Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 293 Dark Genesis

Is that why Phil Collins struck out on his own? Genesis just got too dark to see the drum kit? I know what you're thinking; this happened in the last post. No doubt you're assuming I'm just bringing up Phil Collins because I listened to Invisible Touch in the past couple of days and it's stuck in my brain, but I'd like to dispel that notion right now. This blog is FAR too sophisticated for me to opine about Invisible Touch in a cold open immediately following a cold open where I mentioned Zombie Zoo. 

It was Sussudio, actually. 

The magus is only projected out there because Mahado doesn't have sleeves to wear it on.

Grinning, thief!Bakura says it looks like Mahado's spirit ka got a little bigger and a LOT more powerful. Mahado tells him he released the magic that he was using to seal the evil of the Millennium Ring, and promises this fight won't be the same as the last. A tall panel featuring the beefed-up Diabound confirms what thief!Bakura counters with a the very bottom of it: HIS spirit ka has evolved a whole lot more. Thief!Bakura says that Mahado and his spirit ka will be the ones to sleep forever in this tomb. 

Mahado reiterates to thief!Bakura that there is no way for him to escape even if he does defeat the magician before him, because while they've been chatting, workmen have been piling tons of stone on the entrance of the tomb. He insists that the only way out of here is death. Thief!Bakura laughs that he's going to make a counter-prediction; he'll kill Mahado, take the Millennium Ring, and get out of there alive and well. Probably with those powers to pass through walls that he's not bothering to mention again, because OF COURSE he shouldn't have to. 

The magus has easily slipped out of Diabound's direct way, reappearing behind monster and thief!Bakura, which seems to freak him out pretty hardcore with how fast the movement was. Mahado mutters a spell and unleashes a Magic Blast at Diabound from its periphery. Diabound seems to be destabilized by this attack, thief!Bakura twisting to examine it as it falls on its elbow behind him. Mahado announces he's giving his heka to his spirit ka to power a second attack, much to thief!Bakura's alarm. The magus lets loose a THOUSAND Magic Blasts at the already howling Diabound, thief!Bakura having to shield his face with a raised arm while the attacks scatter near him below as well. 

As Mahado peers ahead, the smoke wafts away a bit, and he's surprised to find that massive Diabound seems to have disappeared. Immediately he glances right, wondering if it walked through the walls. Or slithered, whatever. From behind the remains of the misty aftermath of the attack, thief!Bakura says he understands now about how providing the spirit ka with heka makes the attack more powerful - he concludes from this that Mahado isn't just ANY kind of sorcerer, but a "spirit sorcerer". Forgive me if the difference between the former and the latter just looks like an extra word to me, guy. 

Mahado just kind of glares at him as he slowly emerges from the fog, and says that just like a wizard has ways of fighting so too does a thief. He then steps on a small button set in the floor. 

Whoops, watch your head.

Mahado has to duck out of the way of one of the blades as it swings back down, sweating and glaring past them at thief!Bakura, who smarms at him that he remembers all the traps of a tomb he's already robbed. Thief!Bakura claims it's ironic that he gets to use these traps to HIS advantage now, but I think it's just an annoying oversight on Mahado's part. I mean, seriously? YOU didn't think to study the traps in the tomb to use to your own advantage or at least disable them for that particular chamber during your fight, Mahado? I'm disappointed in you.

Thief!Bakura hops up on the blunt underside of one of those swinging axes, laughing all the way. Mahado is trying to take stock of the situation, noting that he can't move or he'll be sliced up, and if Diabound attacks now, he's done for. He calls to his Magus of Illusion to attack thief!Bakura, who rejects this attempt with another grin. It turns out that Diabound has appeared coiled around the shaft of the swinging blade directly in front of Mahado; he looks up and remarks on this with alarm as thief!Bakura commands Diabound to kill both Mahado and the magus.

Yukking it up, thief!Bakura tells Mahado he can regret his foolishness in Hell, and insists he'll never catch the great thief!Bakura in a thousand years. Mahado is still in the throes of searing pain from Diabound's attack while thief!Bakura jumps down from his perch to reiterate his plan to kill all the priests one-by-one and take their Millennium Items, and how it's all moving in the direction he wants so far. He's really going for the GOLD in premature gloating, isn't he? Mahado thinks on the pharaoh, the attack dispelling around him. Thief!Bakura hums in curiosity at the fact that Mahado isn't burnt to an ineffectual crisp by now. In fact, the guy looks pretty good for how much that blast was supposed to fuck him up. He's only hunching and panting a little as he stutters that he won't let any of thief!Bakura's plans happen. 

Thief!Bakura marvels in alarm that this guy is still alive after that. Meanwhile, Mahado explains that there's a spell a spirit sorcerer like him can cast only once, because it involves giving his life to fuse his ka and ba, the spirit monster with his soul. This really gets thief!Bakura's eyes bulging, and Mahado promises that his soul will be his pharaoh's eternal servant. Then he crosses his arm over his chest and mutters his spell, thief!Bakura staring on with astonishment.

...

Soooooo, it's NOT a last-minute fake-out?

Thief!Bakura stares a moment at the blood-smear on the walkway, taking a moment to smirk and say that it's one priest down. He then immediately switches back to pure eye-popping shock when he sees the magus solidly floating right in front of him, surrounded by a powerful aura. In disbelief, he questions how Mahado's ka can still be here when Mahado himself is dead, insisting that this cannot be. He rationalizes that this specter is just an "echo" and commands Diabound to finish it off.

But its eyes, which were hidden in the shadow of its hooded cloak before are now sharp and clear and FAMILIAR when they snap open.

Outside, the many guards and soldiers watch the tablet as the sun rises behind it, gaping. 

