Manga Review: Blue Exorcist Volume 7 by Kazue Kato

Title: Blue Exorcist Volume 7 
Japanese Title: Ao no Exorcist
Series: Blue Exorcist #7 
Manga-ka: Kazue Kato
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Graphic Novels, Older Teen Ages 16+
Publisher: Viz Media, Shonen Jump Advanced, Shueisha Inc.
Format: Paperback, 177 Pages
ISBN-13: 978-1-4215-4262-1 
Release Date: April 3, 2012
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 4.5/5

Tagline(s): Fight hellfire with hellfire!

Summary: Mamushi and Todo now have both eyes of the Impure King and are headed for the temple that was once the center of the Myodha sect. Mamushi wants to seal the eyes away, but may be too late to realize Todo’s true purpose—the awakening of the Impure King! Meanwhile, Rin learns more about Father Fujimoto’s connection to Tatsuma and the origin of the Koma Sword. Rin will need the weapon and all of his strength to face the terrible power of the Impure King!

Review:

As the past continues to be revealed, Todo and Mamushi take the Eyes of the Impure King to the husk that was its body. Once the eyes are returned, the Impure King will live once again. But Tatsuma won't let that happen without a fight. But as it turns out, Tatsuma (or rather his familiar, Karura) was Todo's target all along. Reviving the Impure King was just an added bonus.

When Rin come to the end of Tatsuma's letter, he wishes to help in any way he can. There's just one problem: He can't draw his sword! Rin is scared of what he is capable of and has lost all his confidence. And it really doesn't help that he's been given a death sentence for using his flame. But Rin's power is needed to defeat the Impure King, so it's up to his friends to break him out!

I don't really have much to say about this volume, but one thing stood out. While all the chaos with the Impure King is raging and Rin is facing death for using his flame, his friends realize that they couldn't bear for him to die, so they set out to free him. Shiemi realizes her mistake in only thinking of her own hurt feelings and not what Rin must be going through. I think the most powerful moment between Rin and his friends was when Rin asked Konekomaru if he would trust Rin with protecting Suguro. Konekomaru's nod yes was really important to Rin because he knows how much Suguro means to Konekomaru, and his trust is priceless to Rin.

I can't wait to see what happens next with the fight against the Impure King and what Rin's fate will be when it's all said and done.

About this Manga-ka:

Kazue Katō (加藤和恵, Katō Kazue), born on July 20th, 1980 in the district of Shinjuku, in Tokyo, is a Japanese mangaka, author of shōnen manga. She is mainly known to be author of Blue Exorcist. She also created Robot to Usakichi ( ロボとうさ吉 ), for which she received the price Osamu Tezuka Award.

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Manga Review: Blue Exorcist Volume 6 by Kazue Kato

Title: Blue Exorcist Volume 6 
Japanese Title: Ao no Exorcist
Series: Blue Exorcist #6 
Manga-ka: Kazue Kato
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Graphic Novels, Older Teen Ages 16+
Publisher: Viz Media, Shonen Jump Advanced, Shueisha Inc.
Format: Paperback, 193 Pages
ISBN-13: 978-1-4215-4174-7 
Release Date: February 7, 2012
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 4/5

Tagline(s): Fight hellfire with hellfire!

Summary: The heads of the various Myodha temple families gather to discuss recent events surrounding the Eyes of the Impure King. Revelations at the meeting only deepen suspicion of Suguro's father, Tatsuma, and angry accusations follow. Tatsuma's silence on the matter isn't helping either. Amid all the swirling distrust, Rin tries to make sense of things but struggles to keep his flame in check. Then Rin receives a letter that may shed more light on the current situation--and the secret past!

Includes two bonus stories!

