GATE (2018)

[ゲート 自衛隊 彼の地にて、斯く戦えり]

Volume 14

Author: Takumi Yanai
Artist: Satoru Sao
Publisher: Alphapolis

Synopsis:
The SDF launches an assault on the Imperial Capital to rescue the Japanese delegation at the Jade Palace and the captive senators of the peace faction.

Story/Characters:
The main draw of the series for most fans, I'm sure, are the scenes of unbridled smackdown when modern military technology is unleashed on hapless medieval foes who so richly deserve it. In this volume, we get to see an airborne/air assault operation rendered in loving detail along with plenty of sniping, sentry removal, and other fun. Though I've got to give props to the one Dragon Knight who lasted more than two seconds against the F-4s. Zorzal doesn't take all this well and I like how Tyuule goads him on.

After seeing things go down so brutally at the Jade Palace, you can imagine the catharsis when the SDF moves in. The Rose Knights don't let the Japanese get all the glory, though. Afterward we have Colonel Kengun the paratrooper commander review the situation at the Jade Palace and his interactions with Beefeater in particular are rather amusing. We close with Itami and the gang, almost as if it's just there to remind us of our protagonist. Yes, he's still around, just nowhere near the action at the moment.

Art:
Big action is what you're here for, right? Well, it's big action you get. It might seem a little ironic, but more than all the high-tech carnage, I'd say the Rose Knights' cavalry charge is the real highlight of the volume. Then there's the Itami chapter... Hey, there's killin' goin' on and you know, Rory...

Other:
We get seven 4-koma this time around. I like how we seem to always get a Kurata/Persia 4-koma each volume.

Conclusion:
It may seem a little shallow of me to rate this higher than the previous volume, but this is a nice release valve on all the tension that's been building up. It doesn't hit quite the same emotional high points as Volume 12, but is still quite satisfying and worth adding to the collection.

Rating:
Own It