Melking It for What It's Worth...

I'm not going to lie. When I first read Toriko, I liked it, but wasn't blown away. I just wasn't sure what to think about a manga series about...food. But the more and more I read Toriko, the more I realize just how much I love this manga, to the point where it's one of the series I most look forward to when it comes into the office. Plus, the food is so beautifully drawn that it makes me really hungry...of course with the obvious exceptions (Butt Bug!). So when the chance to review Toriko volume 14 came up, I jumped on it!

One of the nice things about this particular volume is that you get to read a whole story arc, from the beginning to end, which is great, considering most manga series will have longer story arcs split up into several volumes. The premise is pretty simple: Komatsu's knife is broken and he needs to get a new one. Toriko's also been charged with a request from IGO President Ichiryu to find the elusive ingredient—Melk Stardust—which just so happens to share the same name as the world-famous cutler, Melk!

Though the task seems a simple one, there are a ton of rumors about the elusive, legendary Melk, many of which are terrifying, such as live-testing his knives on monsters and battle scars covering his entire body. However, the two are surprised when they're greeted by a svelte Melk, and even more so when Toriko challenges and easily handles the cutler.

While Komatsu decides to stay behind and witness a master cutler at work, Toriko heads out to find Melk Stardust, said to be located several tens of thousands of meters below the surface. Due to some extremely smart scientific sounding stuff, the gravity down there is intensely magnified, and dangerous creatures with extremely high capture levels populate the area.

Toriko's brief and disastrous experience in the Gourmet World taught him a valuable lesson, and this quest should help him and his body adapt to the crazy and whimsical environment that's sent many a Gourmet Hunter running off with their tails between their legs. But can he survive an onslaught of hundreds of dangerous creatures when he's physically handicapped due to the extreme gravity?!

Find out by reading the latest release of Toriko, available now!

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by John Bae