Arata the Legend: Volume 21 manga review

Manga
Arata the Legend: Volume 21 manga review
By Leroy Douresseaux
March 11, 2015 - 20:13

Viz Media
Writer(s): Yuu Watase, JN Productions, Lance Caselman
Penciller(s): Yuu Watase
Letterer(s): Rina Mapa
ISBN: 978-1-4215-6781-5
$9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK, 200pp, B&W, paperback
Rating: T (Teen)

Arata: The Legend Volume 21 cover image is courtesy of barnesandnoble.com.

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Rated “T” for “Teen”

Arata Hinohara, a Japanese high school freshmen living in the modern world, finds himself in another dimension, Amawakuni. It is a world where humans and gods coexist. Hinohara switches places with an Amawakuni boy who is also named Arata (known as Arata of the Hime). Hinohara is chosen to wield a Hayagami (a god in sword form) named Tsukuyo so that he can save Princess Kikuri. Arata lives on Earth, while Arata Hinohara goes on a life-changing journey.

As Arata: The Legend, Vol. 21 (Chapters 198 to 207) opens, Yataka and Kannagi, two Shinsho, suddenly begin battling each other. They joined Arata, Kotoha, Mikusa, and Nasake on a journey to face the Six Sho. Why are they fighting? If the fighting weren't bad enough, Kotoha, Mikusa, and Nasake are suddenly lethargic and don't feel like doing anything.

One of the six Sho, Ikisu, is using her scent Kamui, her power of scent, to affect everyone, including someone who makes a surprise return, Kanate. Soon, Arata will face self-doubt and even the threat of being demonized... again.

THE LOWDOWN: Once again, the Arata: The Legend manga continues its recent run of exceptional volumes. I think that this run has been some of series creator Yuu Watase's best storytelling because, at this point in the narrative, she has focused on the conflicts, goals, and motivations of the main players. Each volume goes straight to the heart of the matter – who wants what and what are they willing to do to get it.

Arata: The Legend Volume 21 uses Ikisu's power to manipulate emotions to bring out the passion in this volume's players. I found myself racing through this invigorating read. I didn't want it to end. It is good when a series can still be surprising and fiery this far into the narrative.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE: Fans of epic-quest fantasy manga will want the Shonen Sunday title, Arata: The Legend.

Rating: A/10