Chapter Dr. Stone Chapter Reviews

[Hermit]

Dr Stone Chapter(s) 138-140 Review by Kino Makoto

The last chapter was capped off with Ibara's defeat, putting to an end the big bad of the arc. Satisfactory fight all in all, I have no qualms about how the events played. These three subsequent chapters conclude the saga plus lead up to the next arc. Where do Senkuu and his group go from here?

Senkuu revives Chrome (His scientist understudy), and the two proceed to unpetrify everyone who had been turned to stone. Once this matter is settled, Senkuu proceeds to resume the earlier voice call with Ruri. Chrome denotes that Ruri wanting to communicate with them means that something serious must have happened back at the island. Taiju heads to the bottom of the sea to retrieve Yo's statue, where he also comes across Kirisame's statue. Senkuu decides on reviving her, knowing that she must have some valuable information in regards to the island. A notion that proves correct, since Kirisame was aware of the location where Kohaku and Ginrou's statues were disposed off. Kohaku hugs Senkuu (SSSSSSIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII) , and then there's a reunion party since all is well. After the party, Chrome and Kaseki fix up the communications device. Ruri finally gets through to Senkuu, and informs him that he's been sending a strange message the whole time. Suddenly, a voice speaks up into the microphone, chanting '12,800,000 meters, one second.' Senkuu recognizes this as the earth's diameter, while Ukyo realizes, with horror, that the menacing voice is Senkuu's. Bringing us a brilliant cliffhanger.

Chapter 139 starts with a pretty amazing color chapter. In it, we have Senkuu facing off with a large apparition of himself. As for the actual chapter content, well, needless to say, everyone is shocked at the sudden revelation. In a brief moment of comedy, the following theories surface as to the identity of the why man: a doppelganger, time travel, an evil twin. These were actually brought forward by the fans as well, which makes the whole thing amusing. Ukyo listens to the voice a second time, then realizes the tone is synthetic. A few miles away from where the science group is currently convening, we have Kohaku and Kirisame preparing to engage in battle. Reasoning behind this being that they need to be ready to encounter the Why Man. Soyuz and Taiju retrieve Statue X which had been unearthed a few chapters back, but the group hadn't really gotten the chance to depetrify him. This time, they do get the chance to break him out of his stone shell. The stranger bears a striking resemblance to Tsukasa. Ginrou rushes onto the scene, and Matsukaze (The person) mistakenly thinks that the coward is his liege. Matsukaze then proceeds to explain how the petrification device came to land onto the island. They descended from the sky in hordes one day, akin to a meteor shower. Both Senkuu and Ryuusui realize that the source of the devices was the sky, and using an antenna, they finally pin down the Why Man's location to one place. The moon. Yes, the why man is actually from the

Spoiler

Otsutsuki clan

, so Senkuu and friends device a plan to head up there in order to stop him.

Having decided to head to the moon, the group begins on their preparations for the trip. Both physical preparations, and mental ones. Senkuu states that they will collect materials all over the world, hinting at the fact that this is going to be a long term vision for the series. Soyuz regrets the fact that he can't revive his father, so to that effect, the villagers acknowledge him as their new leader. Senkuu and Kohaku have a talk at the cliff where he had the earlier clash with Ibara. Kohaku tells Senkuu something meaningful about how Science is always connected to the future, so what Byakuya and his crew left behind didn't all disappear. Soyuz decides to remain behind as the village leader, so his first orders are for Kirisame and Matsukaze to join Senkuu's group. The group, now with two additional members, sets out to sea upon the Perseus. Once upon the ship, Senkuu recognizes the need for manpower to combat the threat of the moon, so he proceeds to douse the revival formula upon Tsukasa's frozen body.

Pros:
Where to start? These three arcs were a treasure trove of good things, really solid trio of chapters:
-Kirisame joining the group. The best thing to come out of this arc, she is such a likeable character. Looking forward to see how she fits in with the rest of the group.
-The Senkuu-Kohaku moments. Lately these two have been getting a few isolated moments by themselves. Especially ever since Kohaku mentioned what her ideal guy is. I wonder whether this is the start of serious shipping between these two. That hug especially was just.....beautiful. Brilliant.
-Tsukasa's comeback. While Im not particularly a fan of this character, it was nice to see his comeback. It meant we didn't have to wait till the end of the series for him to be revived (That was the initial idea I had gotten from when he was first frozen)
-Soyuz remaining behind as the village head. Even though this was probably something that everyone in the fandom had predicted, haha.
-More exposition on the why man, plus the reveal that it's a person on the moon is just.....a huge twist. Very big one. Having the group decide to go to the moon makes the series come full circle, especially considering it was where Byakuya and his group headed out first.

Cons:
-Matsukaze's identity being sort of a letdown. What, so all he did was tell Senkuu that the Medusas rained from the sky one day, and that was it...? Kinda of weak, I hope there's more to his character later. Unless he was introduced to be Ginrou's wingman specifically, lol.

Overall chapter(s) rating:9/10

Solid stuff, hopefully we continue on an upwards trajectory from this point onwards.

 

[Seraph]

Dr. Stone - Chapter 141 Review by Seraph

Chapter Title: First Team

If the Kingdom of Science is going up against someone who's out to petrify all of mankind once more then they have no choice but to revive their strongest friend and martial artist: Tsukasa Shishio!,Senkuu and Co. will revive him and brief him on the current situation and while at it make him join their Group. And with this exciting intro i welcome you all to the Dr. Stone Chapter Review for Chapter 141 that had 2 of the most finely drawn and colored Cover Pages in a long time in my humble opinion,we got an exciting but emotional reunion with Tsukasa ahead of us in this chapter so let's get straight to it shall we? We shall!.

Spoiler: The Color Pages

As the Perseus sails towards the Kingdom of Science,aka Ishigami Village,the ladies around Ruri spot that Taiju as well as Gen are missing their face "cracks" left behind by their first revival hinting that the Crew has been successful on their voyage towards Treasure Island. Which is quickly confirmed by Chrome,thanks to the Platinum allowing them to create an unlimited amount of Revival Fluid and the Medusa they aquired on Takarajima they can now petrify and revive themselves from all sorts of injuries now whenever they need to. Ruri can't help but smile about the controversy of the great threat that petrified all of Humanity thousands of years ago becoming their ally to aid saving their friends,Mirai(Tsukasa's younger sister-) cannot help but feel happy about Tsukasa finally waking up from his "cold sleep". Senkuu and Gen comment on how it always was a gamble as to wether or not the freezing process would be enough to keep Tsukasa from dying and if they could get their hands on the functioning Medusa at all,but not just that Ryusui cuts in and wonders why Senkuu did not use the Medusa and Revival Fluid to heal his injuries sustained from facing Ibara before which he noticed due to Senkuu still having his face "cracks" on his forehead. Ryusui arrives at the logical conclusion that Senkuu could've easily healed himself and brought Tsukasa back too if there was not some sort of issue preventing him from that,which Senkuu confirms,the Medusa has run out of power after the almost constant usage on Takarajima.

As the Group makes for Tsukasa's location beneath the Waterfall Senkuu explains that the Medusa seems to operate with some kind of energy he can't clarify just yet,and since he cannot just break the device open to inspect it without bringing Tsukasa back first his hands are tied at the moment,he also reveals(Which some of us already knew perhaps-) that the Petri-Beam that enveloped Ibara was just a radius of one meter meaning that the device was already running low on energy back there. Kirisame puts 2 and 2 together in her head and realizes that the Great Leader warned the Citizens not to unleash the Medusa over a wide area nor to abuse it because the device would eventually run out of energy and the Islands only and absolute deterrent against Enemies would become useless. Ibara broke those rules when he used the device on pretty much anyone that dared to oppose him and when he petrified the entire Island through Oarashi,anyway,despite the shortage of Energy the group will try and bring Tsukasa back. Mirai puts the Medusa into her brothers hands and holds it real tight,Taiju aids her and encourages her to not let go because even the tiniest bit of Petri-Light should be enough to petrify Tsukasa. The entire group gathers around Tsukasa holding his hand,Senkuu claims that wether its too optimistic or not it is also logical to try because if the device was to have an outburst of Petri-Light then his cracks and remaining injuries would get healed too.

Once everybody has taken a hold of Tsukasa's hand Senkuu calls out for Medusa: "One Meter,One Second!" and with that the last bit of light emerges from the device instantly petrifying Tsukasa,Senkuu takes out Revival Fluid and revives him quickly and to nobodies surprise Tsukasa gets up instantly too to greet his younger sister Mirai. Very emotional moment on a very nicely drawn page,he just stands there smiling at her while she's lost in tears,after some of the ladies gave Tsukasa their greetings the former enemy walks over to Senkuu asking a single question instead of a greeting: "What's our situation?". Senkuu cracks a smile and then cockily responds that they're going to invade the Moon,resulting in even the Almighty and serious Tsukasa losing his cool for a brief moment, Tsukasa gathers himself quickly and claims that they will need a small crew for this Trip and that there isn't a better security than he is around. He and Senkuu have a brief banter moment with Ginro getting a little cocky inbetween too, Matsukaze is judging Tsukasa's capabilities during this and concludes that Tsukasa is a very dignified Warrior who has honed his skills and abilities beyond perfection prompting him to request a duel from the man immediatly. Tsukasa accepts his challenge and quickly defeats him while also breaking his weapon,he ponders that Matsukaze could be even more powerful if he was to master some of the modern and refined martial arts.

