REVIEW: ‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba,’ Volume 20

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Volume 20 is an action-adventure fantasy manga that is created by mangaka Koyoharu Gotouge and published by VIZ Media. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba takes follows Tanjiro Kamado as he tries to support and provide for his mother and younger siblings. Tragedy strikes when a demon devours Tanjiro’s entire family while he is away selling firewood. Now the only survivor of the attack is his younger sister Nezuko who is transformed into a demon. Now Tanjiro must go on a dangerous journey to become a Demon Slayer, avenge his family, and find a cure for Nezuko in order to save her humanity.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Volume 20 continues as the Demon Slayer Corps’ initial confrontation with the most powerful of Muzan’s demons, Kokushibo, has left Tokito severely wounded and Genya cut in half. Miraculously Genya is still alive hoping that his regenerative power can heal even his fatal wound. The Hashira Himejima and Sanemi face-off with Kokushibo and unleash all of their skills against him. Although Himejima is blind, he may have a chance against Kokushibo’s whirlwind of flashing blades, if he can see into the Transparent World.

If I had to pick two words to describe this volume in two words, they would be intense and heart-wrenching. The mangaka, Koyoharu Gotouge, does not hold back on the emotions or high-stakes action in any of the chapters in Volume 20. A majority of this volume focused on the battle between the Himejima, Sanemi, Genya, and Muichiro as they face-off against Muzan’s strongest demon, the former Demon Slayer, Kokushibo. I honestly had to read the whole volume in one sitting because I could not put this manga down and have to know what the outcomes would be in the end.

The artwork is great in this volume, however, I felt like there are some pages that have a lot going on all at once. It does a great job of capturing the chaos of the battle, but it also makes it hard to digest. It is worthwhile to just slow down and take in all of the action and illustrations taking place during some scenes.

Another thing that I loved about Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Volume 20 was the writing. Gotouge really captures the characters’ emotions in Volume 20 Throughout the volume you can really feel the Himejima, Sanemi, Genya, and Muichiro desperation on every page of this volume. The character’s inner monologues and dialogues with one another are what sell the intensity of the scenes and their desperation to defeat Kokushibo. Even though the Demon Slayers know that the odds are not in their favor.

Their opponent surpasses them in skill, hundreds of years of experience, and not only is a top-ranked demon but a former Demon Slayer as well. It is the way that the Himejima and the other Demon Slayers sacrifice and put their lives on the line, for one another to get an advantage against their enemy that really sells their desperation. Even though they are fully aware that this isn’t a fight that they will survive. They know that this is a fight they can not afford to lose, even if that means they have to die to succeed.

Overall, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Volume 20 is heart wrenching, intense, and you won’t want to put the manga down until the last page. Koyoharu Gotouge continues to build upon the suspense and tension in every chapter of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba, Volume 20. This volume kills it when it comes to the storytelling

Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba, Volume 20 is available wherever books are sold.