OPM Manga Chapter 148 Review: The Line
There’s just one theme to this chapter and that’s tragedy.
Tragedy 1: Master vs Disciple
Well, this is a nice departure from the webcomic: let’s have the fight actually happen! Nonetheless it’s a tragedy that it’s come to this, with Bang trying to beat Garou down and Garou matching him blow for blow.
Eventually Garou manages to get one up on Bang, slamming the latter into the ground, but Bang immediately springs back to his feet, pushes back his hair and declares that Garou’s finally worth teaching.
We always knew there was a big difference between Garou’s techniques and Bang’s, but looks like the old man has been holding out even more than we’ve seen to date.
I have thoughts on that, but I’ve already expressed them elsewhere. In the meantime, this struggle is going to get even more titanic.
Tragedy 2: Heroic Sacrifices
We know that ONE hates killing heroes. He might make them suffer horribly, but he won’t actually kill them. No such protection is afforded to people next to heroes.
Seeing what’s about to happen, Amahare and Ninchirin knock Atomic, Iaian and Spring Mustachio out of the way of Vomited Fuhrer Ugly’s punch, receiving the blows intended for them in their place.
But then it gets worse. The Council of Swordmasters are all dignified people. As if it’s not been enough for them to die by the hands of a disgusting and sadistic monster, ONE then ups the trauma of it by having the monster desecrate their corpses by slurping their remains up like a fly does a lump of fish, complete with happy humming noises.
Okay, ONE, I’m almost sorry if I’ve complained about monsters more intent on proving a point than in killing people. This is revolting.
Nichirin was ‘only’ dissolved in half, giving him time to pull a legendary sword from some other dimension and bid Atomic to find its sister sword, then say some nice words to his current disciple before expiring.
And like that, everyone who supported and nurtured Atomic Samurai into becoming the master that he is is gone. The funny moment when Atomic admits to never remembering to tell Iaian about the ultimate purpose of the Council of Swordmasters doesn’t do much to distract from the greater tragedy.
Tragedy 3: Operation Sundew
I’ve said it before, but the special thing about the Monster Association’s cadres is their ability to waste hero efforts like a sundew plant does an insect’s struggles to escape its sticky trap. No matter how close freedom seems, sooner or later it will drown, exhausted. Heroes have burned them, ripped holes clean through them, twisted them, slammed them, punched them, kicked them, cut them, sliced them, stabbed them. The monsters have bellowed and writhed and yet... AND YET THEY GET BACK UP.
Set Saitama aside, and you realise that so far no single hero has taken down any one of the cadre. Drive Knight with meticulous planning and guile managed to subdue Nyan for his own purposes, but otherwise, every dead monster has been a team effort -- or friendly fire from fellow monsters. And now the heroes on field are too weak/scattered to work effectively together any longer.
The next chapter of terror is only beginning. Any respite from Fuhrer Ugly that Golden Sperm gets them is going to be ameliorated by yet another sadistic monster tormenting the heroes. One that is careful to make sure the heroes don’t die too quickly. It’s not like he needs to eat them. Not to mention the water is still bubbling around somewhere, Psykos is biding her time somewhere else, and Homeless Emperor is watching proceedings like it’s his favourite soap opera.
Much as I’m itching to see whether the other heroes can come in to do something, I’m also afraid that they’re just more insects joining the trap. Still, Metal Bat, run quicker!
