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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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Edens Zero Chapter 91 Review/Recap

Ever since we learned about Rebecca’s Cat Leaper, I’ve been wondering why Drakken Joe wants it. At first, I thought it was for obvious reasons. Having a power that acts as a reset button would make him unstoppable. However, the reasons may be more, desperate, as it were. At least, that’s what we learn in this new chapter of the manga as Homura faces down Sylph.

Recap

After meeting with the group, Old Sibir takes everyone to a storage room where they can hide. After learning that Weisz is from an alternate timeline, Sibir explains how the two originally fell out. In the original timeline, Weisz wound up stealing money from his gang that belonged to a loan shark called DJ Zombie. DJ punished Weisz by taking his arm. As a result, Weisz cleaned up his act, went back to school, and became a Professor. As for Zombie, he became even more powerful on Guilst and turned it into a cesspool. Who is DJ Zombie? None other than Drakken Joe himself.

Drakken Joe got his nickname because he didn’t seem to age. In fact, there are rumors he’s over two hundred years old! Rebecca then comes up with an idea about why he wants her power. What if whatever’s keeping him alive will soon fail him?

Meanwhile, Homura and Sylph continue their fight. Unlike last time, though, the two are more evenly matched. As their battle takes them to the same dancer hall, Sylph tries to increase her wind power. Only to be shocked when Homura shuts it down with her own wind power.

Review

Even though the title of the chapter is “Homura vs Sylph“, that fight felt more like a side note. Which is a shame, considering how hard Homura initially had it against Sylph. While it felt great to see Homura wipe the floor with the wind girl, I didn’t feel satisfied because of how easy it was.

Keep in mind, we returned to the past right as the others were getting ready to board Belial Goer. Which means that Homura would have no time to get stronger, which would be necessary to beat Sylph. Yet here she shuts her down altogether. It doesn’t make sense, even with prior knowledge!

Complaints aside, this chapter gave us a big hint about Drakken Joe. If he really is undead like people claim, then that would explain the rumors that he’s two hundred years old. In addition, it also explains why he’d want Cat Leaper: to go back in time and become young again. All the more reason why the heroes need to stop him now.

So, on one hand, I liked the exposition and learning how Weisz went from delinquent to respected professor. On the other, the fight was too one-sided. I hope the next chapter will do better, though.

I Give “Homura vs Sylph” a 2.5/5

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Edens Zero Chapter 89 Review/Recap

In case it wasn’t clear in the last few chapters, the second attempt of Edens Zero to take down Drakken Joe is going to be the one that succeeds. How do I know? Because I’ve seen and read Mashima’s work long enough to recognize patterns in his stories. At this point, we’re now entering the point where the supporting heroes clear out the cannon fodder like badasses. Case in point, little Hermit wrecks Fiery Fie.

Recap

Picking up where the last chapter left off, Noah explains to Rebecca and Shiki’s group why Joe’s so scary. He goes by two nicknames, the first being the Dark Alchemist. However, it’s the second that’s more unsettling: Undead Joe. Before he can finish explaining, the transmission’s cut off. The last thing the group hears is something about Joe’s weakness, though they have no clue what it is.

Down on the ground, Hermit continues her battle against Fie, who begins to get the upper hand with his fire Ether Gear, Flame Ammo. Using his flames as a cover, the crafty sniper slips away to his secret stash of weapons. Using his sniper rifle, he tries to take Hermit out like he did with Weisz in the first time around.

However, Hermit manages to dodge his bullets with little effort. She used her thermal sensors to track him the whole time. After that, she hacked into all of his weapons and proceeds to waste him. Since she’s not a monster, though, she coated all the bullets with Ether so he’ll live. With that, one of the Element 4 is down.

Review

If this whole thing were a video game, then I think that what happened to Fie qualifies as getting pwned. I knew going in that Hermit was going to win this fight, but to be honest, I thought it would last a little longer. If they ever make an anime out of this, I guess they can just add some extra scenes for time’s sake.

That said, seeing Hermit put Fie in his place while mocking his abilities to be a sniper is cathartic. This was the guy that shot Weisz before Rebecca reset everything. That’s when things went downhill for the heroes. It also reinforces why the heroes lost the first time: they went in blind and with no plan.

