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Edens Zero Chapter 109 Review/Recap

Firstly, I’m sorry that this post is late, but the website that updates the chapters was slow this week. Secondly, when I heard that the planet of Red Cave was supposed to be a fire planet, I called it ironic due to its abundance of water. However, I know that Mashima was just messing with us. That he’d show us why Red Cave’s a fire planet. And as we watch Shiki and the others face their biggest hurdle yet, we see that this was an accurate classification.

Recap

After getting over the shock of their meeting, Nadia explains that she is the guardian of the temple to Mother. To be precise, she’s been its guardian for two hundred years, protecting a treasure long gone. That, and a beacon leading to Mother. She does not stop the gang from going on ahead in search of the beacon. However, she warns them that they may not make it there alive.

Nadia wasn’t joking, either. As the gang travels through an underground cave, the temperature begins to rise to unbearable levels. Eventually, the area itself turns into magma that starts to burn everyone. Not even Shiki’s Gravity Gear can protect them! As a result, the group has no choice but to retreat, having learned the truth about the planet’s name of Red Cave.

Now back to square one, the Shining Stars reveal that only someone with armor on Ziggy’s level can make it through the fires of Red Cave. Witch can’t get through it with her Water Ether, either. However, she has a plan that involves her backtracking to Blue Garden. There, she approaches an old adversary: Laguna. Since Drakken Joe fell, he’s been working in disguise on the Opera Scene. Now, Witch wants his help.

Recap

After reading this chapter, I’ve got two things that I want to say about it. Firstly, I am impressed at the reveal of why Red Cave was called a fire planet. At first glance, it looked like the name was ironic, given the tropical waters. I was not expecting it to get its name from the underground caves that are literally on fire! That fact alone makes the name “Red Cave” all the more meaningful in hindsight. Well played, Mashima; well played.

Secondly, I knew that we had not seen the last of Laguna of Drakken Joe’s Element 4. Besides Sylph, Laguna was the only member of the four that I could tolerate, more or less. In addition, he’s the water member of the quartet, and the one in Mashima’s previous manga joined the heroes. I just didn’t expect to see him again so soon.

As far as getting past the gauntlet of fire, though, I think Laguna may be their best shot at getting to the Mother Beacon. Otherwise, Red Cave may be a dead end for the Edens Zero.

The one thing that stood out to me, though, was the revelation that Nadia’s been stuck inside that temple for two hundred years. I’m willing to bet good money that Shiki won’t abide by that and find some way to free her, though, so I look forward to learning more about Nadia. Overall, this was a good, solid chapter.

I Give “Red Cave” a 3/5

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Edens Zero Chapter 107 Review/Recap

You know what one of the worst things has been about this global pandemic? The fact that we can’t go to the beach without fear of COVID-19. Fortunately, we have works of fiction to take us to exotic beaches and locales to treat our summertime woes. And if there’s one thing that mangaka like Hiro Mashima are good at, it’s a beach chapter. That, and fanservice. Mashima is big on the fanservice in this beach chapter.

I would also like to point out that this marks the first planet that the crew of Edens Zero visits in the Aoi Cosmos.

Recap

Having arrived on the fire planet of Red Cave, the first thing the heroes note is how ironic that categorization is. The majority of the planet’s a watery paradise that everyone wastes no time in enjoying. As a result, everyone spends the day enjoying beach day activities, while Weisz tries to ogle the girls.

The coolest sights have yet to come, though. At one point, the light ether in the air fuses with the water, creating this spectacular phenomenon that captivates everyone. And Shiki, being who he is, takes Rebecca high into the air so she can record it on her B-Cube.

Before everyone can continue to enjoy the view, though, they see a ship crash into the water. Using these special Lacrima that let them breathe underwater, the group dives into the sea to see if the pilot needs help. The moment they get there, though, they discover that the pilot is long dead. Although, that becomes the least of their concerns as they look at the ocean floor. They realize that there’s an entire city under the sea. And at the center of the city is a building with images of Mother.

