Semi-Perpetual Book-Reading Blog, 2022

[Quatermass]

BOOK 138

One Piece New World 64-65-66 by Eiichiro Oda.

So, here I am, reading the second half of the Fishman Island arc of One Piece. But how would it fare? Let’s find out…

Hody Jones has taken over Fishman Island, intending to wipe out any dissidents who dare to support the ideals of Queen Otohime or show sympathy to humans. But the Strawhats still oppose him, and the pacifistic Princess Shirahoshi still has a mysterious power sleeping inside her. Can Luffy and his allies defeat Hody before his hatred consumes everything?

Once again, the surreal nature of One Piece proves to be something of a hindrance to enjoying this series. It doesn’t help that a lot of the time, Hody is basically Arlong Lite, and the reasons behind his actions, while realistic when dealing with bigotry and xenophobia, are still disappointing. Plus, most of this omnibus volume is a series of running battles.

Yet to see the Strawhats fighting against bigotry and xenophobia is wonderful, and the themes of this volume are fine enough. Plus, the revelations about Poseidon and the mysterious Joyboy are setting things up for the future, as is glimpses of Big Mom. And seeing Hody and his minions get a very fitting comeuppance is enjoyable.

Overall, this was a decent conclusion to the Fishman Island arc. Time will tell if future arcs do better or worse…

****

 

[Quatermass]

BOOK 139

The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic volume 1 by Kurokata.

Another day, another isekai story. This one, The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic, I wanted to give a go because of a somewhat novel concept. But how would it fare?

It’s the same old story, where a fantasy world summons teenagers from another world to fight evil. Only, along with the intended summonees Suzune Inukami and Kazuki Ryusen, they get an unintended tagalong, Ken Usato. And when they discover Usato has affinity with healing magic, a magic considered almost useless in most parts of this world, all hell breaks loose. For Usato is soon conscripted by driven and ruthless healing mage Rose, who puts him through hellish training, all to become part of her powerful healing corps…

This first volume of this series has, admittedly, more than a few faults. The hellish training is played a little too much for laughs, Rose takes a little too much time to become likeable, and it’s filled with a lot of the isekai clichés. Not to mention that this volume cuts off the plot with not only a hell of a cliffhanger, but without any leadup to the true climax.

However, it’s still an immensely entertaining story. Usato and Inukami are fairly interesting characters, as is Rose, albeit by dint of their rather strange quirks. In addition, it adds a fairly novel twist to fantasy tropes, using healing magic as a cornerstone for surprisingly immense power.

Overall, despite its many faults, this book was an entertaining yarn. I just hope the next volume is more satisfactory…


***½

 

[Quatermass]

BOOK 140

Chainsaw Man volume 1 by Tatsuki Fujimoto.

Chainsaw Man is one of the most notorious manga series to come out of Japan with a striking if somewhat sensationalist title. So I thought I’d give it a go if nothing else. But how would it fare?

Denji’s got a bad life. His father killed himself, leaving Denji to pay off his father’s debts to the Yakuza as an amateur Devil Hunter, helped by his demonic pet Pochita. But when the Yakuza betray him, Denji only survives by fusing with Pochita, becoming the gruesome Chainsaw Man. Conscripted by Makima, a senior Public Safety Devil Hunter, Denji’s days won’t be boring, to say the least…

As with most initial shounen manga volumes, a lot of the first volume is taken up with worldbuilding with little actual plot. In addition, this series is very grotesque and gory from the get-go, though given the subject matter and title, that’s hardly surprising. In addition, I have ambivalent feelings about Denji, especially given his vulgarity going beyond what I would expect.

Yet despite these serious flaws, there’s some good points too. Denji is refreshing in his simplicity, and we have interesting characters in Makima and Power. The concept of Devils being embodiment of phobias is also an intriguing one.

Overall, the first volume of Chainsaw Man is a considerably flawed and grotesque story, albeit one that was still entertaining and intriguing. Maybe the next volume will pick up…


***

 

[Quatermass]

BOOK 141

Doctor Who: Rogue by Kate Herron and Briony Redman.

Given my steadfast refusal to subscribe to streaming services, I would tide myself over with novelisations from the latest series of Doctor Who until it eventually came out on home video over here. I decided to risk Rogue from the latest series. But how would it fare?

In Regency Britain, the Doctor is helping Ruby Sunday indulge her Bridgerton fantasies at the estate of the Duchess of Pemberton. But they are far from the only visitors from a long way away. The bounty-hunter known as Rogue has arrived, believing the Doctor to be his quarry, but as they dance around each other in more ways than one, the real culprits make their way through the hosts, guests, and staff of Pemberton Hall. The Chuldur, shapeshifting hedonists, are on Earth, to indulge in a deadly cosplay party, and only the Doctor, Rogue, and Ruby can stop them…

The plot is fairly light on structure, and heavy on the Bridgerton references too. In addition, Ruby is a bit sidelined for the story. And the character of Rogue seems like a rather unsubtle attempt to create a new Captain Jack Harkness or River Song.

Still, for what it’s worth, it’s an entertaining romp. The relationship between the Doctor and Rogue is somewhat sweet, with more of Rogue’s background explained compared to what was onscreen, and Ruby gets to shine. The Chuldurs are also an interesting and unique enemy, basically amounting to being murderous and selfish cosplayers who mess with history for the sheer fun of it.

Rogue was an enjoyable and entertaining story. Nowhere near perfect, but not bad at all…

****

 

[Quatermass]

BOOK 142

Transformers: Last Bot Standing, by Nick Roche and EJ Su.

There’s a trend in comics these days to do distant potential epilogues for franchises, with Hulk: The End and Old Man Logan being infamous examples. Having had my interest in the Transformers franchise recently revived, I thought I’d delve into the comics. And one in particular caught my eye, one that is a possible coda to the franchise…

Eons into the future, the war between the Autobots and Decepticons is long over. But at a terrible cost. Stars are going out, most planets are destroyed and no longer habitable. But on Donnokt, civilisation exists and is thriving to a degree. Shib Wallkis is seemingly an ordinary wagon driver delivering goods for her people, wary of new technological advances, but she harbours a secret, a secret kept by her family for generations. And when a mysterious massive robot staggers into town, they learn why: her wagon is built over one of the last Autobots, Rodimus Prime. But why is he so aggressive towards his own kind? Are the new arrivals friend or foe? And can Rodimus’ ageing body and mind help him save Donnokt from danger?

The plot, admittedly, is a fairly simple one. Not only that, but Rodimus’ protagonist-centred morality doesn’t help his case that much, even when he’s proven right. And there’s not enough of the old and familiar characters.

Yet the story is a surprisingly hopeful potential coda to the series. It’s a deconstruction of the Transformers’ war, but Rodimus, despite dooming his entire people to extinction, also fights to defend one of the last civilisations of the dying cosmos. Shib Wallkis is also an interesting character, and it’s depressing, horrifying, and yet darkly comical to see the other Transformers degrading into organic fuel-consuming junkies.

Overall, this was a grim but surprisingly hopeful and entertaining work. Despite some flaws, I enjoyed it…

****