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Edens Zero Chapter 124 Review/Recap

So, I thought that Edens Zero would be on break until after the New Year. Therefore, I had no clue that the next chapter of the manga had been released on the Internet. But given how we ended the last chapter with Elsie and Justice about to duke it out, I couldn’t resist. Speaking of those two, I want to make things clear. Unless things change, I refuse to board the ship of Jelsie. It’s way more messed up than Jerza.

Recap

Now utterly infuriated that Justice would seek to harm Shiki, Elsie wastes no time in attacking her foe. The resulting clash of ether’s so great, poor Shiki gets blown away by it. As all of this goes down, Elsie’s lieutenant’s locate Justice’s men. Both sides unleash the power of their Ether Gear and begin, with Homura’s freedom at stake.

Back with the clash between the Oracion Seris members, more about Elsie and Justice’s history is revealed, as well as the reason why Jelsie failed. When they were children, Elsie and Justice (whose real name is James) were the Prince and Princess of two kingdoms. They were to be wed when they grew up to unite their kingdoms. However, Else discovered a dark secret behind their homes that could’ve wiped out their part of the universe. Instead, Elsie told people the truth, and the resulting war destroyed their home and families. The Jelsie ship was sunk.

In the present day, in order to prove that their relationship is dead, Justice kisses Elsie just so he can stab her. Except, she was planning to do the exact same thing.

Review

Ever since their first appearance in the manga, people have compared Elsie and Justice to their respective counterparts in Fairy Tail, Erza and Jellal. It made sense in context: childhood friends turned enemies, friends again, and then a lot of ship teasing! (I ship Jerza, by the way.) Naturally, the shipping aspect carried over here to create Jelsie. However, it’s now apparent that Jelsie’s not like Jerza. Instead, Jelsie is a dark, twisted version of Erza and Jellal’s relationship.

We don’t know the full story about what happened to Elsie and Justice as kids, so we lack the full context. At the moment, though, it sounds like Elsie found herself in a no-win situation. The kind where, no matter what decision she made, people would die. But Justice’s sense of justice is so emotionally stunted he can’t see it like that. As a result, this is the outcome: two people who could’ve been lovers end up as deadly enemies. Until further notice, consider Jelsie sunk!

As for Shiki, this fight’s shown him that he needs to get even stronger so this won’t happen again. However, he may get some help in the form of this mysterious, robotic looking mentor type. We’ll have to wait until the New Year, though. Great chapter to end 2020 on, though.

I Give “Kiss & Die” a 4.5/5

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Edens Zero Chapter 123 Review/Recap

Before we start, I would like to say that I had no clue that there was a new chapter of Edens Zero last week. I thought the manga was on break for the Holidays. And I picked a bad time to drop the ball, too. Remember how my last review called Justice a Knight Templar? I’m considering upgrading him to Sakazuki levels of jerkass after reading the latest chapter.

Recap

Picking up immediately following the end to the last chapter, Justice proclaims that the Interstellar Union Army was formed for one purpose: to strike down evil, be it Oracion Seis Galactica, or lawless travelers like Shiki. According to Justice, the Edens Zero is an unregistered ship, which is bad enough. However, Shiki’s association with Elsie and Ziggy is enough to warrant killing him right then and there.

What follows is Justice beating the shit out of Shiki. Meanwhile, despite being stunned by that creepy robophile, Weisz refuses to let the mad doctor harm Shiki. When he learns that Weisz is the past version of his counterpart (who’s apparently famous among scientists), he decides to shift focus to him.

Back with Shiki, he’s battered but not broken by Justice’s last attack. Right before the fanatic can deliver the killing blow, Elsie appears at last! Apologizing to Shiki for letting this happen to him, she tells him that her crew will rescue Homura. Now visibly enraged, Elsie then directs her full fury onto Justice.

Uh-oh.

Review

If you didn’t read Mashima’s previous work, here’s some context about Elsie. She’s based on Erza Scarlet, one of the main heroines of Fairy Tail and one of the most badass women you will ever meet. And while Erza’s very much a kind and caring person, if you make her mad, then I hope that you’ve made peace with yourself. 

This isn’t a joke. Erza’s downright terrifying when she’s angry, and it looks like Elsie retains that character trait when it comes to protecting those she cares about. 

Speaking of retaining character traits, Justice’s move set is a virtual copy of his Fairy Tail counterpart, Jellal. That’s fine by me because Jellal’s awesome. What’s not fine is how far Justice is willing to go to punish those he sees as evil, even if it’s by mere association with Elsie. As I was reading this chapter, a dangerous thought entered my head. If Justice isn’t driven off now, he’ll hunt down and capture all of Shiki’s friends, or worse! 

Bottom line, I don’t know what Elsie did to him, but that doesn’t give him the right to hurt innocent people. 

The manga’s on break until the new year, so don’t expect many more posts from me in 2020. When the manga returns, I hope Elsie beats the snot out of Justice. And Weisz and Hermit send that mad doctor to the scrap heap!