Back at the palace, Mahado's name is called in disbelief. The tablet now stands a distance in front of Yami's throne, facing it, as Siamun tries to haltingly explain what happened with it as the sun rose. Yami sweatdrops and stares in shock at the tablet. Priest Seto don't give a fuck, trying to shift the subject to if Mahado managed to kill thief!Bakura, if the Millennium Ring was stolen. The guards answer that they can't be sure, no body no crime and all that, but they DID watch the tomb and didn't see anyone escape from it. Yeah, that's not particularly reassuring when you're talking about a guy who's been known to get away through solid walls. 

Yami walks up to the tablet, face settled into stoic severity. 

Is your favorite monster actually a guy who sacrificed himself to become a monster and push a guy off a cliff? Bummer.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I was expecting Mahado to die and essentially become the Dark Magician, as I've said before, but I didn't expect it to happen THIS soon. I thought perhaps there would be a very public death maybe halfway through this division of the manga, and more of a buildup. This was so very sudden...

But it was GOOD. Like REALLY GOOD. Besides the weird lack of foresight Mahado had with the traps in the tomb, Mahado's death was an emotional catharsis that was fitting for his short arc. We didn't have a lot of time with Mahado, but I felt like the previous chapter gave him RT levels of expert speedy character development that work exceedingly well at showing us who he is and what his motivations are. I felt I could understand him and connect to him as a character well enough that, while this was a shocking escalation and end for him, it seemed well-timed regardless. It's got the color of senseless tragedy, because allowing himself to get cut down in his prime was an attempt to end this whole ordeal for Yami and the other priests, but his sacrifice will ultimately just slow down thief!Bakura.

Because we all know he's going to get out of that tomb with the Millennium Ring. The only question here is HOW. He's in a dark pit with no obvious way to look for the ring, and unless Diabound glows in the dark, I'm not sure there's a way for him to manage it. I hope there's not too much of a gloss-over of this daring escape, even if I'm not expecting thief!Bakura's adventure in the pit to be covered play-by-play in detail.

Speaking of detailed accounts here, it just occurred to me that this is supposed to be Yami's Memory World (TM). Is it a little strange that events he's not present for are shown to the audience in full specificity? Awkward, but we wouldn't have Mahado's very satisfying development without this happening so... maybe we'll just say the Millennium Items share a memory between themselves and their wielders, creating a collective memory record that is a semi-accurate representation of what really happened. 

I know, it's flimsy, but I'm going with it. I like Mahado's story a little too much for my own good.

Inuyasha Manga: 234 Zombie

Oh, I hope it's a Zombie Zoo. I'm on another Tom Petty bender - just listening to his music nonstop. It's partly a comfort thing, because I've been under a LOT of stress for the last couple of days. Mostly it's a problem with the house, and being a new homeowner, I'm very quick to scare the shit out of regarding anything that might possibly be wrong with it. I'm on an emotional roller coaster right now rolling constantly between relief and abject terror about the state of the place. It's exhausting, but at the moment I'm in a relief trough due to a visit from a professional that said it's not nearly as bad as I thought, so I'm really enjoying the jams right now. 

This mutant wolf looks almost as stressed as me. Want me to blast the Tom Petty louder? Probably would only keep the the flying snake youkai following after him on his tail, though. It's not long before they catch up to him, gnawing into his sides from several different directions at once. His tongue lolls and his eyes roll back as the the flying snakes bite/bleed him, which is a lot more gruesome than I thought it would be, honestly.

A familiar headband, legwarmer, and fur-clad figure leaps into the scene from above.

I see someone has found a more proper outlet for his anger.

His friends Mohawk and Two-Tone, along with the wolf entourage, arrive from behind the trees calling to Kouga and making shocked noises. After receiving an apology for being such a bother, Kouga comments on how the old wolf can talk. They've all gathered around the injured creature, as he confirms that he does indeed speak. He's a MASSIVE fucker too - more than three times the size of the wolves surrounding him, one of which is trying to lick his wounds. 

The old wolf says he fears he's done for anyway, even though Kouga went to the trouble of saving him. Kouga is speechless a moment, then notes that this isn't his territory, expressing some disbelief that even a geriatric wolf would be scared of the small-fry slain earlier. The old wolf tells Kouga he's abandoned his territory in the north, something he has in common with his attackers, apparently. Two-Tone and Mohawk each take an end to the question of what they were running FROM, and the old wolf says simply it's a zombie.

Kouga looks leery while his two underlings appear a little uncomfortable, the former encouraging the old wolf to elaborate. Over a panel featuring a shadowed hulking human torso, the old wolf says that this zombie came from even farther north than his territory. Not a youkai, not a human, whatever it is, the old wolf knows only that it smells like a corpse and graveyard dirt. It started devouring all the youkai in the area, which is presumably why the old wolf left, but as far as we know, he says nothing more on the subject. Or ANY subject, really.

Have a beer and opine about the transience of life?

No, Kouga suggests instead that they go. Two-Tone asks if he means to go where this aforementioned zombie is, Mohawk adding that he THOUGHT they were searching for Naraku, which Two-Tone is unsure is necessarily related to this incident. But Kouga says that's why they're going, to check it out, implying that he wants to make SURE it's got nothing to do with him. Besides, Kouga notes with disdain that "Dog-Turd" is heading their way, which takes aback both his companions, one of them referring to Inuyasha in confusion. Kouga has deduced that the disgusting smell in his nose couldn't possibly belong to anyone else, and therefore they had to be going in the right direction. Assuming your rival knows more about where to go than you do? SOLID LOGIC.

He tells them they're going again. NARROW SKY TRANSITION PANEL!

You're in the forest, what do you expect, dude?

He describes Kouga's smell as "conceited", a quality I didn't know could be a quality of a scent, and I'm not the only one. Shippou asks what kind of smell Inuyasha said this was with his little eyebrows raised, but Inuyasha is too focused on his irritation, saying Kouga has definitely passed through. Miroku suggests this means Kouga is moving toward Ushitori just like them, and Sango wonders out loud if he might have gotten some sort of clue.

It's the blind leading the blind in here. 

