Demon Slayer Volumes 2 & 3 (Manga Review)
By: RogueSymbiote
Spoilers Ahead!
Summary
After surviving the week long ultimate test on Mount Fujikasane, Tanjiro receives his katana and rank within the Demon Slayer Corps. A Kasugai crow is also assigned to each new demon slayer to relay their assignments. Tanjiro returns to Urokodaki's home to discover Nezuko has awakened from her year long sleep. Urokodaki explains that Nezuko most likely sleeps to regain her strength instead of consuming human flesh.
It is revealed that Muzan Kibutsuji, the first demon, is the only one in the world who has the ability to turn humans into demons. With this knowledge, Tanjiro sets out to find Kibutsuji in hopes of turning Nezuko back into a human. In his travels, Tanjiro encounters a demon who is abducting young girls with a fiendish blood demon art. After being defeated, the demon refuses to disclose any information about Kibutsuji out of pure fear.
Upon arriving in Asakusa for an assignment, Tanjiro picks up the scent of the demon who slaughtered his family. He comes face to face with Kibutsuji, who is traveling with his human wife and child. Kibutsuji quickly turns another human into a demon in order to cause a mass panic and escape. Tanjiro is approached by a pair of demons named Tamayo and Yushiro who wish to see Kibutsuji dead. Tamayo was able to remove Kibutsuji's curse and no longer feeds on humans in order to survive.
Tanjiro and his new allies are attacked by servants of Kibutsuji. Tamayo initially believed the pair of deadly demons to be members of the twelve kizuki, Kibutsuji's chosen elite, but upon closer inspection they are just powerful followers of the first demon. Tamayo requests Tanjiro to acquire samples from demons that have a high concentration of Kibutsuji's blood. This will help Tamayo discover a cure for Nezuko.
Tanjiro runs into Zenitsu Agatsuma, a fellow demon slayer, on his way to another assignment. The pair team up to inspect a home with suspected demon activity. Two children are quivering outside of the home and explain that a monster took their brother and dragged him into the home. As the demon slayers enter the home, Zenitsu begs Tanjiro to protect him as he expresses his fears and weaknesses. Within the home, they discover a demon with powerful abilities and a strange man wearing a boar's head wielding dual nichirin swords.
Tanjiro and Zenitsu are separated by the ever-moving walls of the home and must each protect one of the two children that followed in after them. As Tanjiro engages with the main demon of the home, Zenitsu encounters a demon with frog-like attributes. Out of sheer terror, Zenitsu passes out as the young boy he is charged with protecting clamors for him to get up. In a flash, Zenitsu comes to his feet while in a sleep-like state and strikes down the demon in a single strike. While awake, Zenitsu is a terrified weakling, but in the face of absolute terror, his true strength is manifested after passing out. After regaining consciousness, Zenitsu has no recollection of his actions and believes the child he was supposed to protect has somehow defeated the demon.
The main demon of the home was once a member of the twelve kizuki and hopes to regain the title by becoming powerful once again. Tanjiro and the demon square of in a spectacular battle that culminates in the demon's demise. Tanjiro is able to acquire a blood sample before leaving the home only to discover Zenitsu has taken a beating at the hands of the boar head swordsman while protecting Nezuko's container.
Review
Demon Slayer volumes 2 and 3 completely won me over. They fill in major plot holes from volume 1 and greatly expound on this demon filled world. The introduction of a main villain in Kibutsuji was much needed and executed well. Introducing Tamayo and Yushiro continues the thematic element that not all demons are evil. I'm sure this will play a pivotal role in the series overall. The action continues to be exciting and unique. I thought Zenitsu was utterly annoying at first, but I quickly changed my mind after his true powers were revealed. Having him play an absolute coward that can only fight after passing out in fear is absolutely brilliant.
The demon designs and abilities make for an exciting read. You never quite know what powers a demon will possess which keeps the reader on their toes. Its easy to make a villain strong, but these finely crafted abilities force Tanjiro to use his own strengths in unconventional and dynamic ways. These volumes introduce more sustenance to the Demon Slayer series. There is far more going on now that was originally introduced. From encountering Kibutsuji and his twelve kizuki to uncovering a cure for Nezuko, there is clearly far more story to be told.
If you haven't begun reading Demon Slayer, I strongly recommend you do so. This action packed series is fast paced and not afraid to go dark. If you enjoy sword fighting, demons and gore, this is a must read. You can find your copy of Demon Slayer volume 2 here and volume 3 here.
Note: Viz Media provided us with a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
