MANGA REVIEW | "Kaiju No. 8" - Volume Ten
By the end of the tenth volume of Kaiju No. 8, the Defense Force makes a horrifying discovery. At first, the current assortment of kaiju they come across seems sufficient enough to take on. However, as the fights go on, and the new tricks they pull, they realize that they’ve bitten off more than they can chew. This whole volume is a showcase of why nothing is ever easy for these Kaiju No. 8 characters, even if they have sufficient training.
Hoshina is the first to experience such a realization. Equipped with Weapons Number 10, the skilled swordsman thinks that using this sentient weapon will be a walk in the park. But once it’s put to action, there’s a little chaos that ensues. With that being said, it has more advantages than disadvantages, with the most notable being the strength output it delivers.
Watching as Hoshina takes on the kaiju here is nothing short of exciting! The way he and the sentient weapon destroy one enemy after another is like a top chef slicing the finest of meats. Human and weapon may not see eye-to-eye fully, but they can at least agree to initiate 100% of all whoop-ass capabilities. But he’s not the only badass here in this chapter.
Although Kafka is the main hero of Kaiju No. 8, Mina absolutely plays just as an important role in the story. And while she has had many shining moments when in combat, nothing compares to seeing her behind an anti-giant class kaiju railgun! As new monsters enter the vicinity, Mina — twenty kilometers from them — easily takes them out like she was playing hatchet-throwing at her local bar. Even when she’s not on the ground with the rest of the Defense Force, Mina constantly proves why she is the strongest and most focused member of the team.
But then, it comes back to those new kaiju that show up. Their levels are high, to the point that they’re classified with their own numbers. On top of that, they appear quite knowledgeable about the Defense Force. This is very evident in Kikoru’s fight with Kaiju No. 15. It starts with a battle of strength, with both human and monster giving it all they got. However, it soon becomes too much for Kikoru, as Kaiju No. 15 goes after something far more dastardly: her feelings.
It’s in this moment where readers will see just how terrifying the kaiju can be. Yes, they have the strength, but this is the first time we see them playing psychological games with the Defense Force. And the way they take on Kikoru is not only brutal, it’s downright cruel. As the crew watch from their monitors, they realize exactly what these kaiju are, and why they were created.
There are badass moments and harsh reality moments galore in the tenth volume of Kaiju No. 8. While the Defense Force has been chalking up a good win here and there, it’s in these moments where they realize that victory is never a guarantee. They may be the heroes of this story, and heroes are supposed to come out on top. But that’s the thing: strength-wise, they may be victorious, but they’re walking away with a hell of a lot of mental scars that’ll never go away. For Kikoru, her biggest scar has just been scratched into her subconscious.
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