Recalling the vague direction which Sarugami-sama pointed them in as where he noticed the malevolent presence disappeared, Kagome thinks that SOMEWHERE up ahead is where Naraku hid himself. Yeah. Somewhere. Definitely more than enough to go on. Inuyasha yells that they ought to move, as if they haven't been this whole time anyway. 

Elsewhere in the misty hills, there's a wizened old priest hiking along with a young apprentice following behind, both shuffling along with identical walking sticks and baskets on their backs. The apprentice stutters that it's evening, and suggests they should head back to town for lodgings. The elder scoffs that he's a coward, but the apprentice insists that there's been rumors lately of a large ogre being sighted around these parts. Claiming something like this so-called ogre would easily be suppressed by his powers, the elder grins and holds up a string of beads. 

Adjacent to them, a stir of power emanates from a copse of trees, enough that several birds dart out of them, cawing.

I don't know, I don't think that little string of beads is going to be enough to even suppress my NIGHTMARES about this for the next few nights, let alone the actual deal. 

The elder and apprentice recoil in horror, muttering that the ogre is eating an ogre, and attract its attention in doing so; it twists to look over its hulking shoulder at them. Both priests sweat bullets,otherwise frozen in fear. The apprentice stutters some more about the possibility of punishing this creature, but the elder cries that it's impossible as he turns tail and runs, arms flailing. The apprentice follows of course, but I like to think that he takes a little less shit from his "master" in the future, given both of them know he can't really walk the walk now.

Meanwhile, the ogre is referred to as "Kyoukotsu-sama" and it turns at the call to none other than my boy Kohaku, standing on a high tree branch to meet Kyoukostu at eye-level. Long-time no-see, kiddo! He says that the ones with the Shikon fragments will be arriving there soon. Kyoukotsu laughs and says he won't fail, unlike his siblings who came before him. This statement will prove quite confusing in future context, so stay tuned for that, folks.

Kyoukotsu starts to dismiss Kohaku, but upon seeing the glint of the Shikon shard in his neck, starts to go back on that order, even though he acknowledges that he shouldn't. 

Lack of self-control. That will undoubtedly help you in whatever task you're here to complete.

Kohaku swings his sickle down and slices clean through Kyoukotsu's wrist, severing his hand from his arm. The hand falls to the ground in front of Kohaku while he lands crouched as well, and a couple of saimyousho hover onto the scene as backup. Kohaku coolly elaborates on the implication here, that Kyoukotsu shouldn't be acting on his own. Kyoukotsu laughs despite his dismemberment, acknowledging that he's being watched. 

How are we defining the word "precious" here? Anyway, he says he JUST got back on his feet with a chuckle. Probably doesn't want to take his second dirt nap RIGHT away or anything. 

We get a shot of wolves running up the side of a hill before pausing at the sight of rustling foliage near the top. Before we know it, Kyoukotsu's huge hand smacks down on them as they skitter out of the way. Kouga runs up to where his anxious wolves prance about, and Kyoukostu labels him as "the guy who has the Shikon fragments". Kouga just gapes in mild disbelief at first. 

How do you suppose? He said he was going to take you life, not your brains.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? I really loved it as a lead-up to Halloween this week. The imagery is chilling, taking me back to the earlier aesthetic that this comic had in the beginning. Despite the monster design not being particularly creative here, there is a visceral quality to the story here that brings MORE than enough horror to the table. Seeing a giant wolf (an animal that should not be afraid of SHIT) be chased down and chomped on by flying snakes, a fresh grave in the foreground of a panel that lets it sit there without mention, a massive man munching on a live creature clawing for release - this is the shit of nightmares, even if they're not the kinds of lurid nightmares that keep you falling asleep again.

At the same time, RT has fallen back on a couple of old habits in this one. Kouga seems to be under the impression that Inuyasha has at the very least a clue to Naraku's whereabouts, implying as much in his decision to head in the same direction. He shouldn't have so much as an inkling of the previous chapter's clue yet, but somehow he comes into this chapter pre-loaded with the notion that Inuyasha's got some information he doesn't. It's not as glaring as the previous instances of characters knowing/deducing things they shouldn't, but it's a little grating nonetheless. It was also very awkward that we had to switch to Inuyasha and company's perspective for a few panels just so we could understand they noticed Kouga in the area too. I feel like it would have been less clunky if they had only noticed one another after Kouga had started fighting our "zombie" in the next chapter, and RT had come up with a more organic reason for Kouga to check out the "zombie" in the first place.

Speaking of the devil, I'm not sure if the whole "I won't fail like my siblings before" was a translation issue or a reference Naraku's offspring, oddly enough, but it had me scratching my head. Knowing what I know about this character, the people he normally refers to as brothers haven't DONE anything to fail at yet, so if he's talking about them... I don't know what the hell that's supposed to be about.

Maybe all those youkai he's been eating are messing with his head a little.

Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 292 A Wizards' Battle

Hell yeah, give me a couple of guys turning each other into toads! These past couple of days have been kind of stressful for me, with some unexpected issues with the house and more work piling into my inbox than is leaving it, so I could use a good distraction. What are we looking at? A Sword and the Stone type deal with shapeshifting antics, or sparking wands and snake-talk? 

Is it strange that I'm glad we didn't have to trudge through the rest of proto-Kaiba's lesson duel? As hilarious as Setos with egg on their faces is, it does get tiresome after a while.

That's Mahado kneeling up there, and he says as the head of the Royal Tomb Guard, he's going to take command of the soldiers stationed up at Akhenamkhanen's tomb. That should go without saying, of course. Yami says that thief!Bakura could reappear at any moment, so he's expecting Mahado's best effort, and authorizes a buttload of soldiers at his disposal. According to Siamun, thief!Bakura slipped right past their most ingenious traps in the tomb, so repairing the traps won't really be enough to prevent a repeat performance. Mahado assures him that they have a NEW trap that can catch any thief, though.

