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Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney #5
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney 5
Ace attorney, Phoenix Wright is at it again, protecting the innocent and helping his friends with his amazing skill as a lawyer.
A CULT FAN
In this volume of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Phoenix and Maya's occult-loving friend Russi Clover has gotten herself into trouble once again. She has converted to the Great Tengu Society, a cult that claims to give its followers supernatural powers. Soon, an enemy of the cult is found dead. Was it divine retribution... or murder?
Includes special extras after the story!
A CULT FAN
In this volume of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Phoenix and Maya's occult-loving friend Russi Clover has gotten herself into trouble once again. She has converted to the Great Tengu Society, a cult that claims to give its followers supernatural powers. Soon, an enemy of the cult is found dead. Was it divine retribution... or murder?
Includes special extras after the story!
200 pages, Paperback
First published December 5, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 16, 2022
The way that characters in the story are like "no way is a Tengu diety real that's ridiculous" when Maya and Pearls regularly spirit channel in the courtroom lmao. But good conclusion to the series!
April 11, 2012
This seems to be the end of the Ace Attorney manga, or at least it's all that's been published so far. I can always hope for more. The tone and characterization are close enough that fans won't be disappointed. I've also been pretty pleased with the art, since it actually looks like the characters.
September 19, 2012
A great end to this series - the wrapup of a trial in the death of an eating champion followed by the curious case of the tengu.
These comics really felt like the games, a feeling helped by a character who appeared earlier in the series returning in the last case. Ms. Von Karma also makes an appearance, being pretty darn awesome and totally in character.
These comics really felt like the games, a feeling helped by a character who appeared earlier in the series returning in the last case. Ms. Von Karma also makes an appearance, being pretty darn awesome and totally in character.
August 8, 2019
I saw the anime before reading the manga. I thought for sure they missed something, they didn't.
December 20, 2012
This was the last in a manga series inspired by the popular Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney games. As a law student, I must admit that Phoenix Wright is a bit of a guilty pleasure. Wright's trademark "HOLD IT!" and "OBJECTION!" are just as satisfying in the manga as they are in the games.
The art is great and the stories are engaging. This isn't great literature but it is great fun.
The art is great and the stories are engaging. This isn't great literature but it is great fun.
March 13, 2026
And that's it for the Phoenix Wright manga! Has my opinion on it has changed in any significant way since the last time I read it, in 2013? Well, I'd say I found myself far more appreciative of Kenji Kuroda's mystery plotting skills this time, but less appreciative of the humor, which tended a bit too much toward out-and-out wackiness for my tastes. So, I suppose that evens out and there's no need to overturn my original verdict of... IT'S ALRIGHT, I GUESS!
One notable absence from this particular volume is Alethea and Athena Nibley's typically excellent translation notes, presumably because there were no new characters in need of ridiculous pun-based names. However, you'd think they would've at least wanted to give some context for the cultural references in the final story, which is the most explicitly Japanese tale in the entire manga series. I guess Kodansha Comics was worried that Americans would be baffled by the oh-so-exotic concept of noodles. But tengu? Why, they're common knowledge in every corner of the world!
Turnabout Gurgitation (Part Two)
In a continuation from the previous volume, it's time for the final showdown with the fiendish fiend who ruined a perfectly good bowl of Red Hot Chili Noodles! (And also killed a guy, if you care about that sort of thing.) The actual solution likely won't knock anyone's socks off, with a killer and method that are easy enough to guess just based on vibes, but there are some brilliantly clever visual clues pointing to the finer details. It's just too bad the previous volume introduced a minor discrepancy with the translation of a specific clue – or, rather, with the orientation of said clue. Were they really not given the opportunity to read the entire story to find out how the clue would be used before translating/lettering the first part?
If there's one thing I really enjoyed about this one, it's Winston Payne's shockingly competent turn as prosecutor, in a case that lasts longer than five minutes for once. And yet he still doesn't get to be on the cover! That pretty boy Edgeworth still takes his spot, even though Edgey only has a one-page cameo in this story!
