The Upper Ranks Gather (Demon Slayer #12) 3.5Stars

 

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Title: The Upper Ranks Gather
Series: Demon Slayer #12
Author: Koyoharu Gotouge
Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Manga
Pages: 190
Words: 9K

Since Tanjiro broke his last sword, he has to get a new one. Only thing is, the guy who is supposed to be his swordsmith is a big baby and throws a tantrum. This forces Tanjiro to go to the village where the swordsmiths all live to get a new sword. He finds a new ally and finds an old sword. Also, two of the upper rank demons find the village and prepare to attack it.

This volume gave us more interactions with two of the Hashira (top tiered demon slayers), one the Love Hashira and the other the Mist Hashira. The love hashira is a ditzy busty girl and there was a lot of room for fanservice, which the manga-ka avoided. Good on him. I’ve noted before how he draws in such a manner as to “suggest” something without actually being suggestive or lewd. I do suspect that I will not be watching the anime on that account. One scene has the love hashira coming out of a hot springs buck naked, and it was fine. At the same time, he’s not being a prude. He’s showing good taste and discretion.

The mist hashera is a total jerk. He’s the kind of guy that would inhabit the Warhammer 40K world and while part of the Empire of Man fighting demons, would be just as bad as the demons. He’s the cure, but he’s as bad if not worse than the disease. Of course Tanjiro tries to befriend him and fight him and succeeds at neither. We’ll see what the future holds for them. I hope the mist hashira dies because he’s alienated everyone around him, that’s what he deserves.

We also get an extended scene between the main bad guy demon and his upper rank demons. Man, he treats them like total dirt. I hope he gets his too. He more than deserves it.

For some reason, this just felt very filler’ish, even though I can’t actually point to anything that would make that so. I guess maybe because it was mainly about Tanjiro recovering after his last battle? Slow, that would be a better word than filler.

★★★✬☆

From Wikipedia

"The Upper Ranks Gather"

"Someone's Dream"

"Go to the Village!"

"A Secret"

"Hello, Tokito"

"Yoriichi Type Zero"

"Kotetsu"

"Something Came Out"

"Enemy Attack"

After recovering from the previous battle, Tanjiro departs to the village of Swordsmiths to have his sword restored. Once there, he discovers an ancient, but well crafted old sword that his personal swordsmith, Haganezuka decides to reforge for him. Meanwhile, Hantengu and Gyokko, two of the Upper Ranks, discover the location of the village and prepare to attack it.