Yu-Gi-Oh Manga: 032 Chainsaw Deathmatch

It was clear to me for a very long time that there was no predicting how much I would like or dislike any given chapter in Yu-Gi-Oh. I have long since come to terms with the fact that my analyses of chapters has fluctuated between good, neutral and bad with no pattern to inform me of what I can expect from the next ones. That's understandable, given how serializations are subject to that cruel mistress called "Time" and coming up with a viable idea early on that you have to MAKE work despite how uncooperative it turns out to be is a real struggle.

However, given the title and first page of this chapter, I think there's going to be at least a COUPLE of aspects I'm guaranteed to enjoy.

Ding dong, the Jouji's dead! Quick, everyone run past the murderer while he's busy cannibalizing the baby flesh!

Too much?

Yuugi calls out to Jouji as Jonouchi recounts the obvious fact that someone snatched him through the trapdoor. Yuugi wonders if it's "Chopper Man," and Jonouchi curses their luck at finding the trapdoor only for it to house a crazed murderer. He acknowledges that they have to save Jouji, though he prefaces this with admitting that he doesn't very much like the little tyke. They're going that way anyway, so may as well pick him up from murder daycare.

They crack open the trapdoor again, peering into darkness. Jouji calls out to them from somewhere down a flight of stairs, which I'm guessing are real this time. Anzu identifies Jouji's voice, and Jonouchi suggests they get a move on. As they file onto the stairs one at a time, Yuugi tells them all to watch their steps, because the "Chopper Man" might have set up some traps for them. When they reach the bottom of the stairs, Yuugi points to an alcove right in front of them, where Jouji is sitting completely UN-mutilated.

And strangely grinning too. He doesn't look scared in the slightest, which must be why Honda, Jonouchi and Yuugi all agree that he looks like bait in a trap. Honda demands to know if Jouji is alone in the room, and Jouji says that no one is there with him, all while shaking his head vigorously. Jonouchi is not buying it for a second, so Jouji puts on what he must think is a charming sparkling innocent face, despite the fact that it looks more than ever like he's putting on an act. Jonouchi is still unconvinced, knowing that Jouji is capable of betrayal and lies.

Jouji loses his patience and scoffs, pointing and telling an emerging figure behind him that they won't take the bait. Jonouchi asks who he's talking to, while Honda echoes Jonouchi's previous traitor assessment. The figure just growls through his lumber-mouth. Yuugi ponders what to do, since the killer is clearly hidden in the room. Just then, Kaiba appears on a monitor in the back of the alcove, and someone says "his face is shining out of the darkness!"

That line should be a CRIME.

Jouji twists in his seat to wave and say hello to his terrible hero as Kaiba welcomes the rest of the group, asking how they're liking his death games so far. Jonouchi essentially calls Kaiba a coward for not appearing before them in person, and asks where he's hiding. Kaiba answers that his favorite games involve cards, followed closely by traditional chess. He compares them all to opposing chess pieces that keep slipping out of the corners he puts them in. Kaiba's been having fun so far chasing them around his Kaiba Land chess board, but this move is going to be his favorite. Yuugi looks on in shock as Kaiba gets ready to explain the rules of the next game.

No, I don't think graphic child death is within the scope of this manga, actually. I'm wondering, though, what he would have used as bait had Jouji not been there. A random park patron, or just doughnuts?

Gloved hands stretch over Jouji, who is finally starting to look a little freaked out. Kaiba says that "Chopper Man" will obey any order, including to kill their hostage. Jouji, starting to sweat, asks Kaiba if he's joking, thinking he wouldn't really give an order to have him killed. Yuugi demands that Kaiba order "Chopper Man" to let go of Jouji, but Kaiba ignores him, asking who would like to play the latest of his sick games. Jouji is completely convinced now that he's in danger, and cries for help.

At first, Honda mutters through gritted teeth that he'll have to do it, but Jonouchi stops him, volunteering himself. He saunters forward, citing the times that Jouji has managed to help them as the regrettable reason that he has to pay him back. When he steps into the room, "Chopper Man" growls and Kaiba thinks that Jonouchi's piece is about to be checkmated.

