Creative Staff:
Story & Art: Hajime Komoto
Translation: Nova Skipper
Lettering: Eve Grandt
What They Say:
With Wahlberg’s backstory and an all-out final attack, its death flags galore in this week’s Mashle.
The Review
Content (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
The battle between Wahlberg and Innocent Zero reaches new heights in this action-packed entry of Mashle. Wahlberg’s all-powerful magic can literally remove space itself, but Innocent Zero’s time magic always puts him one step ahead. Wahlberg frantically erases everything around him, but it isn’t enough. Innocent Zero continues to age Wahlberg with his Timez Rewound. The World’s Strongest Magician is on the ropes.
Innocent Zero lambasts him, blaming Wahlberg’s altruistic mindset for his downfall. Innocent Zero was willing to sacrifice anything to obtain his goals. Meanwhile, Wahlberg continued to put others before himself.
“Those without ego are weak Wahlberg,” Innocent Zero asserts.
Was that truly the difference between them? Is one meant to live life only for one’s self? With his back to the wall, Wahlberg thinks back to the time he met his master.
As a young boy, Wahlberg was nothing special – his body was frail, he wasn’t great at school, and he had no friends. Wahlberg was so afraid of rejection, he made himself an outcast. But that’s when Adam started to visit him. I really like that Adam isn’t just the stoic, wise master type. He has a sense of humor that pairs well with the essence of Mashle. Adam saved Wahlberg from his reclusion. He is forever grateful to Adam, which is why he lives to fight the norms of magic society. Wahlberg would never abandon those weaker than himself. Using the last bit of magic he has left, Wahlberg unleashes a Thirds level spell, summoning Uranus, God of the Sky.
In Summary:
Overall an exciting chapter of Mashle. In my opinion, it’s hard to follow combat that distorts space and time, but Komoto’s artstyle keeps it somewhat comprehensible. Death flags for Wahlberg are popping up left and right – is he doomed to repeat the fate of every shonen mentor or will he defy destiny and triumph over Innocent Zero?
Content Grade: B
Art Grade: B
Text/Translation Grade: B
Source: Shonen Jump app, Manga Plus app
