MANGA REVIEW | "Record of Ragnarok" - Volume Twelve
When it wants to, Record of Ragnarok can get unhinged. Once it does, it reaches a level of horror, beauty, and even philosophy that can only be described as “peak”. How appropriate then that Record of Ragnarok reaches that top unhinged level with Buddha being the central focus. In Volume Twelve, the Enlightenment King embraces the darkness the only way this god could.
The battle between Buddha and Zerofuku commences, and it looks to be no contest. Every time Zerofuku goes for the attack, he misses. Whenever Buddha goes for the blow, he connects. It pays to be a god who can see one second into the future, as that one second can truly count when the chips are down. But Zerofuku doesn’t get weaker whenever he misses or is attacked. Quite the contrary, the polar opposite happens: he becomes stronger.
It sometimes pays to lose, especially if your weapon of choice is the Axe of Misery. The more you fail, the bigger it grows. Because Zerofuku’s took on the pain & suffering of others (as seen in the last volume), the amount of misery that rests within his body is more than likely at an infinite level. As such, a weapon like the Axe of Misery is the perfect choice for him. But Buddha’s got his own trick up his sleeve: Rikudo-kon, a staff that changes shape depending on his emotions.
This leads readers to discover what Buddha is truly feeling. A flashback to Buddha’s past life shows how he earned Enlightenment, and it’s the opposite of what you’d expect. No suffering, no fasting, and not even an ounce of sacrifice for “the greater good”. Nay, it’s just being happy and having a kind heart that gave Buddha the opportunity to become the god that he is today. It’s a mentality that is so simple, yet none of the other gods competing have the brain power to comprehend.
That attitude is what slowly helps Zerofuku to wake up from his funk. The misery slowly vanishes, leading him and Buddha to finally fight with both hearts shining. If this were a warmhearted series, Record of Ragnarok would end the fight there. But no. It leads to a wicked turn of events that shake Buddha up.
Pure evil appears from the horns of Zerofuku, looking back at a terrified Buddha. It’s a Hellspawn that would make the toughest of fighters quiver in their boots. Worse, it claims to be the most absolute of otherworldly powers. And as a certain Champion of the Gods looks from an unknown location, the tone of the fight turns from a bright yellow to a nothingness of black.
Twelve volumes in, and Record of Ragnarok keeps pulling every stop in its pathway. The battle between Buddha and Zerofuku is one that’s both unhinged in darkness whilst carefree in the light. It’s a match that brings to life the concept of yin and yang, and in a moment, Zerofuku’s light was shining. Alas, that light is snuffed out, replaced by a sense of dread. However, with this being Record of Ragnarok, it’s a dread I’m certainly looking forward to seeing unleashed!
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
