“Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s” is a manga series with card battles that young fans and even older fans will enjoy! The third volume features round 2 of the D1 Grand Prix tournament and Akiza Izinski takes on Kalin Kessler in Round 2. Meanwhile, Jack Atlas takes on a dark and corrupted, Sect in a Turbo Duel. Can Yusei come to his friend’s rescue in time?  Find out in volume 3 of “Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s”. Recommended!
Image courtesy of © 2009 by Masahiro Hikokubo, Masashi Sato. All Rights Reserved.
MANGA TITLE: Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s Vol. 3
STORY AND ART BY: Masahiro Hikokubo and Masashi Sato
FIRST PUBLISHED IN JAPAN: SHUEISHA, Inc.
PUBLISHED IN USA BY: VIZ Media, LLC/Shonen Jump Manga
RATED: T for Teen
RELEASE DATE: October 2, 2012
Yusei has made it into the second round of the D1 Grand Prix, but his friend Sect has made a dark pact with the ominous Skeleton Knight in exchange for the powerful Shadow Card. Yusei learns that he’ll need a special card to free Sect, and the only way to get it is to win the tournament!
Yusei Fudo has succeeded in defeating Hunter Pace in round 2 of the D1 Grand Prix Tournament, despite Pace’s friends sabotaging Yusei’s Dual Runner. But in anger, Sect uses his Beelze, King of Dark Dragons card and injuring them.
With the tournament runners now knowing that Sect has the shadow card, and Jack Atlas feeling the energy from the card emitting throughout the arena, he goes to investigate, so he can become owner of the card.
Meanwhile, the next matchup features Akiza “Queen of Queens” Izinski vs. Kalin “The Handless Demon” Kessler.
Outside of the arena, Jack Atlas challenges Sect in a Turbo Duel, Yusei feeling the Skeleton King’s miasma, tries to get to Sect before he is corrupted by the darkness. But can Yusei get to him in time?
Find out what happens in volume 3 of “Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s”!
What is “Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s”?
In 1996, Kazuki Takahashi would create a manga series about card games known as “Yu-Gi-Oh!”. Wanting to create a battle manga that was unique and not about fighting and a fan of tabletop role-playing games, Takahashi did not imagine how popular the series would be among fans worldwide.
With the original manga serialized in Sept. 1996 through 2004, the games have been popular among anime, manga and of course, the card gaming fans in America and also around the world. The series would spawn off various series (featuring manga adaptations by other artists/writers) such as “Yu-Gi-Oh! GX” (2005-2011), “Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s” (2008-2011) and most recently with “Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal” (2011-2012).
In America, both “Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal”and “Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s” are being released concurrently on manga. It’s important to note that the storyline of the manga version of “Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s” is different from the anime series. The primary characters of Yusei Fudo, Jack Atlas and Akiza Izinski from the anime series are in the manga but the circumstances are much different, especially how the manga series includes the character, Sect.
After “Yu-Gi-Oh! GX” was shown as an anime series in Japan, “Yu-gi-Oh! 5D’s” was released.
Like previous series which featured characters playing a game of “Duel Monsters”, the series takes place in New Domino City in the year 20xx. Turbo Duels are fought from the seats of Motorcycle-shaped duel disks called “Duel Runners” and is the hottest game in the city. While the upper class population lives in New Domino City, the lower class live in a remote island where Domino’s sewage is transported, called Satellite.
We are introduced to the main protagonist, Yusei Fudo, who lives in Satellite and the 18-year-old is considered the toughest duelist in the Satellite District. His younger friend Sect is like a brother to him but he knows that Sect’s goal is to one day beat him in a Turbo Duel.
In volume 1 of “Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s”, Yusei got caught up in matches with Jack “The King” Atlas and was defeated easily. He then took on top ranked Akiza Izinski, a Turbo Duelist who holds the title “Queen of Queens” and has only lost once and that is to Jack Atlas. And the result ended with Yusei losing again!
But this time, Akiza gave him advice that he relies too much on speed and that there are other strategies important for him to work on if he is to face Jack Atlas ever again.
Despite his embarrassment and loss of pride for losing against Jack Atlas, Yusei is determined in beating the champion.
Which leads us to volume 2 of “Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s”, which begins the D1 Grand Prix, a battle between the top Turbo Duelists and performing in front of over a 100,000 audience.
Volume 2 featured the first round in which both Yusei Fudo and Akiza Izinski were victors. We also saw the beginning of the second round with Yusei Fudo barely winning the second round.