I Give “The Light of Justice” a 3/5

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

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Edens Zero Chapter 118 Review/Recap

I know that a lot can be said about the girls in Hiro Mashima’s manga. That they’re overly-attractive. He uses them for a lot of fan service. However, when you look past the excess fan service, you’ll notice that most of the girls Mashima creates have one thing in common. When things hit the fan, they become incredibly badass!

Also, after this week’s chapter, my head canon is that Elsie is Erza and Jellal’s daughter!

Recap

After seeing Shiki’s power with Gravity Gear, Orc finally reveals who this ‘Shura’ is: another Gravity user, maybe even stronger than Ziggy. He then mocks Shiki by saying that the three will clash one day.

Meanwhile, Elsie and her crew arrive on Foresta, only to be faced by the brainwashed machines. Seeing that she has no choice, Elsie activates her Ether Gear: Star Drain. It lets her drain the Ether from a planet and convert it into battle armor.

She then proceeds to use it to demolish the robots. Elsewhere, Rebecca and Homura are at their limits. Regardless of the pain they’re in, though, they refuse to lie down. To the Commando’s shock, they get up and defiantly challenge them.

In another part of the Aoi Cosmos, we are treated to our first glimpse of Shura, the son of Poseidon Nero and a full-blown monster who sadistically kills two girls.

Review

Like I said: Mashima’s girls are badass, plain and simple. From Elie to Erza, to Rebecca and Juvia. When Mashima gives them the chance, they can be so awesome, and Elsie drives that point home.

On the one hand, I’m a little disappointed that Elsie’s Ether Gear is a repackaged version of Erza’s Requip Magic. On the other hand, I loved Erza’s Requip magic, so I’m fine with Mashima reusing it. Not to mention, she named her attack after Jellal’s signature move in Fairy Tail

Meanwhile, Hermit revealed to Weisz where the virus that Ziggy used to make the robots go nuts is coming from: an orbital server that they’re probably going to have him hack. That’s the best way to turn everyone back to normal.

As for Shura, what can I say? The man’s a psychopath and he’s going to be a problem in the future. Why else would Mashima introduce him now? I look forward to seeing where he goes with this.

See you next week, everyone! Hoping to see Rebecca and Homura throw down.

I Give “Star Drain” a 3.9/5

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Edens Zero Chapter 104 Review/Recap

Thanks to the intervention of Elsie Crimson, Ziggy and the Edens One have retreated. That’s small comfort to Shiki and the Shining Stars. They now have to accept the fact that Shiki’s adopted grandpa’s now his worst enemy. However, what could have brought about this change following his resurrection? In this chapter, Elsie Crimson gives us some clues and explains her past with Ziggy.

Recap

The first Elsie does once on the Edens Zero is enjoy is giant baths with Rebecca and Homura. She says skin ship is a great way to bond. Homura, though, demands a duel with Elsie. The redhead then manages to catch Homura’s ether sword with her foot.

And promptly kicks her butt.

As soon as the girls are out of the baths, though, Shiki wants to know the truth about Ziggy and Elsie’s relationship with him. So, she sits the gang down and has a nice chat with them.

Many years ago, Elsie was a refugee from war when Ziggy found her. He let her stay on the Edens Zero as he returned to Granbell with baby Shiki. When he finally returned to Granbell, he left the Zero to her, with the promise of giving it to Shiki when the time came. Unfortunately, she had no idea how to survive on her own, so she just kept stealing. Next thing she knew, she was called a pirate.

After she gave the ship to Shiki, she returned to Granbell to visit Ziggy’s grave. However, she found that his mechanical body was emitting a new, dark ether from it. She doesn’t know what could have happened to him, but she’s determined to take him down, and invites Shiki to do the same.

Shiki’s ultimate goal hasn’t changed, though. He’s going to stop his grandpa’s plans, see Mother, and have her repair Granbell. With new resolve, the crew of Edens Zero reaches the border between Sakura Cosmos and Outer Space: Dragonfall.

Review

Well, it’s nice that we finally got some backstory regarding Mashima’s expy for Erza Scarlet. Everyone’s thinking it, so I’m only saying it. Personality wise, Elsie is a more of a troll than Erza was, but she’s got her monstrous strength! It also explains why someone so nice is a pirate. Then again, so is Luffy.

The big concern, though, is about Ziggy. I have a new theory now: what if that’s not really Ziggy in his body, but something far more sinister? Elsie dis say this dark ether is different from the Demon King’s. Perhaps he’s been infected by some malevolent force with one goal: to see mother.

Regardless, it looks like our time in the Sakura Cosmos is about to come to an end. We’re going to see the whole universe now, and I am pumped for what’s to come. This chapter does a good job of preparing ourselves for everything that’s about to happen. So many adventures and mysteries await us. I’m pumped!

I Give “The Woman They Call Pirate” a 3.8/5

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