On a bigger scale, I’m intrigued by what it was that Noah was trying to say in the end. What is Drakken Joe’s weakness? Was it something we learned about already? I can only speculate for now, though. It seems we’ll have to wait to find out. The next few chapters will probably be the Shining Stars beating the Element 4 into the ground while Shiki’s team makes their way to Labilia. In other words, sit tight; we’ve got a ways to go before the big fight.

I Give “Hermit vs. Fie” a 3/5. Not the best fight, but Seeing Fie get wrecked was hilarious.

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Edens Zero Chapter 73 Review/Recap

Last chapter, Shiki and his group decide the only way to save themselves from Belial Goer is to take down Drakken Joe. However, before they can even come up with a plan, they’re ambushed by Laguna of the Element 4. He’s got this power to turn people into water when they cry, already doing so to Shiki. Honestly, his “Tears Lover” reminds of a Stand from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.

Recap

With his Ether Gear, Laguna can manipulate water and turn people into water when they cry in front of him. Having already gotten Shiki, Laguna uses Tears Lover to turn Pino into water since Pino’s already crying. After stomping on Weisz’s foot with his stillettos, he tries to use every possible trick to get Homura to cry. When none of those work, he crushes an onion instead. As a result, Homura succumbs to the power of Tears Lover.

However, Laguna’s shocked to find that one of the group’s missing: Weisz. As a result of using his disguise app and own Ether Gear, Weisz was able to fool Laguna into thinking he got him. Thus, he watched Laguna use all of his tricks, and knows every move he can make. With Laguna’s tricks foiled, Weisz transforms into Arsenal and prepares to do battle.

Review

As I said in the introduction, this chapter gave me some major JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure vibes. An enemy with the power to turn others into water by crying is the kind of bizarre ability you’d expect from that legendary manga. I don’t know if it’s intentional or not, but I didn’t mind. It’s fine to reference other works as long you try to make it your own.

While the power Tears Lover will probably seem lame in hindsight, at the moment, this is the toughest enemy Edens Zero’s faced. Laguna took out the two best fighters in the crew, but now Weisz stands poised to save the day. As a whole, though, I don’t think this chapter adds up to much; it’s merely buildup to a bigger fight to come.

I Give “Don’t Shed a Tear” a 3/5. More fighting.

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Edens Zero, Chapter 72 Review/Recap

One of the trademarks of Hiro Mashima’s work is his tendency to reuse the things he likes. Whether its a character design, a name, or concept, if he likes it, he’ll reuse it. The reason I’m discussing this is because the latest chapter of Edens Zero brings a certain group from Fairy Tail: the Element 4.

Recap

Having lost the chance to capture the Edens Zero, Drakken Joe shifts his focus onto Shiki’s group. First, he reveals what Shiki’s team looks like to everyone in Belial Goer, and commands the people capture them alive. In addition, he tells everyone that the person who brings the team to him will have all their debt erased. As a result, Shiki’s team has to go on the run from everyone.

After catching a break, the group decides that the best thing to do is to confront Joe directly. Using an app Weisz designed to disguise themselves, the quartet plan to meet with Joe and take him out. However, before they can put their plan into action, they’re ambushed by one of the Element 4. Calling himself the Spirit of Water, Laguna, he uses his ether gear to turn Shiki into water. As everyone stands in shock, Laguna vows to make the group cry.

Review

I remember the Element 4 from their incarnation in Fairy Tail, and they were a tough group to beat. Unfortunately for them, they’re the kind of mooks who are eventually forgotten as the heroes face stronger foes. The sole exception to this is Juvia, who Laguna serves as a counterpart to. She joined Fairy Tail as a main supporting character, and was one of my favorite members of the cast.

However, I think this Laguna of Joe’s Element 4 may be even stronger than Juvia. She could turn herself into water, but I don’t remember being able to do the same to others. I took that as a sign that the new Element 4 will be stronger than the ones in Fairy Tail.

With Shiki out of commission, Pino, Weisz, and Homura are at a serious disadvantage; and I’m fine with that. I’ve kept saying that a lot of the fights in Edens Zero seem a little two one-sided. A good shonen manga has the heroes face progressively stronger enemies so that they themselves become stronger. It makes me hopeful that Joe and the Element 4 will make the Edens Zero crew stronger before this is out. In addition, I think Laguna’s introduction was pretty good.

I Give “The Element 4” a 3.75/5. Good Setup for the conflict.

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