RJ Writing Ink

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 98 Review/Recap

Folks, ever since the announcement came last week that Edens Zero would be getting an anime, I have been over the moon! Hiro Mashima’s an amazing mangaka, and his stories have always been able to put a smile on my face. What this means for my blog, though, is that I’ll have something new to write about when it comes out. Plus, you can’t go wrong with Mashima’s blatant mastery of fan service. Speaking of which, turns out that this week’s chapter has two surprises. The first is a color spread for the first chapter as we see the birth of Demon King Shiki. The second, I’m saving for the end.

Recap

Now in a strange new form, Shiki isn’t just able to keep pace with the evil Drakken Joe. He completely outclasses him! His Gravity Gear has the gravitational pull of a black hole, sucking everything towards him.

As for Rebecca and Homura, working together alongside Happy, they manage to pry themselves free from Joe’s grasp, and proceed to annihilate his appendages as one. Aboard the Edens Zero, Witch, Sister, and Hermit are able to power up the ship’s main cannon enough to obliterate Joe’s superweapon, saving Blue Garden from destruction. It took draining part of their Ether Cores, but it was worth it in the end.

Enraged, the monstrous Joe clashes with Shiki one final time, only for Shiki to get glimpses of his past: years ago, Joe was a boy on a world where no one lived long. He wanted to change that, and began to study alchemy to take other’s life and live long and make friends. In the present, Joe figures out what’s going on: Shiki’s gravity is so powerful, it’s actually pulling in the memories of those around him. As a result, he saw Rebecca’s memories of World No. 29. Declaring that he’s lived long enough, Shiki tells Drakken Joe to sleep, before launching a final, limit breaking move at him, defeating the crime lord at last!

Review

HOLY CRAP, THAT WAS AWESOME!!!! I’ve been a fan of Hiro Mashima’s work for years, and I’ve picked up a thing or two about his writing style. And when he does an action sequence right, the mere sight of it can get my blood pumping. And this chapter got my blood pumping in excitement!

But let’s breakdown what made it work so well. First, there’s the fact that we see each of the heroes giving their all and bulldozing their way through the invincible Drakken Joe. And watching Homura, Happy, and Rebecca go to town on Joe is something that will look gorgeous in anime format.

Then we have Joe’s backstory and why he was so obsessed with immortality. He was denied the chance to live long, and like Shiki, he wanted to go out into the cosmos and make friends. It makes him a dark foil to what Shiki could have turned out like if he was left alone on Granbell. Still no excuse for what he did, though.

This may be one of the best chapters of the manga yet, and with the news of it getting an anime in the future, it’s one hell of a way to celebrate. Not to mention, the defeat of Drakken Joe will signal the rise of Shiki Granbell, the Demon King!

Plus, Mashima gave us this summer spread of pin-ups as a bonus. Way to work with the fan service.

I Give “The Advent of the Demon King” A 5/5

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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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