Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duelist, Vol. 4: Dungeon of Doom

Yu-Gi-Oh! Duelist #4

by Kazuki Takahashi

The action moves underground as the tournament continues! Bandit Keith, the cutthroat American gamer, drags Jonouchi into the corpse-fulled catacombs for a match with "Ghost" Kozuka, master of the undead. Traped in the tunnels beneath Duelist Kingdom, Yugi and Jonouchi must conquer the maze of the Meikyû Brothers in a two-on-two duel. It's monster vs. monster in the endless maze of tiny passages... and waiting in the Meikyû Brother's decks is the Gate Guardian, lord of the underworld, one of the most powerful monsters of all!

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Comics, Fiction, Shonen

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 8, 1999

About the author

Takahashi (高橋和希) started as a mangaka in 1982. His first work was Tokiō no Tsuma (闘輝王の鷹), published in 1990. One of his earliest works was Tennenshokudanji Buray (天然色男児BURAY), which lasted for two volumes and was published from 1991 to 1992. Takahashi did not find success until 1996 when he created Yu-Gi-Oh!

Reviews

[Burberi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is such a nostalgic manga. I hope Exodia gets an appearance soon 🥺

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

The nostalgia is bringing me to life

[Ren · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Too bad, Yugi!! All you can do now is sit there sucking your thumb while your friend dies on the other side of the wall!"

Volume 4 starts out strong. Kaiba has made his way to Pegasus's castle only to be frustrated by Pegasus's lackeys, who insist that even Kaiba can't barge in and talk to Pegasus at 3 in the morning. Kaiba is understandably miffed by this considering that after Pegasus kidnapped his brother and threatened a hostile take-over of his company, Pegasus's beauty rest is the last thing he cares about.

At the same time, Joey/Jonouchi is awakened by a dream in which Kaiba beats him in a duel, with a sneering: "It suits you to crawl, Jonouchi! You're a worthless dog...and after this match, you'll be too afraid to ever duel again! You're nothing but a loser! Mha ha ha ha ha!" (p14) (Note that this is the origin story of the 'Puppyshipping' ship name, more recently altered to the less salacious, less furry-adjacent 'violetshipping')

Understandably shaken both from this nightmare and the real duel against Kaiba the previous night which played out much the same, Joey/Jonouchi gets up the next morning with something to prove.

As the second and final day of the tournament gets underway, things get sidetracked when we're introduced to another character with a chip on their shoulder: Bandit Keith, a former American Duel Monsters Champion (perhaps better and more widely known as the 'in America!' guy, courtesy of the Abridged Series).

We learn a surprising amount of lore from Bandit Keith, including that before Pegasus bought it, the island was occupied by the U.S. military during 'the war' (specifically, the Pacific war.). This is interesting to know because it fills in a plot hole in the anime about there being skeletons buried on the island. According to Keith, "a lot of troops were buried here." (p.23)

A n y w a y, Keith is a big cheater, and has enlisted three weaker duelists to help him obtain ten star chips without having to officially be entered in the tournament.

He and his goons kidnap Joey/Jonouchi and bring him to an underground 'graveyard' duel arena because he wants Joey/Jonouchi to duel against his henchman named 'Bonz/Ghost Kozuka', who uses a zombie-themed deck.

This is the first duel Joey/Jonouchi has to fight without Yugi to support him, and, as someone pointed out, it's a good foil duel to the duel between Joey/Jonouchi and Mai. In that duel, Mai was on her own, while Yugi somewhat fed Joey/Jonouchi moves. In this duel, Joey/Jonouchi's on his own and his opponent is fed moves by Bandit Keith.

It's a good, honestly somewhat subtle, way to demonstrate Joey/Jonouchi's growth as a duelist and serves as his 'coming of age' duel as he must overcome both a tricky zombie strategy on his own and the self-doubt personified by Kaiba calling him a loser --a flashback he has throughout the duel (to the delight of the shipping girlies).

But in the end, he emerges victorious, wins four more star chips, and is reunited with his friends just in time for Bandit Keith to barricade them all in the cave.

While searching for a way out, they come across the 'Labyrinth Brothers', and Yugi and Joey/Jonouchi join forces in the series’ first tag-team duel.