That's... not how chess works, Kaiba. Individual pieces aren't checkmated except for the king. You should know that.

The door slams behind Jonouchi, something that doesn't surprise him in the slightest. Honda and Yuugi yank on the bars of the cell door, but it won't budge. Meanwhile, Jouji is urging Jonouchi forward, a little TOO insistent that Jonouchi should trust and save him. Jonouchi forces himself forward again with an accompanying "hold your horses" comment. When he steps in something slippery, though, he looks down to see that the room is slightly sunken and filled with... tar?

Tar is sticky. Is this a translation error, or has Takahashi never heard of La Brea?

Jonouchi makes it over to Jouji, only to have the toddler slap a handcuff he had hidden behind his back on his wrist. Jouji begs Jonouchi not to be mad because if he didn't cuff Jonouchi, "Chopper Man" would have killed him. Besides, Kaiba told him to do it, and he always does what Kaiba wants. Jonouchi growls that he knew Jouji was a little traitor, but there's no time to pummel the little bastard.

Definitely the most deferential Leatherface wannabe I've ever seen, Jonouchi. He also seems to be as in love with Kaiba as Jouji and the rest of his delusional little fans too. Look at how he's stroking that monitor... *shiver*

Remember when I said that Kaiba could put Jonouchi in a Colosseum with a hungry lion and he'd be orgasming? Well, this is about as close as Kaiba is ever going to get to that, and Jonouchi doesn't look close to climax at all. Sorry, I was so very, very wrong. In fact, he looks desperate as he rattles the chain attached to his handcuff, wishing for a piece of wire to pick it with.

Kaiba calls for the game to start, which prompts "Chopper Man" to start hoisting himself onto the center pedestal to choose his tool for carving Jonouchi up. Jonouchi cries foul because "Chopper Man" shouldn't even need a weapon. Jonouchi calls back at the door to ask if anyone has anything pointy on them, and Yuugi says he'll look for something. "Chopper Man" is being a little finicky about what he's been given while Jonouchi thinks about how he can't use any of the weapons to pick the lock on his cuff. If he doesn't manage to unlock himself, he knows he WILL be hacked to bits.

Honda comes back to the door to deliver bad news: they can't find any tool that's small and pointy. Yuugi calls out Jonouchi's name uselessly, and "Chopper Man" finally chooses the chainsaw as his weapon. He revs it up and launches at Jonouchi, who can only run and circle the pedestal carrying Jouji while Kaiba watches from the monitor attached to "Chopper Man."

Jonouchi curses the slippery substance on the floor causing him to slide around.

What, did you think those pythons were just a muscle suit or something? "Chopper Man" brings his chainsaw down, intending to slice Jonouchi right in half, but Jonouchi manages to roll out of the way to the sound of Yuugi and Honda calling out to him from the doorway. While "Chopper Man" struggles to dislodge the teeth of his chainsaw from the pedestal, Jouji tells Jonouchi he has to run. Jonouchi shouts that he can't, because he's chained to the Chopper, and he'll just yank on their shared chain. "Chopper Man" chuckles and says that Jonouchi's right; there's no escaping from Choppy.

Jonouchi's first priority is still to get the cuff off his wrist, as "Choppy" continues to pull the chainsaw out of the pedestal. Jokes on him, only the King of England can pull that off. Yuugi and Honda confirm that they still don't see anything to pick the lock with, no matter how many times Jonouchi asks. Yuugi knows that if this goes on much longer, Jonouchi won't live very long. Suddenly...

Wait, that looked like a transformation, but Yuugi still looks like Yuugi and not Yami. Is that actually the true power of the Millennium Puzzle activating briefly? Yami did mention that occasionally the true power of the puzzle would stir...

Yuugi is pointing to a wall sconce holding a candle. Jonouchi takes it off the wall and removes the candle to find a point was what held it in place. He sticks the end of the point into the lock on his cuff, all the while being urged along by Yuugi from the other side of the door. Boy, "Choppy" sure has been having trouble with that chainsaw for a while. That's convenient. Jonouchi knows that he'll have to come up with a way to open the door after this, probably because he knows his luck with not having to run from "Chopper Man" won't last.

