Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 013 The Man From Egypt, Part 1

Lucky thirteen is straight ahead, and it should be quite satisfying. The name of the chapter promises a foray into the backstory of the Millennium Puzzle, which is a cause for anticipation indeed! I'm ready to begin the long arduous task of getting to the gooey center of this story, considering it spans a good three hundred sixty-something chapters. To be honest, I expected a lot more bread before the meat of the entre, but I'm not going to turn down even the small sliver of steak I've been offered here.

Dig in, connoisseurs.

Indeed it is, Yuugi. My nostalgia was dug up with this page too, because I'm reminded that people used to read NEWSPAPERS to get information about their world. Wow, does that take me back to before I was finding grey hairs in the mirror.

Chapter, you are promising way more than you can deliver right now. You just pump those breaks.

The chapter actually begins at Domino High two months after the story broke about the new tomb discovery, where Yuugi is telling his friends about the exhibition being hosted by the Domino Art Museum the next day. Anzu says it sounds fascinating and suggests they all go, before Yuugi explains that he and his grandfather were going to see all the burial artifacts discovered by his grandfather's friend Mr. Yoshimori, who invited the two of them personally. Yuugi is namedropping like a boss here.

Anzu recognizes the name from the paper and Honda confirms he was the guy who found the mummy. Jonouchi is automatically set on edge, because his anaconda don't want no curse. If the curse is anything like you thought it was in the past, Jonouchi, I'll take that off your hands for you.

With a vague statement about Egypt being super mysterious and junk, Anzu points to Yuugi's Millennium Puzzle and asks Yuugi if it was from Egypt. Yuugi confirms this, and Anzu then recalls the creepy information Yuugi's grandfather had given them in the first chapter, about all the people who discovered it having died mysteriously. Jonouchi is freaking out and asking Yuugi if he's cursed now, to which he answers no and reprimands Anzu for frightening Jonouchi again. But...

I've been waiting for this to be addressed. We got hints in the beginning chapters that Yuugi didn't remember anything when Yami took over, but this is the first time he's actually acknowledged the fact, even if it's just in his own thoughts. Anyone who has done their fair share of shots of Tequila (ahem) knows that it's a scary thing not remembering what happened the night before, even when you know what caused it. It must be many times scarier knowing that you're blacking out and not being able to say why.

But, he's keeping this information to himself, which is almost unthinkable to me. I would have to tell SOMEONE, preferably a doctor. The episodes are strange enough to him that he doesn't want anyone else to know, though. Despite how many crazy things have brought he and his friends closer together, he doesn't want to risk weirding them out with this kind of knowledge. He's a very open, friendly person about everything else, but here is where he starts to have trust issues.

Which makes sense, of course, given how badly he wanted friends in the beginning. Yuugi was lonely and awkward, and he was desperate for someone to be there for him, as well as to be there for someone else. That was his wish on the puzzle, and since he didn't know that Jonouchi was the one who returned the last piece of the puzzle to Grandpa in the first chapter, he might be under the impression that his friendship with him is due to the puzzle's influence. Therefore, he might view his relationships with his friends as tenuous and conditional on the puzzle.

He wouldn't want to ruin any of that, either by driving his friends away by mentioning the holes in his memory, or by having the puzzle taken away by a professional to stop the phenomenon.

I've got to get back to the story before I start waxing poetic about their outfits or something. Anzu mentions that the next day is Sunday so they should... WAIT A MINUTE. It's Saturday and they're at school? Do kids have school on Saturday in Japan? Wow, Google says they did until 2002. I'm learning so much more than I ever wanted to about Japan from research regarding this manga. Yuugi thinks it will be fun studying an Egyptian tomb on his day off, and I'm sitting here wishing I was learning about that too.

Yuugi and friends meet at the museum with enthusiasm. Grandpa searches for Yoshimori while Jonouchi raises an eyebrow at Yuugi's choice of clothing for their outing. Yuugi is confused, because apparently it didn't occur to him that it might be strange for him to be wearing his school uniform outside of school.

Yoshimori picks Grandpa out of the crowd with a wave, and the first thing Yoshimori does when he reaches his guests is apologize for not writing Grandpa. Grandpa brushes it off because he didn't write either and thanks him for inviting them even though everyone in in this situation is a shitty pen pal.

