come across.

Yu-Gi-Oh Ch 134’s color spread is probably my favorite one so far.

Might make this a wallpaper.

Yami’s Fashion Tips.

I’m still in shock that Yugi has a mother who is still alive.

When your family is so poor that newspapers are a luxury.

Compared to his portrayal in the Duel Monsters anime, Duke Devlin (or Ryuji Otogi) and his motives for wanting to take on and defeat Yugi are vastly more personal.

I feel like Dungeon Dice Monsters has the unfortunate stigma of being thought of as a “rip off” of Duel Monsters, but honestly, I’d play it.

I have nothing to add. I just love Joey and how much he loves his friend.

Yu-Gi-Oh! is one of the few Shonen Jump manga I’ve read that tackle the inevitabilities of things like growing up and the painful ticking clock that is possibly separating from your friends depending on where life takes you.

Its time...for B A T T L E C I T Y !

What its like trying to pass through a convention.

Marik has arrived (and he even has a sense of humor).

Joey dropping those truth bombs.

From one older sibling to another.

Kaiba bringing down the wrath of a literal god to protect his little brother is one of my favorite things ever.

As Takahashi perfects the rules of Duel Monsters, Yu-Gi-Oh! becomes the type of series where battling and defeating your opponents involves more strategy and problem solving (like JoJo or HxH), which makes duels more interesting to read through.

I wanted a Duel Disk so bad when I was 12.

Was not expecting loop holes like this post-Duelist Kingdom.

Can only imagine what it was like opening up the newest issue of Jump and being greeted by a gorgeous and colorful Yugi and Kaiba centerfold.

Need this on my wall asap.

I think one of the reasons I love Seto Kaiba is because he absolutely goes against the whole “today’s enemy is tomorrow’s friend” trope that’s so prevalent in other Jump manga.

He isn’t just Yugi’s buddy immediately and is still a huge dick (which I weirdly appreciate).

The origin of Marik.

Watching the second half of Yugi vs brainwashed Joey via Game Boy Video is probably one of my most cherished Yu-Gi-Oh! memories, so I’m excited to get to read this today.

The biggest thing I’ve taken away from Yu-Gi-Oh! so far is that friends are people who inspire you to want to grow and become a better person, and Yugi’s decision to duel Joey on his own without the pharaoh’s help is certainly a great representation of said idea.

Kaiba throwing a trading card to save Mokuba is what I would categorize under “stupidly cool”.

Marik’s attempt to make Joey throw the Millennium Puzzle piece into the ocean is a great callback to the start of the series. One that shows how much different of a person Joey was back then compared to now.

It physically hurts him to throw away one of Yugi’s greatest treasures.

Okay yeah, this broke me.

For as much as Yugi has learned from having the pharaoh by his side, the pharaoh has learned just as much Yugi considering how he started off being such a maniacally sadistic character in the beginning.

Shizuka repays Joey’s courage with some of her own. Very powerful moment for the Katsuya family.

Bakura’s duel against Kozuka was an entire episode of the anime.

Here its two pages.

Not sure what the funniest thing on this page is. Kaiba think laughing to himself, or Bakura mindlessly eating steak.

The anime took full advantage of Bakura eating steak. https://twitter.com/sniperking323/status/1186431097212678144?s=21

Kaiba’s dumb dragon bingo machine that I totally wouldn’t buy but would totally would buy.

Oh great, now I need to find this card. https://twitter.com/redscar64/status/1186433851893133314?s=21

My trading card game playing delinquent son.

Hadn’t ever thought of it until now, but the appearance of Marik’s Millennium alter ego could definitely be interpreted as Marik’s sheer hatred and malice shown throughout Battle City finally becoming so out of control to the point where it literally warps his entire being.

I’m very surprised, but also happy to hear that Takahashi was able to have at least one day off a week during Yu-Gi-Oh!’s run.

