Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 18: Assaulted by Memories

鬼滅の刃 [Kimetsu no Yaiba] #18

by Koyoharu Gotouge

The battle between Tanjiro, Giyu and Akaza continues. To beat Akaza, Tanjiro must use an advanced technique his father taught him—the Transparent World—which will push him beyond his limitations. Elsewhere in the Infinity Castle, Shinobu, burning with hatred, confronts Doma, the demon who killed her family. Can she take on the powerful demon by herself?

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

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 4, 2019

About the author

Koyoharu Gotouge (Jap: 吾峠呼世晴, Gotōge Koyoharu) is a Japanese manga artist, mostly known for Kimetsu no Yaiba (鬼滅の刃, Eng: Demon Slayer).

Reviews

[Faiza · Rating 5 out of 5]

AKAZA! I'M NOT CRYING OKAYYY?
WHO'S CUTTING ONIONS HERE?

[Victoria ✮⋆˙ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Broooo all these back stories are so good

[Rafif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too many deaths and not enough time to process

[Shawna Finnigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW// murder (including of mothers), suicide, domestic/physical abuse

This volume is super depressing. There was sad stuff in the previous volumes, but something about Akaza's backstory just really got to me. I was really happy with how his character arc finished though.

I loved getting to see Kanao get her moment to shine. Truly one of the most underrated characters in the series and I can't wait to see the rest of her big battle in volume 19.

[Mika · Rating 4 out of 5]

The see-through world is a special ability that Tanjirou uses against the battle of Akaza. Tomioka's life was flashing before his eyes when he fought Akaza. A very tense but also emotional battle.

Douma's battle is back in action. He's the type of character that tells his own backstory but loves talking about the backstories of others more. This new backstory reveals something shocking that will cause many more readers to hate Douma. If not, you are one of the few that don't hate him. Congratulations, I guess, though I wonder what that says about you as an individual.

Hakuji's past is so unfortunate. I think this was the saddest past for me when I first read Kimetsu no Yaiba. Totally get why many others also sympathise for this character that many haven't known well before that. It's scary how little one knows about some characters until their past is revealed. It was two chapters long, one of the longest backstories, but it is so worth reading about. It reminded me a lot about A Silent Voice 'cause there was a similar scene and I'm very emotionally attached to this film so I also felt emotional when I first heard of Hakuji's past.

StoryGraph review (with marked spoilers)

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

wth!! Giyu's fucking sword omg!!!!! Tanjiro it's now time to move!!!!

FUCK TANJIRO SAVED HIM!! OMG HE IS A COMPLETE DIFFERENT PERSON. YAS TANJIRO!!! IKKUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!

OOOOOMMMMGGGGGGGGG!!!!!! HOLIEST SHIT AGAIN!!!!!!! TTHHEEEYY FUCKING DID IT!!!!!!! THEY FUCKING DID! GOODBYE AKAZA. NO ONE WILL MISS YOU! HELL YA!!!

His fucking body moved. Oh shiittt uuugghhh!!!!!!!!

LOL. Kanae is amazing. She is bully but it's splendid!!

Kanae and this second upper moon's fight are so intense. Who could've thought Kanae is this strong. OMG Inosuke for the rescue!! yeaa!!! Inosuke sama!!! lol.

Lol Inosuke Pig Pillar.? LOL.. Beast Pillar is better Inosuke. Drop the pig. But gosh!! He is super flexible like incredibly flexible!!! And such a good heart.

THE TRIO HAS SUCH A GOOD HEART I LOVE THEM ALL!!!!

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way I STAY feeling bad for demons because of their amazingly crazy, deeply written backstories 😭😭😭 It's literally so insane how I can go from hating them to being on the verge of tears for them. The amount of character development packed within such a short time span is incredible.

[Subham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the greatest volumes by Koyoharu-sensei. It starts off with the battle between Tanjiro and Akaza and he defeats him but he won't give up and then we get one of the most beautiful backstories about a guy who lost his father because of other people but when he found a family he lost them again and the way it happens and his times with them is explored here and its so good, its one of the best things ever. It makes you cry the things that happened to him. Its one of the most beautiful backstories ever.

Then the battle between Doma and Kanao starts with Inosuke coming in and the way it connects to his backstory too, the history that Doma and Inosuke share makes it so much interesting and makes it way better and personal. Its gonna be an epic fight next. I loved this volume so much and man the author pulled out everything she had to make it a worthwhile read.

[Urbon Adamsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

EN I've mentioned this before, but one of Demon Slayer's greatest strengths is its ability to humanize its villains. By delving into their pasts and showing the events that led them to become Demons, the story adds depth and complexity to every character.

This volume exemplifies that beautifully. It’s incredibly emotional and profoundly moving.

A fantastic read!

--

PT Já mencionei isto antes, mas uma das maiores qualidades de Demon Slayer é a sua capacidade de humanizar os vilões. Ao explorar os seus passados e mostrar os eventos que os levaram a tornarem-se Demónios, a história acrescenta profundidade e complexidade a cada personagem.

Este volume exemplifica isso de forma magnífica. É incrivelmente emocional e profundamente comovente.

Uma leitura fantástica!

[Blake the Book Eater · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ugly cried my way through this volume

[aleksandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

Akaza’s backstory had no right to make me cry like that.

[James DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read 2023: Well, still as fantastic and well written as before. Sad, wonderful, and really gets you to know all the characters as they fight for survival. Still a 5 out of 5.


