Reviewing the Demon Slayer Manga

By: Angela Yang

(SPOILER WARNING. PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK.)

Demon Slayer, or Kimetsu no Yaiba, is a 23-book manga series that has captivated readers all over the world, and has gained immense popularity. The series stars Tanjiro Kamado and his sister Nezuko. On a trip to sell coal to a neighboring village, Tanjiro returns to find his family completely lifeless and lying on the ground. The only survivor of this demon based killer is Nezuko, who has been turned into a human-craving demon. Tanjiro sets out to find a cure to turn Nezuko back into a human, and to destroy the demon who ruined his and Nezuko’s life.

The first time that I had been exposed to content from demon slayer was in kindergarten, when I had a classmate named Fiona. At our Halloween party, she dressed up as Nezuko (Way too mature for her.) Of course, I didn’t know who Nezuko was, and all I thought was that she was a cute girl with a stick of bamboo in her mouth. The second time was around this summer, when I went to Japan. We visited a sushi restaurant named Kura, and it was currently sponsoring the recently released Infinity Castle movie. I ordered a Bikkurapon! (for explanation, that is a ball with two halves. Once you open it, it reveals the toy or item inside.) After opening the ball, I received a pin showing Genya Shinazugawa, a supporting character in the series. At the time, I still didn’t know the franchise, so I resolved to give it to my friend Angela Lin, who is a huge anime fan. After returning home, I went to another Kura shop in Edison, where the sponsorship was still up, and saw Inosuke, a secondary protagonist, who wears the head of a boar on his head. I remember thinking, Who wears a boar head on his head? Weird!

Then, I actually read it. Returning to school, this time in middle school, on September 4th, 2026, I had a wider and more mature range of books to choose from. I was wandering in the manga section, before finding the shelf that housed the Demon Slayer section. After plucking the first book off the shelf I was immediately hooked. The story kept me on my toes with its emotional drops, action, lies, and secrets.

Now, as a fan who has read all 23 books, a few of the books of the spinoff series, and the second fanbook, I can now give my personal opinion on first the plot, then the demons, then the humans.

Firstly, I think that the plot is AMAZING. It waves many different people’s perspectives, and each person has their own story to tell. Even the demons! Each demon has their own backstory that is usually revealed at the time of their death. Some demons have such compelling stories to tell that they go around the barrier of pure evil, each having a motive. My favorite arc is the Infinity Castle Arc, or books 16-23. This is the final fight, when the climax is reached. The author, Koyoharu Gotouge, seamlessly weaves many backstories and plot together, making the entire a tapestry of emotion, laughs, and tears. I would rant about the plot for a longer time, but typing a rant is not as fun as ranting it in person.

Secondly, the demons. Demons can only be turned into demons when receiving the blood of Muzan Kibutsuji, the King of Demons. All demons consume humans regularly. The Twelve Kizuki are the twelve demons that serve directly under Muzan, and are the twelve strongest demons in existence. They can only be killed by being poisoned with the wisteria flower, or by being beheaded with a Nichirin sword. When demons eat enough humans, they develop powers known as Blood Demon Arts, or BDA. Most BDAs have something to do with their backstory, and most demons have some kind of tragic backstory that makes fans sympathize for them, making them not just pure evil. My personal favorite is Doma, who holds the position of Upper Rank Two in Muzan’s army. (Most people hate him. I actually never knew he was hated until I searched it up on Google. To this day, I don’t understand it.)

Finally, the humans. Nearly all humans in the story belong to the Demon Slayer Corps, the unofficial organization led by the Ubuyashiki clan that slays demons. The nine strongest members of the Demon Slayers are the Hashira, and their names are Sanemi Shinazugawa, Shinobu Kocho, Kyojuro Rengoku, Tengen Uzui, Mitsuri Kanroji, Obanai Iguro, Giyu Tomioka, Gyomei Hinejima, and Muichiro Tokito. (My personal favorite is Shinobu.) Each slayer (except Genya) utilizes a type of Breathing style, which essentially boosts their strength and to that of a demon, allowing for an equal fight. Most demon slayers have tragic backstories, which allows them to avenge someone that was close to them. All demons were formerly human but now aren’t and eat people. I think that the characters have great variety, and overall the humans are great people!

