Book Review: Blue Exorcist, Vol 26 by Kazue Kato

 

Blue Exorcist, Vol 26      

Author: Kazue Kato

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: October 5, 2021

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/manga/paranormal/234 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Aboard the Illuminati airship, Rin and Yukio face one another, while Satan is out of control and baiting them both. Sir Pheles has slipped a hapless Miwa onto the same ship in order to give something to Rin, and he is freaking out when he runs into Shima. Prior to Rin’s arrival, Yukio was prepared to take out his own eye… the one Satan is peeping through. Rin immediately tries to persuade Yukio not to join the Illuminati, telling him what a bad idea that is.

Miwa and Shima come upon the two brothers as they face off, hiding and biding their time while they bear witness to their conflict. Rin is determined to bring his brother back to the fold, alive, while Yukio wants Rin to kill him and put him out of his misery and out of Satan’s control.

Meanwhile, an announcement comes over the ship’s intercom system informing everyone to prepare for Serafim pulse in five minutes. Shima explains that it’s a blast from the ship’s power source, but they should be safe where they are… hopefully.

As Rin and Yukio go toe to toe, Rin is waging his own internal war with his other side, and it’s anyone’s guess how this will turn out.

This volume is largely the wildly fluctuating battle between the two brothers. Even as they fight, I think each is learning a new appreciation for the other. Rin has always looked upon Yukio as the weaker younger brother but he’s finding out otherwise. And Yukio is gaining a new understanding of Rin’s strength. In the meantime, we have an over the top Satan. Without Yuri to keep him in check, Satan is a nasty piece of work. She was what kept him even remotely human. Will he destroy everything, or can he be overcome?

And just where is Sir Pheles hiding?

Another great volume, looking forward to more. Although to be honest, I’d like to see the plot move forward at a slightly faster pace, and I wish there wasn’t so long between volumes.