MANGA REVIEW | "Undead Unluck" - Volume Eighteen
It’s wild seeing how much of a leader Fuuko has grown into. When we first met her in Undead Unluck, she was on the verge of killing herself, afraid of who she was and what she could cause. Now, thanks to her experience playing hero with Andy and the Union, she’s become a true alpha woman. Volume Eighteen demonstrates this not just with heroic skills, but those of a good-natured human being.
We first witness Billy’s entrance into the brand-new Union. A little game of quickdraw with Fuuko goes a long way to show not just his level of kindness, but also his skills of being a leader in his own right. His reason for betrayal in the past life is understandable, as his need to carry the burden of others makes him a good person. But this time around, he no longer has to carry it alone; he’s got Fuuko and the rest of his new teammates.
This is demonstrated well when the giant flying disc is about to crash and kill everything in its sight. Because of Fuuko’s Unluck, its target is already predetermined. Thankfully, we see the power and talents that Billy’s boys have under their sleeves, as they go to great lengths to demonstrate their skills and worth to Billy. And in a big way, we see Billy and his Unfair come alive to not just help the Union, but also aid in his realization that he isn’t “the only one who can do this”.
But the time for celebration is short. Our next location in Undead Unluck: outer space. The target: Phil, the quiet boy with Unfeel. It takes an army of intelligent people to get the spaceship needed for the mission, but only three Union members can actually embark on it. Well…that’d normally be the case, if it weren’t for two other Union members who can manipulate their weight. However, Fuuko and the gang quickly see that this next mission won’t be an easy one, and it’s got nothing to do with the alien threat that’s invading their destination.
Instead, the hardest part about this mission is Phil himself. He’s not the same boy as before, as his physical being is a lot different. In fact, it causes him to have something of an identity crisis, as he comes to terms with being unable to understand human emotion. Thankfully, Fuuko’s the kind of woman who can even awaken true emotions from a rock if she had to. She assists with Phil’s crisis whilst dealing with both the alien threat and the mission to save his mother.
What follows is a fantastic mixture of human drama and sci-fi action. A mother who wants her son to keep moving forward, and a son who would feel awful if he couldn’t do anything to save her. One can’t help but get Astro Boy vibes from the level of heroism Phil pulls out here, especially when he finds a neat little toy that’ll aid in the rescue mission. And then, the tough part arrives, and Phil, Fuuko, and the space Union team come together to make sure they get back to Earth.
Although its trademark humor takes a backseat, Undead Unluck makes up for it with a plethora of action and emotion. Volume Eighteen demonstrates the level of strength Fuuko has gained since she first met Andy, and while he’s still not to be found, his spirit & energy run deep in her veins. That more perfect Union is getting pieced together thanks to Fuuko, with the fate of humanity looking brighter with every new member added. But one question lingers as this volume of Undead Unluck wraps up: who’s next?
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