Scoffing, Priest Seto warns Mahado that he won't get a second chance, and the next time that tomb is raided, he'll get his title stripped. Goodbye priesthood! As Mahado remains placidly speechless, Siamun reminds Priest Seto that this is a decision for the PHARAOH to make. Maybe don't be TOO eager to indicate how badly you want to be in charge, dude.

Anyway, Yami urges Mahado not to be blinded by guild, and just concentrate on doing his damn job. Mahado addresses Yami with reverence, and Yami thinks at him REAL HARD to just protect his father's tomb. 

Out in the street, someone calls for the troops to be assembled outside the palace when they're ready. Then we cut to Mahado leading parallel lines of men who drag a slab behind them, until Mahado catches sight of a certain amphora off to the side of the road. He tells the men to go on ahead, then approaches the big pot, crossing his arms. He calls for "Mana" to come out, and after no initial response, says "Mana" cannot hide from him. I'm about to pronounce him out of his gourd when a sign of surprise comes from inside the pot. 

This is apparently some kind of game of hide-and-seek, because she says Mahado always finds her as she climbs out of the pot, calling him "master". He's not amused, lecturing her (apparently not for the first time) that the palace isn't her playground. She claims she's not playing, but instead that she came to see him off to his job in the Valley of the Kings today. He asks sternly about her magic practice, but she just raises a hand and announces she'll do it later. Mahado tells her she'll never become a full sorcerer like that, but Siamun walks onto the scene to suggest Mana can miss ONE day of study. 

Mahado acknowledges Siamun's presence with alarm, as Siamun recalls how mad Yami's dad would get when HE used to hide in the pots as a kiddo. Mana giggles behind her hand, Mahado trailing off in a protest. Siamun says he came here to say one thing: Mahado's duty is to inspect and reinforce the guard at the Valley of the Kings to prevent thief!Bakura from getting in there as easily, and THAT'S IT. Essentially, Mahado is being discouraged from pulling stunts to redeem himself. Mahado pouts.

Siamun looks at him sharply, saying he knows what Mahado is thinking, but insists his spirit is not strong enough to defeat thief!Bakura. Sheesh, at least Priest Seto didn't SUGARCOAT calling him weak. Siamun says they need the combined power of Yami and all the priests in order to defeat this particular foe. With a glare, Mahado slowly reminds Siamun that he said the demons in a person's soul can grow stronger with hatred, like thief!Bakura's. Siamun adds that it's not just hatred, but the strength of heart that strengthens the creatures. 

I'm surprised Mana what refused to do her damn homework doesn't start singing "Mahado and Nameless Pharaoh, sitting in a tree..."

I know I am.

Mahado goes on to reiterate that this all happened because of his failure, and says Yami swallowed his pain at the insult done to his father to forgive him, sparing his life. Guy just loves to wallow, but it's not like I can talk, since I have the same bad habit. Siamun just stares in response, as Mahado promises to stake his life on carrying out his duty. Then he excuses himself, stalking off, Mana looking after him in a weird hunched pose as he does so. 

The reason for the pose becomes apparent when she whirls around and with her fist curled up and yells at him for saying what he did about her master's spirit being too weak. She declares in anger that her master's magic is incredible. Siamun says he knows this, considering Mahado was selected to be a priest for his magical abilities. Mana tells him that Mahado hasn't used his other magic since a certain day, having sealed it away inside him, using from then on just the regular summoning magic the other priests use. Siamun asks her which day that was.

Oooh, secret powers! 

Mahado strides off, and we meet him again in the Valley of the Kings, where his men are informed that he himself will guard Akhenamkhanen's tomb until dawn. They're instructed not to let any living creature near this holy place. Mahado himself stands stoically peering off into the distance, the Millennium Ring around his neck surrounded with spectral fire. The burn means it's working. Mahado wonders where thief!Bakura is. 

This is the face of a man who is pretending the snack he's biting into is actually that other guy.

Take that how you will.

Thief!Bakura watches while Mahado walks into the tomb, muttering to himself that it looks like Mahado is going to inspect the tomb. He counts five guards by the entrance and concludes this will be easy for him. Oh boy, if that isn't a bit of hubris peeking out right now... The guards are shown recoiling and their screams echo through the air as thief!Bakura presumably barrels over them. He walks down the entrance passage, his long robe hem fanning out behind him much like how Kaiba's coat does, but I don't think there's any kind of parallel here. Just a visual oddity. 

Anyway, when he enters the first chamber, he's taken aback by something, gritting his teeth.

Ooh, hand caught in the cookie jar!

Mahado says he's been waiting for thief!Bakura, and thief!Bakura jerks around at at loud thunk behind him, which turns out to be a large boulder being rolled in front of the entrance to the tomb. The guards congratulate themselves on sealing up the entrance to the grave just as Mahado asked, claiming that now the thief can't get out. But... he's already shown that he and his Diabound can move through walls... 

Another set of soldiers calls for the stone they were dragging behind them on the way there to be raised, pulling it up onto its end as per usual. One of them says that the tomb will remain sealed forever if Mahado's soul appears on the slab before the third sunrise, because it will mean that Mahado has died fighting the thief. Well, I'm glad they have a way to be conclusive about it, at least. My concern is if he manages to kill thief!Bakura within a few scant minutes - does he have food and water in there to wait out three whole days?

"I TOTALLY saw this coming, even though I didn't express any kind of skepticism about this situation beforehand. Trust me, I'm a smart boy!"

Mahado explains that he orders the former pharaoh's body has been reburied elsewhere, and that this is actually thief!BAKURA's tomb. Well, hey, it's a pretty swank place to rest in pieces for a thief, wouldn't you say, thief!Bakura? He laughs that Mahado shouldn't boast yet, asking if he really thinks HE fell for this trap. Thief!Bakura states that his objective coming in here was not to grind up a pharaoh's mummy, but to get the Millennium Ring hanging around Mahado's neck. Mahado tells him it's no use; even if he manages to get the ring, thief!Bakura will never leave this place alive, and this will be their grave. 