Realizing that Tsukasa is at his peak again Yo threatens that if he was to try and murder Senkuu again then he would have to answer Sheriff Yo and his gun,while he's acting all cool he is still scared as pointed out by Nikki since Yo is shaking already. Tsukasa calms everybody down that while he is no threat to them anymore he is also not the best choice for an ally,with warriors like Matsukaze they have nothing to fear in the future,but Senkuu only responds that he should get over the past and make up for what happened by helping them out now. Suika wonders if Senkuu will always have those cracks on his face now that the Medusa is done for but Ryusui responds that it is basically not of importance since once they lift the secret behind "Dr. Stone" they can heal anything they need to. Gen,feeling inspired by the situation and the fact that Senkuu alone is left with face cracks,gets a bowl of black paint and draws his previous cracks on his face again with Taiju and the others following suit. The day they remove the paint will be the day that they triumph over Why-man and his petrification weapons,he turns to Tsukasa who he strongly suggests should join their group unless he is the type to whine about a little paint on his face too. Tsukasa accepts and agrees to join the Kingdom of Science in the end,as everybody celebrates Senkuu wants to start discussing the "Roadmap" towards their trip to the Moon next...

Personal Thought's

I rate this Chapter a 10 out of 10,i know i know some would say "That's way too high praise from you,Sir!" but i'm a fan of emotional and finely drawn chapters such as this one. Tsukasa reuniting with Senkuu and Co. as well as his Sister Mirai almost made me shed a tear,the only thing that could've made this chapter even better would've been Kirisame spotting Tsukasa and then blushing. I need this ship to happen haha.

Overall Chapter was very nice,even if ignoring the emotional moments,Tsukasa making amends by joining his former enemies and Gen's idea with the war paint was pretty nice to see. They've truly become friends now and will walk the path to war against the Why-man together till the end,Tsukasa and Senkuu understand the other perfectly and know how they think now as well as their motivations. Having battled each other before and getting brought back to his senses Tsukasa instantly realized that his revival is not solely due to kindness but because he proved that he has the will and strength to help Senkuu and the others to reach their goal. They're willing to look past what happened before and after what happened with Ibara as well as what Why-man is up to they know that Tsukasa was pretty "harmless" compared to what those 2 aspire/d to achieve,Tsukasa had a very idealistic but cruel goal but he was never lusting for control and power but order,which when ignoring the particulars of his ambition isn't too bad a thing but it's always about how you go about these things in Life isn't it? It is,and Tsukasa realized his mistakes and decided to make up for them by helping out instead of fighting back. Incredible change in character since his first meeting with Senkuu to now,Top 5 for me when it comes to Dr. Stone. Next Chapter will be interesting as Senkuu explains their Roadmap for the Rocket Building now,maybe we can already guess where some of their trips will take them here? Let's see,i'm looking forward to it for sure,Till next time everybody!!!

 

[Belserion]

Dr. Stone Chapter 142 Review by Belserion

Chapter Title: World Power

Last Chapter Tsukasa was finally healed and revived, and after a nice talk with Senkuu decided to join the crew in a mission to travel around the world to gather materials to build a Spaceship to travel to the moon to confront the Why-man. And yes it’s just as outrageous as it sounds no matter how much you think about it. They are going to the moon for a showdown!

This week Senkuu confirms that they definitely need to travel around the world for the materials because Japan alone won’t have enough. Chrome especially is fired up about this, given that he considers himself a great explorer. Tsukasa and Gen have a brief conversation where Tsukasa tells Gen that he’s glad he revived him despite the fact that he betrayed him once. Gen shrugs it off and calls himself an opportunist who makes use of other people’s talents. It’s summed up in something Francois say: “The achievements of the individual can never amount to much, what truly matters is the bringing together of the talents of many.” We see what she means as everyone dedicates their talents to preparing for the journey. Ginrou of course complains about the rush since they only just got back home, but Senkuu reminds him they need a lot of resources, especially since they will be out in the winter. Francois is baking the stollen (long lasting bread), while Yuzuriha and Kaseki are making a model of the spaceship road map. When the time comes to present the road map to everyone, Senkuu and the others are shocked when they reveal a Globe. The Globe is absolutely beautiful, and if you don’t read the chapter for anything else, at least go and take a look at the globe they built!

Everyone is marveling at the Globe and the different cities on it such as Corn City, Aluminum City, Math City, Rubber City etc. This is the start of a new world globe by the way. Senkuu doesn’t think a crew of a dozen people will be enough for what’s to come, so resolves to revive people all around the world and establish new cities. Gen is blown away by such a grand plan, but Kohaku mentions they can make unlimited revival fluid thanks to Treasure Island, and with this Taijuu realizes it’s time to revive the 7 billion petrified people, basically the whole world. Grand plan indeed. Senkuu confirms this and expects these revived ones will help them with the building of these new cities.

Ukyo is worried that the population will exceed 150 persons per community and also of the possibility that there will be some bad people mixed in with the good. Ryuusui thinks once they establish law and order in the new cities people will accept it and things will stabilize. Ukyo is still worried that the initial start could be rough, but Tsukasa tells them that while it could be a problem, villains would not be allowed to ruin things. He assures them it will be fine but there’s still some doubt and grumbling, which causes Tsukasa to unleash his Byakugan and reiterate once again that it will be fine, to which he gets a positive response this time with everyone agreeing. I’m serious about the Byakugan. It’s probably a little gag nod to Naruto.

The first place they’re heading is East. Ryuusui compares them to Christopher Columbus and promises a prize of 100,000 Dragos to whoever spots land first. Tsukasa asks about the prize but Ryuusui is quickly silenced by Minami and Gen warns that him that Tsukasa does not like privileged people like him. Minami tells Ryuusui she was prepared to not like him as well, but the rumors about him were wrong. He tells her she may hate him with a passion but he loves her. And no my dear shippers this was not a true declaration because he goes on to tell her that he loves all women and men too. He desires them all, even Tsukasa. Minami tells him he can’t just control people with money but Ryuusui sets her straight by explaining that money is just a handy tool created for and by civilization. It is not meant to control but to focus hearts and minds, and everyone combining their strengths like that unlocks humanity’s full potential. He believes once they get everyone on earth working together, Science will get them to the moon.

Senkuu says they are going to need ridiculous amounts of alcohol to revive all those people, since it’s the main ingredient in the revival fluid. Since growing grapes and potatoes could never yield enough alcohol, Senkuu decides the first city they establish will be Corn City and the place to do that is America. The reason for their urgency is because winter is coming and the corn will wither when it does. They’re after the Yellow Dent corn specifically; the species of corn the USA prided itself on with a yield so high it felt like cheating. Not only would making alcohol from them make reviving 7 billion people a possibility, but it could also be roasted and used to feed those people. They’ll kill two birds with one stone.

Gen recalls the lie they once told when they said the United States was up and running, a lie he thought would send them straight to hell, so he tells Senkuu before they are sent there they will make the lie a reality. And with that our heroes set off on their City Building World Tour. Their first stop is America!

Chapter Rating: 8/10

This was a nice chapter. It was basically a build up and preparation chapter in anticipation of their world tour. As mentioned in the review I love the creativity of the Globe built by Yuzuriha and Kaseki. Also I’m hoping that there will be no residual friction between Tsukasa and Ryuusui, selfishly because I love both. I’m really looking forward to the next chapter when their adventure begins!

 

[Hermit]

Dr Stone Chapter 143 Review by Hermit

The chapter was a transitional one with no really meaningful plot developments. Still a very enjoyable one though.

It kicks off with Minami recording the crew members in their natural habitats. Bit of a recap really, reminding the audience about the roles of the cast. There's a small panel where Kirisame blushes when she's asked about Kinrou (Potential ship?), and Suika is praised as being resourceful. Aside from that, the rest is pretty much what we know.

We get a stunning panel of the ship out at sea. Might be the best panel in the manga ever since they were air borne in the hot air balloon.

Now here comes the interesting bit of the chapter. Senkuu and Ryusui are both engaged in a heated discussion. Senkuu wishes to make the trip to America within 40 days, while Ryuusui would prefer it took longer, i.e 70 days. The two begin to brawl comically, and it's up to Taiju to stop them.

Ryuusui proceeds to explain that if they travel in a straight line (Rhumb Line), the distance would take longer. That would be beneficial in the sense that the crew won't be so burdened to complete the trip. Not to mention they can train adequately on board to prepare for the encounter with the Why Man. Senkuu's method (Great Circle Sailing route), would allow them to get there in time to get the crop ready before the onset of winter. The problem is that it would be a huge burden on the crew members, plus it would require constant adjustment based on their current position.

Kohaku sides with Senkuu, while Gen sides with Ryuusui. The scientist and the ship captain decide on settling it out diplomatically, choosing to do so via a game of poker. Senkuu states that Gen is going to cheat 100%, being a mentalist, but Kohaku reassures him that she will be on the look out for any underhanded business.

The cliffhanger of the chapter is the two sets of teams preparing to square it out.

Pros:
-Kohaku siding with Senkuu throughout the course of the chapter. As stated in the chapter thread, logical people will tell you that there is nothing more to these interactions. Intellectuals can read underneath the underneath though.
-The Kohaku panels, especially the one with her leaning on the table. Just........ drools. Glad to know the author is a man of culture like his readers.
-The Senkuu-Ryuusui argument in its own way, makes the voyage more interesting. Otherwise we'd have Strawhat shenanigans ala just sailing from one island to another without any meaningful discussions aboard the ship.

