After the incredible experience of reading Volume 16, Volume 18, like Volume 17 before it, felt more like filler. It’s not bad by any means, but it’s certainly not the heart-wrenching peak that the series reached when it recounted Koro-sensei’s backstory. This feels like slightly more of an “ordinary” volume.
The most interesting thing, I suppose, is that it details Nagisa and Karma’s trip to the International Space Station in their attempts to find a cure for their teacher. It stands out for being so different to anything else that has happened before now… but at the same time, it doesn’t feel quite as profound as it should. I’m not quite sure why, but I didn’t really feel like it was written as though it was this really amazing thing, but more just like any of the challenges the class had faced before, even though it was really different.
Once that’s over, the volume focuses on romance because Valentine’s Day comes along. Karasuma and Jelavitch get a lot of attention and there’s a whole subplot about the pair of them going out for dinner together. I’m sure there are some fans for whom this will be a very positive development, but I was kind of indifferent to it. I’ve never really been invested in the bond between these two characters and while their interactions here are still interesting, it felt more like an attempt to start giving different characters an “ending” rather than actually moving the main story along.
Besides this, you also have a lot of stuff about the characters coming to terms with the fact that their time in the “Assassination Classroom” is slowly coming to an end. It’s all good to read, but again, it doesn’t feel like it brings us much closer to the end. Slightly naval-gazy in a way. I don’t think anyone will dislike it, and the visit to space is kind of cool, but it’s the second volume in a row that doesn’t feel like it does much, unfortunately – though I did enjoy it more than Volume 17.
Rating: 8.2/10
