- Joined
- Mar 16, 2006
- Messages
- 16,840
- Reaction score
- 23,503
- Age
- 43
- Gender
- Male
- Country
-
Sorry for the late review but I was reading Cold Days by Jim Butcher and I simply could not stop until I had finished it Sleep, food, and other responsibilities be damned!
The poll last week was on how long this fight would last. The majority guessed it would end at 261 and it looks like they were right.. but only by a hair. And, yes, the fact that I picked 260 may have a little to do with that part.
Now onto the review!
This week resumed with Frankenstien's Dark Spear in the process of devouring the 11th Elder as everyone looks on varying degrees of horror. Faced with certain death the 11th agrees to tell Franky everything he knows as long as he stops the spear. The 10th Elder doesn't like this too much and fires one of his beam attacks at his comrade to shut him up.
When the explosion clears only Frankenstein remains and he pretends it was the 10th elder's attack took out the 11th and does one of his classic "What a terrible thing you've done." monologues; as his Dark Spear looks suspiciously well fed in the background.
This display leaves the 10th facing the reality that he can't beat both Seira and Frankenstien. Seira, understanding his thoughts, assures him that his opponent will be her and her alone.
The fight between them resumes and the 10th holds his own at first...right up until Seira actually starts "trying". When she unleashes the full force of her soul weapon on him it becomes apparent that she was just toying with to gain some battle experience. The 10th resilience is no match for her power and he is badly injured.
Realized his defeat the 10th Elder give a "You'll pay for this!" villainous shpeel threatening both the Lukedonia and Korea. Franky just kinda laughs though and explains that he knows the Union always intended to go after the Nobles and South Korea; so all that is nothing new.
Seeing that he can't talk his way out. The 10th tries to flee to somewhere he can find hostages. It might have worked too, but Raizel intervenes. Seeing through the Elder's plan, he traps him in a blood field and slams him to his knees with the words "You do not have the right to look down on me"
Substance
The biggest thing this week was probably Raizel using his powers once more in defense of humans. As much as Frankenstien may wish otherwise, Raizel will never stop doing that. He just doesn't think that way and once more he showed it.
The news that a true war between Lukedonia and the Union is all but inevitable doesn't come as much of a surprise but the implications are pretty grand just the same. Especially since South Korea seems to be firmly stuck in the middle now.
The utter decimation of the 10th Elder at Seira's hands was also something that should be talked about. It's a hard not to be a little disappointed in how easily she dispatched him. The union really needs to up their game with the rest of it's people so these fights don't end up so one-sided at the end. Thinking back to how, previous nobles have been killed by humans. You just have to ask yourself "how". Did they slip on a banana peel mid-fight?
It's also interesting to me how careless Frankenstien was about letting the 11th Elder, a potential wellspring of information, get eaten. Granted Bonerre is standing on that same roof, probably soiling himself (and understandably so); but still, they need to find out where Tao and Takeo are. I wonder what his backup plan for that is?
Presentation
Lots of big gorgeous panels this week. I love it when epic fights aren't stingy with the background work and this chapter was certainly not that. Solid detail work and great lighting further added to the quality of this combat chapter.
Pacing was just about right. The combat was fast paced. The dialogue created pauses but it always felt natural and never forced.
Overall Rating
It was a solid combat chapter which benefited from some really good artwork. The only knock I have on it was the how effortless the conclusion of the 10th Elder's fight was. The inability of villains to stay competitive throughout fights is a longstanding problem for Noblesse, and this chapter was another example of that.
I give it a 4 out of 5
New Prediction
Old Predictions: (19 Wins/ 22 Losses)
"Both the 10th Elder and the 11th Elder will be defeated by the end of next week's chapter(Chapter 260)" - Win (I guess)
I'm not sure what to do with this one. The 10th Elder did acknowledge he'd been defeated by Seira so I guess I have to call it a win but the argument could be made he still has too much life left in him for that. Hence, the Blood Field treatment.
The poll last week was on how long this fight would last. The majority guessed it would end at 261 and it looks like they were right.. but only by a hair. And, yes, the fact that I picked 260 may have a little to do with that part.
Now onto the review!
Chapter Summary
Man, I bet insurance premiums for skyscrapers in South Korea are getting pretty crazy these days....
Man, I bet insurance premiums for skyscrapers in South Korea are getting pretty crazy these days....