Cons:
-Page 3 of the chapter would have been SOOOOOOOOOO much better if the ship was drawn realistically Instead we practically have a 2D image on a 3D background, which makes it stick out like a sore thumb. Missed opportunity there.

Chapter rating:8/10

--- Double Post Merged, Mar 27, 2020, Original Post Date: Mar 20, 2020 ---

Dr Stone Chapter 144 Review by Sailor Iron Mouse

Chapter Title: Kakegurui

Follow up from last week's chapter, and the contents of the chapter are pretty much as the chapter title suggests.

We kick off with a split four way panel of the contestants in the gamble, pretty exciting start. The other members of the Kingdom of Science start placing bets on who will win, and Gen is the one who kicks off the duel.

He knocks over the pile of cards, before quickly apologizing and moving to restore them to their initial positions. Kohaku spots a moment of foul play, and quickly grabs his arm. She accuses him of placing the ace of hearts on top of the pile, an accusation he is quick to deny. Ryuusui and Senkuu both play their hands. Both of them have royal straight flushes, so the first round ends in a tie.

Ryuusui places a bet, and Senkuu can't tell if he is being serious or bluffing due to his personality. Gen tries to cheat again, and this time Kohaku is right in her accusation. He sprinkled something on top of the pile of cards. Sugar. Senkuu tells Kohaku to check Gen's sleeve, where a beetle is spotted. She is frustrated at how many tricks Gen has, which ultimately leads to both her and Senkuu investigating the pile of cards.

The ship captain places all his chips on the line. His cards also get swapped around in his hand, which was Gen's ultimate goal. Senkuu prepares to play his hand, instructing Kohaku which cards to switch out from the deck. He also places all his chips on the line. Ryuusui plays his hand, four of a kind. Senkuu plays a royal straight flush (With five aces), and he wins, somehow.

Gen asks Senkuu how he knew the exact cards to choose, and he explains that he applied lacquer to their margins. Being allergic to lacquer would make it easier to identify which cards to play. Ukyo announces him as the winner, and the rest of the crew agree to using his route to get to the United States.

Pros:
-Pretty fun game of gambling. Also happy it wasn't dragged out for longer than one chapter. Was a pretty good reminder of Kakegurui (Highly recommend people to watch this series, worth the time). This series has a nice way of including other activities e.g the ramen cooking from when Senkuu first accessed the village, spelunking with Chrome and Magma (At least, off the top of my head)
-Senkuu's allergy to lacquer being brought back. Despite it being a rather trivial/minor detail, using it to win was a clever callback to something that had already been established earlier in the series.

Cons:
-Senkuu winning against Ryuusui is fine and all, but i doubt he has ever lost against any of the other Kingdom of Science members, right? If that stuff goes unchecked he could end up being considered a Gary Stu. A bit like the main character from Mahouka Kokou no Rettousei. Would be nice seeing him lose a few times within the scope of the story.

Chapter rating: 7/10

 

[Seraph]

Dr. Stone - Chapter 145 Review by Seraph

Chapter Title: Bar Francois

Last time in Dr. Stone we saw Senkuu winning against Ryusui and Gen in their poker match that would decide the route they'd take to reach America,Senkuu's 40 Day Route or Ryusui's 70 Day Route. Senkuu and Kohaku won so 40 Days it is,unfortunately some of the Crew Members like Yo bet all their Drago on Ryusui winning this and now want to gamble it all back which prompts Ryusui to reveal that there is a full Casino including a Bar on the Perseus now called the "Perseus Luck Casino". Senkuu and Ryusui exchange a few words about the Rebirth of the Casino and how they'll portion their rations for each member over the incoming 40 Days as well as what they'll be drinking until then,as Suika wonders about the Bar Senkuu reveals it to be the "Bar Francois" naturally named after it's owner: Francois!. Francois is very happy about getting to serve as the Barmaster of the Perseus,and as such she will craft a personalized Cocktail for every guest she gets,Gen thinks that's a little too much for a tiny bar but Ryusui reminds him that going above and beyond is Francois mantra.
As Senkuu offers Francois to just ask if she needs anything he is immediatly requested to produce Gum Syrup which Senkuu creates by using Sulfur and Witherite,by heating both substances and mixing them together perfectly to get the right Ph degree. With the help of one of their goats on the ship they also produce Yoghurt which mixed with their Gum Syrup and Lemon Juice becomes Calpico! Calpico aquired!.

Francois uses her newly aquired ingredients and Calpico to produce the individual Cocktails and Drinks for many of the Members and i'm going to list them all here including the recipe/s:

1. Suika's Cocktail: "Two-Side Sunshine": 45ml Calpico, 30ml Apple Juice, A small amount of grated Cucumber and normal cucumber.
2. Tsukasa's Cocktail: "Grenadine&Tonic": 20ml Grenadine Syrup and 80ml Tonic Water.
3. Kohaku's Cocktail: "Piquant Cinderella": 60ml Ginger Ale, Orange Juice 20ml, Pineapple Juice 30ml, Lemon Juice 5ml and Grated Ginger just a dash.
4. Gen's Cocktail: "Spicy Cola": 120ml Cola, 1 or 2 teaspoons Chai Syrup,a slice of Lemon, a pinch of Chili Pepper.
5. Senkuu's Cocktail: "Three Layer Tea-Latte": Match Whip 30ml, Milk 50ml, Hojicha 20ml, 2 teaspoons Gum Syrup.

In between the presentations and taste tests we can see Francois explain what she based each Cocktail on as well as what her ingredients were,apparently each Cocktail mirrors select characteristics of the person dedicated to. Like Suika's smile,Kohaku's passion,Senkuu's intellect or Tsukasa's calm nature. But we also see Ukyo comment on how much the situation and dynamic between the Crew Members has changed and improved for the better since meeting for the first time. Not just Ryusui,Senkuu,Gen and Chrome are doing their best on the scientific front but also everybody else in their own way. Even Cocky Ginro and Yo the cop that constantly asks for Booze(Is what we should call him after this chapter-). Their adventures didn't go past them without leaving "marks" and that has now become visible,Ukyo also praised Gen for arranging and playing the Poker Game against Senkuu in the way he did because Ukyo believes Gen did it to avoid an enraged and heated conversation between the crew possibly splitting the Friends apart. But Gen only responds that he wanted to have fun but he is still frustrated about losing to Senkuu,Francois and Ukyo smile as Gen has come the longest way from being Tsukasa's spy and first traitor to the comrade and reasonable boy that he is now. The Crew's journey continues towards America with the first of 40 days coming to an end for them.

Personal Thought's

I rate this Chapter a 7.5 out of 10.

I'm not too much a fan of these "filler"-type of Chapters since they tend to feel a little dragging and postponing rather than transitioning and fluid,still,Dr. Stone does a good job with those as it adds lighthearted fun and comical reactions into the fray. Which feels very natural and quite fun to read,as the Characters themselves never give off a too serious vibe. Even Tsukasa cracks smiles now,hangs around with the others at the bar and enjoys a smooth Cocktail just for himself while Gen and Ukyo just hung and drank a little like 2 pals after school or work. Pretty much everyday situations that pleasantly convey how much and nicely their group dynamic developed. I expect a "few" more chapters like this until we hit America and till then i hope you all enjoy your Cocktails!(Yes you can actually recreate these at home,but hands of from making Gum Syrup yourself or anything you're better off buying it okay?)Till next time everybody!!!

 

[Hermit]

Dr Stone Chapter 146 Review by Hermit

Good chapter this week. The filler content seems to have stopped, and we're back to the main plot.

Following up from last week, Yo openly protests about a bar not serving alcohol, despite being termed a 'bar'. This prompts Senkuu to display the formation of alcohol to the ship's occupants. Using wheat, Japanese hops and yeast, beer is mass produced on the ship. Everyone delights in this, and we get a scene reminiscent to whenever Shanks/Luffy's crew are celebrating aboard their ships.

A drunk Ginro asks Matsukaze about his life story, since the latter had previously pointed out that Ginro greatly resembled his master. Matsukaze describes his leader as a virtuous person. When the petrification devices rained en masse the island, he alone insisted that the devices should be destroyed. Failure to do that would bring about strife and cause a civil war. Sadly, Master's arm gets petrified and Ginro is forced to cut it off to prevent the rest of his body from being petrified.

As he lays dying, he admits that he wanted to prove that humans are above killing each other when presented with a new form of warfare. A horde of soldiers charges up the hill, but Matsukaze disposes of all of them. He then embarks on a one man mission to destroy all the Medusas. A mission that proves useful, all until one is left. Before he can get to it, he's petrified. In his stone form, Matsukaze carves out the shape of the petrificaton device on his arm. A message to future generations, informing them how he ended up as a statue.

Francois whips up Matsukaze a drink, referring to it as 'Matcha Beer'. Though Matsukaze immediately passes out after one sip, ha. Once he regains consciousness, he spots Tsukasa wielding Thanos's sword. Matsukaze asks Tsukasa to assist him with weapons training. Tsukasa admits that he is not well versed in that, and Senkuu proceeds to revive Hyoga. With Tsukasa and a gun onboard, the chances of Hyoga starting an uprising are basically zero.

Once Hyoga is revived, Tsukasa asks him to lend him his strength. Hyoga says he will do that, but on one condition. His condition involves the revival of both Homura and Mozu (Surprisingly).

The chapter ends with both Kinrou and Ginrou training.

