“Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s” is definitely continuing to be an exciting, action-packed manga series and with volume 6, secrets are revealed and you get three hardcore battles as the final competitors are getting much closer to the final round! An exciting manga series for those who enjoy “Yu-Gi-Oh!”.
Image courtesy of © 2009 by Masahiro Hikokubo, Masashi Sato. All Rights Reserved.
MANGA TITLE: Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s Vol. 6
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: September 2, 2014
Goodwin’s plan to revive the Ultimate God moves forward as he sets up a match between Akiza and Sect that mirrors a fateful duel five thousand years ago! Yusei has gathered all the Star Tickets and entered the Duel Gate. Even if he can find his friend Sect, he still has to get past the Skeleton Knight, and if he does, will he have the strength to face the Ultimate God?
With Akiza Izinski having lost duel, Goodwin approaches Akiza to have a chance to bring out the person that she was in a previous life, the Duel Priestess and in order for Goodwin to awaken the tremendous power of the Ultimate God, the Duel Priestess must lose. But with the Duel Priestess also regaining her memories of what Goodwin tried to do to her thousands of years ago, she is going to makes sure she fights for victory against Sect.
Meanwhile, Jack challenges his father, Goodwin, in a battle of who will be king.
All this and more in the “Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s” vol. 6 by Masahiro Hikokubo and Masashi Sato.
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 5 of ” , the second stage of the D1 Grand Prix has begun and so far Andre, Yusei Fudo, Adolf Mueller, Admire Derby have been successful in their early matchups. But as we see Kalin Kessler take on his old friend and rival, Jack, we also find out how both were former test subjects. But for what and why? We finally get some answers!
Also, answers to what Goodwin’s motivation for the tournament truly is.
But also getting to see a rematch between Yusei Fudo versus Leo and Luna. But this time, it’s a much different matchup as somehow Luna is possessed with the dark miasma. Does he have any chance of beating them a second time?
In vol. 6, we learn more about the plans that Goodwin has in store of trying to awaken the Ultimate Power and using Akiza Kinski. Also, revealing how the Skeleton Knight and Rex Goodwin have been long, eternal enemies.
As Akiza Kinski, the Duel Priestess takes on Sect, Yusei Fudo hopes to get to them in time to stop them.
Meanwhile, Crow Hogan takes on Lazar and Jack Atlas takes on his father Rex Goodwin in a major battle for who will be the King.
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.
- Goodwin – The main antagonist of “Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s” and the D1 Grand Prix Host.
With vol. 6 of “Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s”, we suddenly get to see more revelations about the evil Rex Goodwin and also his relation to the Skeletal Knight.
But this volume marks the major battles that go on between the Duel Priestess vs. Sect, Crow Hogan vs. Lazar, Jack Atlas vs. Rex Goodwin. So, in essence, you are getting three major battles in this volume alone!
While anotheraction-packed volume of “Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s” features the most intense card battles featured in a volume so far! The series is definitely taking a while with releases as the last release of vol. 5 was back in November 2013 and with vol. 6, it’s coming out in fall of 2014. So, this is a series that will probably take a while to finish.  But I suppose, good things come for those who wait.
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.
For fans of “Yu-Gi-Oh!”, the card battles featured in volume 5 is exciting and almost non-stop, as you go through several battles in this single volume alone! It’s also important to note that there are characters exclusive to the manga series and this is not the same storyline that that was featured in the anime series.
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 “Hot Red Dragon Arch Fiend” card is included with volume 6.
Overall, “Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s” is definitely continuing to be an exciting, action-packed manga series and focuses on three major battles as the final players are now getting closer to the final round.
If you are a fan of “Yu-Gi-Oh!”, “Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s” is recommended!