UY 103: Chapter 1 of the Jei Story Arc

[Todd Shogun]

I've posted the cover and synopsis for UY 103, the beginning of the Origin of Jei story arc, in the Coming Up section. Looks to be an awesome series!!

[Fanfan]

This illus is somptuous, Jei on the Oni mask, Usagi with his sword...

[Gaffey]

That cover is killer!

[Ben]

I wonder if the mask on the front cover will play a part in the actual story...

[Todd Shogun]

It's an interesting cover, almost kinda creepy. Usagi and Keiko looking at something obviously bright, maybe fire? The mask is a pretty cool touch...

[estee]

It look like to me that Usagi is about to kill Keiko.

That would have to be the most intense thing he'd ever done.

[Todd Shogun]

Interesting perspective...although to me it looks like they are both looking at something else... that would be pretty grim though, especially for Usagi!

Still trying to figure out the significance of the devil mask to the storyline...and why Keiko is holding it. I've got some theories but still not sure...

[Lady Keiko_ronin Usagi]

That cover is killer!

Righty-o!! Me like!

[Ben]

Still trying to figure out the significance of the devil mask to the storyline...and why Keiko is holding it.

That's not Keiko. I believe that's the daughter of the lord whom Priest Jizonobu is attempting to cure, as mentioned in the summary.

But still, there is a suspicious resemblance, isn't there?

[Todd Shogun]

Another good observation. I had assumed it was Keiko because it's a young girl, the issue begins the Jei arc, etc...but it might not be her. The hair is obviously different. Maybe it is the daughter, possessed by Jei and looking at possibly one of her misdeeds...in which case estee is right and Usagi is about to attack her, or at least be ready in case she turns on him (his sword is still sheathed).

[roel]

Could this be the origin of Jei and Priest Jiznobu is actually Jei before he went to the "dark side" to try and cure the girl?

[Ben]

Another good observation. I had assumed it was Keiko because it's a young girl, the issue begins the Jei arc, etc...but it might not be her. The hair is obviously different. Maybe it is the daughter, possessed by Jei and looking at possibly one of her misdeeds...in which case estee is right and Usagi is about to attack her, or at least be ready in case she turns on him (his sword is still sheathed).

I really don't think Usagi is in this story at all. He's appeared on the covers of issues that haven't featured him before, such as #95.

Here's my theory: If the Jei story arc will be preceded by two or three stand-alone issues that will delve into Jei's past (much like how the first two issues of the GRASSCUTTER saga dealt with Grasscutter's history), and after that, the action will fully resume where it left off from #102.

Jizonobu being Jei is an interesting possibility. Perhaps Jizonobu's transformation into Jei either erased or badly distorted his memory to the point where he forgot his entire previous existence, and the whole "destroying evil for the gods" thing is just a delusion on his part? ( Wow, we're really getting ahead of ourselves here...better take a chill pill.)

[Mayhem]

I see nobody's mentioned the fact we have a mask here... or maybe that was just an obvious point. Seeing as Jei was based on a certain hockey masked killer, then we have another similarity possibly, and not just their names and demenour...

[Todd Shogun]

I see nobody's mentioned the fact we have a mask here...

I did, I did...see my third post. I have no idea what the devil mask could mean. In "Mystery of the Demon Mask", the storyline does start off with a vision of Jei, but I don't think there's any connection.

[Ben]

The Jei story arc might parallel the SUMI-E plot a little, in that Jizonobu could make a Faustian pact with the kami of evil to somehow save the daughter's life. In return, "Jizonobu" becomes "Jei", the so-called Blade of the Gods. However, unlike Katsushige in SUMI-E, Jizonobu's motivation for selling his soul might be entirely selfless...a classic example of a ghastly evil committed in an effort to do good, which could possibly explain Jei's strange behavior. (He murders innocent people by the hundreds, but claims he's "cleansing" the world of evil.)

Perhaps the kami give Jizonobu the devil-mask to seal the bargain? Just imagine a scene where the mask fuses to Jizonobu's face. After he tries to tear it off, he takes a look in the mirror, and sees a hideous demon staring back at him. Tragic and terrifying all at once.