Midnight on Memory Lane

{Manga Monday #2} The Legend of Zelda - Twilight Princess: Volume 2

Hello, Internet, and good mornight to you all!

My name is Taffryne, shoppekeeper of Midnight on Memory Lane, and it is my absolute delight to welcome you to the totally-normal-and-second Manga Monday!

'Tis a pleasure, 'tis a pleasure indeed.

As the title of this post says, we're going to be talking about the second volume of the Twilight Princess manga by Akira Himekawa. I humbly present my thoughts for your enjoyment and consideration. Accordingly, please mind that there will be spoilers ahead!

Disclaimer: I apologize if there are any crucial cultural notes or nuances that I misunderstand or fail to recognize. I, unfortunately, must trust the accuracy of the translated text to accurately represent the story and characters.

Trigger Warnings: Link Still Talks, Trauma, Crisis via Turned-Into-An-Animal, Imprisonment, Grief, Mentions of Animal Death, Hostage Situations, Fighting, Fantasy Violence, Midna's Teasing, Depictions of Insect-like Things, Confidence Crisis

AniList Link: click here!

Chapter 9 - Punishment for the Wicked

Recollection

So...that was definitely Ganondorf, right? You can't just show a man in robes and only called "Evil" and expect me to not believe that's Ganondorf. Also, my dude, she is the Princess of Hyrule. I understand your concern, but if anyone should know the full history and trauma of their lands, then shouldn't it be the royal family??? Wouldn't it be worse if you had a ruler who was completely oblivious to problems like a secret shadow realm??? I'm so pumped for more Gremlin Midna making fun of Wolf Link, though.

Chapter 10 - Midna

Recollection

Oh Midna, you beautiful, brutal woman. a Part of me wishes that my hair could also become a third arm with super strength, but alas, I am relegated to simply having dense and tangly waves instead. Honestly, this chapter is just "Gremlin Midna's Wolf Training Class". How in Hyrule did Mr. Just-freaked-out-two-seconds-ago really think that threatening the creature that just used magic to blow up his chains and cells would go? "Oh shoot, my bad"??? Heck no, you are now a wolf-mount. Congratulations! I am interested in seeing more of Midna's brutal side though. Obviously her main plan has to be saving her realm and restoring her title, right? Given that this also started over a war with the people of the light, I can understand (but not condone) her dismissal of sacrificing those who aren't her subjects. She's just so...Midna. She says that humans can't maintain their form in the Twilight Realm, yet Link has. Assuming that it's because of his tri-force (could definitely be wrong there), I wonder what Zelda would become?

Chapter 11 - Tower of Confinement

Recollection

Hooookay, I have many a questions. Most importantly, why is ZELDA the Twilight Princess? That is most explictly Midna, is it not? Also, why is Zelda here? She's, what, just in a tower in the ruined Hyrule Castle draped in a cloak and staring out a window aimlessly? Is this not actually Zelda but a fake Zelda? Why does Midna...dislike her so much? Is it just show or is there something genuine here? What did Zelda do???

Chapter 12 - Wolf Link Awakens

Recollection

As someone who grieves rather intensely (hazard of the job and all), I think I rather understand Zelda's position now. She's effectively made a prisoner of herself because of the guilt of her actions. It's really not that dissimilar a feeling than what Link was dealing with albeit different presentations. As for her surrender itself...honestly, I think either call was a bad one and this one happened to be the least awful. If she kept fighting, she'd be dead/monstered alongside everyone in Hyrule. By letting the citizen's turn into souls and staying intact herself, she's ensured some type of fighting chance for Hyrule. Case-in-point: her being able to help Midna and Link. Now, I'm absolutely certain that Midna has ulterior motives and maybe only half-blames Zelda for letting Zant gain as much power as he did. That being said, I daresay the majority of people would rather have an alive Zelda on their side than a monster one that they have to fight against; just look at the story-mode from Super Smash Bros. I was absolutely not expecting a monster to just defenestrate Wolf Link like that...

Chapter 13 - Different Paths through Life

Recollection

So, suffice to say that Twilight Realm Zelda doesn't get a cool animal form or nothing. She's also powerless apparently? I'm rather intrigued. Is it because of the Twilight Realm and the whole Goddess Hylia incarnate thing that she's powerless? Is it because of Zant or someone else? It's clear that her and Midna have a relationship on the level of "helpful toleration", but Midna is playing way too coy for it to be that simple. Honestly, I hope Link rescues Ilia soon because I feel really nervous about whatever this giant demon dude's deal is. Yet, why is Ilia still in her human form??? She has that necklace bit on, so maybe it's that?