Turnabout Power vs. Supernatural Power
A sequel of sorts to "Turnabout Prophecy" (from Volume 3) in which Russi Clover, the defendant from that case, has joined a cult known as the Great Tengu Society. Here, she soon finds herself tengu'd up in the baffling disappearance-and-rematerialization-as-a-dead-guy of a private detective on the society's "sacred elevator". (If you were curious, it's just a regular elevator that happens to have a giant tengu statue on it, thus ensuring it's nearly at maximum weight capacity at all times!)
After a few fairly disappointing mysteries, this feels like a satisfying finale for the manga. More or less. The trick behind the how is some of Kuroda's best work, absurd yet strangely elegant at the same time, and I appreciate his use of an obvious red herring that's bound to draw the reader's eye, only for it to come into play in a very different way than you'd expect. It's just too bad that the who doesn't carry as much surprise, since there's only one person who could possibly be the culprit, for reasons both practical and dramatic. And in order to pretend otherwise, Franziska von Karma has to insist, with a straight face, that it would be trivially easy for a teenage girl to haul a dead body up a (step)ladder!
One notable absence from this particular volume is Alethea and Athena Nibley's typically excellent translation notes, presumably because there were no new characters in need of ridiculous pun-based names. However, you'd think they would've at least wanted to give some context for the cultural references in the final story, which is the most explicitly Japanese tale in the entire manga series. I guess Kodansha Comics was worried that Americans would be baffled by the oh-so-exotic concept of noodles. But tengu? Why, they're common knowledge in every corner of the world!
Turnabout Gurgitation (Part Two)
In a continuation from the previous volume, it's time for the final showdown with the fiendish fiend who ruined a perfectly good bowl of Red Hot Chili Noodles! (And also killed a guy, if you care about that sort of thing.) The actual solution likely won't knock anyone's socks off, with a killer and method that are easy enough to guess just based on vibes, but there are some brilliantly clever visual clues pointing to the finer details. It's just too bad the previous volume introduced a minor discrepancy with the translation of a specific clue – or, rather, with the orientation of said clue. Were they really not given the opportunity to read the entire story to find out how the clue would be used before translating/lettering the first part?
If there's one thing I really enjoyed about this one, it's Winston Payne's shockingly competent turn as prosecutor, in a case that lasts longer than five minutes for once. And yet he still doesn't get to be on the cover! That pretty boy Edgeworth still takes his spot, even though Edgey only has a one-page cameo in this story!
Turnabout Power vs. Supernatural Power
A sequel of sorts to "Turnabout Prophecy" (from Volume 3) in which Russi Clover, the defendant from that case, has joined a cult known as the Great Tengu Society. Here, she soon finds herself tengu'd up in the baffling disappearance-and-rematerialization-as-a-dead-guy of a private detective on the society's "sacred elevator". (If you were curious, it's just a regular elevator that happens to have a giant tengu statue on it, thus ensuring it's nearly at maximum weight capacity at all times!)
After a few fairly disappointing mysteries, this feels like a satisfying finale for the manga. More or less. The trick behind the how is some of Kuroda's best work, absurd yet strangely elegant at the same time, and I appreciate his use of an obvious red herring that's bound to draw the reader's eye, only for it to come into play in a very different way than you'd expect. It's just too bad that the who doesn't carry as much surprise, since there's only one person who could possibly be the culprit, for reasons both practical and dramatic. And in order to pretend otherwise, Franziska von Karma has to insist, with a straight face, that it would be trivially easy for a teenage girl to haul a dead body up a (step)ladder!
July 22, 2026
A solid two cases to send us off (at least, I don't think there are any more Ace Attorney mangas... feel free to correct me if I'm wrong), I feel as though Kuroda really hit a stride with these final two cases — one was well plotted for twists and turns in the courtroom, and the other was clever in it's mechanics for the murder — and both are perhaps some of the strongest cases we have had in a long time.
