MANGA REVIEW | "Undead Unluck" - Volume Thirteen
Loss plays a big role in the narrative of Undead Unluck. No matter which side someone is fighting on, their reasons for doing what they do usually revolve around regaining someone precious. Currently, Andy is doing his best to bring back Fuuko, as her existence is important not just to him, but also to the Union. However, as the thirteenth volume of Undead Unluck shows, even those wanting the world to end are doing it for broken-hearted reasons.
Time is ticking closer towards Ragnarok, with Andy doing his best to reach Ruin and save Fuuko’s soul. But someone betrays the rescue squad, as Nico switches sides in the middle of the mission. That’s when Rip reveals why he joined Under: a lost love he wishes to regain. And with his Unrepair powers, Rip gives Andy the fight of his life.
It soon dives into Rip’s backstory, with the focus on a childhood friend with a heart condition. Rip wanting to save her becomes his biggest reason to work and study hard, with him aiming to fix her deadly problem himself. But it’s in the moment of truth when his Unrepair powers come front and center, resulting in a moment of tragedy. The situation aids in making Rip a sympathetic character, as the pain he experiences is the sort that no person should ever have to face.
However, that doesn’t mean Andy should roll over and allow Rip the victory. After all, his win would spell the end of all things. That’s when he decides on his true goal, one that’ll involve some time travel hopping and a messing around with a series of unfortunate events. Although this does mean Andy has to use drastic measures in this time period, he can fix or prevent these moments from happening in the first place the next time around.
This now leads to Nico’s betrayal, which also involves a lost love. Even though it feels like a repeated storyline, Nico’s backstory is nonetheless tragic. His involves a science partner who turns into a lover, who filled his heart with good memories. But when it comes to what he actually remembers, it’s only the look on her face as she laid dying. It’s at this moment where his negating power is revealed, one that could spell trouble for Andy due to his ways of manipulating them.
With Ragnarok soon beginning, Andy has no time to waste. Although other people took the spotlight from our two main leads, Volume Thirteen of Undead Unluck does a good job setting the stage for what happens next. How Andy will put his plan into action remains to be seen, even if he’s got some sort of idea on how to get it done. But what matters most is in the execution, something that Undead Unluck rarely has trouble mastering. Until then, we will see just what fate has in store for everyone.
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
