Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic - Volume 20 manga review

Manga
Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic - Volume 20 manga review
By Leroy Douresseaux
October 10, 2016 - 23:43

Viz Media
Writer(s): Shinobu Ohtaka, John Werry
Penciller(s): Shinobu Ohtaka
Letterer(s): Stephen Dutro
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8396-9
$9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK, 200pp, B&W, paperback
Rating: T (Teen)

Magi Volume 20 cover image

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Magi is set on a world that is an alternate version and recreation of the ancient Old World (similar to ancient Persia). About 14 years before the story begins, several magic castles (of various architectural styles) begin to appear in this world. These mysterious ruins are known as “Dungeons,” and they are full of treasures and traps. Aladdin, who is a Magi, and his friend, King Alibaba Saluja, embark on a dangerous and deadly adventure into those Dungeons to find fortune and glory and more adventure.

As Magi, Vol. 20 (Chapters 189 to 198) opens, Black Rukh masses in the sky above Magnoshutatt. Soon, it takes the form of the terrible Dark God. Aladdin, Alibaba, Koen, Hakuei, Kogyuku, Koha and Metal Vessel users from across the world arrive to help fight it. However, Aladdin is about to discover the surprising secret of what is behind a god that reaches the sky, and a sacrifice close to Aladdin must be made to defeat it.

THE LOWDOWN: I had not read the Magi manga (subtitled The Labyrinth of Magic) in a year (since Vol. 14). I lost track and did not realize how many volumes I had missed.

Magi Volume 20 is the end of the “Magnoshutatt Arc.” I did not have that hard a time catching up to the narrative because most of this volume is one long, epic, magical battle. Magi is still occasionally poignant and never loses its sense of adventure. A new adventure begins, and I am curious to see where the story goes. The impressive thing is that creator Shinobu Ohtaka consistently brings change to Magi, and longtime readers will be impressed where the story is now from where it began.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE: Readers, especially young manga readers, looking for adventure stories will want to read the “Shonen Sunday” title, Magi.

B

Rating: B/10