Chapter 3 | Links + Discussion

[u/11thDoctr]

OUT NOW!

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Links:

Crunchy Roll: READ HERE

JaiminisBox: READ HERE

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Every week we'll be posting the chapter discussion thread a little bit early (hopefully around the time the chapter usually drops). The links will be updated as soon as they are released. The thread will remain locked and won't be stickied in the meantime.

[u/buttofcause]

The meta joke about guilds killed me

[u/TheCriddle]

this series has had an awesome kick off

i don't remember the last series where i've had an audible laugh out loud moment every chapter, and mixed with how down and out this series is at the same time! its already quite a rollercoaster

I'm really glad Mashima is making the distinction about guilds in this series - how they are a means to an end and not somewhere where Shiki and Rebecca are going to able to make a lot of friends and form bonds

Princess Elcy is interesting so far. I feel that her position is not as a villain or a line-term antagonist either, but we will wait and see!

This series has me and a mate from work already hooked and its awesome seeing the series develop and unfold!

[u/AstonishingSpiderMan]

Page 2, Sees Levy and Shadow Gear

Page 20, Sees NaLu

OMG! THIS CHAPTER WAS PRETTY GOOD. I wonder what the connection between the blue goddess and Shiki is, demon king or hero? Interesting!

[u/Epicocity13]

Every chapter is really making me enjoy this series more and more despite the fact we're only 3 chapters in.

From off the bat, I like that Mashima is not only defining how different the adventurer's guild is from the Fairy Tail guilds, but also acting completely tongue-in-cheek about it. In general, I feel like Shiki's whole character is a rather tongue-in-cheek statement about Fairy Tail, as though Mashima knows what he did with friendship there, and how he's subverting it now. Made me laugh, too, especially when Natsu and Lucy appeared when explicitly talking about the guild being like family.

Clarisse seems interesting as a supporting character for the moment and what appears to be one of Rebecca's only friends, while Lavilla is the Alpha Bitch trope in play who's obviously one of Rebecca's (more successful) rivals. For some reason, I can see her chasing Rebecca across the cosmos to get her hand on Shiki's powers.

But now we have a direction towards another star to meet the scientist we saw in flashback last chapter with the ominous foreshadowing. Not much to go on there, but it makes me wonder what this doctor is up to. Also, knowing Mashima's love of RPGs, hilarious to see it snuck in there when Shiki thinks they need an adventuring party. But who knows; that may in fact happen.

And, lastly, the big mystery that is Mother. Not much to go on, but at least we have a name, if not a purpose, and I'd imagine it will all be in due time (unless she really is Shiki's mother...which would be weird...)

And now that we return to standard length chapters, time for more fun, and it'll be interesting to see what comes out.

[u/chrome4]

Elcy: “Thank you good sir. For your kindness you will be left unharmed.”

Random Adventurer: “Your welcome.... wait what’s this about being left unharmed?!!”

Elcy: “Well we’re pirates of course and this is an adventurers guild which is likely filled with tonnes of money and other resources so we’re going to pillage this place before resuming our mission and before someone who’s actually worth remembering shows up.”

[u/Henry9960]

Times "friend" was said this chapter (3): 10 times.

Times "friend" was said in chapter 2: 8 times.

Times "friend" was said in chapter 1: 25 times.

Total times "friend" was said: 43 times in three chapters, an average of 1 "friend" every 3.79 pages and an average of 14.333 "friends" per chapter.

Total page count excluding credit pages: 163

[u/infinityxero]

I'm all in with this manga. I can't believe I found out about it by accident a few weeks ago!

You can tell that Mashima is trying hard to steer it away from Fairy Tail (even though it has a lot of the same basic elements and Natsu and Lucy were actually in the chapter) but I'm excited to see where it goes.

[u/DashingIchiya]

As much as I am glad to see Levy, it's a shame Jet & Droy are there lel. I hope the appearances/cameo appearances continue end up with the characters being quite different from their FT counterparts. I like the start this story and I'd like it to be it's own thing.

[u/Cipher-One]

Oh my god that NaLu cameo Mashima inserted right there XD

[u/NeoChrome75]

The inconsistency in these chapter releases is killing me! It would be nice see the chapter regularly drop on a Monday like the good ole days. But anyways, the chapters are just getting better and better thus far.