There, now you have it. Enjoy the series!

The MMMS Guide to Music Production

 The MMMS Guide to Music Production

By: Elliot Yi

Often, there are people with musical talent who don’t know what to do with it. If you want to start producing music at home, then this article is for you! After you read this guide, you’ll be able to produce and publish a song.

Step One: First, depending on your skill level, these school-allowed websites will help you grow in music production. For example, newer creators can use this site called Chrome Music Lab’s Song Maker Tool. This website is completely free and is meant for all ages learning how to make music. With more than five musical instruments to choose from, you can make songs up to four minutes long. They both have many instruments, like the piano and violin. If you are an intermediate/semi-pro level and have music experience under your belt, then SoundTrap or NoteFlight is for you.

Step Two: Now you have a music program to use, it is time to create your music. Spending a couple of minutes to think of a good idea for the song before starting is highly recommended, including BPS (beats per second), genre, and length. For more experienced creators, having a good idea, chord extensions, and instrument solos add a good bit of flair for the song. After the song is complete, you are ready for the final step.  

Step Three: If the program you chose was Chrome Music Labs, skip to the final step. However, if it is a SoundTrap or NoteFlight, this step is for you. First, you download the MP3 File by the export button, and it might take a bit to download. Once the file is downloaded, go over to Canva, make a video, import the MP3 file, and put it on the page. After you complete and the page time is stretched, you can copy and paste an image image, video, or gif and click share. Once there, go to the Collaboration tab, click “Only People with Access,” and replace it with “Anyone with link.” Once complete, copy the link and go to step 4.  

Step Four: To publish your song, go to the Google Sites Top Five to view it. Ask for editor access from the Manager, create/make a composer page, and post the song there. Make sure to follow the rules. If the tune reaches enough views, the song will make it in the Top Five Charts, which is basically a graph to show the most viewed songs.

Now you have completed the creation and publication of your first song.

Top 9 Thrill Rides at Six Flags Great Adventure

 Top 9 Thrill Rides at Six Flags Great Adventure

By: Nicholas Carbone

At Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, there are nine major thrill rides located throughout the park. Those rides consist of: Kingda Ka, El Toro, Batman: The Ride, Green Lantern, Superman, Nitro, Jersey Devil Coaster, Medusa, and The Joker. Read on for my  OFFICIAL ranking of all the nine major rides at Six Flags Great Adventure. I will be grading it off of the wait time, the ride in general, and my personal thoughts on the ride. Let’s start off with the worst one of these rides:

9: THE JOKER: 3.5/10   

Out of these, this is probably the worst ride in the whole park. The line could get extremely long, even up to an hour from my personal experience. Also, the ride is extremely uncomfortable and overall not fun. From my experience, my friend and I waited a whole hour on the line for the ride, being bored out of our minds, and the ride wasn’t even that worth it! So clearly, this ride deserves an easy 3.5/10.

8: GREEN LANTERN: 4/10 (RIP)

To be completely honest, Green Lantern getting closed is an amazing idea because of how bad it is! The line is extremely boring, but the ride itself isn’t that bad, despite the fact that you’re STANDING! This ride destroys your legs, which causes nobody to ride it. I’d say if the ride wasn’t a standing coaster, it would be a lot higher on the list.

7: BATMAN: THE RIDE: 5/10

I don’t know if it’s just me, but whenever I go on this line for the ride, I feel like I’m in Gotham. But, when I’m in the inside part of the line, it is extremely tight! If you go on the ride in the second to the last row, I’d say it's alright. If you go in the front, you easily get the best experience ever! Also, I kind of enjoy the idea of your legs hanging, and that’s why it deserves a 5/10, right in the middle.