Review:

As accusations and suspicions are voiced, tensions run high as the heads of Myodha convene to uncover the traitor in their midst. Rin has a heart-to-heart with Konekomaru that has him even more dedicated to his training, because as long as Rin is seen as a threat, Konekomaru won't consider him a friend. The traitor is found, but the right eye is still stolen. Suguro has words with his father that are reminiscent of the last words Rin said to Father Fujimoto and this causes Rin to lose control when Suguro refuses to take them back. Shura subdues Rin and locks him up in solitary confinement. Now that the left and right eye are together, a new and potent poisonous gas can result. Suguro's father leaves a letter for Rin describing past events that lead up to where they are now. What happened in the past to cause the current events?

Rin's friends seem to be coming around to accepting him again once they actually that the time to really see Rin for who he is. I think what changes their minds about Rin is his straightforwardness, his kindness, and his conviction. Rin shows that he's not a mindless, raging, uncontrollable beast, but a person who never asked to be born the son of Satan. Rin can't help who he was born to, but he can choose who he's going to be.

I'm really excited to be learning about the past; Father Fujimoto's involvement with Rin's birth, the Koma Sword, and Suguro's father's involvement in it all. These are things that only three people knew about before Rin: Mephisto Pheles, Father Fujimoto, and Tatsuma Suguro.

Revelations abound in the next volume as past secrets are brought to light. How will these new details impact the present as Rin and his friends follow Suguro's father in pursuit of the left and right eyes of the Impure King?

About this Manga-ka:

Kazue Katō (加藤和恵, Katō Kazue), born on July 20th, 1980 in the district of Shinjuku, in Tokyo, is a Japanese mangaka, author of shōnen manga. She is mainly known to be author of Blue Exorcist. She also created Robot to Usakichi ( ロボとうさ吉 ), for which she received the price Osamu Tezuka Award.

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Manga Review: Blue Exorcist Volume 5 by Kazue Kato

Title: Blue Exorcist Volume 5 
Japanese Title: Ao no Exorcist
Series: Blue Exorcist #5 
Manga-ka: Kazue Kato
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Graphic Novels, Older Teen Ages 16+
Publisher: Viz Media, Shonen Jump Advanced, Shueisha Inc.
Format: Paperback, 183 Pages
ISBN-13: 978-1-4215-4076-4 
Release Date: December 6, 2011
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 4/5

Tagline(s): Fight hellfire with hellfire!

Summary: In the late Edo Period, a demon known as the Impure King killed thousands of people. After defeating the demon, the Knights of the True Cross kept its left eye safely sealed away on Academy grounds--but now someone has stolen it! Hearing the thief has taken a child hostage, Yukio and Rin go to help. The investigation and pursuit will lead Rin and his friends to Kyoto and involve them even deeper in a sinister plot! But will his friends' knowledge that Rin is the son of Satan drive a wedge between them? 

Review:

Rin is still feeling the brunt of his classmate's feelings of betrayal and discomfort, but more important things are happening than hurt feelings. The left eye of the Impure King has been stolen and the right eye is next on the list. In an attempt to steal the right eye of the Impure King, the Kyoto Field Office was attacked, leaving many injured. Rin and company are sent with a group of Exorcists to help the injured and defend against another attack.

Rin's situation is the classic classmate alienation because he's misunderstood and they only see what they want in Rin. They see the half-demon son of Satan with his blue flame, so he must be evil, too, right? They don't see someone who watched as Satan killed his foster father, Father Fujimoto, but a demon who is uncontrollable. You would think that Bon, Shima, and Konekomaru would understand how Rin feels about defeating Satan and how determined he is to accomplish it. They've had family killed by Satan during the Blue Night incident, just as Father Fujimoto was killed by Satan when Rin came into his powers. I really think they need to give Rin a break and try to understand and get to know him. Rin has enough on his plate without his friends treating him like some kind of leper.

Going to Kyoto means going home for Bon, Shima, and Konekomaru. We learn about the connection between their families, Bon's father's abandonment of the Myodha and the failure of the temple that caused it to become affiliated with the Knights of the True Cross, Bon's determination to become and Exorcist and defeat Satan, and finally the conflict between the Shima and Hojo families. When the two families tasked with keeping order within the followers of Myodha, Shima and Hojo, are at each other's throats, things are bound to fall apart unless they can work together.

