Shaman King, Vol. 22: Epilogue III

シャーマンキング [Shaman King] #22

by Hiroyuki Takei

Joco falls in battle against Redseb and Seyram, shamans who control a fearsome golem and two members of the shaman team "The Kabbalahers." As Joco breathes his last breath, he remembers what Yoh always says: "If they hit you, hit 'em back." The Kabbalahers stand in triumph, knowing they've avenged their father's death…but then Yoh shows up.

Part of the comiXology Originals line of exclusive digital content only available on comiXology and Kindle. Read for free as part of your subscription to comiXology Unlimited, Kindle Unlimited or Amazon Prime. Also available for purchase via comiXology and Kindle.

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

178 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 4, 2002

About the author

Hiroyuki Takei (武井宏之 Takei Hiroyuki) is a Japanese manga artist, best known as the creator of the manga and anime Shaman King. His brother, Hirofumi Takei (武井宏文) is also a manga-ka.

Reviews

[Vikas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yup, 3rd Epilogue and there are more volumes covering the Epilogue storyline. This was also good and I enjoyed it, the art is nice, and the people are dying and living again, so more powers are getting discovered and people are powering up so let's read more and then Keep on Reading.

I have always loved comics, and I can and I have. I love comics to bits, may the comics never leave my side. I loved reading this and love reading more. You should also read what you love, and I hope you will always love them. Even though I grew up reading local Indian comics like Raj Comics, Diamond Comics, or even Manoj Comics, now's the time to catch up on international and classic comics and Graphic novels. I am on my quest to read as many comics as I just want to Keep on Reading.

[Lashaan Balasingam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit more epic, we are finally introduced to the Gandhara and their godly souls while also encountered another major death. The fun part begins with the Golem when it finally starts acting up and Yoh has to get his hands dirty. The side plot with Chocolov is also interesting, expanding on the lore, a bit conveniently, but who can complain when the storyline has been shaky so far.

Yours truly,

Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm taking too long to read this manga, but there's a hurricane coming nearby so there's nothing to do at work. I feel like the fan translator I've been reading has regressed in their English skills, also.

****

Anyway, this volume seems to move somewhat fast, as a couple battles with apparently great "weight" are churned out one after the other. We barely see Djinn attack Ryu from the previous volume, but here our pompadoured buddy is already near-death and gets saved by the Buddha guys. Then the little kids' giant robot, Golem, wakes up and starts a brief rampage, killing all the black people, Chocolove's friends who have somehow wound up near the Shaman Fight which I don't remember being foreshadowed but whatever.

Chocolove is also kinda-sorta killed, and the three-peat of Ren, Ryu, and Chocolove makes it semi-clear the manga has shifted into a new gear, wherein characters are pushed to the brink of death in order to be revived with stronger spirit energy, and the whole thing is like Vegeta getting Krillin to kinda-kill him on purpose on Namek to level-grind "Zenkai" boosts. In addition to the "spirit energy is increased after near-death" thing, we also have the idea of "inner furyoku," which is like charging one's spiritual energy into an object repeatedly, over time, such that the item is overcharged like some kind of furyoku battery (and they actually show a car battery or something for analogy). This explains Golem's strength compared to the kids' weak furyoku, and I guess also sets up some more level-grinding for our heroes(?). Coming rather late in the series, this being Volume 22, I am somewhat reminded of Hunter x Hunter which continues to build upon its "Nen" ability system in recent chapters, despite having begun in the same year as Shaman King (1998). I suppose I can stretch the parallel a bit further in the sense that HxH took a couple volumes before teaching its protagonists about Nen, and SK did the same in taking some time before Furyoku was properly introduced, and with new elements building upon the basic concept coming in every so often (though maybe Takei's work feels a little more like "writing by the seat of his pants" at times).

Props to the minor twist that the Golem kids' father (who was killed by Chocolove's gang way back when) is actually possessing the little girl, which kinda-sorta justifies the suddenness of Golem's initial attacks.