This particular duel is honestly a lot more fun in the manga than the anime. Even though the anime aired prior to the official card game being rolled out in any meaningful way, you can tell the writers were trying to focus in on the card game aspect, rather than following the manga duel, wherein the cards take a backseat to the more RPG-style game. A shame, because doing an RPG-card game hybrid worked really well and the unique format allowed for more dynamic visuals that made the match stand out and feel less like our protagonists just grinding out two more star chips each as is the case in the anime.

And that's where we leave everyone in volume 4: Kaiba standing annoyed outside the front gates of the castle, and everyone else in the midst of the final battle needed to earn enough star chips to enter the castle. But only if they don't get stuck forever in the underground labyrinth...

It's not my favorite volume, but it kept things moving and gave us some decent character development.

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume of Duelist focuses on Jonouchi (Joey in the anime) and really develops his character and his duelling skills over the course of the two duels featured in this volume. As a character that for me has come across as a bit out of his depth up until this point and coming off the back of a challenging event in the last volume, he's pushed to find success without the help and support of his friends and prove he's a duelist capable of finding victory against the high calibre duelists competing in Duelist's Kingdom. This volume really takes him from just being a sidekick riding on Yugi's coattails and instead starting to become a duelist who's competing with a purpose and developing his skills with every match.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another villain has entered the manga, and he’s just as terrible as I remember. Ridiculous and patriotic. Funny coincidence that I’m reading this on Memorial Day...his bandana sticking out even more so today.

The duels are getting more strategic and intense. There’s still a level of predictability, but now with added complexity. Moves that take four or five steps to unfold instead of the classic “pull the perfect card at the perfect moment” trope. Takahashi called out in his early blurb that he was working on card designs and you can tell.

The nostalgia is strong, and the balance of humor and drama keeps me coming back. The graveyard battle in particular stands out as a highlight of this volume.

[Joseph B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yu-Gi-Oh Duelist continues the Duelist Kingdom arc as Jonouchi faces off against a ghoulish enemy and later Yugi & Jonouchi begin a tag-team duel against twin brothers. Vol 4 is a very Jonouchi focused volume; expanding his character quite a bit (for a shonen manga) as we see his take on Bandit Keith's squad all by himself and later work closely with Yugi to take on the Paradox Brothers. The art continues to be great, we see inventive new duels and strategies, and the labyrinth setting for the tag-team duel is refreshing and unique.

Those continuing on with the Duelist series will find an enjoyable volume; despite the bad guys for this volume feeling a bit one note.

[Kassy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Yugi and Joey got in a duel with twin dungeon player killers which is a insane thing to say. I didn't even know you could duel in teams it's actually pretty cool. And the way Yugi and Joey have been combining their moves and making combos with each other's cards are very cool. I am really enjoying this manga series and love the characters. It's also cool how Yugi and Dark Yugi can kinda communicate now.

[Cha Cha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning was very interesting and creepy at the same time. Joey gets pulled into a cave with a dueling box inside. Later, everyone is trapped in a labyrinth while trying to get out of the cave but instead challenged to a duel. The duel is in the labyrinth; within those walls, there are countless traps in it.

[Leandro Escobar-herrera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great battles, inventive use of the cards and great character movements are sadly bogged down by villains there not very engaging. Bandit Keith is too frustrating to care about and the Paradox brother show zero personality outside of their amazing entrance.

Bois was fun, and Joe actually used strategy and relied on himself.

Overall, it was all right.

[Optimus · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite volume! We meet the douche Bandit Keith and his zombie underlings.. And my favorite duelists Paradox bros show up.. And we get a very interesting board game like duel..

Also, in this volume the swearing picks up which is so funny to me.

[anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used to think card games and rpgs were only for stuck up entitled nerdy people from my old school which is why I avoided them for so long. Picked up this series and whoahhhh
BOY WAS I WRONG
no wonder millions of people read the series and play the card game. This shit is epic!!

[Jane Blake · Rating 2 out of 5]

El tomo más flojo (para mí) hasta el momento. Lo siento Jonouchi >.<

[Sebastián Ubilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es un buen manga

[Kurtis Burkhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always loved yugioh, it was my favorite show as a kid and my first manga! Love all the great characters and the Egypt story line it has😻👌😁❤️

[Inge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jonochi proves his worth even without the help of his friends. He learns how to become a better duelist.