Pros:
-Matsukaze's backstory, finally revealed. Gotta say, that panel where he was cutting down the people who were after his lord was beautiful. Looked like something out of Vagabond or Rurouni Kenshin.
- Hyouga back. Homura as well. Really glad the author has not forgotten about the latter. Makes you look forward to the interactions between the newly acquired members of the Kingdom of Science (Kirisame, Mozu, Hyouga, Homura, Matsukaze), and the older members from Ishigami village.


Cons:
-The beer bit in the beginning was a bit....unnecessary. Though it did lead to Matsukaze revealing his backstory, which ended up working out fine.

Neutrals:
-Mozu being revived. Honestly, I don't exactly find his character interesting/engaging at the moment. He's all brawn and no brain. A less interesting version of Tsukasa. Though there is obviously room for this to change later on. Currently, I am not convinced by him as a character. At all.

Chapter rating: 8/10

--- Double Post Merged, Apr 16, 2020, Original Post Date: Apr 6, 2020 ---

Dr Stone Chapter 147 Review by Hermit

Last chapter before a short hiatus. But the boat arc is done. Didn't take 9 years this time, ha.

The title of the chapter is 'Science Journey'.

Chapter starts with a narrative sequence, talking about the times during the Vinland era. Yes, back when Askeladd was still ruler of the seas. He was the leader of the Vikings, who ventured into North America. They arrived there before Columbus through the use of a sun stone.

A sun stone could reveal the position of the sun at all times. Senkuu explains that since they have Science now, that shouldn't be too hard. Just then, we get a panel of Ruri standing in front of several hour glasses(?) Using a sundial as well, it is possible to communicate the time in Japan to those on the boat.

Ryuusui uses a demonstration to show that the position of the sun gives the latitude, while the time difference with Japan gives out longitude. Just then, a storm brews in the sky. Ryuusui says he will use his captain intution to navigate, while Senkuu says this could cost them a time difference in getting to America.

Suika laments about not having the sun stone, which prompts Chrome to sort through his collection of treasures. He obtains a stone that he can't identify, asking Kohaku to turn it into a prism. Once the stone is beaten down, they obtain a white transparent stone. The stone also gives double images when used to look at a person.

Chrome learns how to work the stone, and it becomes possible to locate the sun's position in the sky with it. Senkuu identifies the stone as Calcite, a name that Ryuusui is familiar with. Apparently, a lot of sunken ships in the past used to contain calcite in them.

The trip resumes its course, and the crew happen upon both an iceberg, plus a school of whales. As the ship's look out, Nikky finally catches a glimpse of land. Finally, we arrived at America.

Pros:
-Journey has come to a close, so we can finally go back to the main story after the short interlude.
-The chapter was also scientifically accurate, in references to the Sunstone and calcite. A fact that also appears in the TV series, Vikings.
-Backstory was also very very entertaining. Reminiscent of Vinland Saga.
-Chrome got a small moment as well. Not a fan, but it's nice seeing him follow in Senkuu's footsteps.

Cons:
- WSJ hiatus, just as we were about to start a brand new story arc ;( Much sad.
-The Chrome/Ruri teasing. A bit old at this point. Like, we get why they can't be a ship yet (Same reasons as Taiju/Yuzuriha). Having the other crew mates poke fun of it was funny in the beginning, but now it's just....bleh.

Chapter rating: 7/10

 

[Seraph]

Dr. Stone - Chapter 148 Review by Seraph

Chapter Title: Pioneers of Earth

The Perseus and it's Crew have finally made it! They landed on North America,San Francisco to be exact!. Naturally after a long voyage on sea the Crew is overflowing with joy and happiness upon seeing land for the first time in 2 Months,they cannot wait to get on Land and hunt down some animals because they are eager to have a big feast of meat again. Especially the Warriors are craving some Animal-based proteins with even the shy and timid Kirisame drolling at the thought of eating meat again,which actually looks kinda cute, Taiju suggests that the group should go and hunt for some wild "beasts" once they're on land. He has never been outside of Japan so this is his first "Vacay" he reveals jokingly, Homura disrupts the cheerful mood by directing the groups attention past the fog,as they get closer to the coast there is an ocean of petrified people becoming visible to them. The Group looks on in sadness but they had braced themselves to see this,they still had some sort of hope for the rest of the world after hearing the Story of Lillian,they held on to any kind of hope no matter how faint it would be. Ryusui reveals that he has been to America before and sailed through this exact spot but back when he did so there was still the Golden Gate Bridge cutting through San Francisco's thick fog with it's red brilliance,the crew begins to feel down since they hoped there would be help for them waiting in America but Taiju reassures them that once they find and grow some corn they will be able to revive and work with as many people as they want through the Power of Science. Senkuu agrees with that. At the Sacramento River the group decides to split up into 3 Teams: A resource replenishment Team,a Corn Search Team and the Fighters. The Fighters led by Tsukasa are going to protect the Corn Search Team from dangerous wildlife.

The Plan seems simply and straightforward: The Corn Search Team only needs to follow the Sacramento River until they reach what used to be Sacramento and they might already find a good spot where Corn could be growing. The only issue about all this is mentioned by Ukyo and Senkuu since this is the time of the year where Corn may begin to wither already, but Senkuu reassures the Team that they still should have a couple of days worth of time since due to the Earth's rotational axis having been tilted a little in the past 3,700 years the Earth's climate has changed in their favor. The Seasons are changing Nine Days later than what they're used to,however the climate change also affects the ecosystem so he hopes that there won't be a Beast Attack out of nowhere even though the Fighters would welcome that. And speak of the Devil, a bunch of big Alligators begins to attack their boat but worry not the fighters are already jumping into action and instantly finish the beasts of. Now they got their meat! yeay!. They immediatly make for a riverbank close by to skalp the alligators and make use of their meat,Ryusui orders Francois to grill them some of the meat so they can eat Hamburgers/Gator Burgers now that they have arrived in America. As the Team enjoys the Hamburgers wholeheartedly Tsukasa discovers that one of the Alligators had swallowed a whole ear of corn,prompting Senkuu to believe that there must be more upriver. They make for "Corn City" next!.

Personal Thought's

I rate this Chapter a 7.5 out of 10.

America might be very interesting,i really hope this won't be rushed or cut off midway for some reason,i'm really looking forward to what kind of people they will meet here. Those Montages of Francois Cooking and the End result remind me of SnS somewhat,those finished Dishes look incredible yummy sometimes. Was nice to see the callback to Lillian too,the Author really does a good job to not have some of these early on mentioned details be wasted on us and the story. The Climate and Ecosystem Changes were something to be expected,a long time has passed and without Humans doing anything within/to the environment it is the natural processes of the World. Overall a pretty good and fun to read chapter. Till next time everybody!!!

 

[Hermit]

Dr Stone Chapter 149 Review by Hermit

Good chapter to get the story back on track, after a one week break. Kohaku being on the cover is an indicator of this.

Chrome is happy at how quickly they discovered corn. Senkuu explains that the type of corn they have come across is Green Dent corn, which has an awful taste but can deliver a crazy amount of alcohol.

Noticing something with her vision, Kohaku holds onto Hyouga's hair and picks out some kernels from the river. Which adds to their belief that they will find corn growing upstream. Senkuu seems a bit skeptical of the current developments, but regardless his team delivers the good news to Yuzuriha's side.

The attention shifts to another part of the newly discovered land. A pack of wolves are about to pounce on a stranger who is perched on a tree. Said stranger is listening into the conversation that the Kingdom of Science have just had. Descending from the tree, the stranger quickly kills the wolves.

Once the boat has docked on a shore, Senkuu puts a white cloth over light. His goal is to investigate the insects that show up and learn more about the area. Shortly after, a few moths turn up. These moths have the same wings that Kohaku had on the chapter cover, and they are described to be European corn borer moths. Senkuu asks Kohaku if she has ever seen that type of moths before, and she says no. He proceeds to explain that the moth in question likes to feed on corn, so with humanity's extinction they should have been driven to the brink of extinction.

Just then, Tsukasa senses bloodlust originating from inland. He describes it as a smell that is derived from the breakdown of adrenalin. Hyoga then thinks back to the kernels that were floating downstream, and realizes this was a well crafted plan. The strongest high school primate then shouts at everyone to take cover back at the boat, and a rain of bullets pours down on the crew.

Ukyo denotes that the ammunition is originating from a machine gun. Ryusui uses the ship to bring up a water wall, blocking the sight of the attacker. Said attacker wonders how they knew about the oncoming onslaught. Ukyo then explains to the flustered Gen that this might be someone who had revived on his own like Senkuu.

Showing up to the room, Senkuu states that if this is a scientist, he will not lose in a battle of Science.

Pros:
- Dr Stone is back, yay : D
- New enemies off the bat, good pacing. Also makes the corn obtaining process harder, which is very much welcome conflict.
- Tsukasa gets a chance to show off why he is the strongest person in the crew.

Cons:
- N/A

Neutrals:
-N/A

Chapter rating: 8.5/10. Glad we are done with the filler aspects of the journey (The bar and casino sections), and back to the main plot.

--- Double Post Merged, May 21, 2020, Original Post Date: May 15, 2020 ---

Dr Stone Chapter 150 Review by Hermit

Very nice follow up chapter from last week.

Hey, another half way chapter to a milestone here as well^.^ The color cover is gorgeous in itself, featuring three girls: Kirisame, Homura and Suika. Suika maybe is not supposed to be there considering the other two girls though, ha.