Again, thief!Bakura laughs, restating the label he's slapped on himself as the "King of Thieves", as if he hasn't already made his self-imposed title abundantly clear. He also says he proved how weak Mahado was back at the palace, so he's confident this time Mahado is going to eat it. After a short pause, Mahado asks if thief!Bakura really thinks he can defeat him, to which question thief!Bakura reacts with indignant disbelief. With bit of spectral energy coming off his arms, Mahado claims he can unleash HIS true power without worrying about hurting innocent bystanders. This seems to shut up thief!Bakura, for the moment, as he watches power raising around Mahado.

Mahado says the Millennium Ring hides a dark power, probably having absorbed it from the last priest who wore it, and his magic keeps that evil at bay for now. The ring glows and shines as well, as he explains that anyone else's soul would spontaneously combust if they were to put on this ring, but the strength of his magic means he can keep that from happening to him. But he announces with complete confidence that the Millennium Ring is WAY too much for thief!Bakura to handle. 

Diabound looks... different. Did it cut its hair?

Mahado is shocked by what he notices as a change in Diabound, and thief!Bakura briefly explains that Diabound evolves every time his hatred grows. This gives new meaning to that old adage about "feeding the wolf", but I'm also reminded of those digital pets way back when? It's probably nothing. Mahado says he'll release his magic heka as well, yelling at his spirit to come out as he throws his arms out and causes a big supernatural wind. Thief!Bakura's eye goes wide. 

Somebody took a leaf from thief!Bakura's book.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? Mahado's ability to adapt the concept of "strength of heart" that Siamun relayed to him is very well-portrayed here. At first, it's not clear how he's turning over this information in his head when he carefully tells Siamun that he has devotion to the pharaoh in place of his hatred, but this pays off at the end when he's summoned the Magus of Illusion, what looks a LOT less cartoony. A very clever application of "theory" to emphasize how professorial he comes off as, and one that incorporates Mana's information to Siamun and the audience, which plaed a much more crucial role than I had given it credit for at first.

Speaking of Mana, I'm sure the reason she resembles the Dark Magicial Girl so much is the same reason Mahado resembles the Dark Magician so much, so I'm anticipating tragedy in the future for the both of them. For now, though, I enjoyed her introduction, though it played more into Mahado's characterization than her own. She still shows plenty of personality; a sort of free spirit that is playful and wacky. Very unique for a female character so far, and kind of like a girl!Yuugi, with more charisma and spunk. She might already be working her way up the list of favorites in this comic, is all I'm saying.

I was kind of caught off guard by the "evolution" aspect that popped up here, though. I'm vaguely aware of an "evolution" mechanic in the actual card game, but this seemed more a call-back to previous games we've seen in the manga before, like the fighting monster contraptions and, as I mentioned, the virtual pets. OR, perhaps it's just highlighting the common elements of a lot of these games, intentionally or not. 

Either way, I'm getting a lot of deja vu with these most recent chapters, and it's a good thing I don't read these things while high.

Inuyasha Manga: 233 Location of the Go-Shintai

Oh what fun! It's been so long since I've been on a scavenger hunt. Literally, I think the last time was when I was in high school and the new girl in class had a birthday party at which we wandered around our small town looking for various trinkets hidden by her mom. We were told it was a cultural thing, but I forget which culture it cam from, because... it was over 12 years ago and I'm fucking old. I do remember that we got to keep the things we found, though, and I recall I found a hat. It was stylish and I kept it for several years because it was rare I had anything stylish, despite the fact that my wavy locks could not abide hats. I lost track of it at some point, however.

Because it was over 12 years ago, and I'm fucking old. 

What are our clues again? Vegetables and darkness? That narrows it down.

The monkeys are pulling a Shippou, clinging to Kagome's arms and shoulders as they insist that the go-shintai should be here, demanding the villagers give it back. One of the villagers has paused in tilling the ground to assert that he doesn't know anything about it. Kagome and the monkeys hear a thump in the distance, and the leader yelps that "he's" already here, a clear reference to the boulder-laden Inuyasha. Panicked, one of the other monkeys asks the villagers why they're so carefree, and the leader claims that their very LIVES are in the balance. Or their poor tender scalps, anyway. The two men just gape at them in confusion because they have NO IDEA what these little bastards are on about.

Inuyasha emerges from the edge of the forest, panting and dragging the boulder behind him, accompanied by Shippou. The villagers recognize him as the guy they pegged as a god earlier, stuttering the imposed title at the distinctly... unimpressive figure he's come to be. Kagome looks over her shoulder at him blankly, while the monkeys peek over it in fear. Inuyasha demands to know what the progress has been on this Sarugami situation, warning the monkeys that they're dead if this rock isn't removed from his hand soon. Kagome expresses how impressed she is that he got down here so fast, and the monkeys balk at her stepping up to him, telling her not to get too close. 

A whole crowd of villagers have gathered from the field, questioning if Inuyasha was really tricked by the monkeys' spell, the man up front asking Inuyasha if he's really an Inugami. Understandably frustrated, Inuyasha shakes his fist and yells that he said he WASN'T from the beginning. I certainly saw no such denial, but maybe he thought his obvious bewilderment at being labeled such was enough of a statement on the matter. Shippou smarms from the top of the boulder that Inuyasha is probably the furthest thing from a god. Says the full youkai. 

Kagome explains to the villagers that it seems only the Sarugami-sama can lift the spell, and Inuyasha confirms this.

This, of course, earns Inuyasha a "sitting". He whines that she's a bitch as he lifts his face out of the dirt, arm twisted up and still stuck to the boulder beside him, but Kagome kneels to encourage him calmly to just sit there and look pretty. Good thing he's got those super healing abilities, or that might actually have been a problem, huh? The villagers resolve to split up and look for this damn thing, because it'd be a pain if this fake god guys rampages. Bowing, Kagome apologizes for Inuyasha's attitude, as he glares. She's pretty sure they don't know shit about the go-shintai, though, based on how they're acting.