[Jaden John · Rating 5 out of 5]

it is good

[Alex Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yugioh with calvinball rules is still fun.

[Kevin Gross · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! It’s like a darker themed version of the anime I watched as a kid and I like it a lot!

[Harrison Delahunty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume’s just as silly as the last, but the scenarios are a bit more interesting and I don’t have to deal with reading about Kaiba basically at all.

[Adrian Santiago · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zombis ♥

y lo de el laberinto igual, muy dinámico y regreso a los roleplay y cosas así de anteriores números. El Keth me cagó con odio full.

[Grim Svensson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty standard. Joey won a battle and it set up a bigger battle for the oncoming volume.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In which a grown man goes to great lengths to win a children's card game.

[Nightshade · Rating 3 out of 5]

As explained in the blurb this book only covers two duels, that of Jonouchi and Zombie and that of Yugi and Jonouchi with the Paradox Brothers.
In the manga it is revealed that Keith is not even supposed to be part of the Duelist Kingdom tournament. He has snuck onto the island and believes that if he can get into the castle with 10 star chips no one will question that he is there. In this way he does no dueling of his own on the island, but uses others to duel for him and then steals their glove along with their star chips. He also brought along lots of different decks, even though the rules state that once on the island the duelists are only allowed one 40 card deck.
It’s amazing that Jonouchi wins his duel against ‘Zombie’ really. For starters he passes out after simply spotting the skulls in the crypt. Then he spends most of the duel panicking. There is then a really weird scene where Yugi seems to almost contact Jonouchi telepathically. This causes Jonouchi to suddenly start dueling harder and Yugi gets a vision that Jonouchi is underground, allowing them to find him.
I was disappointed to find that the Paradox Brothers (actual translation = labyrinth brothers) did not speak in rhyme in the manga. Although it does make you appreciate that the anime script writers took the time to add in all the rhymes. It was interesting to see how the labyrinth dueling actually works and there are even instructions at the back of the volume for how to play a simplified version of it.
Once again it was interesting to see the manga that the anime is based upon.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume continues the Duelist Tournament. However, Dungeon of Doom is heavily a Jonouchi tale. He's targeted by Bandit Kieth's gang of goons and dragged underground to battle in a crypt. This time, he doesn't have his friends to help however. Jonouchi faces off against Bones and his creepy zombie monsters relying only on his own instinct...he's also haunted by Kaiba's taunts of being a "loser". Somehow he manages to pull it off and gains his confidence back but the friends are now stuck in the crypt. As they try to find their way out, they stumble upon a pair of Player Killers that challenge them to a duo-duel and Yugi and Jonouchi must work together in order to get enough star chips to enter the castle. It leaves in the middle of the dungeon doom.

[Sarah Maddaford · Rating 3 out of 5]

The two on two format of this duel is pretty awesome, though it would have been more awesome with Yugi and Kaiba (I like Jonouichi, but not nearly as much as I like Kaiba later in the series). I still wish that Anzu could fall in a hole, she is just the token female character and Ryou almost fills that role.
Language and violence are about the same with sexuality and innuendo going way down in this book with the massive focus on the games rather than interpersonal interactions.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Quickie Review

I actually recall the anime episode that ties in with this book, though it has been a while since I've seen it. The card duels are as epic as ever; the sexuality, however, was toned down, with the sultry character Mai getting no more than a brief mention. However, the language--mostly implied via symbols--was a bit too frequent; then again, maybe I'm just used to the 4Kids dub.

Score: 4/5

[Bellatrix of Hoshido · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the original Takahashi view of this part of Duelist Kingdom. However, I did dock a star for all of the darker elements that come with Takahashi's take. It was nice to see some good Kaiba art as well.
Overall, a good read. (Pun not intended)
Enjoy!

[Seamaiden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume was exactly the same as the anime. Since I loved the episodes in the anime, I couldn't but love the manga volume too. The artwork is wonderful. I really loved the way Joey and Yugi work together in fighting the twin brothers. It is brilliant.

[Roselyn Blonger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gustó el duelo de Jonouchi y cómo va ganando confianza en sí mismo, pero también siento como que le faltó algo. No sé, más acción o más emociones, algo para que no luzca monótono. Aún así, lo disfruté mucho.

[The Lonely Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

who names their kid yugi? and more then that, who manes their kid honda????? oh well, still love yugi! ^^