MANGA REVIEW | "Marriage Toxin" - Volume Five
If there’s a Hamster Master, then surely there’s one that controls all sorts of animals, right? That’s where the Beast Master comes in, the toughest foe in Marriage Toxin yet. Although this is a story about Poison Master Gero attempting to find his soulmate, he’s got to first steal the souls of those who still have a hit on him. And right now, Beast Master’s got his number, but as Volume Five of Marriage Toxin shows, Gero also has his.
With Hamster Master Arashiyama captured and nearing death, it’s a race against time for Gero and his cohorts to defeat Beast Master. Fortunately, there are two others that in his corner: the Hit Man Hunter Piichi and the Water Master Ushio. Both have their own means of reaching the center of Beast Master’s lair, with either person succeeding in their own right. Piichi’s got a rhino to ride in with, whereas Ushio teams with Gero to use their water and poison skills to great effect.
The concept of loving pushing us through doesn’t just apply to Gero. Piichi has been put through the wringer many times, even being blown up in the last volume. But all it takes is a phone call from his one-and-only Marin, and he’s back on his feet like it’s nothing! (Sleep also helps, but love’s far more important here!) It’s his fight with Karate Bear that showcases his determination, with his near-defeat turning around towards a victory that’s somewhat funny.
I say “somewhat”, but it’s Karate Bear’s back story that sucks the humor out of everything. Their real self, what brought them to where they’re at today, and the reason for them fighting are pretty damn sad. At first, it seems like Beast Master has something of a heart to keep her by his side. But no, he’s evil and he’s using her, and it’s frustrating to see this trope happen over and over again in the Shonen manga genre!
Marriage Toxin turns it around when Gero arrives at the hideout. What follows is a visual tour de force, as Beast Master conjures up the powers of 93 different animals. With this, he’s able to combine creature powers unlike any other villain before. A snake with a mole’s head? Kangaroo jumping powers mixed with a falcon’s sight and cassowary’s claws? How about a leech with a Swiss Army Knife’s worth of entrails attached to it? It’s both mesmerizing and terrifying to see what Beast Master can do.
Thankfully, this is Gero we’re rooting for. No super villain will stand in his way of his true goal: a happy married life. It’s why when he comes face-to-face with Beast Master, he does so with a smile and a look in his eye that’s filled with dreams and joy. And just when throws everything at our hero, Gero simply does what he does best with the true confidence of a Shonen action hero.
Alas, that’s where the Marriage Toxin ends for now, but that’s not the conclusion of the manga itself. Attached to this volume is the bonus one-shot “Hyper Hard Special Mission”, starring Piichi and Marin. It’s the story where Piichi seeks a way to convince Marin’s mother that he’s worthy of her. Alas, in order to win her approval, Piichi must survive a homing missile, a crazy chef named Mr. Immortal, and even an imploding building. The story is hugely entertaining, and it makes me hope that somewhere down the line, we get a spin-off manga starring these two killer lovers!
Volume Five of Marriage Toxin delivers with a plethora of fantastic action, with a sprinkling of humor to remind us that this is first and foremost a rom-com. Yes, there’s a far bigger body count here than something like Teasing Master Takagi-san or Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro, but love is the main focal point of this series. What happens after Gero puts the final nail in Beast Master’s coffin, I’m not exactly sure. But one thing’s for certain: there’s bound to be another candidate for the title of Mrs. Poison Master just around the corner!
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