6: SUPERMAN: ULTIMATE FLIGHT: 5.75/10

I don’t get it, but whenever I go to Six Flags, it’s usually never opened. The ride itself isn’t anything to marvel at, but it’s the kind of rollercoaster that is amazing. This ride takes a normal carnival coaster and turns it into an amazing thrill ride. But the wait time is usually very long, so that’s why this ride is a 5.75/10.

5: JERSEY DEVIL COASTER: 6/10

This ride is the definition of “meh.” The ride is just your average coaster, and what is really bad is that the lines could get very long, and there is only one seat per row. That means that you can’t sit next to your friends, which could be very annoying at some point. Other than that, the ride is alright and deserves a 6/10 at the number 5 spot.

4: Medusa: 7.5/10

Medusa is a lot of fun to go on, especially for the first time. I only went on it once, and I had a lot of fun. The line isn’t the best, but the ride itself, especially at the end with the abundance of loops, it’s a lot of fun. But while this ride is a lot of fun along with the others, the top three on this list are truly the best.

3: El Toro: 8.5/10

When I went on El Toro for the first time, I hated it. And if I never went on it again, this ride would be a lot lower on my list. Although it’s very rough, it could be very smooth at some points during the ride. Even though you must have a locker to go on this ride, it is worth the wait and clearly deserves a 8.5/10.

2. Kingda-Ka: 9/10 (RIP)

Like a lot of people, when I first went on Kingda-Ka, I was very nervous. It then turned out that this ride was amazing! Kingda-Ka was the tallest ride in the world, but now the ride will be closed permanently, with it being demolished in February. It’s truly a shame to see such an awesome ride close forever, but it will forever be a 9/10.

1. Nitro: 10/10

And to end this list, it obviously has to end with Nitro. Nitro is literally the perfect ride for anyone. It’s not too babyish, and it’s not too scary to the average person. The line goes by pretty quickly, and it feels really great to chill on. One time, I went on Nitro in the front row and at sunset, and it was one of the greatest experiences on a ride in my life. To me, it’s a perfect 10/10.

Game Review: Undertale By: Vihaan Chavva

WARNING: This review contains some spoilers. If you want to play Undertale spoiler-free, DO NOT read this article. Undertale is a popular indie game made by Toby Fox and published in 2015. The game is advertised with the phrase “nobody has to die.” It’s an RPG (Role-Playing Game) where players can either spare or kill monsters and can face consequences for it. The game contains multiple endings, but the three main ones are True Pacifist, Neutral, and Genocide. As the name suggests, True Pacifist means that the player spared every character that they came across, while Genocide means that every monster was killed. The story begins as a human named Frisk falls into the hole atop Mount Ebott. This takes him to the underground, where monsters were forced to live by humans. From here, the story is the player’s choice. They can kill in self defense, spare monsters as much as possible, or kill them all, with no remorse whatsoever. The interesting part is the game acknowledges the actions of the player with the character Flowey. Flowey doesn’t address the character, Frisk, rather the player. The game relies on breaking the player’s expectations, making characters who seem lazy, like Sans the Skeleton, a final boss when following genocide route. Another example is Flowey the Flower, a seemingly innocent character that is supposed to introduce you to the game mechanics, but instead attacks the main character right away. Toby Fox often mentioned how he took inspiration from different older generation video games, including EarthBound. The combat is fluid, with a simple yet engaging premise. However, one of the greatest parts of Undertale is the music. Pieces like Megalovania, Hopes and Dreams, Battle Against a True Hero, Finale, and Save the World are some of the most popular music pieces. Undertale’s characters have even had an influence on other forms of media. For example, Sans made his way into Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, a popular Nintendo game where characters from different series crossover to create one of the most popular fighting games of all time. Undertale even has its own fangames, with dedicated fans working to create their own interpretation of the loved game series. Among these include Undertale Yellow, TS! Underswap, and PS! Outertale. In my opinion, the game deserves an 8/10. While the in-game fights are quite fun to play, parts of the game can be slow at times, taking a long time to traverse through. Hotland, for example, can take an hour to traverse through, as the player is entertained with the different antics of the robotic star, Mettaton. Genocide run especially takes a long time, as Sans and Undyne the Undying can take many days to beat, and their patterns have to be understood in order to even have a chance at beating these bosses. In conclusion, Undertale is a revolutionary game that changed the gaming industry forever. The game has had a massive influence on games, even after almost 10 years of its initial release. Undertale has even spawned sequels, fangames, and alternate universes and still has a growing fanbase to this day. (And I haven’t even touched on Deltarune :)