The first case, which is the second half of Turnabout Gurgiation, introduced in the prior volume, gradually slipped out of it's rather comedic set up to lead to a good round of "Who Has The Fatal Motive?" with characters pointing fingers this way and that, and all with decent enough groundwork for it to be engaging and understandable. While the lesser case for me, in terms of enjoyment and the convoluted, it did a very good job of feeling just slightly more like the Ace Attorney games with which I am so fond and familiar. The court case seemed a little more deliberate, perhaps slightly slowed at times so we could see the wheels turning in Phoenix's head and could put it together with him in real time. This is what I mean by Kuroda hitting his stride — he found a great balance between presenting evidence and pushing the turnabout forward and also considering the evidence alongside the reader and letting them catch up.
The second case was stronger overall, perhaps because it was a case with more "investigation," and also had the blessing of being completely contained, so that I could read it all in one sitting rather than having to recall, inevitably reintroduce characters, and be reminded of reasoning. A sort of sister case to one in Volume 3, we see a familiar face, Russi Clover, put on trial again for murdering a detective who was investigating a cult ran by a fraud (both tax and religious! The perfect pair.). As I said earlier, the idea for how the murder and obfuscation worked were clever — not so clever as some Ace Attorney game highlights, but certainly in the hall of fame for these mangas — and the way they went about depicting it was very well done: engaging, tailored to this specific medium, and reminiscent of the games all the while. Franziska was also returned (having featured in Volume 3 as well), and the authors seem to have a lot of fun writing her.
Yes, I do think these manga are only half so fun because they are using existing IP, but it's use of the existing IP was well done enough and fun enough that I enjoyed my time. If you're nostalgic for Ace Attorney, these can be a fun walk in the park, but you can also certainly go play the game or watch a gameplay instead.
As an afterthought, as well, this book lacked translation notes like it's predecessors, and that is a bit of a loss, in my opinion. The translation notes were always such a delightful time.
The first case, which is the second half of Turnabout Gurgiation, introduced in the prior volume, gradually slipped out of it's rather comedic set up to lead to a good round of "Who Has The Fatal Motive?" with characters pointing fingers this way and that, and all with decent enough groundwork for it to be engaging and understandable. While the lesser case for me, in terms of enjoyment and the convoluted, it did a very good job of feeling just slightly more like the Ace Attorney games with which I am so fond and familiar. The court case seemed a little more deliberate, perhaps slightly slowed at times so we could see the wheels turning in Phoenix's head and could put it together with him in real time. This is what I mean by Kuroda hitting his stride — he found a great balance between presenting evidence and pushing the turnabout forward and also considering the evidence alongside the reader and letting them catch up.
The second case was stronger overall, perhaps because it was a case with more "investigation," and also had the blessing of being completely contained, so that I could read it all in one sitting rather than having to recall, inevitably reintroduce characters, and be reminded of reasoning. A sort of sister case to one in Volume 3, we see a familiar face, Russi Clover, put on trial again for murdering a detective who was investigating a cult ran by a fraud (both tax and religious! The perfect pair.). As I said earlier, the idea for how the murder and obfuscation worked were clever — not so clever as some Ace Attorney game highlights, but certainly in the hall of fame for these mangas — and the way they went about depicting it was very well done: engaging, tailored to this specific medium, and reminiscent of the games all the while. Franziska was also returned (having featured in Volume 3 as well), and the authors seem to have a lot of fun writing her.
Yes, I do think these manga are only half so fun because they are using existing IP, but it's use of the existing IP was well done enough and fun enough that I enjoyed my time. If you're nostalgic for Ace Attorney, these can be a fun walk in the park, but you can also certainly go play the game or watch a gameplay instead.
As an afterthought, as well, this book lacked translation notes like it's predecessors, and that is a bit of a loss, in my opinion. The translation notes were always such a delightful time.
October 31, 2019
Solid manga with great art!
