The first half concentrates on relationships more than exorcists. This is good because the characters need to be introduced before you can really feel for them in later scenes. The fact that Rin has to hide his powers is a bit gimmicky to me, but other than that it was a solid volume.A little bit more blood in the second half of this one. You also see more of the affect that demons have on people as well as one of the teachers targeting a student. Some parents may take issue with the baths scene in this one, but in Japanese culture women and men take gendered communal baths. They wouldn't see anything terribly sexual in the girls getting ready for the bath, but some parents might not like her just being in her underwear. She does object to Rin being in there, but men and boys are supposed to stay out of the girls' baths. The language is a bit more confrontational. Some of Rin's classmates are hostile to him because they think he is lazy. They also gripe about classes the way all teens do. Rin, the son of Satan, has joined True Cross Academy to study to be an exorcist so he can destroy his father. Unfortunately, he seems to have a bit of a lazy mind, excelling more at the fighting. His twin brother, Yukio, who has none of the satanic aspects, is such a good student he also teaches demon pharmaceuticals to the cram school. He is rather underwhelmed by his twin’s academic abilities. (Rin got 2 right on his exam, ah, he’s one of MY students). Also in the cram school is Shiemi, a young girl Yukio and Rin saved in volume one, Suguro, something of a bully but an excellent student and shares Rin’s desire to kill Satan (he thinks very little of Rin in the beginning) and Kamiki, a girl with a self proclaimed ‘rotten personality.’There are certainly parallels one could see between this training and the halls of Hogwarts but school is school and they are learning to become exorcists able to handle demons. There are several subgenres using swords, using sutras and prayers, taming lesser demons etc. The whole volume deals with studying for the exwire exam and exploring the interrelationship of the students, who one assumes will be recurring secondary characters. It highlights the strengths and weaknesses of all the characters and in the end uncovers some dark underpinnings of the academy and the idea betrayers may be hiding within.Overall, I liked it. It’s not a story that has me hanging on the edge of my seat waiting on the next one but I did enjoy it. Rin is a bit one note yet and I hope he grows more as we go (he has already grown some). He and his brother (who may eventually have to kill his twin) could make for a very interesting pair. I did like the character profiles for the secondary characters at the end, though wished Shiemi had been among them because if she’s supposed to be 15-16 like the rest then she seems utterly too young for her actual age. The art is nice.
What do You think about Blue Exorcist, Vol. 2 (2011)?
Such a good series. Lots of serious moments but it is funny too. Can't wait to finish it.
—raj
