Hey all, Dani here.
Manga Monday is back again, and I’m trying to balance some of my older manga reads with some of my more recent ones. Plus, I’m trying to inspire myself to continue on and finish one of my favorite series so that I can enjoy the sequel spin-off that is currently at the third volume.
All right, well I’m here with my first of two manga reviews for the day. Let’s go ahead and jump into it.
Book Details
Art and Story by: Hiro Mashima
Format: paperback
Pages: 208
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Publication Date: June 14, 2011
ISBN: 1612620981 (ISBN13: 9781612620985)
Summary
GRAY-OUT
Gray’s old training companion Reitei Lyon is trying to revive a calamity demon, but doing so will make their former master’s sacrifice meaningless! What’s the secret of Gray’s past, and why does he keep taking off his clothing? Gray is revealed (metaphorically speaking) in this pivotal volume!
My Thoughts
Rating: 5 stars
It is still such an odd feeling for me to go back to the beginnings of the Fairy Tail adventure. I have watched this particular arc in the anime something like 3 times and have read it twice. The most recent reading of this volume was around Christmas of 2018, so I’m going to try to do my best to recall and recount my feelings of the events in this volume.
This is a pretty intriguing volume, and a pretty intense one for the arc overall. What I really like about it is that even this early on we are getting more into the histories of other characters. A lot of manga and anime I enjoy start off where you think you’ll be focusing on one or two characters–like Midoriya in “My Hero Academia,” Asta and Yuno in “Black Clover,” or Natsu and Lucy in “Fairy Tail”–but that isn’t the case. Each of these series gives decent focus to the surrounding characters as well, which I believe greatly enhances the overall story. Developing primary, secondary, tertiary, and even random support characters only increases the depths to which we care about the whole cast of characters, and I love that.
This volume has a strong focus on Gray Fullbuster, who is a strong ice mage with a propensity for removing his clothes quite frequently. By introducing his old training companion into the story, we begin to learn more about Gray’s mentor and his training, which shows why the whole removing of clothes element of his characterization started in the first place. This also shows us Gray’s feelings towards Lyon attempting to bring back the demon his master gave her life to stop.
I really felt for Gray with this story, and I absolutely love seeing Gray and Natsu team up, because as much as they bicker and quarrel like siblings, they have each other’s backs against any foe. I respect their bond and will always love the drive, determination, and camaraderie of those within the Fairy Tail guild.
Where to Get a Copy
You can grab your own copy of this book from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-million, Book Depository, or your local independent bookstore through IndieBound.
You can also check with your local library.
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