MANGA REVIEW | "Jujutsu Kaisen" - Volume Twenty-Eight
The clock is ticking on Jujutsu Kaisen, and so far, it’s not looking good. Gojo’s dead, Kashimo’s dead, and the fate of the world seems to be bleak. However, with Kenjaku finally dealt with, there seems to be some hope peaking through the dark clouds. And in Volume Twenty-Eight, a big player tags himself into the match: Yuta Okkotsu.
Right now, the plan is to deal with Sukuna, while also saving Megumi. Itadori, Higurama, and the other Jujutsu sorcerers give it everything they’ve got to take down the curse user. But when it looks like our heroes have the upper hand, a much bigger one appears over them and swats them like pesky flies. But when Higurama finds himself separated from the other heroes, he winds up fighting for everyone’s lives against Sukuna.
One has to admire Higurama, whose judgments certainly come in handy. His sorcerer powers aren’t exactly awe-inspiring, but he makes up for it with his combat skills. And needless to say, Higurama is no pushover, even when Sukuna’s slicing him open. Thankfully, the team’s separation is a temporary one, as Yuji, Yuta, and the rest rush over to continue the battle.
Swords, buildings, cars, and anything in arm’s reach are used as weapons both by and against Sukuna, and it goes to great lengths to demonstrate the true threat that he is. But out of all of the key players there, it seems like Yuta has the best chance to take on Sukuna with his domain. However, even with so much power flowing through his veins, Yuta can’t defeat Sukuna on his own.
Perhaps this is why teamwork has been a key aspect of how the powers of Jujutsu Kaisen initiate properly. Yes, these sorcerers are strong as hell, but even the strongest has their limits. The fact that not even Gojo could do this solo is proof that every powerful sorcerer needs a couple more allies with them in order to take on the most powerful of curses. Most importantly, these allies are needed to tell the strongest to hold back at times, especially when a good person is being controlled by the evilest of curses.
Which leads to Kusakabe, a sorcerer who uses the classic samurai blade to fight. It’s a marvel to watch him take on Sukuna with a sword, as the curse user holds nothing back to take on the sorcerer. No matter how many times I’ve seen it, it never gets old watching a car be perfectly sliced in half by a sword! However, as the last few pages of Volume Twenty-Eight run down, it becomes obvious that Kusakabe isn’t going to be able to topple Sukuna by himself.
With only two more volumes to go, Jujutsu Kaisen’s time is winding down. It appears all of the key players have arrived, and that the outcome of this battle with Sukuna will be the fate of all humankind. But knowing Gege Akutami, there’s bound to be one more twist waiting in the wings. For the sake of our heroes, let’s hope it’s a beneficial twist rather than one that’s akin to seppuku.
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
