Volume 2 of Edens Zero, features more chapters than Volume 1, 14 to 4. The volume focuses on the Norma arc. Xiaomel, a unknown character at this point, is suppose to narrate this arc. She doesn’t. Her purpose seems unnecessary and I must assume that will change. Anyway, Shiki, Rebecca and Happy go in search of Professor Weisz. They encounter, a young man that pulls a gun on them. To their shock, he claims that he’s Weisz Steiner. Donning his new x-ray glasses, Shiki can see that someone is upstairs. He leaps on the ceiling, and attacks the man with “Magimech attack.” The man falls down, as the young professor escapes. The attacker delivers a threat: “that those betray them will die by “Strong-Man” Sibir’s hands.”
At a restaurant, Rebecca tries to piece together what’s happen. However, she concludes that they’re in somehow 50 years in the past. Sibir, piloting a giant robot arrives. He believes that Weisz stole his money, and that Rebecca, Happy and Shiki are involved. They attempt to flee. Sibir’s gang follows them and attacks. However, Shiki uses his Gravity Ether Gear to fly them down the street. As Sibir reaches them, Shiki attacks him with his Gravity Fist technique, destroying Sibir’s robot.
What’s in the briefcase
Shiki, Rebecca and Happy hideout in a local bar. They encounter Weisz here. Rebecca explains everything to him. Weisz is skeptical. Shiki takes his briefcase. However, his gravity powers cut off, causing him to crash to the floor. The briefcase opens, revealing a small robot. Named Pino, she’s a “anti-bot android.” She has an EMP ability. Shiki and the others learn that Sibir is quiet abusive towards Pino, breaking off her legs. Furthermore, he has her memory wiped despite her protest. Rebecca notices that the date on Pino’s last maintenance was in “their time.” Meanwhile, Pino return’s to Sibir, who decides to punish her for “leaving,” by breaking the other leg.
Shiki to the rescue
Shiki being the main protagonists is probably always going to “save everyone,” but I feel that Rebecca and Happy are often render helpless too often. When, Shiki is knocked down to the lower lever, he lands in a scrap heap. Meanwhile, Rebecca “battles” the “Foote brothers.” They demand to see her “legs to the toes.” However, Shiki arrives to save her. Elsewhere, Pino, Weisz and Happy battle Sibir. Shiki quickly arrives to save them as well. He demands Sibir “treat machines right,” because “they have hearts.” He attacks Sibir with his Gravity Cannon. Before Sibir’s robot can explode killing Shiki, Pino uses her EMP. With Sibir and his gang defeated and arrested, Shiki and the others focus on Pino. The police being to chase them. Their ship gets trapped in the atmosphere, however, young Weisz appears having stowed away on their ship. He makes them an offer: “let me have your ship” and he’ll get them into space.
The Chronophage and Professor Weisz
Young Weisz makes himself Captain. Using his Ether Gear, the Machina Maker he recreates the ship. They escape the police and the atmosphere. Once out they are contacted by the old Weisz. He tells them that they didn’t “travel back in time but encountered a space monster called the Chronophage.” This monster “consumes a planet.” This results in the time “being rewound.” This effect cannot be reversed, with the chronophage also creating a new reality. Both the young professor and the old one can co-exists. However, before they can continue their conversation they’re interrupted by the Space Pirate Elsie Crimson.
Shiki vs Skull Pirate Elsie Crimson
Elise Crimson is a pirate that “conquered the seven cosmic seas.” She captures their ship and takes “ownership” over everyone. She plans on selling them into slavery. Shiki decides to “take over her ship instead.” However, he encounters a “mimetic parasite Kawpicatt s4.” The parasite grab everyone with it’s tentacles, but Rebecca and Happy free them. When Shiki reaches Elise’s room, she’s revealed to be a skull person. Shiki and Elise battle as Shiki has flashbacks of his childhood. As they continue to battle, the Cosmic Government’s, Interstellar Union Army arrives to capture Elise. They observe the battle through their sensors. Shiki is identified as the “Demon King.” After Shiki defeats “Elise,” they learn that the real Elise isn’t on board. She gives them the ship, as it belonged to “Ziggy,” or the Demon King. The Union Army attacks. Elise and her fleet hold them off as Shiki and the others escape. Somewhere inside the ship and a woman that has emerged from machine.
As expected, the second volume was more interesting than the first. However, so far there’s nothing “new” about Edens Zero. It’s not a bad things, but mildly disappointing. Shiki is the typical dumb shonen hero that manages to win people over with his personality. With Rebecca being the typical fanservice object, it’s still mild fanservice though. It seems that Hiro Mashima doesn’t know what he wants to do with her. She is smarter than Shiki, but often needs Shiki to rescue her. However, at times she is perfectly able to defend herself. Weisz is the typical anti-hero. Furthermore, the action scenes are often shallow. Every battle doesn’t need to be fourteen chapters but so far they are rather short. Edens Zero may or may not subvert shonen expectations but do still find it enjoyable.
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