Senkuu says that the prospect of another scientist being out there is exciting, but Science is free for anyone to use. Realistically, anyone can revive and make scientific evolutions by themselves. He also remarks that the Science of the new user is more advanced than the one from the Kingdom of Science.

Ukyo picks up on the sound of an engine behind them. Kohaku reports that she never picked up on anything following them throughout the night. Tsukasa and Yo are both shocked as they look into the air, spotting an aeroplane quickly descending on them. Senkuu is clearly amazed, and Taiju has to call him out of his stupor.

Ryusui immediately tells everyone to grab onto someone real tight, and steers the ship away at full speed. The assailant in the aeroplane is relentless, chasing after them and quickly showering them with bullets. Yo also tries firing back, but he is too nervous to properly aim. Hyoga recognizes as much, telling him to stop wasting ammunition.

Coming up with something, Senkuu quickly makes Calcium Carbide (A chemical of which I have no idea of), and quickly dispatches it to Kirisame to use as a weapon. Chrome had also made a rope with a hoop before, and the coconut girl launches the chemical weapon into the air.

The carbide hits one of the aeroplane's wings, causing it to malfunction. It crashes into the forest ashore, but the pilot escapes safely onto one of the branches. Senkuu then explains that the compound he just made was acetylene gas. Unknown to him, the pilot of the ship is listening into their conversation. Said pilot then monologues to himself, remarking that they also have a scientist on their side.

Ginrou suggests escaping, but Senkuu and Ryuusui are both opposed to this idea. The Kingdom of Science head into the forest, coming across the debris left behind by the crashed aircraft. They claim the now ruined device as their own.

Pros:
- Kirisame got to do something, yay! My favorite from the new crew members, hopefully she does not recede into a background,gimmicky character.
-More information about our new frenemies, which is very nice to see.
-Also got a brand new scientific invention, aka the aeroplane. Maybe this was a shout out to the Wright Brothers (I think they were American in nature?). The two current enemies could be brothers, which would be interesting.
-Senkuu and Ryusui being in unison with each other.

Cons:
-N/A

Neutrals:
- N/A

Chapter rating: 8/10

New arc hype!

 

[Seraph]

Dr. Stone - Chapter 151 Review by Seraph

Chapter Title: Dr. X

This Week's Chapter of Dr. Stone starts with the Science-Crew noticing some Corn leaves and kernels hanging down from the Aeroplane they managed to steal in the last chapter,which prompts Senkuu and Co. to think that the enemies landing strip must be a nice and flat levelled Corn Field and that it must be nearby since the enemy chose that method of pursuing them. Tsukasa mentions that standard practice after a surprise attack is a tactical retreat but,while it does have its risks, pursuing your attacker can also prove to be beneficial. Gen wonders who they might be thinking of pursuing but Senkuu quickly informs him that they want to pursue the pilot of the aeroplane,the man who attacked them out of nowhere with a Machine Gun,while all that makes sense to Gen he isn't all too happy about being chosen to be in the Pursue-Team alongside Kohaku and Chrome. While Gen isn't happy at all having to endanger himself once more for his comrades Chrome is happier than ever about going to work here in America for the first time while Kohaku gets to be their bodyguard while also keeping a good eye on everything. Her perfect eyesight is a key factor here. Although reluctant at first, Gen begins to search for footprints and quite easily manages to find footprints of the Soldier, however these footprints lead the group into another forest closeby. Gen instantly realizes that something isn't right here so he stops walking,prompting Kohaku and Chrome to stop as well, the Mentalist believes the Soldier to be fully aware of what he is doing which is to lure the group in and then get rid of them at once. He expresses frustration about his previous loss to Senkuu in the poker game but also anger that the enemy would challenge a Mentalist of his caliber.

Gen tells Kohaku and Chrome to stay back for awhile as he goes ahead to do some "growing" of his own,he will confront the Soldier and find the enemy's base now and while at it will make sure to mark the entire path with certain flowers so they could follow him while keeping their distance. They both agree and so Gen goes ahead to meet the Soldier,which he accomplishes fairly easy as it took nothing but a "Hello? Anyone there?" for the enemy to appear in front of him. It is no one other than the mysterious Man which we saw in the previous 2 Chapters before already,who is once more having a cigarette, he quickly conducts a body-check on Gen to see if he is hiding or carrying any weapons which the Mentalist assures him of that he doesn't. The Soldier confirms this but knows that Gen has something else up his sleeve,he asks him for his occupation only for Gen to summon 2 Flowers from his sleeves to claim he is a Magician,the Soldier isn't surprised at all as he expected Gen to be Normal Person rather than a Warrior as the only strong part of his body is his hands unlike his "Samurai"-Friends who he met earlier. The Soldier hoped to crush Gen and his friends all in one go but since they resisted admirably he would rather ask him some questions and would in return answer any he might have for him and his comrades,he invites Gen to their base in order to meet with his Leader which he agrees to. As they begin climbing down the hills Gen spots a gigantic corn field as well as a huge base that looks like a Castle. The Enemy takes good care of their Corn fields,has people fishing and even farm animals. As the Soldier leads Gen to his leader the Mentalist is speechless upon seeing all of this.

As they enter what appears to be a Factory the Soldier takes of his coat,we see that apart from his Machine Gun he also carries a Knife and a Pistol around with him,he goes on to inform "Xeno" that he brought the first visitor of the "New World" with him. Xeno is revealed to be a scientist similar to Senkuu with the small difference that he is an adult and somewhat creepy,but he is polite if that counts for something. Xeno is a man of average height with 2 X cracks on his forehead,he appears to have light brown hair and has a really serious gaze,he wears a black coat with several X marks on it as well and he also carries a backpack of sorts with himself. The Soldier then brings 3 buckets filled with Salt Water where he puts one of Gen's foot in as well as both of his arms, in order to conduct a polygraph test with him,Xeno begins to introduce himself and the soldier as Dr. Xeno and Stanley Snyder. A former Soldier who served in the Military but now works for Dr. Xeno. Xeno begins to question Gen about his own name and occupation as well as his comrades,what follows is a hilarious polygraph test in which Gen makes up an incredibly wild story about him betraying Senkuu and Co. because he had to work so hard for them. What is most amazing about all this is that it actually works out well for him,but Dr. Xeno is clever enough to not trust him just like that because Gen is either the greatest Liar or he's completely honest here. Xeno doesn't mind either way,because he likes both types,Gen merrily begins an inner monologue in which he reassures Senkuu and Co. that he will infiltrate the enemy base to make it their own. However,his monologue is instantly interrupted as Xeno asks for his "former" Leaders Name.

Gen almost freaks out because he forgot to make up a clever ruse for Senkuu,he calls the name of the one person that would always be ready to take a fall for him: Taiju. The name of the Kingdom of Science's Leader is Dr. Taiju he shouts. Somewhere else we see Taiju sneezing. A funny ending all things considered.

Personal Thought's

I rate this Chapter a 9 out of 10.

So Stanley Snyder,as we now know is the attackers name,did indeed serve in the Military. Did not think one of my guesses would ever come true here haha,i'm very curious about Dr. Xeno though. He seems to be on equal footing with Senkuu in terms of knowledge and wits which makes me look forward to their first meeting even more. His base of operations was also very very impressive,a really nice design and probably lots of space to house people and supplies for sure,since it looks like a Castle i assume they call their base a "Kingdom" as well. The Scout Team was a surprising but really well matched mix up of Characters, Chrome was a bit of a wildcard but after thinking about it this is where someone like him can shine the most eventually. Since he loves to explore and pick up on all sorts of things he sees lying around,i'm sure he will do something rather meaningful/noteworthy fairly soon here. Kohaku might try to sneak in and rescue Gen i feel like but she must be cautious since the entire arsenal of her enemies isn't known yet and their numbers are a mystery as well for now. What also picked my eye was the design of Dr. Xeno,similar to Ibara he has rather sharp foxgloves attached to the finger tips of his scientist gloves,his behaviour made him hard to read and his appearance makes it hard to tell if he could also prove to be a fighter of sorts eventually but given that little detail i wouldn't be surprised. Although,it would be kind of sloppy to recycle Ibara's means of combat here and now already. But we'll see,i'm looking forward to it for sure. Till next time everybody!!!

 

[Hermit]

Dr Stone Chapter 152 Review by Hermit

This week's chapter starts with a panel of both Senkuu and Xeno side by side. A bit like the panels in shonen manga when two rival characters are used as the cover of a particular chapter/volume. In this week's cover, the juxtaposition makes it look like Xeno is an eviler version of Senkuu. His eyes are darker + his hair is also falling downwards, in contrast to Senkuu who has light eyes plus hair that naturally points upwards.

Kohaku and Chrome are both looking at the tower Gen was just taken into, wondering what on earth that structure is. Chrome is concerned about whether or not Gen managed to infiltrate, but Kohaku reassures him that he most likely did.

Chrome contacts the Perseus, but Senkuu tells him not to use that channel anymore. Tsukasa and Yuzuriha both infer that this is because the possibility of hacking exists. Tsukasa asks Chrome who he has with him, and the sciencer responds accordingly. After Senkuu switches the phone off, another call comes in.

Magma proceeds to address it, and the source of the call is from Xeno this time. The enemy apologizes for his poor Japanese speaking skills, before insisting that he has to talk to the leader of the group. That would be Taiju, according to the information passed on by Gen from last chapter.

