Black Clover Proves Shonen Manga Never Needed Decade-Spanning Mysteries
Warning: spoilers ahead for Black Clover chapter 328!
Fans of Black Clover are currently experiencing something relatively unique for manga fans, as the series' avoidance of decade-spanning mysteries sets it apart from other, similar stories. Readers are already aware of the truth behind many of the manga's secrets, focusing speculation not on what's coming next, but on how the story's hero will react when they finally put the pieces together for themselves.
Many heavy hitters in the manga industry have made a reputation for themselves by keeping fans guessing for years on end. And although this tactic definitely captures reader attention — especially when the mystery is incredibly intriguing — it can introduce a degree of fatigue when even the smallest thing like a character's middle name is set up as a profound and world-shattering secret. Although Black Clover dabbles in this sort of dynamic, mostly in regard to who Asta and Yuno's true parents are, the manga gave up leading readers on in both instances by chapter 268. Instead, mangaka Yūki Tabata recently switched this dynamic entirely by leaving Asta in the dark and readers in the know.
Related: Black Clover's Asta Can Beat Lucifero, But He Only Has Five Seconds
In Black Clover's 328th chapter, the King of the Devils Lucifero realizes that Asta is somehow related to the woman Licita he killed long ago, saying, "That blasted, worthless woman. The one who got in my way. She's your--!!!" Because readers have known for quite some time that Licita is Asta's mother, their experience is very different than what would have happened if Tabata decided to withhold this information like other manga would have undoubtedly done. Instead of wracking their brains trying to
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