There's a VERTICAL sky transition panel this time with some cawing birds! Different! Then Sango, sauntering into frame behind Miroku, announces they're back. Miroku is wide-eyed in the foreground, saying Inuyasha's name. 

Having a bad day, Miroku, what did you THINK he's doing?

After some time searching under the floorboards and in the pond according to an unattributed speech bubble, the conclusion is that there is no go-shintai around. Sitting on the edge of another porch with Sango, Shippou and the monkeys, surrounded by villagers, Miroku says that a lot seems to have happened while he was gone. What looks to be the modest headman at the edge of the panel admits it's a real problem. Miroku claims he'll be able to figure out something with his Buddhist powers, inspiring awed noises from his audience, the leader monkey asking if he'll really be able to find Sarugami-sama. He affirms this, but says he can't use these mysterious powers until morning. The monkeys all accept this and tell him it's no problem without hesitation, but Sango and Shippou stare blankly. 

Sango leans over and asks what he's up to, and Miroku whispers back that he just figured they could stay the night. She murmurs that this seems irresponsible, but Miroku brushes this off, saying that he's sure it'll be fine in the end. Meanwhile, the monkeys are congratulating themselves on their narrow escape, and Shippou deadpans about how they're being deceived. Don't know why they're so quick to trust Miroku, but the villagers are starting to think something stinks about all this, gathered in a knot and muttering in suspicion between themselves.

I think this is the part that Inuyasha would say stinks.

Surly, Inuyasha tells Kagome that she doesn't have to hang with him out there, and she should go inside the house with the others. She suggests he might be lonely out there by himself, but he looks the other way and denies this, calling her an idiot. She stands, saying that if she's in the way she'll leave, but Inuyasha quickly yelps that she's not in the way. Kagome sits back down with a happy little word, Inuyasha still looking a bit peeved as he confirms that she's wanted here. Don't want to be TOO eager to have company, the toxic masculinity won't like THAT.

Kagome echoes the headman's words before when she thinks that this whole business is a real problem, though. She wishes they had another clue, and almost in response, Kagome spots a woman walking along the porch holding a dish that appears to be GLOWING.

Yeah, Kagome, haven't you ever heard of bio-luminescent varieties of CABBAGE? 

The dish ends up surrounded by onlookers, Kagome, Sango, Miroku, the monkeys, and the headman. The latter asks what he's looking at exactly, and Miroku asserts it's something holy. The leader monkey stutters in its presence, asking for confirmation that these veggies came from the fields, while another f the monkeys asserts that this is Sarugami-sama's light. They each recall the clues that their Sarugami-sama informed dreams gave them; dark, damp, stuffy, cramped and stinking of vegetables. From this they begin to draw a conclusion that Inuyasha, who has once again dragged his boulder over to the center of deliberation, finishes: he says it HAS to be a field after all. The monkeys hop up on his shoulder, the leader shouting that it's definitely buried underground, and Inuyasha starts a leap into action, declaring that he'll rip up the land around the village.

Kagome "sits" Inuyasha again, the monkeys knocked every which way with the impact, as the headman cries over the prospect that Inuyasha might NOT be joking about that (even if he hopes otherwise). With a hum of slight hesitation, Kagome asks if she can be shown something. 

These poor people, menaced by the friends of a ROCK they have no way of knowing is special.

The leader of the monkeys climbs up the side of the barrel, threatening the villagers with curses for their unintentional insolence, another monkey once again accusing them of REALLY stealing it. The headman explains that he found it on the edge of the village and thought it might make a good pickling stone, and Kagome interjects for clarification that the go-shintai was actually OUTSIDE the Monkey Forest. 

The monkey leader yells that the headman is a liar, insisting that the go-shintai was enshrined within the forest, and while the headman verbally shrugs for not knowing what else to say, the other two monkeys state their own perspective as spirits who treasured and protected the stone, even back during the fire. They recall carrying the go-shintai from the burning shrine, torched due to war, to desperately try to save it. After carrying it a ways away, the leader monkey panted that it would be okay there, and almost immediately got distracted by acorns. All three of the monkeys started collecting them, marveling at how many there are, and wandering away from the go-shinati in the dirt as they discovered more farther away. 

It's at the end of this account that the monkeys start to realize what must have happened, the leader clapping to punctuate his revelation. Just in case we all missed it, Kagome reiterates that they just admitted to forgetting entirely about the go-shintai.

Don't know WHY, honestly. What kind of a god gives cryptic and misleading clues as to his whereabouts for followers while refusing to manifest to people nearby?

Wait. OOOOOOOHHHHHHH. All of them. The answer is all of them. 

Sarugami-sama allows his sprites to hug him as they wail that they wanted to see him, and also that he stinks of veggies. He asks if they've been up to anything while he was taking that pickling class, and the monkeys claim they didn't do anything, prompting Inuyasha to drag his boulder up and demand some attention for his condition. How he managed to squeeze that thing into the building is beyond me. Regardless, Shippou is riding it again, commenting that what they did to Inuyasha seems to have been forgotten entirely. Absent-minded little creatures, aren't they?

Narrow sky transition panel with tweeting birds! Miroku is telling the headman that if he builds a new hokora for Sarugami-sama, he'll protect the village, and the headman/all the villagers behind him bow in acceptance of the task. How the hell ELSE are they supposed to get through the winter with their greatly reduced crop without divine providence? Meanwhile, Inuyasha flexes his newly unglued fingers as Kagome asks him if he feels better without a giant rock attached to him. He just says this affair has been one hell of a detour. 

Kagome turns to Sarugami-sama, who tells her she's a super smart girl to have figured out where he was. She smiles and says it wasn't a problem; super easy, actually. Inuyasha tells the monkeys next to him that they were just too stupid to figure it out, to which the leader retorts that Inuyasha too was more than ready to dig back up those fields to find the go-shintai. Those in glass houses and all that.