Yuzuriha quickly whips up Taiju a labcoat, and the big oaf addresses Xeno. He tells Xeno that shooting people with machine guns isn't nice. Xeno proceeds to explain that he is in possession of a Harber-bosch plant. In laymans language, it is a device that is used to mass produce ammonia. Senkuu explains that with just water and air, the plant can synthesize limitless amounts of gunpowder and ammunition.

Xeno then gets to the main point of the talk, where he asks Taiju to surrender to his group. Magma wonders why Xeno cannot just revive the stone statues lying around everywhere, and Ryuusui deducts that this is because he is unaware of the revival formula. The elder scientist explains that nitric acid can be used to revive the people who are still conscious within the stone shells, but it is ultimately useless on people who have long lost their consciousness.

He asks Taiju how they revived the statues, but Ryuusui stops Taiju from answering. Senkuu then declares the first two objectives of the Kingdom of Science i.e to obtain the Harber-Bosch plant, in addition to the already desired corn. Taiju voices over the phone that he will never give the formula to the revival fluid up, and Xeno immediately declares that negotiations have broken down.

Outside, a second plane closes in on the Perseus. Senkuu points to the first plane that was salvaged by the crew, and states they will have to fight it out in the air. The others ask how a plane can take off without a runway, to which Senkuu states they just need to make one.

Pros:
-Really good humor this chapter, the Dr Taiju parts were hilarious.
-The Science on display this chapter was easy to follow (the ammonia bit). Not like two chapters ago with that whole calcium carbide explanation.
-Insight into Xeno's personality, plus a bit on his goals/objectives.

Cons:
- The part about the runway seems like a bit of a stretch. I don't see how it is possible to create a runway within a limited amount of time. Considering roads also took quite a bit of time and effort. I am bit skeptical on how this will turn out.

Chapter rating:7/10

--- Double Post Merged, Jun 10, 2020, Original Post Date: Jun 2, 2020 ---

Dr Stone Chapter 153 Review by Hermit

This week's cover is the same as last week's, with both Senkuu and Xeno on it. Though there seems to be less of an antagonistic feel to this cover.

Magma tries acting like a leader, analyzing the current situation. Shortly after, he drops the facade and resorts to his usual state of mind. He decides on killing Xeno, and quickly sets out with Yo. The latter has the gun on him. Nikki beats up the two and hauls them back to deck.

Second time round, Tsukasa acts as the leader to analyze the state of things. A large table in the room has been modified into some sort of a chess board, showing the positions of each of the characters. Ginro suggests running away with the Perseus, but Ukyo states the spy plane would make that a pointless effort. Tsukasa asks Hyoga how he would deal with the intruders if he was Dr Xeno. The masked man states that he would simply construct a pirate vessel. Basically, use a smaller water vessel to raid the larger Perseus.

Hyoga also suggests that it is quite possible to destroy the Perseus with an aerial attack, using the spy plane that is stationed outside. To this, Ryuusui states that they can indeed fight them in the air. Which coincides with Senkuu's plan at the end of last chapter i.e to build a runway and use the first airplane to launch a counterattack.

Minami is amazed at this plan (For obvious reasons). Senkuu and Ryusui both relish at the prospect of modifying the enemy's aeroplane, much like they were in tandem the first time they came across the crashed device. First of all, they use bamboo + Yuzuriha's expert crafting skills to design the wheels. Ukyo explains that bamboo isn't native to the USA. Ryuusui analyzes the wheels of the aircraft, realizing that they used glass in the place of rubber.

The scene shifts to Xeno, who explains that the purpose of the spy plane was to discourage the crew. Basically squash any notions they had of escaping, and keep them rooted in one place. A mindset Ryuusui had also realized. Just then, a large, burly woman walks by Gen, while holding a piece of chicken (?), in her mouth. Xeno explains that he intends on assassinating the scientist of the Kingdom of Science. Gen is skeptical about this, but Stanley states that it is a task he can very much pull off.

Stanley dons the battle suit he had beforehand, and leaves the stronghold. Back to the KoS, and Hyoga suggests turning tail, thus abandoning Kohaku, Gen and Chrome within enemy camp. Senkuu states that they can take initiative on the ground as well. While waiting on the aircraft's modifications. The idea is to kidnap Xeno. Tsukasa suggests a small unit would do the job perfectly, and Senkuu picks out the members. Tsukasa, Hyoga and Ukyo. Suika as well, but the little girl is surprised at her inclusion.

Gen understands the situation as a stalemate, while Senkuu and Xeno kick off their scientific battle. The chapter concludes with Tsukasa, Hyoga and Ukyo (+ Suika) setting out to land.

Pros:
-The team Senkuu sent out (Tsukasa, Hyoga and Ukyo is a very capable team). At the very least, it makes more sense than the reconaissance team that had been sent out before (Kohaku, Chrome and Gen).
-The bit where Ryuusui explains the wheels of the airplane being made of glass skis and not rubber is consistent with what we have seen before in the story. Rubber is a device that has not been developed yet in this world (At least from what I remember). Also, one of the main cities they are supposed to venture out to is Rubber City, which adds on to this little detail. That was a very good piece of narrative consistency.
- Got to see one more member of Xeno's kingdom. And the design is actually pretty unique I would say, ha.
- Leader Tsukasa! Also, Hyoga. They continue to blend seamlessly with the rest of the Kingdom of Science. Really like that their personalities are being kept intact. In spite of Hyoga being a dark character.

Cons:
- Suika's inclusion in the team is.....iffy. Like yes, she has her utility purposes, but still....it's a bit unsavvy sending out a little girl into a battlefield.

Chapter 153 Rating: 8/10

Very good chapter with a good amount of plot + action galore.

 

[Seraph]

Dr. Stone - Chapter 154 Review by Seraph

Chapter Title: Spy vs. Spy

This Week's Chapter of Dr. Stone begins with our Head Scientists Dr. Xeno and Senkuu announcing that they are going to take each other's Scientist out, Dr. Xeno wants to assassinate "Dr. Taiju" while Senkuu wants to capture Dr. Xeno with the help of Tsukasa,Ukyo,Hyoga,Suika,Kohaku and Chrome, while Stanley is the man for the dirty deed for the American KoS. Gen can't help but worry about Taiju's safety especially since he cannot contact anybody, Dr. Xeno could be eavesdropping on any kind of Radio Transmission and even if Gen wanted to he could not do anything else since a guard has been assigned to watch his every move. As Stanley heads out he is accompanied by a teenage girl, she questions wether Gen can be trusted or not but Stanley brushes it off claiming that trusting someone who just abandoned and betrayed his own people out of nowhere is something those with no intelligence would do. As usual,he's having a smoke while lecturing her. He tells the girl that Xeno will be getting any and every kind of intel out of him rather than trust and make him one of their own, the chances of him being a spy are just too high. The girl,which we shortly after learn is named Luna, reacts surprised at how sharp Stanley's way of thinking is and acts like she was testing him here even though she wasn't.

The reason why Stanley is bringing Luna with him is quickly explained and obvious to see, she has a job to fulfill for him and it's due to her character and figure that she is being sent into the enemy lines. To describe her best i guess we should compare her to Amaryllis from the Treasure Island Arc, she has 2 admirers named Carlos and Max, packs a cute and innocent attitude but is also seemingly influenceable and compassionate. When she hears that Stanley is trying to kill the enemies Scientist she shudders at his revelation. As the group gets into position on top of a really high tree we can see Ryusui on deck of the Perseus wondering about the stagnant air his Sailor Senses has picked up on, he concludes that it must be a bad omen. Meanwhile Stanley and his Squad got fully into position and are now observing their enemies more or less silently, the soldier brings out all sorts of weather and wind pressure related measuring instruments in order to find out how much his bullets velocity is going to be affected making his companions shudder in fear. Luna questions if killing the guests from Japan is such a good thing to do but the only response Stanley gives is a cold gaze and silence, he finally responds that he only wants the head of the Science Leader. He is going to do so by using a Sniper Rifle made by Xeno's Science.

Luna wonders why she had to wear a striped dress for this job but Stanley explains that each stripe on the dress is about 5 inches,at her surprised reaction he responds that her role is to confuse and lure out Dr. Taiju while also acting as his yardstick. Luna should have good chances slipping in because she's a good actress and about the same age as Senkuu and Co. Once she lured out Dr. Taiju she is to give a signal to Stanley so he knows that this is the person to shoot. A single shot from his rifle will end any enemy instantly. Luna quickly makes for the Perseus despite being a little too excited,she covers herself with some dirt and begins to shed some fake tears to make it look like she just escaped from Xeno's Kingdom. As the Perseus Crew begins to bring her on board Stanley concludes that the Kids will have to take Luna in because they're naive and cannot flee anyway since they will not abandon Gen, if they send in a Spy to look on them then they will do the same. As Luna goes on board the Perseus she is greeted by Senkuu who puts on a Prince Charming Face and Attitude to invite Luna underdeck to have her wounds treated, as she accepts his offer we go to Tsukasa's group who has arrived at a standstill due to being unable to track Kohaku and Chrome anymore. They only had a general idea of where they could've gone instead of where they actually are, communication is out of the question so they need intel somehow. Senkuu is going to provide them with all the intel they need by "extracting" it from Luna. It's Spy versus Spy and once Senkuu has gotten all the intel Tsukasa might need he will send a coded message to give them the lead on their enemies...

Personal Thought's

I rate this Chapter an 8 out of 10.

