Synopsis 

Your favorite mushroom head is back for the second installment of Mashle with even funnier one-liners and a deeper dive into the lore of this magical world. Since we left off in volume one, Mash has made a few new friends; his roommate Finn Ames and Lemon Irvine (who happens to have a massive crush on Mash after he saves her in the maze). Despite still having no powers and using his muscles to solve his problems, not one magical being has discovered that he has no powers. As each task becomes increasingly more complex, Mash is able to succeed and gain the coins needed to become the Divine Visionary. Still, nothing is as important to him as living a trouble-free life with a never-ending supply of cream puffs. 

Review and Recommendation 

*Spoiler Alert* (A spoiler alert is being issued because there are mentions of specific plot points that relate to the rating of this review.) 

There are still similarities between Mashle and the Harry Potter series. However, the author/artist, Hajime Komoto, captures an entirely different tone and lore that mimics the original while still being independent of it. For example, the magic academy Mashle attends has specific dorms based on the magical person's traits discovered by a unicorn horn that reads thoughts. Mash was able to be placed in a dorm despite not having any magical abilities. There is also a screaming plant that you put to sleep with a spell and then use for magic potions. Again, it’s similar but separate from the original source material. The storyline also never lingers for long on any isolated incident. The story feels more like an anthology of events that combine at the novel's end to create new tensions and trials for Mash to solve. This is what I find so appealing and fun about Mashle. The characters and world are developed by these randomized plots that tell the story without making the story too linear. The novel goes back and forth between time jumps that help the reader learn about these characters based on their actions in the events of the storyline. Mashle is also by far one of the funniest mangas I’ve read so far. Mash is a deadpan character who doesn’t realize that he’s being funny. These funny moments tend to happen when he has to figure out how to solve a problem without magic. Overall, I still love this series. The story is complex while also being funny and heartfelt. There is plenty to love about this manga. 

Cautions 

There is still violence and mild language in the series, such as damn, hell, screwed, sucks, and pissant. On one panel in the story, the reader is introduced to a new character, and since the character is trying to be tough, he uses his mild finger to flip off his beaten opponents. This could easily be covered up with a sticker. If you’ve read the “Harry Potter” series, many language and mannerisms are similar. There isn’t anything too raunchy that would be inappropriate for a younger audience.