YuYu Hakusho, Vol. 05: Focus Your Mind as One!

YuYu Hakusho volume five continues the Four Beasts case. Ghost/Underworld detective Yusuke Urameshi, Kuwabara, his rival for the title of 'Sarayashi Public Jr. High's toughest punk'; accompanied by demon thieves Hiei and Kurama, have to take away the Enabling Whistle that controls humans infested with Roundworm Monsters. Kurama the fox demon took out Genbu, the first beast, in the last volume. He's wounded, though, so he's not expected to do much against the other three.

Kuwabara volunteers to take on the second beast, Byakko, before finding out that he's a humanoid tiger who is about 10 feet / 3.048 meters tall. Don't laugh at his mullet-like mane -- those are a couple of nasty-looking tusks protruding from his lower jaw. His hairballs show more have an alarming power. If Kuwabara isn't careful, he could wind up in acid!

Hiei, the short demon whose third eye is an evil eye, gets to fight the third beast, Seiryu. I wouldn't mind hiring Seiryu to re-freeze the polar ice caps, if he could be trusted.

Of course Yusuke gets to face off with top beast Suzuku, who plays the Enabling Whistle. Suzuku is a sadist who sends Roundworm Monster-infested humans to kill Yusuke's best friend, Keiko Yukimura. Keiko has Underworld Guide Botan with her, but can these tough ladies save their lives? Poor Yusuke can see their plight on a magic screen in Suzuku's tower.

There's also a chapter about half-demons attacking punks from another junior high school. I rather liked the way that one turned out.

By the way, this is the volume in which Kurama tells the creatures he attacks to just call him Tuxedo Mask, the name of the guy who kept saving the day in 'Sailor Moon'. show less

I got to say, the one thing that I find so different about the anime and the manga, the blood. There’s a lot more blood in this manga then you'll ever see in the anime; even the uncut version.

The art work on the other hand has greatly improved from the first vol and the action more violent.

One of my favourite scenes is at the end of this vol, even in the anime, that one scene, to me tops everything in this series. (Yusuke awakes from a three day mini coma, he asks about Kaiko and Botan. Kuwabara avoids the question, pissing Yusuke off. Kurama plays along as Kuwabara gives Yusuke a sombre look. You can see the heartbreak in Yusuke eyes when he thinks his Kaiko is dead; and just when his about to go bat-shit crazy, Kaiko and Botan show more walks in, Bamb!...again the look on his face!)

Though in pointing out my fav scene, this isn’t my favourite adventure for the team, even in the anime, Maze Castel wasn’t a fav of mine. Sure it got Kurama and Hiei to say, officially joined the team, but, well, I really think it’s because the fight scene with Byakko, it just took so long, too long. It was an unnecessary draw out, filler. I tend to skip that fight when I re-watch the anime, just can’t do it.

All in all, great vol, wicket fighting and great art.

Cheers

-Emily show less