MANGA REVIEW | "Magu-chan: God of Destruction" - Volume Eight
Whelp, the quiet times in Magu-chan: God of Destruction had to end sometime. I just wasn’t expecting it to happen out of the blue! The days with Magu-chan, Ruru, and the rest of the team had reached a nice comfortable pace, as they took on daily routines and the like. But in its eighth and penultimate volume, a new danger appears that could very well spell the end of the God of Destruction.
The volume starts out with the usual shenanigans. Magu-chan and the other gods sneak their way into a sports festival, as their team cheats their way to the top. Naputaaku deals with a scary-looking minion who only wants to be his friend, whereas Ruru tries her best to make Magu-chan smile. Muscar also tries to steal Ruru’s bracelet, which could hold the key to reawakening his true self.
All of this is padded with the usual wackiness found in Magu-chan: God of Destruction. Author Kei Kamiki does find ways to make some of these tropes feel fresh, especially when it comes to a staple like a sports festivals. The strength in the visual and verbal jokes are at a high level, thanks in part to the supernatural things these gods can do. It’s also never not funny seeing Ruru put these deities in their place, with Magu-chan’s constant confusion over the punishments being the icing on the cake.
However, Izuma’s sister Seira makes her presence known during a reconnaissance mission, one with reasons that aren’t exactly clear. Although her shyness delivers some good humor, it’s her familiar Ninisty that is the source of the bigger gags. Although the astral is supposed to be a rival of Magu-chan, they’re easily swayed into signing the God of Destruction’s book. But then, the Ten Divine Generals of the Holy Knighthood show up to make a bit of trouble for the gods.
Okay, so technically there’s only five Divine Generals, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that they’re intimidating. Or they would be if they didn’t make a fast food joint their meeting place. Nevertheless, their appearance is nothing to sneeze at, especially when they decide to kidnap Ruru. A grave mistake on their part, with Magu-chan and the rest wasting no time on getting a rescue mission happening.
That’s when they come face-to-face with the true enemy, one that maybe should’ve been figured out since their first appearance. Nevertheless, Magu-chan and the rest begin their battle with the deity, with moves and deflections that are both impressive and funny. All of it leads to what could be the final moments of the battle, which does not end here in this volume. And, well...it’s not looking good for our heroes.
We’re nearing the end of Magu-chan: God of Destruction, and its eighth volume sets things up for an explosive conclusion. There’s a good mixture of humor and action on display, on top of some stellar heartfelt moments between Ruru and Magu-chan. But the question remains: will there be a happy ending for these humans and gods, or is tragedy waiting to peer its ugly head? Soon, we will find out.
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
