MANGA REVIEW | "Record of Ragnarok" - Volume Fifteen
Have you ever heard of the phrase, “I can fight them blindfolded”? In some cases, it’s a way to show just how confident someone is in the fight ahead. However, as the fifteenth volume of Record of Ragnarok shows, that’s not always the case. As readers will see in the fight between Hades and Qin Shi Huang, the reason our human fighter wears a blindfold is a lot more tragic than cool.
The battle between the King of Helheim and China’s first unifying Emperor is an unpredictable one. Everything Qin Shi throws at Hades is connecting, and it’s baffling even the gods watching. Perhaps the most earth-shattering technique the Emperor has involves his breath, and how it targets the chi of his opponent. Not only is it tough to figure out where and when it lands, it also is impossible to avoid.
It shows the great strength Qin Shi has in battle, as he strives to be the greatest king that ever lived. Hades may also want that title, but the fact is the ruler of the Underworld is on the ropes, with every hit taken worse than the last. But then, Qin Shi’s blindfold comes off, and the same scars on Hades appear on his body. That’s when Record of Ragnarok gives our readers a gut-punching backstory about Qin Shi’s childhood.
We see Qin Shi as a child, mocked and threatened by the citizens for what his father did years back. Yet with every threat thrown at him, he returns a strange smile. When Qin Shi gets a new caretaker, the rough-as-nails Chunyan, a new lease on life appears for the future Emperor. But one day, Chunyan spots the scars that show up on Qin Shi’s body, revealing the true pain he’s been feeling from the physical and mental hate he’s received.
That’s when Chunyan gives Qin Shi the strength he’s desperately needed. First, it arrives in a pep talk, telling the boy to live the way he should, not as others dictate. Then, it comes in the form of a gift, and while a blindfold may seem simple, the mere use of it helps Qin Shi take on the world. All of it lays bricks on the pathway towards his future as an Emperor, but as the flashback ends, we still see that Qin Shi dealt with more grief and hardships along the way.
Once the flashback ends, Record of Ragnarok continues with the fight. It takes some outside-the-box thinking for Hades to figure out a counterattack against Qin Shi’s breathing powers. And with the blindfold off, it appears that the ruler of Hell has found the trick he needs. From there, the fight outcome becomes more unpredictable, as humanity cheers for Qin Shi while Hades literally puts his life on the line to win. Is it glorious? Absolutely!
When it wants to, Record of Ragnarok can hit you right in the feels. Volume Fifteen does that with Qin Shi’s backstory, showcasing just how much pain a child could experience just for being related to a tyrant. It’s a terrific flashback, as it demonstrates the level of heart Record of Ragnarok is capable of. With that being said, it also doesn’t hurt that the fight reaches badass levels. Well…okay, it might hurt someone, but not the readers.
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