Original Review: Happy for this to be my 700th review of the year, since Demon Slayer is probably the best manga I've read all year along with Spy X Family.

This volume starts off amazing with Tanjiro and Giyu putting up a hell of a fight against Akaza and boy oh boy do both struggle and play off some awesome moves. On top of that we get Akaza background, and as much as we hate him at this point, his background sure adds so many layers to make him a better character. Then we switch over to Doma and his fight with Kanao. It's bitter and tough to watch but also great. Then my boy Inosuke comes in to help and things get even better. We also get more Ino background, hell yes.

This is a fantastic, fast paced, brutal chapter with multiple characters facing near death experiences while also pushing on. How the hell are we going to end this? I'm expecting to cry soon.

A 5 out of 5.

[Mahdiye HajiHosseini · Rating 4 out of 5]

بالاخره تونست غافلگیرم کنه. همیشه هیجان ایجاد می‌کرد اما پیش بینی پذیریش به خاطرداستان تیپیکالش توی مانگا خیلی بهم حال نمیداد اما پایان اکازا با این که هنوز هم خیلی کلیشه ها رو زیر و رو نکرد اما چیزی بود که انتظارشو نداشتم و واقعا لذت بردم ازش. اتفاقات زیاد و ناراحت کننده‌ای افتاد این جلد که تقریبا زیر سایه اکازا بودن. یه کم زیادی اتفاق افتاد حتی.

[Izzah ꒰Duchess of Cabria ಇ ⭑✧ ᴏɴ ᴘᴀᴛʀᴇᴏɴ ✧ ⋆꒱]

NOT THEM MAKING ME CRY FOR RENGOKU'S KILLER. ABSOFUCKINGLUTELY NOT 👺👺👺👺

The movie is too good.





I'm not okay.
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬
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[almas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Akaza and Inosuke's back stories are probably my favourite so far, I'm tearing up 😭

[Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Tanjiro is over the top awesome now. This is it. This is the payoff. Or I know there will be more, but this is the totally awesome I’ve been praying for.

[AziaMinor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Rating : A-

[Emi.acg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Esta rellenando con historias, si eran las batallas finales. Primero me contó la historia de la luna superior 3 mientras ya estaban en lo último para derrotarla. El tipo tenía como para ser indestructible pero al final se rindió y acepto su derrota a la vez que iba recordando su pasado. Tanjiro y Giyu quedaron temporalmente fuera de servicio xd
Quedan dos lunas y Muzan vs creo que 3 pilares y dos chicos.
Ahí pasamos a Kanao vs la luna 2, es fuerte ella y maneja el mismo aliento que kanae. Llego también Inosuke y contaron otra historia relacionada a su madre y como curiosamente fue asesinada por la luna S 2. Así que ahora Kanao e Inosuke quieren acabar con él. En el volumen probablemente esté la conclusión de este enfrentamiento. Me quedan 5 volúmenes 🤭

[Jose · Rating 5 out of 5]

TANJIRO OMG. SO COOL. AAAAA.

Kanao my girl. I love you so much. Inosuke LALKSLSKSJ.

Doma I hate you :)

[Ulises Estrada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Demasiado increible todo, y triste y epico y ahhh amo este manga.

[Coco · Rating 5 out of 5]

No estoy bien.

[dzeni · Rating 5 out of 5]

cried

[Himanshu Karmacharya · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 18th volume in the series is titled "Assaulted by Memories", and it very much lives up to its name, as we get back story to many characters, both protagonists and antagonists, that are poignant and tragic.

[shirley ♡]

Does the mangaka really expect me to feel bad for Akaza after he killed Rengoku?? Hell nah, go to hell where you belong.

[richa ⋆.˚★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

5🦋

[Mar :3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Al fin el pasado de Inosuke [cry]

[Valérie Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quelle histoire déchirante on découvre encore une fois! Je crois qu'en nous montrant la cruauté de l'être humain, la mangaka en profite pour nous faire réfléchir à ce qui est vraiment "un démon", car les actes des humains sont parfois aussi terrifiants que ceux des démons.

Toutefois, je souligne une petite déception: les pages finales des chapitres 156 et 157 servent à raconter des parties du passé d'Akaza. La mangaka souligne qu'elle manquait d'espace pour illustrer ces sections, alors elle se contente de nous l'écrire en mots. C'est un choix un peu étrange. Je crois que cela aurait mérité quelques pages sous forme manga au lieu de passer cela en résumés. Surtout qu'elle venait d'en dessiner une large part.

[rachel, x · Rating 4 out of 5]

➸ Trigger warnings for domestic violence mentioned, suicidal ideation, graphic blood and gore depiction, body horror, decapitation (on-page), grief and loss depiction, death of a father from suicide by hanging recounted (on-page), death of a wife by suicide by drowning mentioned, murder of a fiancé and guardian by poisoning recounted, murder of a mother mentioned, death of a sister mentioned, mass murder recounted, sword violence, and physical assault.

▷ Representation: Japanese cast & setting.

Blog • Trigger Warning Database • StoryGraph

[Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't wait until this final arc is animated eventually and everyone is struck with whiplash between getting hyped over the coolest fights I've ever seen and just sobbing uncontrollably. The range of demon slayer is nuts.

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yep I will cry the hardest during this fight. Why Akaza is my favorite 🖤