[Hannah Belyea · Rating 3 out of 5]

With Yoh racing to help Ryu and Joco facing danger after reuniting with members of his old gang, the chance for Hao and his servants to strike grows larger and larger. Takei puts the story in the fast lane as characters rush from fight to fight in this entry to the "Shaman King" series. Some things never change, but Joco finds that his gang has shifted.

[Siegfried · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. What a change in tone.
The epilogues are amazing.
The tonal shift is incredible. Out of nowhere, there's lots of philosophical debates (with child killers) and the first time Yoh and Hao really meet up.
Great volume!

[Ty Ridgway · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book

[Adrian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yoh Asakura not only sees dead people, he talks and fights with them, too. That’s because Yoh is a shaman, a traditional holy man able to interact with the spirit world. Yoh is now a competitor in the “Shaman Fight”, a tournament held every 500 years to decide who will become the Shaman King and shape humanity’s future. Jeanne the iron maiden forces Ren's reluctant soul back into his body. but Marco means to see that Ren’s resurrection Is a short-lived affair. And Horohoro’s powers are tested to their limit by Hao's minions Big Guy Bill and Blocken. Now, with Yoh out of the shaman fight, his friends find themselves beset at every turn by powerful enemies bent on their destruction.

Ever since Amazon linked up with comiXology, so that readers could get comics, graphic novels and manga on their kindles, I have been meaning to check out what they had. Under Amazon Prime Reading you get a number of titles for free and this comiXology original is one such series.

The epic saga continues with Ren having been revived and having survived the attempted assassination upon his return to the mortal world. Yoh has gathered the group together, including Lyserg, but they are set upon by Hao's minions. Ryu, stays behind to protect everyone whilst the group travel away together. We pick up the action with Ryu needing help as he is overwhelmed by the opposing forces.

Easy to read and engaging, I enjoyed this and it felt just like reading a paperback manga, even on Kindle, as you have to click through the book backwards. A nice little touch. A 3 stars again; seemed a little rushed in places with the action bouncing around a little too quickly.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hiroyuki Takei continues to explain to the reader more and more about Mana (which to me has been a long time coming) and the book flows and an incredibly quick rate! I was shocked to look up and realize I had read this volume that quickly. The spotlight being shifted to give every character some of it, is not only appreciated but probably one of the most underrated things about the series. If you look at other great (and long) series like Naruto, some characters never get that true spotlight…but I feel Takei makes it a point to try to continue to make sure that you know the reason in which the character was created and put into the series. I have said this before, 3 stars to me is a solid rating and I think that the consistency of this series also tells as I have never rated one book under 3. There has been a solid foundation in which this whole journey has been on and it above all else has been a joyfully entertaining journey that I believe has a good chunk left to give.

[AsianMerr · Rating 2 out of 5]

Looks like we’re nearing the beginning of the end. I’m sure most of Hal’s minions are about to get wiped. The worst of this volume and the series of recent is the teasing of major characters dying and then it doesn’t happen…it’s happened 4 times in like the last 20 chapters and I’m just rolling my eyes. Also we’ve forgotten that the Shaman battle was a thing now cause they’re just attacking each other left and right.

[James Rodrigues · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume develops Joco, as his past catches up with him, while we understand how the two kids with their Golem, fit in although the way it plays out feels mostly frustrating. There's great opportunity here and it feels trodden on to go down familiar avenues which occurred not that long ago, although things pick up by the end.

[Chiara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyserg non indossa la divisa degli x-laws???

[Vanessa Rincon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well. This is getting even more interesting...

[Gabriela Zambrano A · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5⭐️
En este volúmen muchos de los personajes, están recibiendo su desarrollo; el cual ayuda a la trama y a mantener enganchado al lector. 🥰
Vamos por el N° 23 🤭

[Rodri · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5: couldn't stand you here. I get him but uuugh

[Timothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looks like a new twist has been added to the series.

[Дени ★ Проданова · Rating 5 out of 5]

Йо, понесе толкова много рани, че се чудя как, аджеба, е жив все още, кък камо ли да разсъждава над живота от нещата и нещата от живота. Накрая усетих как Лайзърг направо бръкна в здравето на Хао :D

[Thomas Andrikus · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story line is starting to stray from the Shaman fight, but it's okay.