This is one of my favorite manga series. It has that drama yet hopeful mix that made me love Fullmetal Alchemist as well. (You could draw parallels between the two brothers as protagonists in both series as well).

This one finishes up the school haunting saga, ending with Rin revealing his true self to a classmate who doesn't want to be able to see demons (well Rin is long on enthusiasm but short on common sense/smarts. His twin got all of that based on current evidence), though it has some unintended and perhaps good consequences. It also highlights the problems the group is having acting as a team, particularly Rin, Bon and Kamiki. It was great to see Konenekomaru step out from the shadows and take center stage. Always good to see character growth (or in Shima's case, negative growth)

We get to see Mephisto's creepy side and really wonder who's side he's actually on. Yukio is having troubles of his own, fearing that he might have inherited some of Satan's powers after all and that the governing group might be aware of it. they have troubles of their own like spies and a Paladin who is all talk and no brains(I'm not sure how Arthur Angel made Paladin yet).

Speaking of character development, Shiemi has come a long way to being a much more interesting and important character besides being a potential wedge/love interest for the brothers. Though that aspect is still there as the light-hearted hopeful part fills the end. It's the school dance and everyone is partnering up or working it. Only poor girl-hungry Shima and Rin are dateless and things start going sideways with Shiemi (I do hope the love triangle thing gets resolved quickly. They're getting so old hat).

The bad part about this volume is going to be waiting until November for the next one. Sigh.

3.5 stars

The boy, his pet demonic cat, and friends go to school, have adventures, and beat up baddies. The target audience is shonen, but it passes the Bechdel test (two female characters with names have a conversation with each other about something other than the boy and his problems.) What's not to like?

Voto complessivo dei volumi dall'11 al 20

In this volume of Blue Exorcist, it's all school all the time, whether it's solving the Seven Mysteries of the academy or participating in the academy festival, a fine staple of school-based manga now rearing its head in this supernatural shonen title. It's also very Yukio-centric, as the more studious and serious Okamura brother becomes concerned about his own possible demonic tendencies. It's a book with a good mix of action and character-based moments and rather hard to put down.

My complete review of BLUE EXORCIST volume 11 is now at my blog.