Grandpa formally introduces Yoshimori to Yuugi and pals, which prompts Jonouchi to pop into the frame and make a comment about Yoshimori having discovered the tomb. Yeah, Jonouchi, we know already, no need to remind us of information we got a few panels ago. In turn, Yoshimori introduces the superintendent of the museum as well as sponsor of excavation and exhibition, Kanekura. The scanlators tell me his name means "money treasury" so I guess we know what his motivation as a villain is going to be, huh?

Good job, Takahashi. Next time, could you use some subtlety?

Kanekura welcomes everyone to the museum, then leans toward Yoshimori with a whispered question about whether he's asked about that thing yet. You know... that THING. Apparently, Grandpa is in the habit of blabbing about Yuugi's puzzle-solving exploits, and Yoshimori heard about it. He asks after Yuugi, and Yuugi is confused that anyone should be. He seems to be confused a lot today about very obvious things. Kanekura asks if that's the famous Millennium Puzzle hanging around Yuugi's neck, with what I'm guessing is a little drool dribbling out of his mouth. Gross.

Kanekura grabs the puzzle and examines it eagerly, singing its praises as an inheritance from Egypt. Yoshimori explains to Yuugi that Kanekura is an art dealer with an eye for valuable artifacts, and Yuugi's subsequent thoughts indicate some disbelief that Kanekura thinks the puzzle is valuable. Kid, it's made of gold. I don't know if you can get more valuable. Kanekura requests that Yuugi let him put the puzzle on display for the day, but Yuugi isn't sure, because since it was assembled, it's always been with him. Out of politeness, though, Yuugi agrees to let Kanekura add it to his exhibit. Kanekura says that one day should be plenty of time, and his thoughts along the same lines take on a sinister note.

You... uh... go through security with that, buddy? I mean, I realize airport security is a lot more strict nowadays than it was when this was written, and Japan's airports were not affected by 9/11, but I have a hard time believing even lax security is going to just shrug off this guy's accessories.

Meanwhile, at the museum, Yoshimori appears to have brought his guests to the exhibit. Jonouchi asks if the artifacts all belong to Yoshimori, and Yoshimori laughs. He explains that due to a law passed by the Antiquities Department in Egypt, archaeologists no longer get to keep half the loot they excavate from tombs. Not even Carter got to keep anything when he discovered King Tut's grave.

We actually have something similar here in the United States, called the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, also known as NAGPRA. This is why it's actually ILLEGAL for you to pick up and take home genuine arrowheads off the ground, kids.

Yuugi says he thought archaeologists were like treasure hunters that were looking to get rich. Yoshimori says that he doesn't actually make all that much money, but it's payment enough to be able uncover history and information about past cultures. Kanekura excuses himself to put the Millennium Puzzle on display, telling everyone to enjoy their visit in his decidedly sinister way.

Watching the puzzle leave with Kanekura makes Yuugi feel like a worried parent, or at least that's the comparison he makes. Jonouchi tells Yuugi that he'll be famous since the puzzle is on display and Anzu suggests they get a photo of the display before they leave. Yoshimori is sympathetic when he says that he must be a little anxious, but Yuugi acts chill with the fact that it will only be for a day. As much as he hates to say it, Yoshimori gets the distinct impression that Kanekura is a somewhat selfish person, despite his having funded the project that got the exhibition there.

Anzu finds an old scroll with pictographs on it and comments on its beauty. Yoshimori explains that the papyrus shows the weighing of the heart ceremony before the god Osiris. If the heart was heavier than Ma'at's feather, Ammit would gobble it up.

Wait... that guy at the airport had scales... and now we're being told about this ceremony regarding scales... Why do I feel I'm being hit over the head with foreshadowing?

Honda brings up a parallel between the Egyptian concept of Ammit and Enma, the Buddhist King of the Dead, and they move toward the mummy display, which has Jonouchi nervous as hell.

Jonouchi, for real kid, cool your balls.

What is it Yuugi sees here?

... Disconcerting...

Yuugi decides he wants to get all up in this dude's business, and asks why he's crying. Egypt Dude explains that the tears streaming down his face are actually those of the Pharaoh, whose eternal sleep has been interrupted by rude archaeologist jerks. Yuugi notices the scales in his hand and thinks that maybe he's nuts, but Egyptian Man is appreciative of Yuugi's kind words. He pats Yuugi on the head and calls him a nice child. Yuugi throws a silent fit over how he was yet again mistaken for a child as Egypt Dude walks away.