What an interesting Chapter of Dr. Stone this week, first of all,i do agree that Luna appears to be the same type of cloth that Amaryllis was in the last Arc. A girl with a couple of admirers that constantly compete over her attention and affection, a cute and innocent act but also compassion for her "enemies". I believe that she is not as set on killing Dr. Taiju as Stanley because of her rather young age and character,i believe that most of the Adults in the American KoS are blindly following and adopting Xeno and Stanley's mindset. However,for now,she should not be taken lightly for only god knows what exactly she can do besides being a spy. Like combat skills or any other talents she could possibly reveal here. Having said this much,i'm rather shocked at the kind of Sniper Rifle that Stanley brought along here, i guess i shouldn't be given Xeno's other "inventions" but i couldn't help it. One shot out of that pipe and whoever gets hit will definitely feel it,and since they shot actual and proper bullets not even Taiju will just walk away from it. This is Do or Die already. Senkuu has the right idea in mind to try and gather intel and i'm glad he has someone as shrewd and smart as Ryusui with him here,the 2 of them can make this work. But i hope Taiju doesn't forget the role he is supposed to play either. But we'll see,i'm looking forward to it as usual. Till next time everybody!!!

 

[Hermit]

Dr Stone Chapter Review(s) 155-157 by Hermit

Romantic overview:
- In chapter 155, Yuzuriha mentions having a hard time using vanilla essence for Valentine chocolate. Which signifies that she did make Valentine chocolate for someone special? Taiju comes to mind, but she could have as well handed Valentine choco to Senkuu (Seeing how close they are)
- Luna seems to be falling for Senku, after he makes her ice cream. Which is an amusing detail. Her falling for Senku could actually make the dynamics of the crew interesting.

Plot overview:
- Senku reveals Xeno to be the person who guided him in his rocket making endeavor. Chapter 156 is a flashback that highlights this, and the reason that Senku didn't recognize Xeno's voice at first is because they never outright talked. They communicated via email, and the one time they interacted in person, it was a wordless confrontation.
- Xeno's motive is also revealed in Chapter 156. Basically, he wants to rule over the world with Science. In the event of another scientist showing up in the world, he'd clash ideals with them to see who's Science is superior.
- Senku and Xeno both revived at exactly the same time.

Character overview:
- No new characters are introduced in between these three chapters. We do get cameos of them in the flashback though. Xeno worked for NASA (As was stated by Senku). Stanley was in the military (As was stated by Xeno before). Luna's occupation is a bit unclear, but considering that she was in the conference, it's safe to say she was an important character to the United States of America.
- Luna is actually a pretty shallow girl. Though, her goal of wanting to find a partner is pretty much in line with Taiju's goal of wanting to confess to Yuzuriha before he was petrified.
- Xeno's favorite phrase is 'Science is Elegant'.
- Byakuya is in Chapter 156. Senku goes to visit him in USA, where he gets money to buy the scientific gadgets he was after.
- The girl who was eating meat in Xeno's hideout is part of the group of super minded people assembled by the USA to discuss the petrified swallows.

Scientific overview:
- Chapter 156 introduces a new scientific creation, ice cream. Senkuu uses this to try and lure Luna into revealing the enemy secrets.
- More information about the petrified swallows appears in Chapter 157. Senku shared information about them to the whole world, which prompted scientists in USA (Xeno included), to do research on them.
- The gasoline Senku had developed in Chapter 1 had part of the petrified swallow mixed in it.
- Xeno is the reason that Stanley, Luna and the rest of his people are still alive. He was the first one to theorize about keeping your brain active in order to break out from the petrified state.
- Carlos gets a platinum ring for Luna as a birthday present. This is the second time platinum has appeared in the story, after Treasure Island.


Trivia:
- The water bottles that Carlos and his friend were carrying in Chapter 154 were actually meant for Stanley. He does not know how long the sniping will take, so he intends on waiting there till it is done.
- Senkuu's knowledge about Ebola and combating bacteria with sulfur originates from his interactions with Xeno through email.

Pros:
- Fantastic flashback. Pretty much clears out the missing pieces between Senku and Xeno, plus also shedding more light on Senku's wealth of scientific knowledge. Senku is humanized from the flashback as well, and doesn't seem like the scientific superman that he has been displayed as this whole time.

Cons:
- Xeno's motives seem.....too simplistic. Especially for a man of his calibre. You'd expect more from him rather than an innate desire to take over the world, but for now he seems rather shallow. Hopefully he can gain more character development as the series goes on.

Overall chapter ratings:
Chapter 155: 7/10
Chapter 156: 8.5/10
Chapter 157: 8/10

 

[Seraph]

Dr. Stone - Chapter 158 Review by Seraph

Chapter Title: Who's the Scientist?

This Week's Chapter of Dr. Stone comes with a beautifully drawn and colored cover page of Dr. Xeno and Stanley Snyder along with a popular quote of Aristotle: "What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies." The Chapter starts with Ryusui and Senku talking about the Mentor-Menteeship between Dr. Xeno and Senku, while Xeno creates tools and weapons meant to hurt and force people into submission Senku uses his science to help and easen the lives of the people around him. A strong contrast between 2 more or less equal minds of modern times. The scene cuts to another flashback,this time when Stanley and his fellow soldiers, Elite Scientists and Journalists broke free from the petrification. As the group expresses pride in themselves and their mental capabilities to stay "awake" for 3,700 years we can see Xeno taking notice of the Platinum Ring that had been swallowed by Carlos before the petrification, he is visibly happy about this found as he and his friends will be able to rule the world through Military Might from here on out. As long as the Americans have Xeno's Science and Stanley's Skill with Firearms there is noone that can threaten them anymore,the World is there just for them to rule it. However, the actual motivation or ideology behind this ambition remains a mystery for now,i do believe it lies back in his NASA days though since that is when his attitude and attire first changed.

The flashback ends while Senku and Co. continue their discussion about Xeno and the American Group, Luna looks on as she can't really understand what her enemies may be talking about but suddenly spots Taiju in the crowd on deck and quickly decides to walk over and point Stanley to his target. As Luna lifts her right finger in order to point at Taiju we see Stanley sharpen his gaze and getting ready to fire, meanwhile Senku informs the group that he will try to use the Medusa as their ace in the hole since "Doc. Xeno" is their enemy. Taiju and the others wonder how the weapon is of any use to them now with the battery being empty but Senku explains that it is not the actual ability of the weapon he wants to use but the unknown technology behind it, Xeno knows better than anyone how useful Scientific Weapons can be. In the background Luna continues to struggle pointing at Taiju and ends up putting it into her nose instead, due to her conscience kicking in. Taiju helped and welcomed her earlier so she can't see him die now. Unfortunately her struggle ends up being in vain as Stanley has already figured out who Taiju is and is taking aim at him immediatly, Luna begins to "send" a message to her comrades as she moves her lips in a way that spells "Senku,possible friend of Xeno". Carlos and Max immediatly take notice of this and inform Xeno back at their HQ who is shocked to hear this. Back at the Perseus Ryusui has noticed Luna's shady behaviour and is now watching her closely while Senkuu talks with Minami about their jammed communications.

While the Youngster Scientist further analyzes his enemies knowledge and equipment Ryusui has concluded that the enemy must be nearby as the communications began to be jammed once she gazed into the opposite direction meaning that something is up. Stanley is about to take the shot on Taiju but he is stopped by Xeno who explains that "Dr.Taiju" is a decoy meant to distract from the real genius "Senku Ishigami",and as he clarifies that he is visibly happy about this revelation. However, Stanley's aim remains on Taiju and it appears like his bloodlust has taken over, just as he is about to pull the trigger we see Ryusui share his observations with everyone. The enemy is nearby and they brought a Sniper with them!...

Personal Thought's

I rate this Chapter an 8 out of 10.

Good Chapter of Dr. Stone this week again! Interesting to have confirmation on Xeno and Stanley being childhood friends,now we have a proper contrast between them to Senku and Taiju. Also very intriguing is that Xeno has already taken hold of the Platinum Ring from Carlos. I liked that just after i made a guess about it we got confirmation for it in this Chapter, Xeno does indeed have all the Specialists,Journalists and Elites from NASA,the Military and the Media in his ranks. It's interesting to hear that Xeno wants to rule over the World, i really wonder why he wants to do so. Something must've triggered all this during his NASA Days for sure,since that's when he changed attire and attitude.Not sure if continuing with this Assassination Plot is smart from Xeno right now though,if he does continue, after all leaving Senku alive could be of benefit for him i feel like. Especially with the knowledge on how to create Revival Fluid, useful Information and the Medusa in his bag. Perhaps Xeno can figure out how the machine works,smart of Senku to try and use that to his advantage. Really liked how Ryusui kept monitoring Luna in all this, gets better and better every appearance he makes for me.Now let's see if Xeno stops the attack and tries to use Senku or if they continue and the Science Crew can somehow prevent getting shot. Ryusui made the shout so it'll be a matter of moments from here on out. Lets see...Till next time everybody!!!

 

[Hermit]

Dr Stone Chapter 159-166 Collective Review(s), by Hermit

Chapter 159:
Stanley wonders who the real scientist is, after hearing from Xeno that the name they had before was a lie. Xeno then picks a record from several in his stock, intending on listening to Senku's voice again. Once he hears it, he makes an estimate of Senku's body proportions. He proceeds to communicate this information to Stanley. Ryusui warns the crew that there's a sniper afoot, which causes panic all over. Senku then proceeds to make eye contact with Stanley, effectively giving himself away. Rushing into the interior of the ship, he mixes potato starch with water, creating a Non-Newtonian motion. Stanley then proceeds to riddle Senku with bullets, and there seems to be some damage he has taken...

