Saiyuki Reload, Volume 2

Saiyuki universe #11

by Kazuya Minekura (Creator)

Sanzo, Goku, Gojyo, and Hakkai, a band of four handsome young adventurers, travel the land to fight the demonic youkai, almost human-looking beings with pointy ears and bat wings.

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Comics, Action, Adventure, Josei

192 pages, Paperback

First published March 26, 2003

About the author

Kazuya Minekura (峰倉かずや Minekura Kazuya, born March 23, 1975) is a Japanese manga artist most known for the Saiyuki series. Her other manga series include Wild Adapter, Shiritsu Araiso Koto Gakko Seitokai Shikkobu (Araiso Private School Student Council Executive Committee), and Stigma. Stigma is notable for being a full-color work, unusual as manga is generally drawn in black and white.

She had an illness that affected her writing from 2004–2007, which caused her to have a hysterectomy. On 28 September 2010, she went on Hiatus to undergo surgery for ameloblastoma on the right half of her upper jawbone. On 31 December 2010, she reported her surgery was successful after removing the tumor on her right upper jawbone and is currently resting and being fitted with artificial prosthetics to reconstruct the area where her bones were removed.

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was missing the non-NPC yokai characters. Good to see them again, even though one has been... (sigh)... brainwashed.

[Miss Ryoko · Rating 5 out of 5]

How did I have nothing to say about this volume the first three times I read it? Haha!!

Well I have stuff to say now!

I'm going to put this photo under a spoiler because of the language and I don't want to hear anyone complaining, but I about died laughing:


This part was also super hilarious!


The side story about Hakuryu was soooooooooooo cute!!!!

Also, shirtless Hakkai, Sanzo, and Gojyo.... mama like!!

I also really liked that Goku had his own bad ass side story! Well, it's not really a side story because it was part of the main story, but I don't know what else you'd call it. But I adore Goku and it was awesome to see him kickin' so much butt!

And... oh god... this panel in the preview section... *faints*


I loved this volume! So much awesome greatness!!

[Dev · Rating 3 out of 5]

actual rating: 3.5

This one was actually pretty good. Had a lot of good fight scenes and one liners and was [arguably] less sexist just by virtue of there not really being any women in it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The things we do for early 2000s shounen manga.

[Jody Mena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saiyuki was my guilty pleasure, and Saiyuki Reload is my new, full-fledged addiction. This was another great book! I was a little bit disappointed that the Sanzo party took care of that doppleganger situation so quickly and easily - I was hoping they'd have to trade off and kill each others' doubles. I think that would have had potential for some great melodrama and laughs - as it was I cracked up when Gojyo, Hakkai and Goku realized that Sanzo had a double, and all thought at exactly the same time "We could kick the shit out of it!" Such a loving and merry band of degenerate saviors! ♥ I found it to be a very interesting twist that the group got separated at the river, since, though they've been separated before, it never really happened in the midst of a crisis. Though Dokugakuji and Yaone are still technically calling themselves enemies to the Sanzo party, they were acting pretty aggressively as allies all the while. The crazy illusionist youkai was quite the sadist, but I liked his very conversational manner as he tortured them with their own minds. I was so thrilled when Sanzo broke the illusion, again using his Buddhist philosophy of 'carry nothing' - he's still definitely my favorite character, and, though he's the only human of the group, I think he may actually be the strongest. I wonder what will become of Goku now that he has to fight this emotionless killing machine that Kougaiji has become; I really do hope there's a way to save Kougaiji without killing him - maybe that's sappy, but this is technically a shoujo manga, and I want him to be able to save Lirin and see his mother again. Ah, this stuff is getting good! I can't wait to read the next book!

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A warning: I am biased. This has been my favourite manga series for over a decade and I'm on my sixth (or so) reread. This is as good as I remember. Minekura has given us distinct characters, and even when the speech balloons aren't tied directly to anyone in the panel, you know exactly who is expressing which thought. The art is amazing, and sometimes I'll just stare at scenes trying to soak more in. And the drama/angst jumps in to contrast the humour so suddenly that I will need to stop reading just to process how much I love the moments/characters/everything. Or the humour bumps aside the drama, which is a delightful way to break the tension. In all, that's basically the theme of the whole story. Nothing matters so much you can't joke about it. Though at the same time, everything absolutely matters. Sweet and sour, baby.