May 20, 2026
Why is there Tengu from yo-kai watch in my Ace Attorney manga. "what is this a crossover episode"
March 4, 2015
Regardless of this series being about an attorney defending claimants from being accused of murder I am glad to inform you that it is not overly graphic and has thus been classified as Teen by the people at Kodansha Comics. Also I think it would be good to mention regardless of the serious nature of the crimes committed in this book that it is not an overly serious series being based on the spoofy Phoenix Wright Videogames. If you decide to read it I hope you enjoy. :)
The 5th and final volume in the series is here and I enjoyed all of the books in the run though I wish there were more of the misadventures of Phoenix Write and his partner Maya Fey. This book concludes the Turnabout Gurgitation trial and like the other stories is well explained when Phoenix figures out the truth and lays down the truth so all can understand. The final Trial is Turnabout Power vs. Supernatural Power(that's a mouthful for a title :)) which sees the return of Russi Clover as she is once more accused and Phoenix must use his brains to match wits with the competitive Franziska Von Karma in a story of fraud and supernatural cults. Careful you don't believe in everything you here folks. Some people are able to deceive with the best of them. :)
My favorite part of the book would have to be right after the last case when miss Von Karma comes to Phoenix to save her from the former members of the Tengu cult who for some reason see something divine about her whip. Long live the Church of the Thong I guess. Maybe she can keep ahead of the members. :)
The 5th and final volume in the series is here and I enjoyed all of the books in the run though I wish there were more of the misadventures of Phoenix Write and his partner Maya Fey. This book concludes the Turnabout Gurgitation trial and like the other stories is well explained when Phoenix figures out the truth and lays down the truth so all can understand. The final Trial is Turnabout Power vs. Supernatural Power(that's a mouthful for a title :)) which sees the return of Russi Clover as she is once more accused and Phoenix must use his brains to match wits with the competitive Franziska Von Karma in a story of fraud and supernatural cults. Careful you don't believe in everything you here folks. Some people are able to deceive with the best of them. :)
My favorite part of the book would have to be right after the last case when miss Von Karma comes to Phoenix to save her from the former members of the Tengu cult who for some reason see something divine about her whip. Long live the Church of the Thong I guess. Maybe she can keep ahead of the members. :)
July 30, 2025
I’m so sad this was the last of the spin-off mangas. They really felt like an extension of the games and were such a delight to read.
I absolutely loved the Gormand Battle as a setting for a case. The characters were fun and I really enjoy stories and media centered around food (Dungeon Meshi or Battle Chef Brigade come to mind). Risa’s final monologue was awesome—truly ice-cold. And that ending was just the sweetest. Knowing that Edgeworth hangs out with Larry in his free time brings me immense joy.
The other case, centered around the Tengu cult, felt like it could have been straight out of the games. From gathering evidence to having established witnesses and defendants reappear from earlier cases, it nailed the vibe perfectly. Plus, we got another Franziska appearance—yeyy to that!
I absolutely loved the Gormand Battle as a setting for a case. The characters were fun and I really enjoy stories and media centered around food (Dungeon Meshi or Battle Chef Brigade come to mind). Risa’s final monologue was awesome—truly ice-cold. And that ending was just the sweetest. Knowing that Edgeworth hangs out with Larry in his free time brings me immense joy.
The other case, centered around the Tengu cult, felt like it could have been straight out of the games. From gathering evidence to having established witnesses and defendants reappear from earlier cases, it nailed the vibe perfectly. Plus, we got another Franziska appearance—yeyy to that!
December 16, 2024
The manga version of the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney video game series really delivers on the things that make the games so much fun.
This is the last of a five‑volume set and consists of one full case and the second half of a case from vol. 4. It doesn’t work as a standalone, but together with the previous volume it covers three complete stories. I don’t know if vols. 1, 2, and 3 are split the same way and since they’re out of print and can cost upwards of $100, I’ll probably never know.
August 2, 2011
There needs to be more of this.
Want to Read
July 11, 2013I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11878832
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11878832
February 14, 2015
Long live the church of thong!
July 13, 2016
Figured out the culprit in both of these mysteries, which isn't unusual for this series. At least it means that the plots made sense! A fitting end to a short, fun manga series.
December 16, 2025
3.5 stars
May 13, 2012
Creative cases!! Finally done with the collection.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews