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Edens Zero Chapter 97 Review/Recap

Let it be said here and now: Edens Zero should be standing among the great Shonen Manga out right now! Mashima’s built on much of what he’s done in Rave Master and Fairy Tail and gave us some of his best work. Chapter 83 shattered readers, and now we’re hearing about this big announcement in the next issue of Weekly Shonen Magazine from Mashima. If it’s not about an Edens Zero anime, then it’s about Fairy Tail. In the meantime, though, this chapter sees Shiki finally break the barrier, as I thought. This chapter sees the rise of the Demon King Shiki!

Recap

Last week saw Joe turn into this hideous, Akira monster after Hermit reversed the machine that let him suck life from Belial Gore. According to her, all the life energy he took has now fused with Joe, turning him into this monstrosity. Now Joe’s trying to suck the life out of anyone unfortunate to cross his path. Worse, he’s taken Kurenai’s superweapon and is preparing to fire it. It’s target: Blue Garden!

With Joe’s base falling apart around them, Rebecca’s group has to flee before it’s too late. Even in his current state, though, Joe’s not going to let Rebecca go. With the rest of the crew restrained by Joe, none of them are able to stop Joe from trying to murder Shiki in the same fashion as the first time. This time, however, something different happens. The bullet falls to the ground as visions of the original timeline rush through Shiki’s head. He stands with a new, demonic look, and vows to never make his friends cry again. The new Demon King has risen.

Review

I don’t even know where to start with this chapter. It may be the best one since chapter 83, and I’m not just saying that because we came close to repeating that infamous moment. First thing’s first, let’s talk about how utterly terrifying Drakken Joe is now. Just look at him!

I’m not even sure how Joe’s able to maintain his sanity as this abomination, but I found him to be very scary. If he’s not taken down now, he’ll likely try and consume the life of everyone in the Sakura Cosmos, letting him rule over it forever. In other words, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Demon King Shiki.

What I really liked about this chapter, though, was the flashbacks we got to chapter 83. I’m not sure how, but it seems like Shiki and the others are remembering what happened in the original timeline. And, in true shonen fashion, seeing all that grief’s helped Shiki unlock his Overdrive form.

I have no idea what’s going to happen next week, but it’s going to be one of the biggest moments in the series. Emperor Carnage was right: next week, history will be made. Next week, we see the rise of the Demon King!

I Give “The Time is Now” a 5/5

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Edens Zero Chapter 95 Review/Recap

So, remember back in chapter 81 when we saw Drakken Joe show off what Ether Gear Overdrive is? That was already scary as it was. However, Mashima manages to take that and make Overdrive even more terrifying! Even Shiki’s going to need some help beating the Crime Lord. And as events in this chapter show, Weisz may end up being what helps them to win.

Recap

Just when it looks like the heroes (and Amira) will have to fight Jinn, Amira manages to talk him down. Revealing his real name’s Kris Rutherford, she tells everyone the true purpose of the machine standing before them. Joe’s life support is like a mechanical vampire. It drains the life force of everyone around it. Joe then uses that to cheat death. The crime lord’s been doing that on Norma, Guilst, and now Belial Goer. Even the Element 4’s being drained; eventually, the weakest die.

This revelation sends Weisz into a blind rage…

And makes Jinn turn on Joe to protect his sister. With the promise that the real Sister will save Kleene.

Elsewhere, Shiki refuses to let Drakken Joe win, no matter what, and his Ether begins to edge closer to Overdrive. Realizing that Shiki’s a threat, Joe decides to end the fight with his own Overdrive.

Like the first time, Joe’s Overdrive begins to turn Shiki to stone. Unlike the first time, though, Weisz shows up as Arsenal, furiously saying that Joe killed the person that meant more than anything to him.

Review

First off, I don’t like Jinn’s real name of Kris Rutherford. It just doesn’t sound as cool as ‘Jinn’ does. Thus, I’m going to keep call him Jinn until further notice. Secondly, this chapter just hammers home how much of a monster Drakken Joe is. He’s a parasite, leeching the life out of countless people to keep himself alive. I wholeheartedly share Jinn’s level of disgust at the monster, and can’t wait for him to get what he deserves.

Then, there’s the matter of Weisz. I can’t recall him ever being so mad before, so seeing him like that was a shock. Given his reaction to the machine, though, and what he flat out says at the end of the chapter, we know why. That machine took someone very important to Weisz away from him. As a result, he’s hellbent on taking Joe down. In past shonen manga, I’ve seen heroes get a massive power-up thanks to their anger, but it’s a double-edged sword. If Weisz can’t focus himself enough, he’s going to be a hindrance for Shiki.