Another attack is being planned by the end of Volume 5 for the right eye of the Impure King. Who is behind these thefts and what are they planning? I can't wait to see what happens in the next volume.

About this Manga-ka:

Kazue Katō (加藤和恵, Katō Kazue), born on July 20th, 1980 in the district of Shinjuku, in Tokyo, is a Japanese mangaka, author of shōnen manga. She is mainly known to be author of Blue Exorcist. She also created Robot to Usakichi ( ロボとうさ吉 ), for which she received the price Osamu Tezuka Award.

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Manga Review: Blue Exorcist Volume 4 by Kazue Kato

Title: Blue Exorcist Volume 4 
Japanese Title: Ao no Exorcist
Series: Blue Exorcist #4 
Manga-ka: Kazue Kato
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Graphic Novels, Older Teen Ages 16+
Publisher: Viz Media, Shonen Jump Advanced, Shueisha Inc.
Format: Paperback, 187 Pages
ISBN-13: 978-1-4215-4047-4 
Release Date: October 4, 2011
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 4/5

Tagline(s): Fight hellfire with hellfire!

Summary: While most of the students at True Cross Academy head home for the summer break, Rin and his classmates are sent to a training camp in the forest district, and the right to go on a real mission is riding on their performance. Locating and recovering their objectives in the woods is tough and will require teamwork, skill and more than a little magic--and Rin will have to learn to rely on his friends. But is Mephisto masterminding something behind the scenes?!

Review:

Rin has finally made friends with those in his class, but Mephisto comes along and ruins everything for Rin. Mephisto sets his brother, Amaimon, after Rin again, but Rin's friends are threatened and in order to protect them, his true identity is revealed. Now friendless once again, Rin must work to control his blue flame and pass the Exorcist exam in six months to prove to everyone--but most importantly, himself--that he's not a monster.

I really liked the moment when Rin is caught by the big moth and tells everyone to go on ahead--because he plans on using his flame to get free and doesn't want them to see--but Suguro insists on helping Rin escape and tells him the he doesn't need to do everything alone because he has friends to help him. The only sad thing about that moment is when Rin questions how they would feel if they ever found out that he is a child of Satan.

The big question that Mephisto presents in this volume while Rin is fighting Amaimon is:

"While demons are pleasure-seekers who can only destroy, humans are weak because they walk the middle path. So which will it be for you?"

It'll be interesting to see what path Rin will take. Will he become the demon he was born to be? Or will he walk the middle path? I'd like to see Rin take a path that would not only make Father Fujimoto proud, but one that also leads him to follow his beliefs and what he thinks is right.

I think my favorite part of the whole volume was when Rin was undergoing questioning in front of the Grigori and Mephisto is going on and on about how he asked Father Fujimoto to save Rin so that they could use him as a weapon against Satan. Rin's had enough and explodes declaring:

"I'm not a weapon or a demon lord or a savior!!! I'm Rin Okumura!!!! Someday I'm going to be the strongest Exorcist!! All of you remember that!!"

Rin always gives the best declarations and you can tell that he's going to d everything to prove his words correct.

This volume ends with the beginning of a new story arc, so I'm excited to see what happens next!

About this Manga-ka:

Kazue Katō (加藤和恵, Katō Kazue), born on July 20th, 1980 in the district of Shinjuku, in Tokyo, is a Japanese mangaka, author of shōnen manga. She is mainly known to be author of Blue Exorcist. She also created Robot to Usakichi ( ロボとうさ吉 ), for which she received the price Osamu Tezuka Award.

