MANGA REVIEW | "Mashle: Magic and Muscles" - Volume Seventeen
In a penultimate volume of shonen manga, it is customary for just about every hero to give it all they got. Mashle: Magic and Muscles is no exception to this rule, with Innocent Zero in full-blown psychotic mode smiting just about everything that moves. With Mash Burnedead once again being down for the count, it’s up to his friends — and even a cheeky gator suit-wearing coward — to dish out all that they can. But in the shadows of Mashle’s seventeenth volume, the real star of the show is making plans.
Per usual, it’s the big ole baddie against the world. Not even author Hajime Komoto can write himself out of this trope. Lance, Finn, Dot, and even Innocent Zero’s child Domina are throwing all of their magic to save Mash from permanent death. Orter Madl, who many manga volumes ago wanted to execute Mash for being magic-less, redeems himself by throwing everything of his at the massive villain. But as we all know with super villains, they’ve got plenty of cheat spells in their back pockets to stay on top.
Yes, Innocent Zero’s time magic is enough to make any person scream the Elder’s Swear for hours on end. Zero’s power takes out just about everyone, whilst Mash is in the realm between life and death with a new heart in his chest. Yet the 66-hour time limit for him to fully recover is far too long for our other heroes to hold out. Even Ochoa, who gets himself one hell of a redemption arc that he totally doesn’t deserve, cannot backstab his way through towards holding back Innocent Zero.
So what’s the hero of Mashle doing during this time? Well, he seems to find himself at a door that Fullmetal Alchemist readers know all too well. The god at the door tells Mash that if he wants to return to the world of the living, then he’ll have to sacrifice his most precious thing: cream puffs! Okay, it’s not those (whew!), but it’s something far more special to Mash. However, this is a boy who’s more stubborn than a pack of mules, and in true Burnedead fashion, he breaks every shonen hero rule to get what he wants.
Which now leads to the be all to end all fight between Mash and Innocent Zero. True magic against true muscle, just as the title of this series suggests. Time is slowed, punches are thrown, and everyone is watching it unfold with jaws dropped to the floor. And then, our cream puff-loving hero does the imaginable, and it leads to everyone in complete shock. It is a glorious moment, one that would wrap up the story nicely…if it weren’t for the fact that there’s still one volume left to go!
Volume Seventeen of Mashle: Magic and Muscles is nothing short of glorious. The action reaches true hardcore levels, while the laughs are pitch-perfect. It’s going to be a sad day when the last volume drops, as this tale of a muggle in a world of wizards has been an absolute blast to read. What will happen next shall set in stone the fate of the world, a world that once looked down upon Mash for lacking any magic, but now embraces his bravery. Get one more protein shake in, Mash Burnedead. You’ve got some heroing to do!
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