Chapter 160:
Senku collapses, having being gunned down several times by Stanley. Stanley then proceeds to leave, abandoning Luna to her devices. The rest of the KoS all panic, assuming Senku to be dead. Luckily, he's still alive. Kaseki is amazed by the mechanics behind the bullet being stopped, as he analyzes the bag full of potato starch and water. Luna reveals herself to be a former medical student, and Taiju implores her to save Senku's life. Tsukasa, Hyoga, Ukyo and Suika meet up with Chrome and Kohaku. They soon receive word of Senku's condition, and Senku proceeds to leave everything in Chrome's hands.

Chapter 161:
Chrome decides on crafting a device that will help them dig into Xeno's base. Tsukasa estimates it will take roughly two weeks to come up with such an intricate device. However, Xeno won't just wait around that long. They need to buy some time, so Ukyo shoots the Medusa directly at Xeno's doorstep. Gen explains the workings of the Medusa to Xeno, saying that it is a device which can bring about doom if not handled properly. We get introduced to another member of Xeno's kingdom, Brody. Like Kaseki, he is a craftsman. He's revealed to be working on a device that will completely subdue Senku's Kingdom of Science. Chrome comes up with his first fully functional flowchart, and the device he's chooses is a drill.

Chapter 162:
Kaseki swiftly works on the drill, which he has Taiju deliver to Chrome's group. Along the way, he runs into Luna's two friends. Carlos agrees to tag along with him, also assisting him with driving the car properly (Since Taiju's driving skills are......terrible) However, once Taiju reconnects with Kohaku's group, Carlos is tied up as a safety measure. Chrome quickly assembles the drill, which Taiju uses to break through the ground as they head into Xeno's castle.

Chapter 163:
Back on the ship, Ryusui admits they need to finish the aircraft carrier soon. Senku gives instructions to use castor bean oil for the finishing touches. Luna continues to take care of Senku, while being visibly impressed at how resilient he is. Senku places his life in her hands, saying he will grant any wish she has. Boldly, she asks him to be her boyfriend. Luna then communicates to Chrome's group that she has found herself a boyfriend, which prompts Carlos to draw up a map of the castle. Shortly after, an aeroplane appears out of thin air, heading directly to the ship. Ryusui proceeds to head out as well, with Senku in the backseat of the aircraft.

Chapter 164:
Ryusui engages with 'Stanley' in mid air. Senku pulls out a fake machine gun, intending on intimidating Stanley into not using any fire arms against them. Senku is on the plane to ensure that any issues to the aircraft are dealt with swiftly. After a few fancy maneuvers, Ryusui corners the enemy pilot, and brings out Yo's pistol in order to take them out of the sky.

Chapter 165:
Realizing they are in imminent danger, the enemy pilot proceeds to jink their plane, making it move in bizarre motions so as to escape Ryusui's line of sight. Matsukaze decides to pay attention to the water, and shortly after a submarine crashes into the Perseus. Aboard are several members from Xeno's group, and they proceed to quickly subdue the weaker members of the Kingdom of Science. Above in the sky, Senku quickly comes up with several bottles of acelyte, dropping them onto the airplane just below them. Matsukaze and Mozu appear from below the deck, saying that they will not go down so easily to modern weapons.

Chapter 166:
The latest chapter's cover features the three most popular scientific inventions, as voted by fans. In first place, is Cola. Second place is katanas, while third place is sulfa drugs. Xeno receives word that the ship has been subdued, much to his delight. Mozu and Matsukaze then fearlessly show up, taking down a few of the trained soldiers. 'Stanley's' plane soon goes down after taking up some acetylene gas, but so does Ryusui's. It's revealed that the pilot was actually a woman this time, shocking Ryusui. Stanley then makes his long awaited appearance upon the Perseus. He quickly dispatches Mozu and Matsukaze, and Xeno declares a checkmate. Senku tells him to think again, and out of nowhere, Tsukasa lunges at Xeno after taking out a nearby sentry.

Personal thoughts:
This arc has been largely enjoyable for the most part, but I am not a fan of some things that have happened. F.e, Senku being in the plane despite him being in poor health. It heavily invalidates him leaving everything to Chrome a mere two chapters ago. Like sure, two weeks have passed (Based on the drill and submarine's completion). However, with those air maneuvers and him having a busted lung, he should be 100% dead. To make things worse, the plane even crashed later on -.- Does not exactly bode for realism (Which, I understand is a misplaced criticism in such a manga). Still, there should be a middle line drawn somewhere.
I have, however, loved seeing other members of the Kingdom of Science getting much needed screentime. Especially Mozu. Feels like this is the first time he has been remotely likeable ever since the events on Treasure Island. Also, always awesome seeing Tsukasa in action ^.^
Here's to hoping the climax of this arc is a grand one.

 

[Hermit]

Dr Stone 167-171 Review (Conclusion of the America arc)

Chapter 167
Tsukasa holds Xeno at knife edge, and Xeno is bemused as to how he got there. Seeing the flakes of dirt on Tsukasa's spear, he realizes that they got there via underground methods. A small flashback follows, displaying how Chrome's group managed to infiltrate the castle. Back to the present, Chrome marvels over how grandiose Xeno's castle looks. Xeno is quickly kidnapped, but Chrome makes a mistake while detonating the explosives to seal up the tunnel. This makes the whole entrance cave in and trap Xeno with him. Brody states that they need to save their leader, so both sides began digging towards the centre of the cave.
While trapped together, Xeno tries sweet talking Chrome into joining his side. He states that in the 21st Century, the progress of Science was halted by humanity. But in the new world, it has been given a new chance to evolve from scratch. Chrome then states he is not interested,and Xeno has no right to rule over everyone. The duo then break out of the cave-in, and Chrome announces proudly to Senku that they succeeded at capturing Xeno.

Chapter 168
Back at the Perseus, Luna and the rest of the Kingdom of Science are all in bindings. Luna begs Max for help, and he assists her in freeing Francois and Kaseki as well. Senku and Xeno meet face to face for the first time, and Xeno seems genuinely relieved that the junior scientist survived Stanley's sniping. The two scientists then talk in depth, Xeno saying Science is elegant for being able to save Senku's life. Ryusui states that they can't go back to the Perseus, so they have no choice but to move forwards. Luna's group soon catches up with Senku's group, and Senku praises her for escaping along with Francois and Kaseki.
Ryusui then steals Xeno's boat, and the team speed across the river. Senku then uses the microphone to communicate with Brody, telling him the revival formula. Brody then says Stanley would never agree to a peace treaty, so Senku states that they will just continue to flee him till the ends of the earth. In the meantime, the KOS members on the Perseus would set up a corn city in America.

Chapter 169
Suika laments the fact that they are saying goodbye to part of the group. Yuzuriha asks who on the ship know English, to which Lilian and Nikki both reply positively. Nikki shouts at Brody to undo their bindings, and he remarks that she is one hell of a gal. Stanley is livid as to how Senku is still alive. The medusa is at the front of Xeno's boat, and Yuzuriha's group panic to make it look like a genuine threat. Stanley shoots it off the ship, realizing it was a fake. Chrome then says they need to say goodbye, but Hyoga warns him of the risks. He then says it's well worth it. To this effect, the two groups wave each other goodbye. Stanley's line of sight is blocked, which enables Senku's group to make a quick get away. Senku then states their next destination is South America, the origin of the petri-beam.

Chapter 170
Gen is not sure about how long they can continue to outrun Stanley. Matsukaze collapses while en route to the castle, so he is placed in the infirmary of the Perseus. Surprisingly, Ginro is also on board, having taken his time earlier to hide. Stanley intends on using him to get information over where Senku's group is headed. Matsukaze pleads with Ginro not to reveal himself, but the moment a gun is pointed at the samurai, Ginro reveals himself and states that the group is headed to South America.
On Xeno's boat, Chrome muses over finding a large Medusa on SA. Xeno then tells Senku he's also aware about Why Man. Realizing they have time now, Senku grabs a chair and seats opposite Xeno. The two decide on sharing all the information they have so far.

Chapter 171
Kaseki brings out the music player, and Senku replays an old record he got from Byakuya. The record reveals the origin of the petri beam. Senku and Xeno then combine their intellectual capacities to discover the place the petrification beam started from. Chrome walks into the two scientists using large bubbles for a demo. The three of them began brainstorming about all the possibilities surrounding the phenomenon.
They discover that:
- The petrification enveloped the earth in under an hour.
- The beam itself isn't light, considering light would have been much faster. Additionally, the Soyuz and everyone aboard would have been petrified too.
- 56 seconds passed from the moment Xeno and Stanley saw the beam, up to the moment they were petrified.
- The beam travelled at 32,000 km/h.
Finally, the origin of the petrification beam is concluded to be 3 degrees, 7 minutes south latitude, by sixty degrees, 1 minute west Longitude.

Personal thoughts:
While the ending of the arc was lacking in more ways than one, the farewell between Senku and the rest of the crew was a really solid moment. Additionally, Chapter 171 was one of the strongest in the series, hands down. Seeing the whole discussion between Senku and his science mentor was fantastic. Moreso that Chrome was also able to join in, and wasn't treated with contempt by the two superior Science-users.
So, here's to the start of a new arc