The next chapter will likely shed some more light on Weisz’s past, and I honestly can’t wait. I want to know what Joe did to him. Who knows, maybe this will push Shiki and Weisz into achieving Overdrive.

I Give “Kris Rutherford” a 4/5

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Edens Zero Chapter 93 Review/Recap

We all remember what happened the first time that Shiki tried to stand up to Drakken Joe. We saw him get brutally murdered by the crime lord, traumatizing poor Rebecca and leaving her with PTSD. Even with the reset button Mashima gave the manga, the fact remains that Shiki’s outmatched against Joe. However, this is a Shonen manga. In Shonen manga, when the hero faces a villain stronger than them, they have to get stronger. In other words, unless we want a repeat of the execution site, Shiki has to get tougher.

Recap

Having decided to help out Shiki’s group, “Labilia” reveals herself to be Amira. AKA that shapeshifter the group met back in Digitalis who pretended to be Homura. As it turns out, Labilia was captured by Drakken Joe, but Amira freed her and told her to hide in the club that Homura’s at. Then she took her place to learn Joe’s weakness. Now that she knows it, though, she wants to help Shiki. Depsite all evidence saying otherwise, Shiki agrees.

Before they can get anything done, though, Joe shows up, triggering Rebecca’s PTSD. Joe immediately tries to take Rebecca’s Cat Leaper, but Shiki uses his Gravity power to send everyone else away from Joe. Despite knowing full well what happened in the original timeline, Shiki intends to protect Rebecca. As the battle between the Zombie and the Demon King begins, the two arrive at the execution site. The spot where Joe killed Shiki the first time. However, Shiki vows that he won’t let anyone make Rebecca cry in this timeline.

Review

So the Belial Goer now reaches its climax. How appropriate that it occurs in the execution site where we first saw Shiki die and things fall apart. This time, though, I think that things are going to go differently.

Do I think that Shiki has a chance to win? Not in his current state, no. But if the Shonen genre has taught me anything, it’s this: when the hero fights a villain stronger than they are, then they get a power-up that helps them win. It happened all the time with Goku in Dragon Ball. It’s got to happen for Shiki.

What concerns me the most, though, is Amira. She tried to kill the people in Digitalis and was going to leave Homura to take the rap. So, yeah, I don’t trust her. In fact, I suspect she’ll abandon the others first chance she gets. However, there’s no denying that they could use her help.

Next issue, the fight between Joe Shiki and Joe begins at last. Kick his butt, Shiki!

I Give “The Execution Site” a 4/5. Good twist.

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Edens Zero Chapter 92 Review/Recap

Shonen Jump may be off until May 10th, but at least we still got Kodansha Comics. The new chapter of Edens Zero brings us closer to the climax of the Belial Goer Arc. What’s more, it shows how far Homura has come as she earns her title as the new Sword of Edens. I’m so proud of her!

Recap

Sylph freaks out when she can’t beat Homura and starts saying that Joe will absorb her. However, the hair clip she wears activates and suppresses her emotions. The Element 4 member then goes back on the offensive and begins to force Homura into a corner. Homura counters with her own wind, which manages to overwhelm Sylph. Emerging victorious, Homura declares herself to be Homura Valkyrie, the Sword of Edens. Meanwhile, Witch takes down Laguna, bringing down the Element 4.

Elsewhere, Drakken Joe emerges from a healing tank, barely able to keep his body from withering away. Realizing that the Element 4 were beaten, Joe comes to a realization. The fact that the Element 4 and his boarding team were beaten means one thing: Cat Leaper has awakened. Meanwhile, Rebecca concludes the best way to beat Joe is to destroy his life support systems. Then Labilia starts laughing at the idea. Only it’s not Labilia: she’s some sort of girl with a spiral face.

Just see for yourself.

Review

Well, thanks to the Sword of Edens, Joe’s lost his elite troops and he doesn’t seem to have long for this world. In other words, he’s being backed into a corner. However, now Joe is well aware that Rebecca’s activated Cat Leaper, which will make him desperate. And when people are desperate, they do things they wouldn’t normally do.

Also, let’s talk about “Labilia”. If I’m right, then this imposter is really that woman from the G.I.A., Amira. I remember that she was trying to take down Joe, and impersonated Homura to do so. If it is her, I don’t trust her, at all. Her presecene also raises a lot of questions. Was she really Lablilia in the previous timeline or was that the real Labilia? Where’s the real Labilia? This throws everything for a loop!

Well, it looks like the Belial Goer Arc is headed into its endgame. Hopefully, the end will be as great as the build up. Also, Sword of Edens is what I’m nicknaming Homura from now on.

I Give “Sword of Edens” A 3/5

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