Even while the sequel series, Soul Eater Not, is being published in Yen Plus magazine, manga publisher Yen Press still continues forward with Soul Eater by Atsushi Ohkubo. The story in this manga has been improving as it's settled into a main plot line, but when one storyline comes to an end will it be able to hold onto that pace?
Soul Eater Volume 6: The Fight with Medusa
While Dr. Stein and Maka's father battle the witch Medusa, the children fight their way past Kishin (weapon meisters with the evil black blood) and witches to make it to Asura, the first Kishin, before he can be resurrected. But time is not on their side, and when Asura's madness proves to be contagious the DWMA students may find that they can't win.
Maka's fight against Crona continues, but ends not in blows but by reaching into Crona's memory, understanding his pain, and reaching out to become is friend. It may be a little cheesy, but it's also heartwarming and manages to show off aspects of multiple characters' personalities at once. Meanwhile, Death the Kid and Black*Star race to reach Asura before the witches, but even as they catch up the Kishin's madness plays horrible tricks on their minds.
In the end, one enemy manages to get away, a surprising twist that may allow for interesting growth in further volumes. Another enemy is defeated, but a final image on the last page hints that this won't be the last we see of a cunning villain. Overall, an action-packed volume that will hook back fans who may have been drifting away.
Soul Eater volume 6 gets 4/5.
- ISBN: 9780316071093
- MSRP: $11.99
- Release Date: June, 2011
- 208 pages
Soul Eater Volume 7: The Madness Spreads
Now that Asura is revived, Shinigami calls back some of his best students to help find the kishin and control the madness that will spread through the world. Even though these veterans have returned, Maka and her friends still have plenty on their plates as they overcome the pain of losing such an important battle and attempt to bring the reclusive Crona, now a DWMA student, out of his shell. And when a golem goes on a rampage in the Czech Republic, Maka, Soul and Crona go to investigate, but when it turns out to be Arachne, Medusa's sister, they'll find themselves far over their heads.
Taking a break from the fighting, the first couple of chapters focus on the students hanging out and having fun. Ohkubo takes advantage of the breather to interject more of his humor, like when Maka suggest Crona write a poem to get out his feelings, only to find it's so bleak that everyone in the room becomes horrifically depressed. This also allows the chance to meet the three new characters so we can ease into their introductions.
It's a little too obvious that Maka and the others are walking into a trap when they follow a man from the village, and it's quite a sudden twist to have Medusa's sister as the new villain. But the action is fast and clean, and especially interesting when Justin Law, a weapon who can fight on his own, steps in. This brings up a bout of jealousy from Soul, as we're reminded about how inferior he feels when he can't protect Maka. Though Arachne gets away, a new story line starts right up as Black*Star overhears the teachers planning a raid on Arachne's hideout and decides to get revenge for Maka - only to find an old opponent waiting for him. This volume keeps up the pace of the previous one, but we have to hope for more explanations of the sudden twists to keep readers from getting too frustrated.
Soul Eater volume 7 gets 3.5/5
- ISBN: 9780316071109
- MSRP: $11.99
- Release Date: October 2011
- 208 pages
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