This week resumed with Frankenstien's Dark Spear in the process of devouring the 11th Elder as everyone looks on varying degrees of horror. Faced with certain death the 11th agrees to tell Franky everything he knows as long as he stops the spear. The 10th Elder doesn't like this too much and fires one of his beam attacks at his comrade to shut him up.
When the explosion clears only Frankenstein remains and he pretends it was the 10th elder's attack took out the 11th and does one of his classic "What a terrible thing you've done." monologues; as his Dark Spear looks suspiciously well fed in the background.
This display leaves the 10th facing the reality that he can't beat both Seira and Frankenstien. Seira, understanding his thoughts, assures him that his opponent will be her and her alone.
The fight between them resumes and the 10th holds his own at first...right up until Seira actually starts "trying". When she unleashes the full force of her soul weapon on him it becomes apparent that she was just toying with to gain some battle experience. The 10th resilience is no match for her power and he is badly injured.
Realized his defeat the 10th Elder give a "You'll pay for this!" villainous shpeel threatening both the Lukedonia and Korea. Franky just kinda laughs though and explains that he knows the Union always intended to go after the Nobles and South Korea; so all that is nothing new.
Seeing that he can't talk his way out. The 10th tries to flee to somewhere he can find hostages. It might have worked too, but Raizel intervenes. Seeing through the Elder's plan, he traps him in a blood field and slams him to his knees with the words "You do not have the right to look down on me"
Chapter Review
Raizel doesn't do "Scary" often but when he does...he does it right.
Raizel doesn't do "Scary" often but when he does...he does it right.
Substance
The biggest thing this week was probably Raizel using his powers once more in defense of humans. As much as Frankenstien may wish otherwise, Raizel will never stop doing that. He just doesn't think that way and once more he showed it.
The news that a true war between Lukedonia and the Union is all but inevitable doesn't come as much of a surprise but the implications are pretty grand just the same. Especially since South Korea seems to be firmly stuck in the middle now.
The utter decimation of the 10th Elder at Seira's hands was also something that should be talked about. It's a hard not to be a little disappointed in how easily she dispatched him. The union really needs to up their game with the rest of it's people so these fights don't end up so one-sided at the end. Thinking back to how, previous nobles have been killed by humans. You just have to ask yourself "how". Did they slip on a banana peel mid-fight?
It's also interesting to me how careless Frankenstien was about letting the 11th Elder, a potential wellspring of information, get eaten. Granted Bonerre is standing on that same roof, probably soiling himself (and understandably so); but still, they need to find out where Tao and Takeo are. I wonder what his backup plan for that is?
Presentation
Lots of big gorgeous panels this week. I love it when epic fights aren't stingy with the background work and this chapter was certainly not that. Solid detail work and great lighting further added to the quality of this combat chapter.
Pacing was just about right. The combat was fast paced. The dialogue created pauses but it always felt natural and never forced.
Overall Rating
It was a solid combat chapter which benefited from some really good artwork. The only knock I have on it was the how effortless the conclusion of the 10th Elder's fight was. The inability of villains to stay competitive throughout fights is a longstanding problem for Noblesse, and this chapter was another example of that.
I give it a 4 out of 5
Predictions Section
New Prediction
- The 10th Elder will die and the Bonerre will be "persuaded" to tell them where Tao and Takeo are.
Old Predictions: (19 Wins/ 22 Losses)
"Both the 10th Elder and the 11th Elder will be defeated by the end of next week's chapter(Chapter 260)" - Win (I guess)
I'm not sure what to do with this one. The 10th Elder did acknowledge he'd been defeated by Seira so I guess I have to call it a win but the argument could be made he still has too much life left in him for that. Hence, the Blood Field treatment.
- Rael will lose his next battle to the RK-4.
- I think Lee Youn-In is going to be more than just a soon-to-be-forgotten sub-character. I suspect she may have a role in the plot.
- Raizel will name Shin Woo his successor; resulting in him inheriting the title and power of the Noblesse.
- The female operative from the Union will eventually end up on Raizel's side, like M-21 and the others.
- Rael will show up at Raizel's school seeking revenge on him and his human friends.
- Na Yontsu will get mixed feeling about recruiting Shin Woo and Ikkan.
- Raizel will ultimately choose to use himself up completely in order to help his friends.
- The Union was originally created by the Traitorous Nobles.
- More traitors than just Roctis are in league with the Union
- M-21 and Yontsu. I think it's going to happen, even if I have no idea how.
- I expect at least one more high ranking noble from Lukedonia to show up in South Korea soon, possibly more than one.
- M-24 will die.
Last edited:
