Podcast Saint Seiya · Podcast Saint Seiya

#123 — Saint Seiya THEN II e Champion RED Comemorativa

·1 hr 23 min·6 clips

The 40th-anniversary Saint Seiya magazine created hype but left fans feeling misguided and disappointed.

1. Podcast Saint Seiya (Cavaleiros do Zodíaco) hosts review the Champion RED 40th anniversary special magazine and the DEN chapter 2 by Masami Kurumada. 2. The episode features two regular hosts — the main unnamed host and Alan — with a third co-host Bruno absent due to travel; no external guests. 3. The episode's core question is whether the Champion RED 40th anniversary content justified the fan hype created by Akita's pre-announcement of a 'bigger announcement.' 4. The Champion RED special edition was officially launched on December 19 in Japan, with some readers receiving it earlier; it included a calendar, posters, autographed mangaka illustrations, and eight pages of the DEN chapter 2. 5. Akita (the publisher) made a preliminary announcement days before the release stating a 'bigger announcement' was coming, leading fans to speculate about a new saga or full serialization launch. 6. When the content was revealed, the 'extra' item was the announcement of QT103 in Weekly Shonen Champion — a repeat announcement because not all Champion RED readers also follow Weekly Shonen Champion. 7. The DEN chapter 2 continues from where chapter 1 ended: Iolaus's spirit finds Saori (Athena) near the sanctuary in Rodorio, crying in front of his written will. 8. Iolaus tells Saori to stop grieving, reminds her of her mission to defend the Earth and justice, and the chapter ends with Saori accepting this charge. 9. The hosts note DEN chapters are labeled 'DEN 1, DEN 2' rather than 'chapter 1, chapter 2,' suggesting they may be a prologue bridge to a future serialized manga rather than a standalone work. 10. The next DEN chapter is confirmed for Weekly Shonen Champion edition 15, on sale March 12, 2026, representing a shift from Champion RED to Champion's main weekly publication. 11. Ancillary releases covered include Saint Mary volume 2, Darkwing volume 8, and the Cogiro companion guide, all released on the same day with store-exclusive gifts at Gamers. 12. One host says he 'spent money he shouldn't have spent' buying the physical Japanese magazine via an Oricon proxy shipping service, because Amazon Japan's DHL shipping was causing customs tax problems. 13. The main host states plainly that both DEN chapters felt 'very little and very repetitive,' arguing the 40th anniversary warranted something more substantial. 14. Alan defends his positive reaction to DEN 2, saying it gives a satisfying 'little taste' and that the focus on Saori and Iolaus, unusual for a Kurumada Cavaleiros work, is part of what he found interesting. 15. The hosts debate whether Saori's characterization — being scolded by Iolaus to stop crying and accept her divine duty — is an imposed narrative rather than one that grows organically from her character. 16. Viewers in the live chat speculate that DEN may 'take as long as Next Dimension,' referencing the original series' multi-year gaps between chapters as a cautionary precedent. 17. The episode is a lively two-host live-stream format with chat interaction, frequent tangents about purchasing strategies, and recurring jokes about the absent Bruno. 18. Energy is warm and informal, with the hosts openly disagreeing on content quality while maintaining a good-natured dynamic; Portuguese-language comments are read aloud and engaged throughout. 19. This episode suits Brazilian Saint Seiya fans who want candid critical analysis of the 40th anniversary release rather than promotional coverage. 20. Casual listeners unfamiliar with Saint Seiya's serialization history and the Cavaleiros do Zodíaco fandom will find the context-dense discussion difficult to follow.

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