Game Review: Pong

 By Oliver Umanski

Pong was a game that was created in 1972. It has been around for more than 50 years! It was first created by Allan Alcorn at Atari as a training exercise and instead grew larger. Pong is a great game with loads of features. The graphics are amazing! Pong was originally released with 8-bit graphics. More of the features are the realistic action of the ball. It moves in such a realistic way that when I played it, I got out of touch with reality! There is realistic motion blur when the paddles move, and their texture is beyond amazing. So much detail was put into making the paddles look like real rackets! 

Most videogames like Roblox or Fortnite may possess multiple objectives, but the only objective in pong is to get the highest score! Pong is an endless game with millions of different plays and possibilities. The game doesn’t have a story, instead it's focused on your high score and reflex. The game has grown greatly since the beginning. The ball and paddles have gotten more graphics and the game was raised to a greater resolution. The game still stands for updates and decades to come.

Note; I heavily took inspiration from Vihan Chava’s writing “Game review: Minecraft.” I took his writing and made an almost parody of it. I recommend you read his great writing also on the Lion’s Pride. This is all exaggerated.

Book Review: The Outsiders

Written by: Nicholas Carbone

    Are you having trouble finding the greatest book of all time? Would you simply desire to locate a book and exclaim: “Wow, that was the greatest thing I’ve ever read!”

Well my fellow reader, you are reading the right article, because today’s article is about The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton. This book is about a 14 year old Ponyboy Curtis, who is part of a gang called the Greasers. This book mainly takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Greasers are poor, defensive hoodlums who have long hair and are quite dirty. But every book needs a villain, and this book’s aggressive villains are the Socs. The Socs are a rich, spoiled group of “good people.” The Socs do many terrible things, including beating people up, and being spoiled brats. So, now that you know more about the kind of characters, it’s about time that we touch the plot of this perfect book.

The book starts off as 14 year old Ponyboy Curtis is walking home from a movie theater alone, when he is jumped, or attacked, by a few Socs, the rich upper class. His 20 year old brother, Darry Curtis, is able to save Ponyboy from the Socs. But there’s something different about the Curtis brothers. The Curtis’ mother and father both were killed in an auto wreck a little bit ago, and the court allowed for Darry to take care of his brothers Ponyboy and Sodapop, as long as they didn’t get into deep trouble. The author then introduces the other Greasers, including Dallas Winston, Two-Bit Matthew, Johnny Cade, and a few others introduced later on. The boys eventually get into a bit of trouble as their rocky road journey begins.  

After S.E. Hinton published this book in 1967, it became a huge success. Then about fifteen years later, the best selling book was made into a successful movie.

Unlike some Hollywood adaptations of books, this movie is very similar to the book. There are some differences; for example, you can see Dally yelling at some kids in the beginning of the movie. This obviously never happened in the book though. But what’s very surprising about this movie is that the movie is known more than the book. But if you ask me, I think the book is way better than the movie adaptation. There is also a show on The Outsiders, and it surprisingly got good reviews, with a 7.3/10 on IMDb. 

All in all, movie or book, The Outsiders will remain golden and loved by many generations of children and adults.