In volume 3, the second round of the first stage of the D1 Grand Prix continues. Akiza Izinski must take on Kalin “The Handless Demon” Kessler in round 2. Meanwhile, having possession of the shadow cards, Sect is starting to become consumed by hatred and darkness and for Jack Atlas, he wants that card, while Yusei tries to stop Sect from battling Jack in a Turbo Duel. Can Yusei get to Sect in time?
The characters of “Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s”:
- Yusei Fudo – The main protagonist and an older teen who lives in the poor area of Satellite. Considered the toughest Turbo Duelist of the area, he hopes to have a one-on-one battle with Jack Atlas again. He is a guy who values his friend and his Duel Runner.
- Jack Atlas – The “King of Riding Duels” that is arrogant and feared by other duelists.
- Akiza Izinski – The “Queen of Queens” and an excellent Turbo Duelist who has lost only once and that is to Jack Atlas.
- Sect Ijuin – Sect is a young Turbo Duelist who looks up to Yusei like an older brother but also a rival.
- Crow Hogan – A skilled duelist who uses super quick synchro who is amazed by Yusei’s Dueling skills.
- Kalin Kessler – A Mysterious and powerful opponent who is known as “The Handless Demon”. He also has a bond with Jack Atlas that has yet to be revealed.
- Leo & Luna – Twin Turbo Duelists working for Goodwin in search of one who may be powerful enough to control the Dual Dragon.
The D1 Grand Prix continues in “Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s” vol. 3 as the volume focuses on Akiza Izinski taking on Kalin Kessler in round 2. Meanwhile, Jack Atlas sensing the evil miasma coming from Sect’s shadow card, as Atlas wants that card badly, he challenges Sect to a Turbo Duel.
Slowly being consumed by darkness and hatred by the cards, can Yusei save his friend before it is too late?
Meanwhile, the second state has begun and D1 host Goodwin brings out two twins, experienced Turbo Duelists named Leo and Luna to take on Yusei Fudo in his hometown of Satellite for a Death Match.
Action-packed and focus on the D1 Grand Prix competitions, volume 3 of “Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s” begins a new storyline and a new competition stage as Yusei Fudo finds out that after his battle with the Skeleton King (featured in vol. 1), his friend Sect now possesses the Shadow Card and each time he uses it, he emits an evil miasma that certain people like Yusei and Jack Atlas can detect.
Similar to “Star Wars”, Sect who was once good at heart, has now been corrupted by the dark energy and has declared both Jack Atlas and his friend Yusei as his enemies, because both look down on him. Yusei tries to help his friend but it is too late, he has been consumed by the Skeleton King’s darkness. And now, Yusei must find a way to help his friend, but to do that, he may need to defeat more people in the tournament and get some answers about what has happened to Sect.
For those not familiar with “Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s”, the concept still focuses on card battles and top competitors going against each other. But in the case of 5D’s, they compete in card battles while racing in Duel Runner vehicles at the same time. So, the three ways of winning a matchup in the D1 Grand Prix are not done by tournament brackets, opponents are announced before each duel. Victories are when opponent’s lifepoints are zero, one beats the other opponent in the designated race or if one renders the opponent’s Duel Runner immobile.
So, the sport is Turbo Dueling which brings out large audiences watching in a stadium as the Turbo Duelist race while they are competing in a card match, so not only does one have to keep their eyes on the race, they also must plan their strategies effectively during their card battle.
The third volume focuses on Akiza Izinski taking on Kalin Kessler in round two. But thinking that she has the power to defeat Kalin, unbeknown to Akiza, Kalin has also some tricks under his sleeve as well. You also get one Yusei competition, along with a Jack Atlas vs. Dark Sect in competition.
For fans of “Yu-Gi-Oh!”, the card battles featured in volume 3 is exciting but also pretty creative when it comes to strategies of how one is able to beat their competition.
Also, another fun aspect of the manga series is seeing both writer Masahiro Hikokubo and artist Masashi Sato sharing their experiences as newbies in the industry through a single-page manga panel. Definitely fun to see and read!
It’s important to note that with each volume purchased of “Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s” an exclusive card is featured. In this case, an ultra rare card is included with volume 3.
Overall, “Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s” is shaping up to be an exciting and action-packed manga series that card game fans can definitely appreciate! Cool characters and an enjoyable storyline, “Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s” is recommended!