MANGA REVIEW | "Mashle: Magic and Muscles" - Volume Eighteen [FINALE]
Just as I suspected, Mash Burnedead is the real deal. In fact, I will go so far as to say that this muscle-bound kid in a magical world is the strongest Shonen Jump hero in the magazine’s history. He can beat Goku, Kenshiro, any Joestar, and even Monkey D. Luffy if given the right amount of push. And that’s the thing: Mash needs a reason to keep those punches flying. In the grand finale of Mashle: Magic and Muscles, the world’s fate rests on Mash’s fists.
Innocent Zero presents his final form, one of godly powers. His appearance brings millions to their knees, all except for Mash, who cares less about power and more about whether they’re good or evil. If they’re bad, no matter their level power, Mash Burnedead’s going to mash their face in over and over again. Oddly enough, that is almost exactly what he does.
At first, it’s a battle between magic-less human and god-like mage. Innocent Zero throws one attack after another, with Mash literally flicking them away. The villain, who is so close to ending all of humanity, even goes so far as to stop time, only for him to be delivered a wound of great pain in less than one-tenth of a second! His plans become even more futile when every person that’s entered Mash’s life has taken up their wands to deliver some potent magic.
Of course, this is Mashle: Magic and Muscles, meaning wacky power overwhelms magic every step of the way. And in the case of Mash, his most powerful maneuver would make even Bugs Bunny jealous! How so? Well…remember that Looney Tunes cartoon when that Wascally Wabbit sawed off Florida to up his bounty? Imagine that, but the entirety of North America! That’s how super strong Mash Burnedead is!
As for the aftermath, you can kind of guess what happens. The ceremony for the new Divine Visionary is held, but our main man is nowhere to be found. Instead, he’s baking his most favorite thing in the world, and hopes to make more in the future for friends, family, and paying customers. Honestly, it’s the best way to end it, with Mash Burnedead being reunited with his first love: cream puffs.
Ever since I started reviewing Mashle in Summer 2021, it became one of my favorite things to read. Sure, not all of the volumes were perfect, and the bits where Mash was out of commission sometimes were somewhat of a pain to go through. But whenever Mash was the focus, this series shined with both sincerity and hilarity. The concept of “Harry Potter, but with muscle guy” could’ve easily been a one-note joke; instead, it became one of the best and most entertaining Shonen Jump manga series around!
This may be goodbye for Mash Burnedead, but it’s not permanent. (I mean, we still got around two more seasons of the anime to get through.) Nevertheless, Mashle: Magic and Muscles was a damn treat to read through. Many times I laughed out loud reading Hajime Komoto’s series, and it’s all thanks to the outside-of-the-box silliness he brought to an imaginative and magical world.
I honestly can't wait to see what Komoto has in store next in the manga world soon. But until the time comes for him to pick up his pen again, he should be allowed a breather. Let Komoto eat his cream puffs whilst doing a victory dance. With everything he managed to craft in Mashle: Magic and Muscles, this Shonen Jump writer clearly deserves some much-needed R&R. And now that he’s defeated the greatest evil around, I’d say Mash Burnedead also deserves that break!
VOL. 18 RATING:
FINAL GRADE (series):
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