Manga Review: Blue Exorcist Volume 3 by Kazue Kato

Title: Blue Exorcist Volume 3 
Japanese Title: Ao no Exorcist
Series: Blue Exorcist #3  
Manga-ka: Kazue Kato
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Graphic Novels, Older Teen Ages 16+
Publisher: Viz Media, Shonen Jump Advanced, Shueisha Inc.
Format: Paperback, 187 Pages
ISBN-13: 978-1-4215-4034-4 
Release Date: August 2, 2011
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 4/5

Tagline(s): Fight hellfire with hellfire!

Summary: As a new exorcist Exwire at True Cross Academy, Rin Okumura has a long way to go before he reaches the top rank of Paladin. When Rin and his classmates are sent to search for a ghost, Amaimon, King of Earth, takes Rin by surprise and steals the Koma Sword. Higher powers have been observing events at the academy and make their presence known. New players enter the game, and Rin doesn't even know he's playing!

Review:

In Volume 3, Rin gains a familiar when Kuro, Father Fujimoto's familiar, goes crazy with grief over his death and Rin's the only on who can calm him down. While Rin is going about day to day life, Mephisto is behind the scenes plotting how to rile Rin up. His plan is still vague, but he has Amaimon attack Rin and steal the Koma Sword. This is when we meet Shura, Father Fujimoto's apprentice. Her mission is to uncover dangerous elements at the Japan branch and eliminate anything connected to Satan--and that includes Rin. After making a deal with Shura, Rin realizes that he's losing control just as he did when he was younger. This realization kick starts his determination to gain more control. Spring Break brings the Forest Camp for the Exwires. Rin experiences for the first time what it's like to have friends. But when their first training mission in the pitch dark forest occurs, Rin is forced to use his flame to save Shiemi from the demon moths attacking her. What happens when one of the class sees the bright flash of Rin's flame?

I thought Kuro was really cute. Even though he's a demon cat, he loves humans and quickly grows attached to Rin. The guy's reaction to Shiemi when she arrives in a school uniform instead of her usual kimono is so funny--especially Yukio and Rin. I thought Rin was pretty awesome when he was fighting Amaimon at the amusement park. Even though he was losing control, he was able to snap out of it long enough to save Shiemi when she was in danger. Shura is a kick-butt exorcist and an amazing swords woman. She's able to light a fire in Rin to become the best exorcist around. Rin's happiness at experiencing what it's like to have friends for the first time was a heartwarming moment, but it's threatened when Suguro sees the flash of Rin's flame during their training mission.

This is the volume when Rin's secret is threatened and higher powers are closing in on him. Will Rin's new friends stand by this side or abandon him to his fate when he'll need them most?

About this Manga-ka:

Kazue Katō (加藤和恵, Katō Kazue), born on July 20th, 1980 in the district of Shinjuku, in Tokyo, is a Japanese mangaka, author of shōnen manga. She is mainly known to be author of Blue Exorcist. She also created Robot to Usakichi ( ロボとうさ吉 ), for which she received the price Osamu Tezuka Award.

Manga Review: Blue Exorcist Volume 2 by Kazue Kato

Title: Blue Exorcist Volume 2  
Japanese Title: Ao no Exorcist
Series: Blue Exorcist #2
Manga-ka: Kazue Kato
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Graphic Novels, Older Teen Ages 16+
Publisher: Viz Media, Shonen Jump Advanced, Shueisha Inc.
Format: Paperback, 189 Pages
ISBN-13: 978-1-4215-4033-7  
Release Date: June 7, 2011
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 4/5

Tagline(s): Fight hellfire with hellfire!

Summary: Shocked by the death of his foster father and the revelation that his real father is the demon lord Satan, Rin Okumura enters the True Cross Academy to learn to be an exorcist. But every great exorcist has to start somewhere, and for the students of the academy the first step is the Exwire examination. To prepare for the exam, the new Pages in Yukio's class must undergo intensive training. Rin and his classmates have their hands full when a demon appears, but is this a test or something more sinister?

