MANGA REVIEW | "Jujutsu Kaisen" - Vols. 26 & 27
It’s at this moment where most of the Jujutsu Kaisen fandom let out a groan of frustration. After going so long without seeing Satoru Gojo, his return was met with pure excitement. However, who would’ve guessed that this return would be short-lived? At least Volume Twenty-Six of Jujutsu Kaisen gives him a hell of a send-off!
And by “send-off”, I mean one last epic battle. Gojo and Sukuna, the latter possessing Megumi, go head-to-head in a battle of power, strength, and the occasional wit. At first, they attempt to use every single sorcerer power they could fathom, to the point where it causes them literal brain damage! In fact, their minds get so messed up that they are unable to open their respective domains.
So what then? Well…what else? They start beating the living shit out of each other! The moment this happens, Jujutsu Kaisen becomes a true balls-to-the-wall shonen fight. No powers, just fists and feet pummeling on flesh. And it’s honestly a glorious sight to behold, as neither Gojo nor Sukuna hold back with their strength. Bodies break, buildings crumble, and spectators offer audible gasps.
But then, the final blow happens. It seems like Gojo has won. However, the panel that made millions of fans scream with agony appears. One can understand the fans’ frustration, but I totally get why Gege Akutami did what he had to do. After all, even if he’s a super popular character (#3 on the last character poll), Jujutsu Kaisen isn’t about Gojo; it’s about the people learning under him.
With that, Volume Twenty Seven has Kashimo tagging in next to fight Sukuna. He holds his own against Sukuna, until Sukuna completes his transformation. In the form of King of Curses, Sukuna has barely any flaws. In fact, the word “perfect” is how Kashimo describes him, leaving the sorcerer to quickly switch to defense mode for the majority of the battle. That’s when a couple others, including Itadori, jump into the ring.
Here, Jujutsu Kaisen switches gears and its focus. Kenjaku is seeking his next opponent, and it winds up being Fumihiko Takaba, of all people. However, with his unorthodox style, Takaba winds up being a formidable opponent. But his goal isn’t to defeat Kenjaku; it’s to make him laugh. And when the fight becomes something else entirely, well, it goes full bonkers!
We start to watch an origin story about Takaba unfold, as his quest for manzai comedy gold is filled with many bumps. A reluctant partner, stale jokes, and even odd costume choices make the road to victory all the more harder. That’s when Kenjaku shoves himself into the story, and the two wind up becoming a comedy team. And then, the main stage opens.
What follows is a comedy routine you’d read in the pages of Show-ha Shoten!, as Kenjaku and Takaba throw hilarious jabs at each other. But something is odd. There’s no laughter, only silence. Takaba quickly realizes what’s going on, but he sort of doesn’t mind. He’s experiencing a moment in the spotlight he’s always dreamt of being in, and is kind of grateful to Kenjaku for giving him this whole moment.
However, it’s all a ruse, and it’s Takaba who’s laughing his way to the bank. A surprise attack happens, and watching it all unfold will give any reader a great mixture of gasps, belly laughs, and the urge to applaud. It’s so stupid, and yet so brilliant at the same time! Does it make sense? Not in the slightest, and I honestly don’t care!
Volume Twenty-Seven ends with our attention back to the Sukuna fight. Itadori and Hiromi are now the ones facing him, and it’s a mixture of strength and brains that transform it the battle into an episode of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. Retracted cases, evidence of Sukuna’s crimes, and a big old guilty verdict attempts to put the fight in the sorcerers’ advantage. But something happens when the Executioner’s Sword appears, and it honestly doesn’t look good for our protagonists.
These last two volumes of Jujutsu Kaisen are a feast for the eyes. While we see a beloved character get knocked off, we do get some fantastic fights and even a truly crazy battle between Kenjaku and Takaba. There’s only three more volumes left to go after these, making me wonder what sort of fate will behold the likes of Itadori, Megumi, and even Sukuna. For someone who almost gave up on the series, I’m actually excited to see where these last
VOL. 26 RATING:
VOL. 27 RATING:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
