Shaman King tells the story of Yoh Asakura, a shaman from Japan. Shamans are described as all types of mystics, fortunetellers, and priests, encompassing everything from Egyptian myth to Voodoo. Every 500 years, a “Shaman Fight” is held to determine the Shaman King, and it’s Yoh’s quest to become this king; the most powerful Shaman on Earth with access to the most powerful ghost on earth, the Great Spirit. Adventure, comedy and philosophical insight make this more than just a battle manga. Shaman King Vol. 25: Cornerstone gives us the conclusion of Yoh and his friend Lyserg’s battle to defend the X-Laws from the destructive Hao’s minion Luchist. Afterwards, the Shaman Fight kicks into high gear again as Team Ren has to fight against the Wisdom Kings, a team that’s a member of one of the most powerful factions in the running, Gandala. But do they stand a chance against a faction with members so powerful they can revive the dead?
Highlights
The finale of the battle with Luchist from the previous volume finishes not in a battle of power, but wits. Realizing they can’t hope to match Luchist’s angel Lucifer in a straight fight, they attempt to trick him into thinking Lady Jeanne is joining the battle; but tricks within tricks cause the plan to be more than it seems. This is one of the fun aspects of Shaman King; Takei writes battles where fortune doesn’t always favor just the strong. It’s a good thing, because the protagonists feel really outmatched lately. Yoh himself doesn’t fail to notice this weakness, and in their next team gathering delivers a shocking proclamation; he believes his evil brother Hao will win the tournament for certain! Fortunately, they have a plan. It’s risky, but if it all comes down to the wire, they might have some unexpected foes in some old friends. This balances out with the way the rescued X-Laws join them at their table, prompting Anna to humorously remark, “Why is it that every time something happens we end up with more mouths to feed?” Shonen manga and Shaman King in particular tend to espouse the idea of foes becoming friends, and it’s particularly interesting to note how they mix their beliefs without losing their own particular views about the world. Simpler manga just have new friends absorb the protagonist’s way of thinking, but Shaman King always strives to create a peace without resorting to a hive mind, and it’s a great thing to read. Finally, one heck of a battle begins between the Wisdom Kings and Team Ren, who have decided to fight to the end regardless as the second round of the Shaman Fight begins. The fighting is furious, but how can Ren defeat a foe that nullifies his every attack? Perhaps a strategy he created to defeat an old rival might come in handy…because if they win this battle, they Team Ren will soon find themselves in conflict with Yoh’s team Funbari Hot springs!
Overall
Things are smoking hot again now that the Shaman Fight is once again underway; I didn’t want to spoil the details of Team Ren’s fight, but it’s fun stuff so far. I’m on pins and needles to see how it turns out; watching our two teams of protagonists face off is going to be one heck of a show. Takei also adds a couple of brackets of the tournament between chapters, which I found particularly useful. In previous volumes I hadn’t been completely sure how long the Shaman Fight was going to run, but it’s clear now that things are gearing up for the finale; very few teams remain to battle and only 12 can move to the final arena. The big battles are exciting, but once again the little touches are nothing to sneeze at. The X-Laws angel’s being made from sports cars was an unexpected twist, Joco’s little bathing cap was funny. Not to mention the gathering around Team Yoh has gotten huge; if Hao doesn’t watch out he’s going to be eating lunch by himself some day.
ComicsOnline gives Shaman King Vol 25: Cornerstone 5 out of 5 Ferrari Oversouls.
