Is this the real life? Or is it just fantasy? Either way, this is the bloodiest volume of Toriko yet. Like, it's ECW-grade bloody. The battle between Toriko and Starjun is one of the goriest matches ever published in shonen manga today. There's lots of mutilation and evisceration as well, and here's the kicker: it's all in their imagination. You see, Starjun and Toriko are reliant on the “ultimate routine,” in which they project their planned attacks into reality.

Meanwhile, the fight between NEO, the IGO and Gourmet Corp continues and while this is bad enough, a mysterious interloper named Joie has arrived with an old friend of Toriko's, intent on kidnapping chefs for their own nefarious purposes. And things get complicated when Ume finds out who's really pulling the strings behind NEO's assault. Thankfully, further casualties are averted when a certain master steps in to (literally) stop the world in its tracks but a damning revelation from Joie is even more of a show-stopper.

Shimabukuro-sensei's art in this volume is extremely visceral, with lots of blood and bruises and some amputated limbs for good measure. With tons of raw violence and huge, muscular bodies taking the brunt of the abuse, Toriko really has this 1980s manga feel. Of course, the big eyebrows and the manly tears only adds more. For a series that involves a lot of knives and wild beasts, conflict in Toriko is best solved with a clenched fist and fiery passion.

You can read tales of tough guys going at it in Toriko 27, available here! 

by Ray n.