Warning: contains spoilers for Kaiju No. 8 chapter 54!
New Shonen Jump manga, Kaiju No. 8 is gearing up for an intense training arc that could reshape the future of the Defense Force in the impending Kaiju war. While the popular series continues to achieve record-breaking numbers in Japan after selling over five million copies, it also offers an intriguing new perspective on the Kaiju genre and its growing characters.
Chapter 54 begins with Japan's Kaiju Defense Force suffering the loss of Director General Isao Shinomiya - a major hit to the already dwindling forces by the hands of Kaiju No. 9. After fusing with the General and gaining possession of Kaiju No. 2, Kaiju No. 9 is now more powerful than ever. As a result, the enemy has gone into hiding, leaving Kaiju No. 8 possessor Kafka Hibino and others at a horrifying crossroads. As for child prodigy and daughter of General Isao Kikoru Shinomiya, she's left to mourn the loss of yet another parent to the relenting Kaiju war.
After refusing to attend her father's service, Kikoru admits to wanting to become stronger. While she openly blames herself for her father's death, Kikoru also acknowledges her weaknesses in her current state, something the character's hardly shown before given her natural talents and tsundere personality. Her attachment towards her father's approval has also encouraged her to go above and beyond in her training, which has also developed her romance with Kafka. However, now with her father gone, Kikoru's admittance to her weakness is a common phrase in Shonen manga used to signify a forthcoming training arc.
So far, the manga's main focus has been on increasing Kafka's ability to control Kaiju No. 8, especially after his most recent fight with Kaiju No. 9. Even with Kaiju No. 8's exceptional power, Kafka still lacks the necessary strength to break through to his newfound Kaiju powers - a lesson he learns after fighting General Isao. As for Kikoru, whose natural-born strength is what brought her to increase in rank to third in command, it seems the death of her father has unlocked the will to grow ever more powerful. Given the forces already at play, it's likely any training arc will be explosive in nature, changing what fans understood about the strength of Kaiju No. 8's characters.
Now, with the upcoming Kaiju invasion on pause, a training arc is necessary for Kafka, Kikoru, and the remaining Defense Force officers to gain the upper hand. Kikoru's refusal to give up for her father's sake proves she's ready for any training regime coming her way. Manga readers will have to wait until February 3 to find out what happens next in Kaiju No. 8, but it seems as if the characters are about to take a major step up in ability.