Jujutsu Kaisen, Volume 1 - Manga Review

In June of 2023 we visited the Universal Studios theme park in Osaka, Japan. While there something called the Jujutsu Kaisen: The Real 4-D ride caught my eye. Although I had no idea what Jujutsu Kaisen was, the ride looked like too much fun to miss out on.

Despite my understanding of the Japanese language being nonexistent, I was able to suss out and follow the ride's storyline. Characters from the series have come to investigate the opening of this new magic school in Osaka. They ask that the attraction riders help them out and a whole lot of immersive excitement ensues.

I had a great time and could not pass on the opportunity to purchase a Jujutsu Kaisen themed souvenir when exiting through the ubiquitous post-ride gift shop. I returned home with a set of Divine Dogs pens that I still have and, on occasion, like to use.

Who's a good Divine Dog!?!?

Another thing I returned home with was a strong desire to start reacquainting myself with the many awesome offerings to be found in the worlds of manga and anime. Which I have, albeit at a far slower pace than I had first anticipated... 

Slow pacing, however, is not a problem with Jujutsu Kaisen Volume One. At least in its opening chapter, where the storytelling zips from Point A to Point B to Point C at such a clip that I started to double and triple check that pages were not stuck together. There was, as Joe Bob Briggs would put it, "way too much plot getting in the way of the story."

Don't believe me? Well, here is a somewhat stream-lined version of the first chapter: First-year student Yuji Itadori wants to be a member of the Occult Research Club, but the School Council President would rather Itadori join a sports club and tries to abolish the Occult Research Club. Megumi Fushigoro arrives at the school, searching for a "special-grade" cursed object of some kind. Fushigoro, like the members of the Occult Research Club, notes that there is something "off" about the school's rugby field. Back to Itadori, who uses his impressive physical prowess to get out of joining a sport club and is allowed to join the Occult Research Club. He then has to rush to an important meeting, catching the attention of Fushigoro as he sprints past. This meeting is with his dying grandfather, who implores Itadori to use his strength to help people before departing this mortal coil. Fushigoro arrives to inform Itadori that he is there to take the cursed object Itadori found, but the other members of the Occult Research Club have the cursed object. They break its seal, unleash a curse, which attracts the curse at the rugby field and a battle ensues. If one curse ingests another, they grew stronger. Also, a curse can only be exorcised by another curse. So Itadori swallows the cursed object, which is a finger, in order to gain its power and destroy the rugby field curse. Turns out Itadori's impressive physical strength allows him to become something of a storage vessel for cursed objects...

And that is just the first chapter! I thought I was in serious trouble of exposition and action overload at the start of chapter two, which introduces the character of Satoru Gojo, but, thankfully, the pacing slowed down somewhat and the chaos became coherent. What had been a confounding delirium was now a delightful confection of goofball humor mixed with ghoulish horror.

Turns out that severed finger was once part of Ryomen Sukuna. Itadori not dying within seconds of ingesting Sukuna's finger, that he is able to control its malevolent power, is something of a major miracle.

As Earl (Fred Ward) from Tremors once said, "Change in plan." If Itadori ingests all of Sukuna's cursed fingers and toes, then, when Itadori dies, Sukuna will also die. Problem solved. Sort of. There are a few seriocomic obstacles Itadori needs to navigate before becoming a student at Jujutsu High, but there is never any doubt that he will become a member.

After all that is settled, the time comes to introduce the hammer and nail wielding Nobara Kugisaki. A strong and sassy country lass that has arrived in Tokyo to learn jujutsu and kick all manner of demonic ass.

This, I think, completes the formation of the quartet or so of primary characters that I saw on the ride. Which means the second half of the volume settles into an addictive blend of youthful snark and mortal danger.

I am hooked, for now...