Marik tortures Mai way more brutally then what I remember from watching the anime. His methods are legitimately psychotic.

Marik’s backstory is lot more brutal then I expected. Not only are the markings on him and Rishid (Odion) actual carvings, but Marik skins his father’s back and gives it to Rishid.

Metal as fuck.

This dude sleeps with hus duel disk still on.

Father Killer.

I think I’m a sucker for any cool line making use of the word “hell” and I’ve accepted about myself.

Joey Wheeler: Too Stubborn to Die.

“Did you just throw a sword through my f*cking card!?”

Kaiba is a real master of projection (and not just the holographic kind).

Ishizu’s resolve in saving her brother becoming the one thing that gets through to Kaiba was a really interesting callback.

Its a small moment, but Rishid is so happy to be considered part of the family.

Kaiba begins taking huge steps at the end of Battle City.

Powerful last couple of pages to finish out the arc.

Battle City will go on...

Soon, I’ll be charting through unknown territory.

I would give just about anything for a mini series prequel of just the adventures of young Sugoroku Mutou.

Cards aren’t the only thing Joey and Yugi trade.

Joey and Honda absolutely refuse to hold hands.

Love the way everyone’s individual reaction panels surround Yugi’s Millennium Puzzle along with the beams of light coming off of it.

Great moment here with the Pharaoh walking into a dangerous monster fight and shoving Bakura aside to take back his father’s corpse. Nothing else matters to him in this moment.

You can really feel the speed of these horses and how fast they run!

Was not expecting a giant monster fight on horseback, but I am totally here for it.

And now I’ve gotten to the chapters of Yu-Gi-Oh! that were included in my first issue of Shonen Jump.

Until I finally get an artbook for the series, its nice to own one of Takahashi’s color spreads.

I’m assuming it was around this time that both Takahashi and Sawai decided to include little nods to each other’s work.

Though I guess Sawai didn’t throw in a nod so much as a full cameo in Bobobo

Full context for Takahashi’s cameo: https://twitter.com/spd4649/status/1189259457525637121?s=21

I’ll give Takahashi credit and say that it took him way longer then I thought to incorporate Duel Monsters back into the story.

Was not expecting this, but at the same time, it wouldn’t be the final arc of Yu-Gi-Oh! without one more session of D&D.

While the Pharaoh was doing most of the fighting, Yugi was slowly improving himself to the point where he could stand on his own, and I couldn’t be happier.

Almost there...

LOOK AT JOEY AND RISHID BEING PALS

“Even if a thousand years pass, we’ll always be friends”.

Yu-Gi-Oh! was ultimately a fun ride, and compared to its anime adaptations, a solid exploration of the themes of friendship and how it influences others and helps them grow as people.

I’m glad I was finally able to read it to the end.

Just a collection of comments from Kazuki Takahashi that really made me respect him the most.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Dark Side of Dimensions celebrates the 20th anniversary of Takahashi's original manga and also served as an epilogue written by him to tie up a few loose ends.

Whether you're a fan of the manga, anime, or both, this movie is worth seeking out!

*SPOILER*

I remember how excited I felt seeing Yugi and Atem reunite one last time. The moment made even more powerful by how they didn't need use words to communicate their feelings to each other.

Their bond is still that strong even after their separation.

Kazuki Takahashi even animated a scene for the movie! https://twitter.com/randomsakuga/status/858350327552200705?s=20

In Sept 2004, Takahashi did an art exchange with Mike Mignola, creator of Hellboy (Takahashi’s favorite American comic).

Yu-Gi-Oh! Transcend Game is a two part manga supplement for Dark Side of Dimension that was featured in Weekly Shonen Jump back in April 2016.

Its ultimately inconsequential, but it was worth seeing how far Takahashi has evolved as an artist.

I finally did it.

I finally bought more cards.

Bought two random card packs and ended up with one of Yugi’s key cards used to beat the pharaoh. Pretty proud to have this card!