Ah, yes. This volume is where we start wandering around in Endless Shounen Action territory for a bit. Though certainl nowhere near the levels of things like Naruto, Bleach, or Samurai Deeper Kyo. It also has one of my favorite little scenes.
Allen’s reunion with the rest was somehow underwhelming compared to what I remember from the scans. I think, though, that that’s because I was expecting it. Kanda attempting to hiding wanting to go save the other exorcists, though, will never get old. Nor will is Big Bad Don’t Care About Anyone act when he stays behind to fight the Noah.
The bit where Lenalee forces to him to promise to try to live, though, will always be one of my favorite bits of the series. Really, I’m not even going to try to explain or define that massive complex he has. (Like most, I think, I pretty much default to it being mostly brother/sister, with a bit of “first/only cute girl I know” mixed in.
I remain somewhat annoyed, though, that Miranda didn’t get to come along for the action, especially as Lenalee is in no condition for fighting. I try to console myself, though, with the fact that her nerves probably weren’t quite up to full exposure to Kanda’s hissy fits.
One bit I like here is seeing the Noah’s stigmata as bleeding wounds that come with illusions and flashbacks. Until now, they were born Noah and the stigmata were tattoos, for all we knew. (Unless there’s confirmation of normal people/wounds before this that I’ve forgotten.)