Sarugami-sama looks up at the sky and says he had been eager to get out of the pickling barrel, because he was nervous that something bad might have gone down outside. Kagome inquires about his implication of a disaster possibly striking. 

Kagome appears alarmed by this news, Inuyasha in disbelief, as Miroku trails in a hesitant statement himself. Sarugami-sama says he can't be sure what it was, but he did follow its presence from his perch on the barrel. Inuyasha and Miroku ask in almost a panic where it went, and Sarugami-sama says it vanished. With further prompting from Kagome and Sango, Sarugami-sama elaborates that it didn't fade or anything, just went POOF. Kagome looks to Inuyasha, who says he's certain it has to be Naraku. Sarugami-sama adds that the evil was heading in the direction of "ushitora", northeast according to Kagome in the next panel. 

Less a detour than an information booth.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? It's charming in its simplicity, and I appreciate the synchronicity of the characters walking into a situation that would eventually lead them precisely where they need to go, even if they don't know it going in. I also like the little mystery Kagome ended up solving; it wasn't super cerebral or anything, but the answer to the riddle Sarugami-sama gave wasn't immediately apparent. It was easy to see how Inuyasha and the monkeys wouldn't necessarily have understood how crucial the phrase "stinking of vegetables" might be here, since failing to take every piece of information into account is the number one reason why riddles can be a bit tricky for people. Also, the answer not really being within one's personal experience, so it escapes our list of natural conclusions. I don't imagine Inuyasha or the monkeys have done much pickling before.

Granted, I can't imagine KAGOME has done much pickling before herself either, being a modern girl and all. But it's not so out of the ordinary to come across these random bits of otherwise useless historical information while studying these days - I know it's happened to me on more than one occasion that I've learned something I hadn't intended while doing research and such. I'll give it a pass, even if I think that perhaps Sango might have been better qualified to solve this one. She was away for the whole first half of the mini-arc, so her involvement wasn't deep. 

Not thrilled about the interaction between Kagome and Inuyasha in this one. His sulking was understandable, and her wanting to keep him company while he had to sit there stuck to a boulder is also completely within character, but the lack of substance to make room for a shallow joke left the whole scene a bit hollow. Aside from Inuyasha suggesting Kagome leave, her threatening to take him up on the offer, and him retracting, they are sitting in awkward silence, both at the beginning and the end. There's no conversation, no discussion about the situation they're in, or their greater suspicions about where Naraku might be... just nothing. It was painful, all the more when you're reminded that this is supposed to be out main couple and they don't appear to have a THING to talk about.

I mean, at least have them chat about the damn weather, RT. SOMETHING to maintain the level of chemistry they've had so far. Gonna bore me to TEARS with this shit...

Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 291 The Ancient Duel!!

Forget the "ancient" duel; have you ever heard of the dueling craze of the late 1700's to early 1800's? Men throughout the Americas and Europe drawing firearms on each other left and right; it seemed at the time to be a weird, deadly FAD. The book Six Frigates by Ian W. Toll (phenomenal book about early American naval development, would recommend) lists a few honest-to-goodness examples of why duels were fought in the U.S. Navy; entering the wardroom wearing a hat, spilling water on a letter, an argument about whether a bottle was green or black. Famous naval hero Stephen Decatur and his friend were just teasing one another and, because bystanders mistook the jests as genuine insults, this lead to a sequential duel between said friend and the many bystanders who demanded one. Decatur was his second, and had to prop up his injured and bleeding friend's pistol arm before the dumbass challenge was finally called off. This isn't even to mention the most famous example of American dueling dipshittery - Alexander Hamilton being shot dead by Aaron Burr in Weehawken.  

Man, the more things change, the more they stay the same, am I right? 

Wait... they're running damn DRILLS? 

I mean, perfectly logical, but it seems exceedingly strange to me that I'm reading a comic about ancient Egyptian gym class...

Yami sits on his throne while Siamun addressed the phalanx of priests standing in front of him - he asks if they're ready to split into two teams of three, each team having three stones, essentially one per person. Yami sits with his arms crossed, glaring critically ahead, Siamun laying out more rules about summoning one monster each, either from the shrine or their own ka. As the priests split into two lines facing one another quietly, Siamun says that the team that defeats the other's monsters first wins. 

Everybody watch out for the psycho on the center right, okay? He's real shady. 

Said psycho summons his spirit ka, Duos, which is an eyeless monstrosity with a dark base and white armor/decorative contouring embellishments. Also kind of looks like he has a big ass sword, but the weapon is a little obscure in the next panel. Next, Shada holds out his key and calls forth a monster from a slab called Zerua, an eagle-headed-and-winged buff dude. On the other side of the aisle, we have Mahado summoning Magus of Illusion and Isis bringing out Spiria, who I'm pleasantly surprised to see again. Still pretty certain that Spiria won't make much of a plot difference, but KT still has time to change my mind. 

Siamun plays the sportscaster role, yammering about Akhenaden's team having two monster ka, Duos from Priest Seto and Zerua from Shada. He also says that Mahado's team has two personal spirits, resulting in not one of their slabs being used in the initial summoning. I'm a little confused because Priest Seto's dialog made it seem like Duos was his own personal ka too, but perhaps his proto-Kaiba flair for the dramatic exaggerated the relationship a bit, I dunno. Anyway, Siamun says that if he knows Kalim, the dude has a trap monster hiding in one of those unused slabs on his side. 

He definitely WOULDN'T destroy random people on the street, though, so don't read too much into that when it happens later on guys. 

Mahado asks if Priest Seto has forgotten the power of the Magus, to which Priest Seto reacts with mild dopey surprise. It kind of looks like he took a hit off a joint a moment ago and temporarily forgot where he is. Anyway, the Magus comes at him with a command to use Spell-Binding Phantasm on the enemy, but Priest Seto scoffs that it won't be that easy for Mahado. Meanwhile, Akhenaden chooses this very moment to summon a ka too - Dark Ushebti, which looks not so strangely familiar. Should have been summoned by Shada to make the nostalgia that much more potent, in my opinion. 

