Tokyo Ghoul: re - Volume 9 (Review)
By: EyeSpyeAlex
Need to catch up on Tokyo Ghoul: re? Check out my previous review here!
The Story
A fear from volume 8 is confirmed: Kuro killed Suzuya. Or did she?! In a surprise move, Suzuya reveals his quinque: a kokaku and prepares for battle. With the element of surprise on his side, Suzuya eliminates Kuro. This moment is thrilling and slightly heartwarming as Suzuya’s men were right: he would never abandon them.
Back inside, Takizawa attacks Tatara, killing the ghoul and saving the CCG agents. Expecting admiration, Takizawa is surprised when the officers turn their weapons on him. He takes his frustration out on Mado, threatening to choke her to death. Suddenly, Amon swoops in saves Mado.
Down in Doctor Kanou’s lab we learn that Kuro isn’t actually dead. Kuro asks the good doctor to save both her and Shiro. Kanou insists that Shiro’s perceived life is actually bodily functions, crushing Kuro’s hopes. When Kuro assumes the offensive, the doctor unleashes an army of ghoul clones. It seems like Kuro will be torn to bits until Nishiki shows up and saves her.
Yes, the cavalry has arrived! As Nishiki helps Kuro fight off the clones inside more help arrives outside. Tsukiyama makes his presence known before helping Naki and Miza fight off the CCG operatives.
Tsukiyama’s arrival isn’t the only surprising one. In the midst of the fight inside, Mutsuki shows up! They immediately begin defending the area so Mado and the others can escape. It’s a shocking moment because the last we saw Mutsuki they had no limbs. Just when it seems Mutsuki will finish off Takizawa, Mado jumps in the way and saves him. Overcome with guilt over Takizawa’s fate, Mado feels that she owes it to him to spare his life.
Not wanting his former lover to die, Amon offers to hold of the newly arrived Quinx squad, if Takizawa gets Mado to safety. Mado begrudgingly agrees, but declares that Mado is his hostage.
The ensuing battle with the Quinx squad is both amazing and gruesome. Amon ascends into his final ghoul form, ready to tear the Quinx squad apart. He falters when Yonebayashi asks him why he saved her. After a brief flashback to Kaneki, Amon tells Yonebayashi that it was the right thing to do. The panel then pans out and it is unclear if Amon has survived the attack.
Back at CCG headquarters, Furuta reports to the rest of the CCG that Washu family is dead. In a shocking move, Furata informs them that he is assuming the head of both the Washu family and the CCG.
The Review
Volume 9 of Tokyo Ghoul: re is filled with high and low moments. It feels like the more this series progresses the less amazed I am at the events. A lot of this has to do with the cutaway moments in each chapter. There’s so many different plot points and characters right now that I can’t keep anything straight. I guess I’d rather have too much going on rather than not enough, but there has to be a way to make things flow a little smoother.
One of the upsides if we finally see Takizawa’s transformation into a ghoul. It’s a pretty gruesome transformation that the former CCG agent undergoes. On top of fulfilling my need for horror, the flashback also serves as a way to humanize Takizawa. As I mentioned, his transformation is nothing short of traumatic and has thrust him into a world where neither humans nor ghouls seem to accept him. It’s an incredibly unfortunate event that is both satisfying and heartbreaking to read.
In terms of illustrations this latest volume has left me with some mixed emotions. The details of Amon’s final form and Suzuya’s quinque are incredibly and manages to evoke feelings of awe and terror. Despite that, the characters themselves do not seem as detailed, and I often find myself confusing characters. I’m by no means asking them to wear name tags, but making them each a little more distinct would definitely help.
Despite my complaints, I enjoy Tokyo Ghoul: re as a series and this volume is no exception. While it has in my opinion, too many concurrent plot points, Volume 9 does a nice job of resolving the Rushima battle and setting up the next arc of CCG and ghoul battles. Even though characters aren’t super distinct, specific moments in the manga have incredible detail that manage delight and terrify. I definitely recommend adding this latest volume to your manga collection. More information on how to do so can be found here.