What is the terrible secret of DJ Zombie? Your Major Spoilers review of Edens Zero #91 from Kodansha Comics awaits!

EDENS ZERO #91
Writer: Hiro Mashima
Artist: Hiro Mashima
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Cover Price: 99 Cents
Release Date: April 21, 2020
Previously in Edens Zero: A young boy gazes up at the sky and sees a streaming bolt of light. The friendly, armor-clad being at his side tells him gently, “That’s a dragon.” The fact that he’s joking isn’t important. What’s important is the look of wonder on the boy’s face… and the galaxy-spanning adventure that’s about to take place!
HOMURA VS. SYLPH
This issue opens with a full-on battle sequence as Homura the swordswoman goes head to head with Sylph, one of the elemental lieutenants of the evil Drakken Joe. It’s a big, pretty fight, one that causes the rest of the Crew of Edens to seek shelter underground as they battle with the power of the wind itself. While hiding out, they finally find time to talk to Sibir, an elderly criminal who once ran with with Weisz, whose younger self is part of the Edens Zero crew… That’s pretty confusing, but having the old guy around proves useful when they realize that his stories of the legendary DJ Zombie are actually their main adversary Drakken Joe! He has apparently been active for over TWO HUNDRED years, and the reveal makes crew member Rebecca realize what he’s really after: Her ability to rewind time and become young again!
I’M A LITTLE BIT LOST… BUT IT’S GORGEOUS
I gotta tell ya, coming in on chapter 91 of an ongoing manga series is a daunting task, but this issue’s art makes it well worth the journey. The battle sequence is gorgeous, made even more so by the fact that the two women battling are using wind powers while wearing flowing kimono outfits, and even the use of sound effects is visually stunning. The story is a bit hard to grasp at first, with half a dozen characters who aren’t clearly identified in the pages, but by the end, I knew enough about each that I was happy to do a little wiki magic to get the requisite context. But even without that context, the big reveal in this issue works, both visually and narratively, making it very clear through the art and the characters reaction what a big moment it is for Shiki and the crew and setting up some very personal stakes.
BOTTOM LINE: A SATISFYING CHUNK OF STORY
This issue ends on a big fighty-fighty related cliffhanger, one that implies that Homura may be more than she seems and making me want to come back next week for more, leaving Edens Zero #91 with a well-deserved 4 out of 5 stars overall. Even more than their American counterparts, Japanese comics are meant to be serialized chapters, so I’m impressed at how satisfying this first dip into the world of Edens Zero was for me, and how well it served as my introduction to the series.
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EDENS ZERO #91
There's a lot of catching up to do if you want to know who everyone is, but this is an exciting chapter that makes me really want to find out, with excellent art throughout.
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Writing7
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Art9
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Coloring9