Comics / Manga

Monster Hunter Orage Volume 2

By Chris Zimmerman
October 20, 2011 - 08:37

If there is one thing that can be said for Hiro Mashima, it’s that all of his works are fun and Monster Hunter Orage is no different. While there isn’t much in the way of a plot, the characters are enjoyable and the action exciting. The series is clichéd and full of shonen stereotypes but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

The second volume see’s the group of hunters in search of the legendary blacksmith Kibalion. His talent is such that the weapons he forged are great enough to match the power of Myo Galuna. They embark on a voyage across the ocean, and characteristic of Mashima, he manages to squeeze fanservice into a fantasy setting. The girls don bikini’s and comment on the size of their assets. This particular scene, while not damaging enough to completely detract from the book, is unnecessary and has no significance to the plot. The characters could have kept their clothes on and nothing would have changed.. At the very least, when a shonen series decides to feature fanservice, it’s for the sake of comedy, but here, it’s inclusion is so pointless that no one even comments on the girls looks.

Once on the ocean, the group learns that all ships have been halted due to the presence of Plesioths, powerful creatures that rule the seas. Shiki being a hunter, decides to hunt the beast. In the melee, Ailee is knocked unconscious and forced to relive traumatic moments of her past.

Monster Hunter Orage is a pretty straightforward manga. The action is the driving force behind the series, with comedy and fantasy blended in. It’s light on plot but makes up for its shortcomings with amusing characters. Shiki is compulsive and dimwitted, but he’s courageous and puts himself in harm’s way multiple times to protect Ailee, who begins to see in him a trusted companion rather than the irrational simpleton she originally believed him to be. Like a summer blockbuster, it’s a popcorn munching affair that is entertaining and doesn’t require much from its audience.

Rating: 8 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12