Creative Staff
Story/Art: Atsushi Ohkubo
Translation/Adaptation: Stephen Paul
What They Say
Tsugumi knows firsthand how difficult it can be to find your perfect partner at Death Weapon Meister Academy. So when fellow dorm-dweller Jacqueline admits her desire to be partnered with Kim – the notorious “Witch of the Girls’ Dorm” – Tsugumi is eager to help her friend. But Kim’s prickly personality makes it seemingly impossible for anyone to get close to her, let alone a prospective partner. Why is Kim so intent on keeping everyone away?
Content: (please note that content portions of review may contain spoilers):
Tsugumi’s challenges continue as her dreams tease her with the decisions that float in front of her as to who to chose for a partner, and having roommates who sleepwalk into her bed naked doesn’t seem to be helping matters either as it helps to turn up the heat in the living situation. When her morning clears a bit of space from her schedule with a physical testing day it gives her the chance to clear her mind as well…though it also kind of reinforces her feelings of being a bit of inadequate when compared to some of the others at the DWMA but her persistence may pay off in her social circles when she steps in to help fellow dorm member Jacqueline when she notices that the young woman has a preoccupation with Kim.
In the process the group helps not only to start a new partnership but they form a friendship of sorts with the girl known as the witch of the dorm start to deepen it but this act of kindness reveals a secret the girl has been desperate to hide and which could spell the end of her days at DWMA -if not her days of breathing altogether- but can friendship conquer all? And what happens when that friendship is tested even further when a pair of very scary girls suddenly cross the paths of this circle of friends and it looks like they might get a much needed lesson in the harder aspects of life, though the lesson isn’t going to come easy and without a bit of a struggle.
But as the girls are trying to lead a (more or less) normal life at DWMA and Tsugumi is trying to figure out her own emotions when it comes to love, a dark force is moving behind the scenes and has put a very sinister plan into motion and it seems its tendrils threaten to engulf even the most seemingly uninvolved bystanders and are reaching precariously close to this group of friends. And while these incidents are happening just what is it that Akane and Clay are up to as they appear to be far more than normal NOT students in their investigation of these witch incidents and around when the witches presence is made known…and what exactly is behind their interest in Anya, is it merely due to her status or is there a hint in another line that things may not be all they appear there either?
Part of the appeal in the first volume of Soul Eater NOT! was in getting to see the world that had been developed as part of the original series in a new light through some different eyes that allow for some different explorations of the various side parts that the universe practically begged to have poked at. To a very good degree the first volume pulled that off as it set up a pretty fascinating interplay between a trio of girls centered around one in particular who was just coming into young adulthood and dealing with discovering who she is and the emotions that come with that set against a backdrop that allowed for a good deal of fun and some rather leading behavior. In the second volume some of this theme continues as the book kicks off with an excuse to show some of its cast in revealing gym cloths (or less) and the titillation between the potential romances that Tsugumi might have are allowed to dance and play with the reader’s imagination.
The crux is though that the story kind of meanders from there and it doesn’t really seem to have an idea of what it wishes to focus around in moving the characters forward. A fair chunk of the book deals with Tsugumi and company becoming more friendly with Kim and helping her find her partner (as well as revealing Kim’s secret, though that info isn’t given to all) which flows well enough given the prominent role Kim had in the first book but when combined with the introduction of the Thompson sisters the book begins to feel like one wants to spend as much time as possible tying in and rewarding the fans of the main title while putting on the backburner some of the major events it previously established on its own to let their unique perspective show off the world. The book does try to make this approach work as it uses the encounters to serve as a further way to temper Anya and teach her what she will need going forward, but it largely leaves a hollow sense that precious time has been taken away from the main three characters and the deepening mystery and horror that this story is establishing on its own and revealing in pieces along the way.
It’s really here that the book feels like it is missing its full potential as it feels like it is trying to accomplish too many different things which serve to dilute a bit the flavor of the whole. While the book still makes sure to feature Tsugumi’s reactions at times, her interactions with her two roommates are rather limited at times which is where a good deal of the fun in the first volume came from. Beyond just that though the pasting of some brief alternate vignettes in a manner that feels less designed as part of a planned rhythm and build up and almost more like a sort of ad-hoc tack-on to show the title has some depth to it. While at times this manner of storytelling serves to give insights into the plan of the witch and how she is sending minions to challenge the established order around the DWMA as she creates one incredible large dark trail through the book the sudden and jarring juxtapositions of trying to switch tracks with that momentum being built up and now move into light comedy, or even almost cameo appearances for certain characters, just feels like a plot that is feels less like a story that is creating a flow to draw the reader in than a narrative that is often almost randomly fighting the tide and leaving a sense of dissonance in its wake. Still with some fun characters, a bit of fan service and some pay off for long term fans of the main franchise as well as a unbelievably shock ending, Soul Eater NOT! 2 will definitely provide fans a hell of a ride as it goes about it journey, even if it meanders a bit along the way.
In Summary
There is an old saying that nothing worthwhile comes easy and it seems that may be the case here as Tsugumi has to try to find her place in her new world as well as figure out emotionally who she wishes to be with when it comes to partnering in the future. And she won’t be alone as each of the girls will discover more about themselves and some of their classmates while going about what might be a normal school life (well, considering the circumstances anyway) but there is a dark danger stirring that may place a terrible danger on these girls as well as the entirety of the DWMA. With danger, humor and a bit of cheesecake Soul Eater NOT! surges forward in a manner sure to cause the reader’s heart to race with excitement of various kinds.
Content Grade: B-
Art Grade: B
Packaging Grade: A-
Text/Translation Grade: B
Age Rating: 16+
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: October 30th, 2012
MSRP: $11.99
