Before we begin this review, I would like to thank NetGalley and Viz Media for the opportunity to review this title.
We’re back in the world of the Hunters Guild: Red Hood, this time, things are beginning to pick up. Since our last review, Velou and Grimm made it to the mobile training facility known as the Ironworks. As many hunters know, the world isn’t exactly all sunshine and rainbows, it can be a pretty mean place, especially when you’re facing threats like werewolves. Anyway, back to the topic on hand, after three grueling months of nonstop training, Velou and the other examinees are about to face their most difficult trial yet, the Debarkation Exam! The name of the game is Cops and Robbers, and Grimm and Debonair are the Cops! The Trainees are on the run as the robbers, but Velou has a trick up his sleeve, but will his teammates trust him enough for the plan to work?
I had some nitpicks in the last volume review for Yuki Kawaguchi’s Hunters Guild: Red Hood but the second volume was a step up. One of my earlier complaints was that it felt more like a Demon Slayer story, but set in a Fairy Tale World, that observation still stands. There is more to it thankfully, he improved on his previous mistakes from the first volume and brought us memorable characters that make you want to cheer for their success and ones that you would love to hate. Their Debarkation Exam felt more like a familiar call back to his previous time with Kohei Horikoshi on My Hero Academia. It’s not a bad thing, it is a good thing for familiar readers.
It gives readers a break from the storyline’s serious tone by providing an edgy, humorous approach with a rousing game of Cops and Robbers! At the heart of this story, it holds the secrets and dark truths of this new world. It also is a good tribute to The Brothers Grimm, who not only popularized, they are the best-known storytellers of Folk Tales. Out of the characters that were introduced in the second volume, I would have to say that the Hot-Blooded Debonair Diamond is my favorite of this series. She is fierce, strong, and reminiscent of the Amazons in Greek Mythology, not to mention the curse that was placed on her by a witch, which causes her body to emit scorching levels of heat. But luckily, she can use it as a weapon.
As for the trainees, we’re only introduced to a handful of them but it is expected in most stories, especially when one is reduced due to cancellation, shortened to three volumes. The biggest highlight of this exam was the fact that Velou was a strategist, Tytlf’s situation involving his failed attempt in the previous exam, Merriopios remarkable talent, and Bonkers’ Backstory. As far as it goes, it is a step up but also a step back, the artwork and story have improved but it has been sped up to the final arc. Hunters Guild: Red Hood Volume Two is available now wherever books are sold, it is unfortunate that the series is coming to an end so soon but someday, it could get an anime adaption. Only time will tell!
Final Grade:
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