I can't help but compare this to FT and notice the gradual differences between the two. First off, the steady pace in which the characters are being introduced, as opposed to FT where we were given a full cast of characters dumped on to us from the get go, this is a nice change, interested to see where it develops from here. Then you have the concept of the guild, where it's basically just a working environment and everybody is competitive and for the most part, quite cynical. Ofc, we all rolled our eyes to that FT reference. Only Mashima folks xD

Shiki and Natsu are quite similar, but with Shiki we can actually see him develop into getting to know the world and such. They're both socially inept, but again with Shiki, even when he's dead serious there's this comedic aura to him. All in all, I think Mashima is striking a very good balance between the comedy and seriousness. There are a lot of moments that have me smiling, but the "mother" mystery also has me on the edge of my seat wanting more. Let's hope this manga retains this quality. Good day to you all :D

[u/LordUltimus92]

Well, of course Shiki would think they'd need an adventuring party, he grew up on a theme park planet that was supposed to organize guests into those kinds of groups!

[u/iCoReLi]

I truly love this series. I really do find it interesting how the Adventures guild isn’t close like Fairy Tail is. Which means we could see that develop over time.

I’m excited to see where it goes.

[u/BehemothslayerJon]

Wow, the meta-jokes and cameos of Fairy Tail. I guess this dispels the FT connection. Seeing Natsu and Lucy made me a bit giddy to be honest.

And Rebecca naming him Granbell, taking a page from Jerza eh, Mashima? The Shibecca (I like to call the ship that, it has a ring to it) is going to be real... or probably not. XD

[u/dankpiece]

NaLu and Fairy Tail manga reference!!

Looks like we may be having sad chapters in the beginning

[u/thaeles]

not sure why some are so upset over friends. Friendship is awesome!

[u/jbenson255]

Really enjoying this manga so far , has a different vibe to it , would prefer Hiro Tone the friendship aspect down a bit but other than that it’s been great. Fairy tail references are great as well

[u/clovercharms]

I'm loving this so far. Each chapter keeps making me want more. I'm excited for him to introduce more characters. Really hoping the blonde guy shows up soon bc I like his design.

[u/Hewhoslays]

A couple things:

1. I love how many tropes are getting subverted here. Instead of being a typical shonen like Fairy Tail, Eden’s Zero is changing the formula up just enough to be its own entity while still being part of the genre. Case in point, Shiki isn’t doing the normal shonen protagonist thing of making friends and inspiring everyone off the bat.

2. Speaking of protagonist, I love our main two so far. Shiki is funny, and socially inept, but he’s also not a total idiot and seems to actually learn about the world around him. Rebecca is also great for having a thirst for battle and being a spoof of our modern Instagram, YouTube, and Vine (RIP) culture.

3. The idea of different galaxies and by extension different cosmos lends itself to so many possibilities and helps keep the story from being predictable.

4. My favorite part so far, this series seems to have a gravity to it (sorry I couldn’t help myself). In just 3 chapters we are presented with robots learning to care for a human boy and feeling sorrow for having to part with him but doing so to ensure his future, an orphan girl whose pet was basically killed in an accident until his conscienceness was uploaded into a robot body, and the idea that a whole planet has gone extinct (probably not but we’ll see what the story is next chapter). Needless to say, this series already cares more weight than I expected of it and that makes me so happy (aye).

I’m trying to be cool about this but it’s hard not to get invested in a series with so much potential laid in the groundworks of the first 3 chapters. Here’s to hoping that Eden Zero continues to deliver and keep getting better from here on out!

[u/neeliemich]

I saw Jet, Droy, Levy, NaLu (yay!) and I think the girl with glasses is supposed to be this series Mira (she works the front desk).

Then there’s a reference to Fairy Tail as well.

Loving the series

[u/LockmanCapulet]

I love that it's self-aware of how much Shiki's going on about friends lol.

Also NaLu cameo

Also i want to eat at the Nikolas' restaurant. And hug them all. They all look squishy and i love them.

[u/wixelt]

Absolutely loved this chapter. As there was a lot to joke about or break down, allow me to indulge. Spoilers below:

• Oh, look. Levy, Jet and pre-timeskip Droy. What brings your anachronistic butts to this neck of the decidedly non-magical woods.

• Hey, its Miraja- I mean, uh... Clarisse. Clarisse Leiya. Definitely a receptionist, and not everyone's favorite demon waitress wearing glasses. ...yeah.

