By Rikdo Koshi. Released in Japan by Shonen Gahosha, serialization ongoing in the magazine Young King OURS. Released in North America by Viz.
This is the big one. This is the one that, when people talk of out of print manga, should be right up there in the top 10. According to Amazon as I type this, new copies of Excel Saga 8 are selling for $150.00. Old used copies are selling for $112.00. In a way, then, this review is even more of a “preaching to the converted” style than before, as if you don’t have this volume, chances are you aren’t getting it anytime soon.
This is a shame, as it’s one of the most important volumes of the series, introducing a new major character (well, fully introducing), and setting up a major plot point with the death of another major character.
After a nice opening chapter detailing a typical day in the life of Excel and Hyatt from Hyatt’s somewhat dazed perspective, things start to get rolling. Excel and Hyatt head off to ACROSS the next day, but Excel seems to feel as if someone is stalking her, though she can’t actually find the person. Grabbing Hyatt and running, she finally makes it to the secret base, only to find the dreaded third hire is finally there, as Il Palazzo had promised! The princess-curl maid from the prior volume, Mu-Chan, is now in full ACROSS uniform, and her code name is Elgala.
When I was younger (and still today), I was a huge fan of the 60s TV show Get Smart. About halfway through the run, they introduced a dimbulb agent known as Larabee. His job was to be stupider than Max, so that whenever there was a joke that was felt to be so stupid even Max would not take the bait, Larabee was there. Moreover, this let Max occasionally function as the straight man, sending exasperated looks Larabee’s way after yet another misunderstanding. This is to a large degree the function that Elgala serves in Excel Saga, though she’s not precisely stupid per se. But then neither is Excel. With Elgala in the cast, however, not only does Excel get to snark a lot more (snarking at Hyatt never really accomplished much), but she’s more sympathetic as she now has to put up with, well, Elgala.
Their first conversation is so typical of their interaction that I just have to quote it here. Elgala’s “thoughts” are in italics.
Excel: Oh yeah, her! Now I remember!
Hyatt: You were so sure about her being the third hire, don’t you remember, senior?
Excel: I can’t be bothered to remember the faces of the petit-bourgeois!
Elgala: I apologize for my earlier conduct! I, Elgala, regret that I stalked you!
Excel: Ah hah! It was you!
Elgala: I… I got lost and… I saw you walking in front of me, so… I decided to follow you back…
Excel: Uh huh…
Elgala: Then you began RUNNING all of a sudden! I became desperate, fearing that I, Elgala, would die if I lost you. I actually thought you were *very mean* to run away from me without asking who I was. I, Elgala, became deeply annoyed by your actions.
Excel: Why didn’t you just *tell* me who you were?
Elgala: Did you… did you just read my innermost thoughts?!
Excel: You were speaking aloud…
Elgala: I MUSTN’T SPEAK MY INNERMOST THOUGHTS ALOUD!
Excel: And again…
Elgala: If I say what I’m really thinking, she could get the wrong impression from me!
Excel: Technically, wouldn’t that be the right impression?
Elgala: I’ll be bullied! I, Elgala, will be bullied by this mean-looking senior!
Excel: Look, would it be easier for you if I just stuck cotton in my ears?
With her internal monologues externalized, her first person annoying way of speaking, and her free-spending tendencies, Elgala makes an immediate impression right out of the gate. She also gets to serve as a newbie for several ‘old’ gags made fresh, such as Hyatt’s coughing up blood and falling over dead, something Excel barely notices anymore.
The other major plot point in this volume is Iwata’s death. Technically, I suppose that’s a spoiler, but as his brain is put into a robot body almost immediately, it’s not much of one. This is set up very well by Rikdo, as at first we think it to be a gag chapter. Iwata’s told he has colon cancer, then it turns out the report was written by his brother, the insane doctor, and also features 97 other fatal diagnoses. Then, 5 pages later… ikt turns out the cancer was actually legitimate. (Misaki, in case you’re wondering, is mostly stoic. Iwata’s back before she can really get into a grief mode, I think.
Shiouji will be building a robot body for Iwata (against his will), but for now Iwata’s in Ropponmatsu I’s body, as Ropponmatsu II is active. This, of course, leads to Iwata fondling himself, and losing his balance and accidentally burning down his apartment building (which is, of course, also Excel and Hyatt’s). It’s not quite as top notch as simply listening to anything Excel and Elgala say (somehow Rikdo can make the line “You were almost savaged by hounds and mastiffs” hysterical), but it’s good stuff, and Iwata the robot is one of the major plot points moving forward.
Simply put, this volume of Excel Saga is a paradigm shift, expanding and altering the cast and allowing a fresh new take on ACROSS trying to take over the world. (There is also the obligatory scene of Il Palazzo, in the darkness, talking to himself and muttering about memories still lost.) It’s a must-read… except it’s very hard to get a hold of these days. Recommended anyway.
