Title: Platinum End Vol. 14
Author: Tsugumi Ohba (Story), Takeshi Obata (Art)
Publisher: Viz Media
Language: English
Format: Paperback
Pages: 208
Genre: Thriller
Publication Date: March 1, 2022
Final Thoughts
We have arrived at the final volume of Platinum End and, I have to say, I did not see that ending coming. The new God has been chosen and while the choice was something I kind of expected, I didn’t think the series would delve deep into the aftermath of everything. Things got highly philosophical in the end and the lives of the remaining former God candidates are on full display, giving us a nice bit of closure.
At least, that’s what they wanted you to believe. While I won’t go into the details, the events to follow in the typical epilogue format that most manga goes through could have been the most-shocking event throughout an entire series. I often say that the ending to a series is paramount and it has been a LONG time since I’ve been able to look at an ending and say that it surpassed every expectation I had for it.
With God being chosen early on in the final volume, I was convinced that this series would take that oh-so-typical route and just explore the lives of the remaining members to give us that happy and warm closure that seems to be the go-to trend; however, as we get to the end of the book, we discover something deeper and much more profound. As we dive into the philosophy of life itself and its existence, it gives a magnitude of reflection so great, that it raises questions about our own reality and our own lives.
Honestly, as I type this review, I’m still trying to wrap my head around the ending but the more I dwell on it, the more I begin to realize that it was the only way things SHOULD have ended. Perhaps when you read it, you will ponder why I stated that and apply it in a bit of self-reflection.
As for the series as a whole, it was enjoyable; however, it wasn’t without its flaws. Platinum End had every semblance of Ohba and Obata’s touches… from deep, meaningful dialogue, to multi-layered stories, and (as with Death Note and Bakuman), two major arcs that are different, yet, similar to each other. Their well-known style of storytelling is all over this series but I have to say that it dragged in some parts. Unfortunately, this is also an issue in their other series as well.
Despite that, I always was able to overlook those parts as I felt the good outweighed the mediocre. I definitely enjoyed the second half of the series once characters like Dr. Yoneda and Nakaumi were introduced more than when we had the Metropoliman arc. The whole spoofing of the Power Rangers / Sentai series has been done to death in Japan. I have seen so many different series that reference it and while, yes, I fully understand it is a popular entertainment medium over there (and here), I just wish they would ditch the spandex once in a while.
It kind of turned a serious situation into a spectacle… you know… as if angels, red & white arrows, and wings weren’t a spectacle enough. I felt the series could have gotten by if Ohba and Obata just stuck to that and left it alone. Turning the characters into pseudo-superheroes all for the sake of being able to use their powers in public was a bit too much.
I did like the entire theme of the series being centered around happiness. That, in and of itself, is a deep philosophical topic that was also delved into heavily in the final volume. What is YOUR reason for being happy? You ask that question to 1,000 people and you’re going to get 1,000 different answers. It’s a nice piece of symbolism to express every person’s individuality. While some people may appear similar, we are all different in our own unique ways. With that serving as a giant underlying tone, it takes a manga about how humanity should view its own happiness and wrapped it around a gripping tale.
In the end, though, I will have to say that I would rank this in the middle between Death Note and Bakuman in terms of their quality of work. I know I might get some flak about putting Death Note on the bottom but I doubt there is anyone who would argue that once Near was introduced, things went way downhill for that series. Bakuman even made fun of their mistake with Death Note but Platinum End did its best to not repeat those mistakes.
Instead, it made new ones but each time they release a new series, I feel they keep getting better at it. So, why rank it below Bakuman if they’ve gotten better?
Personal taste. That’s why. Bakuman is one of my all-time favorite mangas. I’ve read plenty of series and I do not doubt there are ones out there than Bakuman. Based on my personal tastes, to me, it is the best thing I’ve read from the manga world. Will something come along that will cause me to change my mind? I’m sure of it but nothing has yet.
If you disagree with my assessment, I invite you to read Platinum End and realize… this is what makes me happy… just as I’m sure something out there makes you happy. In the spirit of this series, find your own happiness. Enjoy what you want to enjoy.
That is life.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
Follow me on Twitter @JJPiedraOELN
You can also check out other The Outerhaven reviews on your favorite social media networks:
Subscribe to us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theouterhaven
Subscribe to us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOuterHaven
Subscribe to us on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/theouterhavennet
This item was provided for review by VIZ Media
