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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 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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