Chapter 14 - Onward to Faron Woods

Recollection

I really like the mechanical balance of the whole travel between light and dark worlds. Midna of the dark world becomes a mostly-powerless shadow in the light world, while Link of the light world becomes a beast in the dark world. It's a really cool divide between the two! The opening about Ook the Monkey Ruler felt off at first, but now seeing that a demonic weapon has over taken Ook, it makes sense. I wish I had the power to talk to animals too...it would have cleared up so much stuff with my cat before he passed. I'm glad the fictional cat, Roo, is okay. May I also say, Ordona's design is so cool. It reminds me a lot of the animal spirits in Okami and the pokémon, Ting-lu. Even Ook's design looks cool and I typically have an instinctual aversion to anything monkey or primate-related! Just another Twilight Princess design win, seriously.

Chapter 15 - Shadow Sight

Recollection

I hate bugs. I'm just gonna say that. Absolutely nothing against those with insects in their hearts...it will just never be me, I respect their place in our world, and I respect that that place is an 80 foot radius away from wherever I am. All the power to Midna for standing her ground and claiming ownership of her wolf. Ook, demonized or not, back off and stop with the weird Narnia-level humiliation things. Seeing as Link is now returning to his human form, I think I get the whole "corrupted bug" mechanic now. He got rid of all the bugs plaguing the land, so the light was restored and so was his form. I imagine that the exact moment he leaves the forest, however, he'll be back to four legs and fur. Midna, babe, I love you, but perhaps in certain situations belittling your chosen hero isn't the best method of instilling confidence? ALSO I KNOW THAT WAS THE MASTER SWORD!!! GIMME GIMME GIMME

Chapter 16 - Hero in Green

Recollection

Perhaps this is a silly thought...but looking at Diababa just reminds me of how much I want a carnivorous plant. Maybe a venus fly trap, maybe a pitcher plant. I've not yet decided and I certainly need to continue my research. After all, if you are going to care for any living thing, you need to care for it as best as you can with respect. I don't think I'd care for a "Diababa" plant just because of the poisonous gas hazard. Our poor hero though, he's in armour he doesn't recognize AND it's a bit itchy? Tough luck...

Also sucks that I think Ook is beyond saving, He seemed so noble in the introduction, but that is always the gut-punch, ain't it? I wasn't expecting Midna to start burning immediately in the light either. Checks and balances I suppose.

Chapter 17 - Disbelief

Recollection

I am so relieved that Ook wasn't actually beyond saving and was able to go back to taking care of his forest!!! Granted, I'm not entirely sure how that'll fully play out with the whole "cursed but you still killed creatures" thing. Hopefully, he can just be absolved for reasons of possession and then step down?

Faron is also such a pretty design!!! I love a good long tail swirly thing!!! I'll accept the "Hero Chosen by the Gods" explanation for now to explain Link's situation, but I really hope they expand upon that more as they collect more of the Shadow Crystal pieces. Speaking of, I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SHADOW CRYSTAL! What do you mean it ends one world or the other? What do you mean it could help one world or the other? Why does it not look like a conventional crystal at all? How do you piece it together? Midna please explain yourself!!!

Volume Reflection

We're at volume two out of eleven which honestly concerns me a wee bit because that's a whole lot of ink space for things to get much worse. On the other hand, it's a whole lot of ink space for things to get far more interesting! I think overall this volume was a really good ramping of the pace and also has continuing weaving those threads of curiosity into me as the reader. I like seeing all the world-building put into how certain mechanics work. There's such a great balance of making sure nobody is too overpowered or underpowered. That sort of "everything comes at a price" philosophy. The art style is still so incredible. Not even just the characters this time. Everything from the environment to the enemies and even the action scenes maintains such a sharp intricacy to it. Agh, it's so pretty!!!

I'm still caught up on the whole Princess Zelda problem though. Midna as the true Twilight Princess is obviously prioritizing...whatever her motives are and she has her own incredible abilities within the Twilight Realm. Zelda, however, what exactly is her position? Is she under some curse? Why isn't she in some demon or soul form? What happened to her tri-force abilities when Link's are clearly working? I'm so, so awfully curious.

I also loved the little bonus drawings of Child Zelda and TP Link getting the baton pass from OoT Link. I feel so sparkly when someone's passion and care towards their creation shines through!

Thanks for Reading!

I hope you've been able to read (or play) and enjoy the story for yourself! If you haven't, that's okay too! My thoughts are here to keep you updated and entertained in the meantime.

This caps off this week's Manga Monday, so off into the nighttime we go in preparation for tomorrow! I hope you'll come back for the next Taffy Tuesday! I've got something special to talk about...

May we meet again when the clock strikes 12:00!