I guess Jonouchi said this out loud, because Yuugi says he has an idea in relation to it. He must have whispered it to Jonouchi through the bars, because a panel later, Jonouchi grins and says "okay." "Choppy" FINALLY pulls his chainsaw from the pedestal, so say hello to your new king, England. Jonouchi is still facing the door as "Chopper Man" taunts him by telling him there's nowhere to hide. Jonouchi looks over his shoulder with concern as "Chopper Man" demands that he come over to be chopped up. "Chopper Man" gives the chain a huge yank.

What's this I see? Kaiba is surprised by this particular victory like he hasn't been by any before, despite the fact that two of them were performed by a tiny baby toddler. He did NOT think much of Jonouchi's intelligence, did he? Perhaps he'll learn not to underestimate Jonouchi in the future?

Nah, I don't think so.

Anyway, apparently time has slowed around the falling door, because Kaiba and Jonouchi have been able to say their respective pieces before it falls, and the candle flies from the sconce in slow enough motion that "Chopper Man" can gape at it before it hits the "tar" below. Jonouchi gives a speech about how Kaiba and "Chopper Man" are so similar in their stupidity and strength, and that oil and fire mix pretty well, while "Chopper Man" burns. I think Jonouchi has secretly been watching Yami's victory speeches this entire time, because that was a direct lift, not listening villain and all.

Or maybe Yami got it from Jonouchi, as per the hints dropped in the Digital Pets chapter?

As they're getting away from the inferno Yuugi and Jonouchi have created and Honda encourages everyone to move along to the next game, Jouji thanks Jonouchi with his finger in his nose yet again. Jonouchi glares at him.

So, what did I think of this chapter overall? This is another of those mixed bags. The concept was a simple one, and that could have made it a lot more organic. After all, it's something that I think Kaiba would have come up with to get rid of the spare that Kaiba had allowed along, and that would have been Jonouchi anyway in his original plan. I think this would obviously have been an installation for the sole purpose of robbing Yuugi of the support he had brought along, which is the real reason I think Kaiba is shocked at this particular victory. Not only is Yuugi going to the next game with more support than he had anticipated, he didn't even lose the one person Kaiba had intended him to lose.

I'm guessing the next game will REQUIRE that support to win.

However, the details of this game actually weighed down the concept, as opposed to strengthening it. Kaiba said in the last chapter that he hired the "Chopper Man" that no one had ever found before. I have no doubt that Kaiba has the resources to find a killer on the lam, but hiring the murderer would ALSO require him to gain the respect and love that we clearly see "Chopper Man" exhibiting in this chapter. Was offering him more victims really THAT good of a deal? I would assume that Kaiba would have offered protection from the law, but considering there doesn't seem to be any law enforcement presence in this world, I'm hesitant to do so. These are just details I wish would have been introduced in some way, shape or form during the chapter to explain why "Chopper Man" has the reverence for Kaiba's orders that he does.

Also, the fact that "Chopper Man" is so strong, but also unable to get his chainsaw dislodged from the pedestal for such a conveniently long time is kind of bothersome. The guy's arms are wider than his head, he should have been able to get that thing out of the pedestal long before Jonouchi even had time to pick his lock. If not, he should have at least dropped the chainsaw and grabbed another weapon from above. Of course, he seemed a tad dim from his dialogue, so that option may not have occurred to him.

Speaking of things that should have occurred to people, I'm not terribly enthusiastic about Yuugi coming up with all the solutions to this game. I can understand the insight about the sconce coming from him and the puzzle, but I think it would have been better if the idea to cuff the sconce to the door came from Jonouchi. Right before the whole "Death-T" arc began, we saw Jonouchi making a clever move against Bruce Lee Wannabe, AND he's well aware of how important using an opponent's strength against him is in a physical fight. I think it would have been well within his capabilities to come up with that stunt on his own.

Other than that, I liked the action this chapter provided, and it was a riot seeing Jonouchi slipping around a room while holding a baby. Too bad about that chainsaw murderer, though.