In any case, this irritates Mahado because the Ushebti will take Duos's place, and Priest Seto takes it upon himself to exposit on how the Ushebti are sacrificial substitutes, therefore it absorbs the attack meant for Duos. Indeed, the Spell-Binding Phantasm locks onto the Ushebti, and Priest Seto calls for Duos to resume attack. Suppose he was on pause for the moment. But Isis declares that she's not going to let this happen. Spiria waves its hand and produces a Rainbow Barrier, exactly what it says on the tin, its special power per Isis. Priest Seto gets all upset that he can't get to them for the barrier wall in the way, while Siamun chuckles about Mahado's side having good teamwork, reiterating that they use special abilities to block Priest Seto every time he tries to crush them with pure force. 

Shada insists that he'll handle this, and proceeds to commands Zerua to use its power, Dispell Magic. Isis is in shock that Zerua cancelled her rainbow spell, as the pleasant light diffusion is destroyed right in front of Duos.

The sticky web spat from the WRONG END of the spider drapes all over Zerua, much to Shada's dismay. Apparently the sticky mess prevents Zerua from dispelling any more magic, but it's not clear how necessarily. Just rolling with it. 

Getting that psychopathic look in his smirking face, Priest Seto thanks Shada for getting rid of the Rainbow Barrier, and offers to return the favor. Duos proceeds to slice Zerua in half at the waist, because Priest Seto has to re-establish how much of a dick he is, of course. Shada grinds his teeth over the betrayal (and loss of mana, I'm sure), and Mahado is in disbelief that Priest Seto has destroyed his own team's monster. Priest Seto grins in grim delight, explaining that sacrificing an ally doubles Duos's power. This is starting to seem strangely "card-game" structured at this point...

Anyway, Priest Seto has Duos slice up the Ushebti as well, just to triple Duos's attack force, because what's a little overkill among friends?

This is why no one wants to play board games with this asshole.

Kaiba's stepfather gave him a complex that equated losing with DEATH; what's this trashfire's excuse, exactly?

As if he needed to emphasize how much of a bag of dicks he is any more than he already has, Priest Seto starts berating Mahado for how weak his ka is and how he should be ashamed trying to protect the pharaoh's tomb with such a dud. While Mahado is kneeling to try and recover from the massive wollop he just got from the guy no less. Mahado looks nothing like Rodney Dangerfield, but he ain't getting NO respect over there, I tell ya. 

Kalim addresses Mr. Sore Winner, admitting his side lost, but asking what the value is in winning when you have to sacrifice your allies to do so. Priest Seto bows his head, but he's anything but humble when he says war isn't won by the number of soldiers or the number of words. But generally they're not won by ONE GUY cannibalizing his fellow soldiers either, sooooo... Priest Seto tells Kalim he doesn't want to hear shit from him until he becomes a better opponent. At least he didn't tell Kalim to collect 10,000 cards. 

Priest Seto has dropped his mic and is sauntering off with Kalim's glare at his back when Yami calls to him. He pauses, and Yami says that a battle strategy that relies on strength can reveal some unforeseen weaknesses, at which claim Priest Seto grins and asks if it's so. Yami asserts that true power would never mean hurting allies, FRIENDS, and here we go again, folks. Priest Seto asks for the REAL definition of power, then, showing an alarming amount of smarm to his god-emperor here. I mean, the sarcasm is THICK when he suggests, as presumptuous as it may be of him, that he'd appreciate some instruction from the great pharaoh, and asks if they could duel on the spot. SHIT, dude!

Siamun barks that Priest Seto insults the pharaoh, but Yami stands up and accepts the challenge, triggering Siamun's protest. Yami just walks right on past him, though, reiterating that they should totally fight. Priest Seto says he'll enjoy seeing the power of the gods, but Yami replies that he has no intention of summoning any of THOSE, which seems to surprise Priest Seto. As they take their places across from one another, Yami declares one tablet will be all he needs. Priest Seto, appearing downright DELIGHTED, asks if Yami is sure he doesn't want to use a god against the Duos. Yami says with a smile that Priest Seto doesn't need to hold back. Even in this context, they are so. Fucking. GAY.

Priest Seto wastes no time in summoning Duos again, as Siamun and Akhenaden clutch their pearls on the sidelines. Yami announces he's chosen a ka, and a familiar furball image begins to emerge on the tablet he gestures to behind him. Something Isis feels the need to emphasize in words, for some reason. We all know how this works by now, lady, no need for commentary.

It's not like you're making it difficult for him, are you? Hell, you're not even making it difficult for ME.

Grinding his teeth, Priest Seto resolves to use his power to destroy the slab before this little joke can even be summoned. He has Duos stab the tablet with its Aura Crush attack, shattering the stone and giving Priest Seto a grin as well as a feeling of momentary accomplishment. But Yami is smiling too, asking if he's really sure he did it. While the tone fragments fall around him, Priest Seto is shocked to see that every piece seems to adopting the whole image of the ka. 

Yami gloats that this ka has a special ability to multiply when its slab is broken, and if one attacks it without thinking they lose. With this, Yami summons all his little creatures now, and a multitude of Kuribohs burst from their individual bits of rock. 

Not to put too fine a point on it or anything...

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? It seemed to revolve around solidifying how ruthless and calculating Priest Seto is, which strikes me with intense deja vu. It's like KT hit the "reset" button on Kaiba's character. This would be the time and place to do it; this setup seems to be ideal for going back and combing back through a character's development. But at the same time, there seems to be very little that's NEW happening here so far, so little that the callbacks to the beginning of the manga were a bit heavy-handed. There's still time, so I'm not exactly worried yet, but it does have me wincing that I feel as though I've read this all before already. 

Even more so when I can see Yami gearing up to make his appeals for proto-Kaiba's friendship yet again. Slight yikes. Only slight, but it's there.