Now this is how you wrap up a Shonen Jump series!

It’s funny: whenever I think of recent Shonen Jump manga that I’ve read that I always recommend, I always forget to mention Kaiju No. 8. I can’t explain why that is, seeing as I often rate the volumes highly, and threw a lot of praise at its anime adaptation. And yet, every time a new volume dropped, it almost always delivered with a page-turning narrative, high-octane action, and even a sprinkling of humor for good measure. Well, I shall never forget to prop up Kaiju No. 8 ever again, as its sixteenth and final volume delivers one of the most satisfying conclusions I’ve ever read in recent memory.

The spotlight might be on Kafka, but all the key players get a chance to shine. On top of our hero evolving into a new form of Kaiju No. 8, we see Mina blasting away with all she’s got. Kikoru throws her might and skills towards Kaiju No. 9, with a hidden weapon that not even the top brass knew about aiding in the behemoth’s defeat. Even the likes of Gen Narumi, Soshiro Hoshina, and Reno Ishikawa get a piece of the action, even if it pales in comparison to the rest of the main crew.

But it doesn’t matter the amount of work the Defense Force soldiers contribute; what matters is the reason for their services. One of the big themes this final volume hammers in is the feeling of regret. Kafka regrets never being able to do more to keep his city safe as a kid. Mina regrets not being strong enough to fight as a child. Kikoru has strong feelings about the things she never got to accomplish within the eyes of her mother and father. And it’s all of these things that help push these Defense Force soldiers towards the fight of their lives.

When it comes to fights, nobody draws them quite like Naoya Matsumoto. These are some truly brutal battles between kaiju and humanity, and yet every single frame feels so crisp and clean. As the series went on, Matsumoto’s art style only got better, and the end result of his labor is fully on display in this final volume of Kaiju No. 8. The crumbling cities, the broken kaiju bodies, and the sight of monster cores being destroyed have never looked this beautiful and satisfying.

As for the storyline, these final chapters do a surprisingly good job with wrapping things up. The battle ends gloriously, and it even has a couple of surprise returns that give our main hero a good pat on the back. Its epilogue also does a fine job spotlighting where our key players find themselves after the battle with Kaiju No. 9 and the Daikaiju of the Meireki Era. And the relationship between Kafka and Mina is…well, it’s not exactly clear, but it does end on a note that feels well-deserved of its hero.

Kaiju No. 8 never disappointed. Throughout its sixteen volumes and various spinoffs, the series has always entertained in various ways. Sometimes it’s the super violent battles, other times it’s via the sight of a kaiju pissing out of his nipples. Either way, this manga always left this reviewer smiling and wondering what will happen next. In these 129 chapters, Kafka went through a physical, mental, and spiritual metamorphosis, and through it all, he earned his title of hero. And in the same way, Kaiju No. 8 earned its seat alongside the best that Shonen Jump has offered in its storied history.

Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.