My copies of this manga are all beat up, but I know I'll read them again. Everytime, it's a treat.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Goku, Hakkai and Goyjo rushing to beat up Sanzo’s doppelgänger! That was too funny! The storyline with Goku and Kon was very nice. Goku is such a hero. But wait, was that Sanzo being compassionate in allowing Kon to travel with them to be reunited with his family? Nah, that can’t happen. Hehe! The power of Sanzo’s determination and drive is once again displayed in the confrontation with Zakuro. He is not a daisy.

[wulvz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each volume is just so good. Sad I read the Original Saiyuki series in 2020 because I feel like I’ve forgotten some of the main plot, but I’m still really enjoying it none the less. I love all the characters, the hallucination fight was sick, and really enjoying seeing goku on his own for once (volume 3 def gon be his time to shine).

[Khari · Rating 5 out of 5]

悟空とこうがいじの対戦はさすがに楽しかった。
悟空がもう一度立てる時の絵すごく好きだった。どうやった描くの峰倉先生は？

[Mosley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saiyuki is one of my go to action manga. The story and characters never let ya down.

[Paula Greenfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is series is is an action packed adventure that just doesn't seem to slow down.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

We hear a lot about how the demon guys are so strong, but we never really see it.

[Omar Villafane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Break the illusions. Force your reality over the others ♾️🧲

[Viridian5 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's funny. Volume 2's "Death Match" and "Against the Stream" aren't bad stories but knowing that "Burial" and "Even a Worm" will show up in volumes 3 and 4 make them feel like a bit like filler to me. Hakkai saying that the events in "Death Match" felt like "average filler" did not help. "Lovely Baby" is unabashably fluffy filler, and cute, but still meh. What makes it up to me somewhat is that they all have those character moments.

"Death Match" part 2: It still kills me that the gang is so eager for an opportunity to beat up on a Sanzo clone. Gojyo flirting with his doppelganger is also fun. The final beatdown still seems too quick and easy. And Hakkai's meta moment at the end annoyed me.

"'Lovely Baby": I'm supposed to be dead of cute, but the sugar just got to be too much for me. I know that's a manga convention for drawing children but their looks creeped me out. Goku promising to eat Jeep makes up for a few sins. Still, the image of the Sanzo party racing westward on bikes is memorable, as is half-asleep Sanzo murmuring that okay, yeah, he can keep a lookout while Gojyo calls bullshit on him. Poor Gojyo when Hakkai says that Jeep's loss is far more devastating to the party than Gojyo's was.

"Against the Stream": Meh, though I'm still touched by Sanzo finding light in the darkness and strength and comfort in the water and his memories. Nice to see Doku show a bit of actual concern for his half-brother and actually act on it for once too. This story reminds me how wishy-washy and often pathetic I find the Kougaiji party to be. Sanzo and Gojyo kicking each other under the water kills me. They really aren't all that old after all. And heh to Gojyo's "Our boss has always been a killing machine."

[Emily G · Rating 5 out of 5]

We start the volume with the continuation of the Sanzo party doppelgänger story, who don't pose our anti-heroes much of an issue! The main story of the piece is Sanzo, Hakkai and Gojyo meeting up with Yaone and Dokugakuji once more and finding out that Kougaiji is not the man he once was. Goku finds this out for himself while fighting to protect a village from youkai...

Why five stars for this volume? Because of the filler story about Jeep (who is always steadfast in his service for very little reward, in my humble opinion)! Jeep spends the night playing with a family of children, but returns in the morning, as he realises the Sanzo party need him more *aww*!

[Leila Anani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume is a little fragmented, but still awesome. We get the conclsion of the doppleganger arc, then we get a cute interlude in which jeep goes missing and fulfils the fantasies of some little kids - Next is is the against the stream arc - a river gets in the teams way and they become separated. Goku has to help a boy return to his family and all 4 fall prey to a yokai illusion master. Brainwashed Kou turns up at the end.

A filler volume there's still stacks to enjoy and the interaction between the cast is as lively as usual. Beautiful detailed artwork too.

[Oyceter · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://oyceter.livejournal.com/401249...

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series has such a wonderful blend of plot lines, comedy and action - I'm devouring all the volumes in my library in one sitting!

[keereads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read

[Illy · Rating 4 out of 5]

God this series never gets old no matter how many times I read it. The whole group is truly so well written and I love everything about this series.

[Ruben Monteiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the little moments of awareness that exist in Reload.