Yuugi runs to Anzu with the news that he met some weird Egyptian dude, but Anzu didn't see him. Jonouchi interrupts by pointing out where the Millennium Puzzle is on display, and everyone rushes forward to get that picture Anzu mentioned earlier. Kanekura is already standing there with another man who is assessing the puzzle as splendid. He growls at their approach.

Bless you, scanlators.

Kanekura slips away without mentioning to Yuugi he's planning on selling his shit without his permission, which is probably for the best. Otherwise he might get called a cowardly piece of dog feces or something. Anzu has everyone pose around the display case and snaps her pictures, a couple just to be sure, while Kanekura thinks about having enough money from the sale that he can just bribe Yuugi with a portion of it later. The photo is all Kanekura plans on Yuugi keeping of the Millennium Puzzle.

Yuugi and company exit the museum, satisfied with the good time they had. Yuugi says he wants to go to Egypt someday. All in good time my eager protagonist. All in good time. Grandpa thanks Yoshimori for inviting them to the exhibit and Yoshimori gives him yet another invitation to visit him at his university office sometime, because he's so lousy with staying in touch with the written word. He heads to said office while waving goodbye.

The rest of the group is heading their separate ways too; Grandpa is off to tend his shop, Jonouchi is going home, but Yuugi is staying behind to reclaim his puzzle once the museum closes. Yuugi sits next to a pillar to wait as his friends and grandfather make their exit, with just a half-hour left.

Back inside the museum, Kanekura is admiring the puzzle and how it can earn him back the money he fronted for the exhibition, and then some. The guy he was negotiating with knocks on his door and Kanekura invites him inside.

That's some fast work, Egypt Dude.

Kanekura is shocked to see a stranger enter his office instead of his business partner, and asks who he is. Egypt Dude explains that he's from a family that protects tombs, and he's a servant of the god Anubis, whom Kanekura identifies as one of the gods of the dead. Egypt Dude further elaborates that he's here because Kanekura is a greedy asshole, who disturbed the rest of the gods, and must be punished. Well, at least Egypt Dude's authority is more believable than that of a 16-year-old boy.

Stuttering, Kanekura speculates that Egypt Dude is actually a spy from the Egyptian government, and denies smuggling any artifacts. Egypt Dude just sets his scales on Kanekura's desk and references the Book of the Dead's chapter on the final judgment of souls. Kanekura reiterates what we learned earlier from Yoshimori's explanation of the papyrus scroll, about the judgment process, so we really don't need any of this except the last part about how Kanekura thinks all of that is just a fairytale.

What's this? Someone OTHER than Yami dishing out the shadow games? Is he a spirit inhabiting another's body too?

Kanekura seems more shocked than the suggestion of a game would warrant, but that's none of my business. Egypt Dude introduces, AGAIN, the ceremony of the weighing of the hearts as their game. However, instead of weighing a literal heart, Egypt Dude will ask Kanekura a series of questions that must be answered truthfully. If Kanekura lies, the weight of his sin will make his end of the scale touch the desk. That's when he gets a deadly penalty game. Kanekura just repeats the phrase, not bothering to ask what it means before the game begins. Just keeping tradition, I suppose.

The first question Egypt Dude asks is a hypothetical about a girl who drops her money on the ground before she falls in a well. Does Kanekura save her or walk away with her money? Well, of course he knows what the RIGHT answer would be, so he says he'd save the girl, but the scales tip, and he's amazed that his lie actually tipped the scales even though it should be impossible. I'm amazed that he would take this girl's money without even knowing how much was there. What if it had been fifty cents? "Oh yay! Now I can get a useless trinket out of one of those capsule dispenser machines at the mall!"

Idiot.

Egypt dude prepares to ask the next question and Kanekura looks like he's about to shit his pants. Meanwhile, outside the museum, Yuugi checks his watch to see it's almost 5 o'clock and skips back into the building to get the puzzle.

HOLY SHIT ON A STICK, DID SOMEONE ACTUALLY JUST ASK WHAT A PENALTY GAME IS FINALLY???? I mean, a little late, but I guess it's better late than never. Or is it? Kanekura looks around him in confusion as his chair starts to take on a different shape; bones, scales, claws and eyeballs start to grow out of the leather. I'm kind of loving how horrific this is, actually.

