Akame ga KILL! Zero has always been heavy on the fanservice, particularly because of Mera. But now that she’s been dispatched, the sexual situations have fewer opportunities to appear. They still do thanks to some loli lesbians and a hot springs scene, but…that’s pretty much it. Huzzah! This series is finally prioritizing the burgeoning conflict between the Imperials and the Rebels.
By now, Akame has major doubts about the Empire. We see her voice her sentiments to several of her teammates (including Kurame), but she is remaining with the Empire. Obviously anyone who has read (or even heard of) Akame ga KILL! knows she’s going to defect. So while that “twist” won’t be a surprise, Najenda must be one heck of a negotiator. In this volume, Akame talks about her feelings about the Empire with no less than three people. Considering how much Zero has shown them to be a family, it’s almost amazing that Akame is disillusioned at all. But Akame appears at least content with (if not convinced) that being with Kurome and company is the best choice. I hope the final volumes do a good job of showing how Akame turns, as right now, it is surprising she would leave, let alone potentially face off with her former associates.
That’s for later though. Here, Akame and the crew spend some time recovering and training after the Oarburghs; meanwhile, some “bandits” (really a front for the Revolutionary Army) get some interesting new allies. These people have more of a vested interest in seeing the Empire’s assassins suffer than the Oarburghs did. Of course, a mission comes in for the Empire’s assassins, and the Empire and the Rebels lose some spies as each try to flush out the other. Akame teams up with Father while the others travel in a group, and it’s Green and the others who first face off against these new adversaries.
There is also the surprise return of another character (and cameos from a familiar face or two), but it’s just so nice to see some old-fashioned beatdowns again. Teigu use is pretty much nil, and it’s all a question of who is the better warrior. Hopefully we’ll see more of these violent conflicts instead of the series mostly getting its M rating for sexual assaults. As I mentioned before, that returns here (with some underage girls to boot), but, finally, the victim gets out of the situation fast. As Akame ga KILL! heads toward the exit, maybe the other volumes will have little to no female chests and unwanted groping…?
Still, this is another solid volume of a series I’ve often felt meh or bleh about. Hopefully the creators can ride this wave all the way to Akame’s switching sides. Since she’s still loyal to her family and comrades, they have their work cut out to make her accepting Najenda’s proposal believable.