Belphegor can only speak to Azazel in her dreams. If only she could enter a dream-like state while speaking to him in reality…
Creative Staff:
Story/Art: matoba
Translation: Lisa Coffman
Lettering: Lorina Mapa
What They Say:
Dantalion and Molech are one odd couple. In fact, they’re such opposites, Mullin can’t figure out of they actually get along! However, the bonds of friendship are anything but predictable in the underworld. Now if only Belphegor can overcome her bowels of hell and find a way to close the distance with her beloved Azazel!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
This far into matoba’s Beelmama, either one has bought into the whole romance that progresses at the speed of molasses or one has probably dropped the series. Yes, as should be expected, Beelzebub and Mullin are moving so slowly that a tortoise moving through thick mud could likely get farther along than the two of them have. This is not a serious complaint as it’s seeming clear to me that their realizing their feelings for each other is more of an endpoint than a waypoint for this story. In order to divert our attention from the (lack of) progress on the Beel/Mullin front, matoba brings in more of the expanded cast to fill the run time, so to speak (I know this isn’t an anime, though parts of this volume did appear in the recent anime adaptation).
I guess in order to make Mullin and Beelzebub seem like old pros at dating, we have the non-romance that is Belphegor’s one-sided crush on Azazel–who has not in any way rejected Gocchin. It’s one-sided because Gocchin can’t even bring herself to say a single word to the tall and taciturn fallen angel, instead making a beeline to the nearest restroom. I have to say, the bladder gag is beginning to wear a bit thin, though Gocchin does have my sympathy. It would be nice if she could just speak to him normally, as she can in her dreams. She almost gets the chance to speak to him in real life when she gets drunk at a tea party (who gets drunk at a tea party?) and in her inebriated state mistakes the Azazel who comes to her aid as just a dream vision, to whom she can freely speak her mind…until slumber overtakes her. Maybe one day they’ll be able to speak.
We are further diverted with more silly antics between Dantalion and Molech (which is of variable comedy mileage) and a closer look at Beel’s personal chef Unca Nisroch, whose speed would be the envy of any chef any where, except for the drawback of moving so quickly that his clothing shreds every time he sets a new speed-cooking record.
There is the usual amount of fluffiness on parade, including a segment where the alpaca wool sweater that Mullin gave to Beel is unravelled by the hairballs she keeps as pets and is in need of urgent repair. While the side stories involving Azazel and Belphegor are somewhat interesting, I can’t help but feel that this volume also engages in some treading of water, though my impatience may be more an indication that I’m not the primary audience for this work. If you just want to throw yourself into a big pile of fluff and enjoy the…uh……”flufficity” (note: not a real word) of Beel’s world, then that might be all you need.
In Summary:
Beelzebub imagines what it would be like to live in prehistoric times. Unca Nisroch, her personal chef, shows his fatherly side. Belphegor can only dream about Azazel. Yes, it’s more light-hearted silliness for what has to be the most pleasant Hell ever imagined. Just don’t expect anything resembling forward progression for any romance in this volume.
Content Grade: B/B+
Art Grade: A-
Packaging Grade: A-
Text/Translation Grade: A-
Age Rating: T (Teen) L N
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: December 11th, 2018
MSRP: $13.00