ADVANCED REVIEW: ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ Volume 7

In Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 7, Yuji, Nobara, and Megumi are finally reunited and investigating curses once again. Not to be dramatic, but this reviewer would die for these kids. The beginning of this volume ties up the school competition arc and the aftermath of the cursed spirits crashing it. Thankfully so because now the series is diving back into what it does best: darker investigations that bring out the absolute best in character development and action from this trio. Jujutsu Kaisen is created by Gege Akutami and published in English by Viz Media. Volume 7 is translated by Stefan Koza and features touch-up art and lettering by Snir Aharon.

The faculty strategizes how to recover after the assault on the Goodwill Event. Mahito has obtained the special grade cursed objects he was after: six of Sukuna’s fingers and three of the Death Painting Wombs. While the initial plan is to forego completing the competition this year, the students insist. This results in a rather odd, but no less enjoyable, chapter with the students playing baseball while they recover. It is a bit of an odd tone, but the respite for the characters is understandable. Most of this volume, however, presents Yuji, Nobara, and Megumi once again teaming up to go observe an investigation. Gojo cannot come this time so they are under the guidance of Auxiliary Manager Akari Nitta.

The team is investigating a series of mysterious deaths. Even though the victims all were killed in different areas, the circumstances of their death were the same. They also all went to the same Junior High, and that is where the trio is going to investigate. Through a series of brilliant comedic panels, it is revealed that Megumi attended the same Junior High. This trio was forced to bond rather quickly through extreme circumstances, so it is nice to see Nobara and Yuji get excited at the prospect of actually getting to know Megumi this volume. It isn’t all fun and games though.

Megumi has a fantastic character arc in this volume that is difficult to praise without spoilers. His friendship and rivalry with Yuji are one of the better crafted of the shonen tropes out there. It reminds one more of Black Clover‘s Asta and Yuno. Megumi and Yuji care for each other and are excited to see the other succeed. The desire to surpass the other comes from healthy competition rather than envy.

Megumi discovers this case may have a connection to his sister and attempts to go at it alone. The framing of Megumi in this volume is key, however—he doesn’t view Nobara and Yuji as hindrances, rather Megumi believes that risking his life doesn’t matter as long as the others are okay. His perspective on winning is one that completely discounts his entire well-being in favor of others. That isn’t to say Yuji and Nobara aren’t present. In fact, they have some of the best tag-team action scenes in these pages that I’ve seen in shonen manga in a while.

Akutami’s artwork makes these character moments that much greater. The best way it can be described is “intentionally chaotic.” The almost-madness that overcomes Megumi’s face as he laughs manically with blood dripping down it or the intense focus on the whites of Nobara’s eyes as she impales herself with nails (yes, you read that right) are nothing short of fantastic. At one point there is a half-page devoted to beautiful, dripping wings of blood. What is equally impressive is how this art is able to shift from this darkness to the earlier mentioned comedic panels so well. Akutami knows how to use lines—thick, thin, and scratchy—and it shows. One of the villains does have a costume that may raise eyebrows, but it doesn’t seem to descend into problematic trope territory. Also, the reason that was given for wearing the costume actually makes sense in its own weird way (again, spoiler territory).

There was a lull in the story during the Goodwill Event, and it is gone now. Absolutely stunning teamwork in the action sequences, fantastic artwork, and emotional moments litter Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 7 after the first couple of chapters. This story’s focus on a trio of genuinely dynamic and wonderful teens is its strength, flinging them into a no-holds-barred violent battle that is a sight to behold.

Jujutsu Kaisen Volume 7 releases on December 1st, 2020 wherever books are sold. The series is also available to read on the Shonen Jump subscription service. The anime adaptation is streaming now on Crunchyroll, and episode reviews can be found here.