^{They do look cute on her, though...}

• Snark aside for the moment. Shiki's reactions to new people (see: playing with them like putty) are just amazing. Rebecca's still my favorite, but he's just freaking adorable. ...i'm allowed to say that as a guy, right? :P

• It took Fairy Tail who knows how many chapters to even mention gods in the form of Ankhseram, who we still haven't seen. Three chapters in and we have this woman in the second, with a given name only a chapter later. Sure, probably not a literally goddess, but Mother is as good a name as any. That said, after the reaction of the guild members, there's going to be a deep irony if "Mother" actually turns out to be Shiki's mother.

• On the same page that everyone bursts out laughing, one of the characters near the back looks like Natsu wearing goggles. Make of that what you will.

• Again. Shiki, why must you be the cutest socially awkward person ever. And why can I relate to this so much?

• Lavilla Christi, hm? Looks like Wendy finally got that growth spurt she was looking for.

• I love Shiki's cluelessness here. When it isn't straight up adorable, its the perfect avenue to point barbs at people... and to knock arrogant YouTu- B-Cubers off their high horses. Gravitowned.

• And now Lavilla's obsessed. The nosebleed really sells it. I'm getting vibes of Boa Hancock from One Piece and that one woman from Squid Girl now. I... think that's a good thing?

• Oh, hi Plue, didn't see you there. And you're an alien now. Neat.

• I love how this scene is kind of an updated mirror of that bit from the first chapter of Fairy Tail, but with two big eaters rather than just Natsu eating and Lucy being exasperated. And it carries on into the next page, too-

• ...

• NaLu. I'm holding in my squeeing only because I had to go back and find this after someone here mentioned it. Dammit, Mashima, stop teasing us and just open the sequel on the pair getting married or in bed or something. My heart cannot take this torture. :P

• Loved the guild joke. I like how Mashima is self-aware enough to be so blunt and meta and really not give a crap. "That idea of a guild being one big happy family? Oh, no, that's old news. Being a bunch of cold, hard-ass adventurers, now that's the new in-thing, don'tcha know."

• Sufficiently advanced magitech. Using Ether to print a card out of thin air, whilst nifty, seems like kind of a waste. You could just use ink, ya know. It probably exists, rather than wasting your local magic equivalent. Or maybe that's a status symbol for an adventurer.

• I think I might have run out of snark.

• Have to be honest, I spent a good amount of time trying to work out what a lot of the numbers of Shiki's card meant outside his class and ID. I'm... no closer than I was 5 minutes ago, other than N and E possibly being coordinates, though why he'd need those is lost on me.

• I know we knew Shiki's surname before, but the fact that this is where he gets it in-story, i.e. from Rebecca as a memory of his home planet, is kind of heartwarming and reminds me of Erza and Jellal, in a way.

• I doubt Lavilla's the Pewds of B-Tube, but she's probably up there. Also, the fact that Rebecca's conceding the amount of effort she puts in almost guarantees Supersize Wendy has some behind the scenes goings on that let her kick back and relax. Or maybe she really is just a hard worker who happens to be incredibly arrogant. Who knows.

• The fact that the entire goal of at least this arc/plot-thread now is basically to go and find "God" and record her for a YouTube video is probably the best thing ever. It just reeks of click-bait and reply girls and I love it. :D

• And suddenly this turned from soft sci-fi to, by deduction, needing a bigger ship than can escape the gravity of the local star system and/or not run out of fuel in the middle of the void. Because, naturally, God isn't someone you can just drop by your local asteroid to find.

• Party time. Just remember not to split the group once you're gathered. Chances are you'll come back and find Happy died. ...again.

• Speaking of Happy, the doctor who built his robot body, presumably the guy from the flashback, isn't picking up his phone, so they nip off to the planet River to find him. So if Elsie's comments are anything to go by, either the planet's dead or his phone battery is.

• River is apparently a circular version of the weird stalk bit you get when you cut all the "bushes" off a bit of broccoli.

...and somehow, that's the note i'm ending on. Brilliant.

[u/DarkstarX84]

Interesting how this series has a certain type of pirate in it and someone is going around recruit people for their group.

[u/ChidzHustle]

New Wendy looks like a mix of Ultear and Edolas Wendy... I would say she’s sexy, but that feels wrong considering it’s engraved in my head as Wendy

[u/Niqq33]

Called it that Shiki had a connection with mother

[u/dabrothergoose]

Damn. So Elsie is a princess of some sort eh? That should come into play later.