Toriko 327 Review: Atlantis

Toriko, Chapter 327: Deployment

Not quite a lot happened in this chapter, honestly. We get a recap of all the pairings, and apparently Aimaru has created a map with Real Globe and Gourmet Slime Mould to show the easiest pathways to their respective goals -- although of course maps cannot account for any unforseeable shit in their path. And knowing the setting of Toriko, there's going to be a lot of unforseeable shits happening.

We get a bit of talk about Toriko and Rin's wedding, which still came out of nowhere, and we get to see all four teams head off. Brunch is still pissed off at being paired up with Zebra (who's like chilling out) and they're riding on this battleship puffer fish thing... and it immediately engages into combat, shooting with its cannons at this gigantic Magikarp. And despite being, y'know, a battleship, it's still smaller than giant-Magikarp's pupil, let alone its eye. Sani is with Livebearer on this Walhouse, and Sani's totally grossed out by Livebearer who's all 'ufu' and all. Coco is with Tairan on a 'Submari-Amberjack', which noticeably has a lower capture level than the other beasts, and they seem to get along well.

Toriko and Starjun are riding on Starjun's giant eel dragon beast thing which still doesn't get a name, and Starjun doesn't particularly care that he's not chosen for the team to find Another. He talks about his interest in the back world, but then notes how it could have been him... or the Gourmet Demon within him. Toriko also notes that his desire for 'God' might not stem from himself, but rather the Gourmet Demon(s) within him. It's an interesting thought that the overwhelming desire within Toriko is actually built up to something more sinister, that it's the desire of the creature within him -- which is something rarely seen within shonen manga. We've got Naruto wanting to become Hokage, Luffy wanting to get One Piece, and stuff like that as the big goal in most shonen mangas, but never has it been explored as part of something more sinister like this. Starjun also notes how Toriko has been stronger after their last brutal fight, and Toriko himself notes that that one defeat he suffers at the hands of Starjun still hurts him. Then one of them -- the manga doesn't make it clear -- notes that if they fought now, the result will be the opposite.

Meanwhile, Jiji does some explaining that there are four doorways to the back world. Three on the three islands at the points of the Black Triangle, but those are covered with horrible weather and super-strong beasts. So they're going to go to the local ancient civilization where the fourth door is, which is basically Gourmet-Atlantis, "Blue Grill". And despite Komatsu being all 'whoa fun fun fun' Jiji is all ominous as the Magneticlam heads into the dark waters.

So yeah. Not a lot happened and to be honest my review is more of a recap, but it's still kind of interesting to see all of this though I do want to get into the hunting and the cooking pretty soon-ish.