Review:

In Volume 2 we meet Rin's classmates and get a look at their pasts and what brought them to the academy. As Rin works at making friends and studying to pass his classes, the Exwire exam is fast approaching. The entire class has to work out their differences and cooperate in order to pass the test and move up the ranks. But behind it all Mephisto is scheming and having Rin attacked. But for what reason?

This series just keeps getting better, and it's only Volume 2! Rin's powers continue to grow and it's really cool to see what he's going to be capable of. We know that Mephisto is a son of Satan, but we also meet Amaimon, King of Earth, who is Mephisto's younger brother. It kind of makes you wonder if Rin realizes that they are his older brothers. I really want to know what Mephisto is planning with all of these schemes he's employing.

Things are really heating up as Rin studies to become an exorcist and new characters show up to make things more complicated.

About this Manga-ka:

Kazue Katō (加藤和恵, Katō Kazue), born on July 20th, 1980 in the district of Shinjuku, in Tokyo, is a Japanese mangaka, author of shōnen manga. She is mainly known to be author of Blue Exorcist. She also created Robot to Usakichi ( ロボとうさ吉 ), for which she received the price Osamu Tezuka Award.

Manga Review: Blue Exorcist Volume 1 by Kazue Kato

Title: Blue Exorcist Volume 1
Japanese Title: Ao no Exorcist
Series: Blue Exorcist #1
Manga-ka: Kazue Kato
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Graphic Novels, Older Teen Ages 16+
Publisher: Viz Media, Shonen Jump Advanced, Shueisha Inc.
Format: Paperback, 181 Pages
ISBN-13: 978-1-4215-4032-0
Release Date: April 5, 2011
Source: Borrowed from Wentworth Library
Rating: 4/5

Tagline(s): Fight hellfire with hellfire!

Summary: Raised by Father Fujimoto, a famous exorcist, Rin Okumura never knew his real father. One day a fateful argument with Father Fujimoto forces Rin to face a terrible truth--the blood of the demon lord Satan runs in Rin's veins! Rin swears to defeat Satan, but doing that means entering the mysterious True Cross Academy and becoming an exorcist himself. Can Rin fight demons and keep his infernal bloodline a secret? It won't be easy, especially when drawing his father's sword releases the demonic power within him!

Review:

A lot happens in Volume One (as with any manga)--Rin awakening to his demon power, meeting Satan, swearing to become an exorcist, attending True Cross Academy, fighting his first demons, reconciling Father Fujimoto's death with Yukio, and meeting Shiemi.

I liked Rin from the very first page, although I always seem to like the bad boy characters. This characters type always has a tough exterior, but a more sensitive interior. Rin comes off as hot-headed and brash, but he want to help people and become a respectable person. I loved how he declared to Mephisto, "I'm not a human or a demon. But I will be an exorcist!!" He doesn't want to be an exorcist for revenge, but to become stronger so that no one else dies to protect him again. He has nobility and honor you wouldn't expect from a demon.

In this first volume the supporting characters we meet are: Father Fujimoto, who raised Rin and Yukio; Yukio, Rin's younger twin brother; Mephisto Pheles, Father Fujimoto's friend and president of True Cross Academy; and Shiemi, the cute and shy girl that Rin develops a crush on (although she seems to only have eyes for Yukio!). As the series goes on we'll meet more characters from both sides: the exorcists and the demons; as well as Rin's exorcist cram school classmates.

Volume One mainly consists of Rin awakening to his powers and being introduced to the world of the exorcists. We see some of Rin and Yukio's past and their reasons for wanting to become exorcists. I thought this was a strong beginning to the Blue Exorcist series.

About this Manga-ka:

Kazue Katō (加藤和恵, Katō Kazue), born on July 20th, 1980 in the district of Shinjuku, in Tokyo, is a Japanese mangaka, author of shōnen manga. She is mainly known to be author of Blue Exorcist. She also created Robot to Usakichi ( ロボとうさ吉 ), for which she received the price Osamu Tezuka Award.