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Reviewed by Michael Aronson What I said about the previous two volumes still stands: Iron Wok Jan’s seemingly-impervious formula is indeed starting to wear thin. But this volume occurs at such a crucial point in the current storyline and manages to deliver all the necessary shocks and twists that it keeps the series as vivacious as ever. Jan Akiyama, Kiriko Gobancho, Ransei Koh and Sotheby Hongo are the remaining competitors in the Second Annual Chinese Cooking Competition. Since it’s down to the final four, each concurrently participates in a round that challenges them to invent a new and practical dish that utilizes shark meat. The volume starts with the round already underway, Jan having destroyed part of the competition arena to amass parts for an enormous makeshift pot. But Jan further eludes expectations when he locks himself in the freezer for half an hour to apply a mystery ingredient with the help of hundreds of syringes. Is he spiking his dish? The fact that Jan resorts to further deception and extreme tactics adds much needed suspense to the storyline and brings his relentless determination to the forefront of his character. Though Kiriko is equally determined, the aspects on which she rests most of her tactics make her just as interesting a rival for Jan, as she has been throughout the series. And while judge Otani’s hatred for Jan remains static, he still proves to be a worth antagonist as his plans to foil Jan begin to affect the other competitors. The crux of volume 22 rests of the tasting and scoring session, in which all of the entries are tasted with varied results and almost all the scores are given (hey, they need a cliffhanger to lead into the next book). The rivalry really centers on Jan and Kiriko, and as interesting as it is to see the judges react differently to each dish, I really can’t predict who will proceed to the final round. While the next two volumes may conclude the competition, this one may provide the greatest climax the series has seen in a while. Interested in writing for MangaLife? We're always looking for talented reviewers and columnists, so drop us a line! Charles Webb Editor-in-Chief, MangaLife.com |
8 April 2011
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