You rated episode 8 of
What is Kaiju number 8 like? Community score: 4.1
© 防衛隊第３部隊 松本直也／集英社
Episode 8 delivers some smooth action and excellent character building after the team's first big battle.
The opening fight between Hoshina and Kafka is everything you could hope for at this stage of the story. Hoshina's strength is great, fitting the high-speed, high-impact dual blade user archetype. It makes him stand out from other paramilitary/tactical members of the Kaiju Defense Force as well as different from Kafka. Kafka's big power and more classic style resilience make a good shield against Hoshina's deadly speed and precision. IG produced a wonderful back-and-forth interaction between them that, while brief, was fun and dynamic.
The rest of the episode revolves around the group hanging out together after the mission. I really like this sequence because it shows a fairly natural progression after an intense battle. In fiction, we sometimes encounter something that is portrayed as a good decision or a smart move that doesn't fit our (or at least mine) life experiences, but in this is not so. It makes sense to go out for dinner and drinks with the group after the stress of a life-or-death mission. It would be wise for everyone to argue and bicker a bit and then resolve their differences, as that is also a healthy aspect of team building. It would be good for everyone to take a breather (within reason) and express genuine concerns and address them before the next task. Revelations about the family's varying wealth and influence also help add depth to some of the group's members.
I also like the central tension established between Kafka and Hoshina. This is classic superhero storytelling, in which one character has completely opposing opinions about another character's heroic and mundane identities. Hoshina aids Kafka and kills Kaiju No. 8. It's classic tension. I can't wait to see how it turns out.
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Grant is a cohost on the Blade Thief Podcast and the Super Senpai Podcast.
Kaiju issue 8 is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.