Review

I don’t think that I’ve ever mentioned this before, but I love the ocean and the beach a lot! When I was a kid, me and my family would go to the beach at least once a summer, and I just had so much fun there. From enjoying the waves and sand to being with friends, family, and more, it’s just so much fun. In addition, I’ve always wanted to see life under the ocean, but since humans can’t breathe underwater (and I get scared when I can’t see the bottom), that holds me back.

What I’m trying to say is, I really enjoyed this chapter, as it reminded me of why I love the beach in the first place. I know that anime and manga tend to use it for fan service, but’s that secondary to me. Those spectacular panels that Mashima drew with the raining were breath-taking, and I know that they’ll only look better in the anime.

In the meantime, though, I’m curious about this undersea city and its inhabitants. Maybe they know why Red Cave is called a fire planet. If it has something to do with why the pilot in the ship’s dead, though, then I got an uneasy feeling. Only time will tell, I guess. For now, let’s enjoy the beach.

I Give “A Planet Where Stars Fall Like Rain” a 4/5. Loses points for long name. Gains them for the panels.

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Edens Zero Chapter 106 Review/Recap

We’re back, people! After a national holiday that saw manga take a break last week, Edens Zero is back and ready for a new arc. When we last saw the Edens Zero, they had made it into the Aoi Cosmos. Which, in Mashima’s mind, somehow equates to oceans in the middle of space. As the heroes continue on their journey, though, they’ve attracted attention from the authorities. Enough attention for the Interstellar Army to call something called a “Prayer Council.” What is a Prayer Council? I don’t know, but it sounds important.

Recap

After a brief recap by our fourth-wall breaking narrator, Xiao Mei, we pick up where we last saw the Edens Zero: at the entrance to the fish cosmos, Aoi Cosmos. Unfortunately, Ziggy wiped the ship’s records of their trips outside the Sakura Cosmos. Combined with the Star’s having their memories wiped as well, and Witch admits they’re now flying blind. Hermit was able to find clues, though. Firstly, the Zero came along this exact same route before headed to the Fire Planet, Red Cave. Secondly is that the Aoi Cosmos is ruled by Poseidon Nero, He’s another member of the Oracion Seis and he’s called the Emperor.

Meanwhile, in another part of space, members of the Interstellar Army talk about how Noah lied in his report about one of his subordinates taking down Drakken Joe. Their leader, Justice, saw the Demon King Ether readings on Belial Gore; he knows it was someone else. The talking gets interrupted, though, by a communication from other members of the: the Oracion Seis Interstelar, who hold a prayer council.

In this prayer council, the Interstelar talk about Elsie traveling to the Aoi Cosmos and Joe’s defeat. As a result of Elsie’s movements, Justice volunteers to hunt down Elsie so that he may kill her. Meanwhile, the Edens Zero arrives at Red Cave, which is less a fire planet and more of a water planet.

Review

Since this chapter marks the start of the Aoi Cosmos Saga, as I’m referring to it, it had a lot of info that it needed to drop on us. So, I’m going to breakdown my thoughts on what we learned.

Firstly, I think we should discuss this Poseidon Nero. If he’s the Emperor of the Aoi Cosmos, then I have a feeling that he’s bad news. And given that the fact that Shiki is, well, Shiki, it won’t take long for the heroes to make him mad. They may pick a fight with his jerkwad lackeys or something, but we all know it’s going to happen. Unless Nero turns out to be a friend of the old Ziggy.

The bigger concern, though, is the revelation about the Oracion Seis Interstelar. If the Oracion Seis Galatica are the six strongest criminals in space, then Interstelar are the law’s equivalent to them. Nominally, they should be the good guys, but we have yet to see proof they are. More concerning is that, while they don’t know who he is yet, Shiki’s now on their radar. That means that they’re coming for him someday.

So, I still don’t know why this meeting was called a “prayer council”, but I know what I’m praying for: for Shiki to not do anything stupid. Or at least not to die again. Overall, slow start to the new arc, but we’ll get there.

I Give “Prayer Council” a 3/5

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