Nope, it was way too late for the knowledge of what a shadow game is to do him any good. Egypt Dude introduces Kanekura to the inhabitant of what he calls a "mind room" - Ammit, the evil soul devouring Egyptian demon. His last question is whether Kanekura led his excavation in order to profit or admire all the pretty things he found. Kanekura deflects with a bribe instead of answering the question, but his side of the scale lowers itself to the desk anyway.

Egypt Dude declares that the only thing in his mind room is greed, and the jury is back with the verdict. Kanekura should have been more careful about what he put in his mind room, just like Sherlock Holmes. The crocodile monster with fabulous hair opens its jaws wide enough to hover them around Kanekura's head while he screams.

The focus is back on Egypt Dude while the sound effects are the only depiction of chewing and snapping. Ew. It looks like Yami is also not the only guy who gives grand speeches about why shadow games are lost to people who clearly aren't listening. Again, Egypt Dude says that everyone has a mind room and that his Millennium (Skeleton) Key gives him access to all the mind rooms he wants to snoop through. Seems awfully invasive, and a tad gross, but maybe that's just me. He continues to explain that Ammit took on a shape like that of his nasty dirty greedy mind room, and that this shadow game allowed him to envision being devoured by the contents of that room.

Anyone else think that was cool?? Please respond!

Egypt Dude turns to go, but something catches his eye. It's the Millennium Puzzle sitting on the desk that I guess he didn't bother to see before now. It was right there, how could you not... Oh, never mind. It's been completed, and Egypt Dude wonders how it even got there, if someone from Japan actually solved it. Who was it? How are we going to solve this mystery when we still haven't figured out who PHONE is???

Well, the one who did it would be heading in your direction, but he's kind of lost. Yuugi compares the museum to a maze as he tries to find the room the director would be waiting for him in to give him back the puzzle. I guess that's why Egypt Dude comes to him, carrying his scales once again. Yuugi recognizes him, and though he mumbles that Egypt Dude probably doesn't know anything about it, decides to ask him where the director and puzzle are anyway.

Yeah, that shocked look probably means he has no idea what you're talking about, Yuugi. Better look elsewhere.

Egypt Dude is stuck in inner monologue mode, thinking that if Yuugi were the one to solve the puzzle, then he has to have the powers that are inside, the same powers as his family. He decides he has to make absolute sure that Yuugi indeed has these powers and will use the Millennium (Skeleton) Key to probe around in his brain. In the meantime, Yuugi is getting creeped out by Egypt Dude's stares and mentions him crying earlier again, all while thinking that maybe he really is a nutjob. When Egypt Dude closes his eyes and concentrates, the Millennium Key floats out of its own accord and pokes Yuugi's forehead. He freezes with the clicking of his brain unlocking.

Egypt Dude, you a creepy peeping tom.

Shocked that there's two rooms here - though how else are we going to keep these two out of each others' hair? - Egypt Dude notes the childlike innocence that is represented in the open room. He says it's devoid of impure thoughts, but I'm sure if he poked around he'd find some porn mags. The other door is closed, but it starts to open of it's own accord.

This settles it. Yami's grin just doesn't have that crazed, wanna-murder-you-and-tear-off-your-flesh quality anymore. This makes my heart sad.

So, what did I think of this chapter as a whole? Well, aside from how needlessly often the judgment ceremony from the Book of the Dead was described, and how a few lines of dialogue just didn't need to exist here, I found it really fun. It's really cool to see this other character with the ability to inflict shadow games on people, and it's even more fun to finally be exploring a little more about the Millennium Puzzle. Now we know that it has siblings; the key and the scales have the same "Millenium" descriptor, and they have their own unique powers as tools of judgment.

As a character, the Egypt Dude (name still not revealed) still doesn't have a lot to him. We don't know enough about him yet as a person to distinguish him from his Millennium items. That might change sometime down the road, though I'm not entirely sure, since this is about where I stopped reading before getting the itch to start doing these reviews in the first place.

Then again, Egypt Dude's punishments give him at least one clear dimension: he is Yami on steroids when it comes to punishments. I keep referencing Chapter 6 as the quintessential example of a punishment being disproportionate to the crime, but I might have to start referencing this one instead. Egypt Dude not only sentenced Kanekura for digging up a grave, but also killed that guy outside his office without even challenging him to a game. We don't know anything about that foreign guy who was going to buy the puzzle. He might have been entirely innocent. But does that matter to Egypt Dude? Noooooooo.

He wasn't Japanese so he doesn't matter anyway, right Takahashi?