Yato and company go to the Divine Council
Creative Staff
Story/Art: Adachitoka
Translation: Althea Nibley & Athena Nibley
What They Say
Tensions are high between Kazuma and Yukiné, but that doesn’t stop Yato from wanting to go to his very first Divine Council. This council will include a matchmaking ceremony, where the gods choose soul mates for the mortals of Japan. What could this mean for Hiyori and her future husband?
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
As the volume opens, we find Bishamon and her Shinki saying their final farewells to Tsuguha. More importantly, though, we find Yato preparing for his first Divine Council, which is the central event this time around. There is some angst over Kazuma, but it’s nothing too exciting, and the same goes for when Okuninushi talks to Bishamon. Kiun also comes to visit Yato, and ultimately his goal is to make sure our hero agrees to comply with the will of the heavens. And of course Yato ends up consenting after a little bit of pressure is applied, despite his issues with what happened in regards to Ebisu. Oh, and before that we get a short scene in which Kazuma talks to Bishamon, which actually does help to humble him quite well.
Right before the party kicks off, we get another meh recurring plot thread where Kiun’s master, Takemikazuchi, wants him to become a blessed vessel, and also some hints that such Shinki can be harbingers of death. Once the Divine Council actually does kick off, it’s largely a big chunk of silly antics. That’s not to say that this is poorly done, and there are some solid chuckles, but it’s not exactly the high point of humor in the series thus far, either. Oh, and Takemikazuchi tries to stir things up a little, but once more this isn’t anything particularly impactful.
As the book winds down, though, we do get a few interesting plot threads.
On Yato’s side, he gets shoved out of the way with the Emishi, the indigenous gods who were vanquished. It really is an interesting angle, setting up gods who were shoved out of the way and are despised by the heavens, though the idea is only just barely set up here. On top of that, Bishamon also unleashes a blessed vessel who once rebelled against the heavens and was sealed away, feeling that she cannot fight Yato’s father with her own Shinki. So this all at least puts the series in an interesting place as the volume wraps up.
In Summary
After some much stronger entries in the series, for this volume we sadly step back into something of a bridge between the excitement. Though there are some interesting plot threads raised, especially near the end of the book, they don’t really come to fruition here. And several of the plots that get a lot of attention here just aren’t that exciting, such as the ones surrounding Kazuma (though he does at least get a nice scene with Bishamon) and Kiun. That’s not to say it’s a complete drag as there are some nice little moments and comedy sprinkled throughout, though it’s sadly not as much as you’d hope. It at least does seem like things will back on track next time around, but all together, this is definitely one of the blander books in the series thus far.
Content Grade: B-
Art Grade: A-
Packaging Grade: A-
Text/Translation Grade: A-
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Kodansha Comics
Release Date: June 21st, 2016
MSRP: $10.99