Pandora Hearts, Volume 22

パンドラハーツ [Pandora Hearts] #22

by Jun Mochizuki, Tomo Kimura (Translator)

A question is posed to Oz Vessalius once more. The answer he deduces after overcoming the chains of infinite despair that bound him becomes a blinding light, piercing through the jet-black darkness. As though hope can be spun out of the fragile threads of one's heart...

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Mystery, Graphic Novels, Shonen, Comics, Adventure

242 pages, Paperback

First published April 26, 2014

About the author

Jun Mochizuki (望月淳 Mochizuki Jun) is a Japanese comic artist (manga-ka), best known for the fantasy shounen series Pandora Hearts/パンドラハーツ.

Reviews

[nidah05 (SleepDreamWrite) · Rating 5 out of 5]

That ending. I had to blink, read it again and was like, what just happened?

This series, what do I say about PH up until to this point?

Well, I first saw the anime and liked it and thought, it needed another season. Then I figure you know what, let's see where the manga picks up after that. And so with each volume, the art got better and better, the story while interesting, a little confusing at times but still really good. And the characters, I love these characters. And the colored pages and the covers for these volumes. Can you say, like beautiful or what?

Anyway, this was just, really, really good and I don't want to say more, else it will be spoilers and don't want that. Love this series.

[Elaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actually, that's not how I feel right now. As (i think) Oz said, "I have a slight sense of loss.." And I forget the rest. :)

AND BREAK BASICALLY SAID THIS RIGHT BEFORE YOU-KNOW-WHAT(I am in denial):

[ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

i have to stop reading pandora hearts bc it’s making me crazy! it goes like “but still. here i am. and i’ve come to realise it’s alright for me to be here.” and im like [SCREAMS]

[Michael Schmid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Break #________#

[*_Lili_* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piango 😭😭 la fine di questo volume mi ha spezzato il cuore 😭😭

[C.T. Yen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just exactly what are you thinking, VINCENT?!!!!!!!!!!! ECHO!!!!!!!!!! ADE!!!!!!!!!!!

And NOOOOO!!!!!!! BREAK!!!!!!!!!!! DON'T DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!

~4th Oct, 2016~
I still cry at the end... BREAK!!!!!

With Duchess Sheryl's chain, the Owl (so fluffy, so cute), Break and Sharon and the Duchess reunite with Oz and make their way to Sablier to stop Glen.

Vincent was friend with Noise and Echo 100 years ago. And Ada tells Noise that just because she's different from Vincent and Noise, it doesn't matter at all! There's nothing wrong in being ignorant, but not trying to understand is what's wrong. Though at times I don't really feel anything for Ada, just thinking that she's a carefree weird girl who loves supernatural things, her words are well-said.

Jack is there... he looks scary... and what is Oz's deal with Jack?

That scary weird old granny with the special court is annoying. Too bad that Glen isn't able to kill her out right!

Is Oz's father dead!? Even in death, he still won't accept Oz... so sad... at least Ada is safe.

Alice and Gilbert's friendship is wonderful. I wish Gilbert would pat my head as well.

REIM! who has no battle abilities is here to negotiate! You go, Reim!

And then Break... (cries)

Vincent, please don't die! LIVE! It wouldn't be the same without you!

[Kells Perry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Break... ;_;

[gabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHY MUST THIS BREAK MY HEART SO???!!!!! WHY????? I can't believe it. I should've expected it. But I didn't want it to happen. No.....

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Also known as the volume that breaks my heart.

[Victoria ✮⋆˙ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruining my life yet AGAIN! Every time I read this I just DIE

[ʀ⭒. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The emotions in this one were so beautifully written, I'm actually crying

[Ajx ☽ 🍓 Charyl · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT A HEARTBREAKING VOLUME—
This manga and the author enjoys playing with my feelings
We have reached the final step. the final chapter.
After the Break’s death (WHICH BROKE MY HEART IN SO MANY PIECES, WHAT A CRUEL THING), who allowed them to go after Glen, who in turn wants to change the past, we have finally reach the point of no return: they have to stop him.
I’m so much curious to know how they’ll succeed to do that but i’m extremely broken at the moment to continue reading, the final chapter was so much painful, it’s unfair T-T.

“I..don’t…want to die.”

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

No...Why?....I have no idea how this is going to end

[Angelika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Czy możemy udawać, że końcówka się nie wydarzyła? 🥹👉👈 Wszystko jest ok i nic złego się nie stało 🥰

[Bibliothecat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for complete series

I'd like to start by saying that with my two decades of manga reading, Pandora Hearts has recently earned its way to being one of the best manga series I've ever read - and to think I almost didn't pick it up!

There's actually a bit of a story to it: Pandora Hearts was being released around the time I knew I would be moving overseas. At the time, I had no idea how moving to the other side of the world would affect my manga buying. Also at that time, I was working at a comic store with staff discounts at my disposal and I never had to worry too much about picking up whatever I fancied. When I first saw Pandora Hearts, I thought the art looked beautiful and this just might be a really good manga. It also struck me as a manga series that could go on for quite a while [which was a reasonably accurate assumption as 24 volumes is not a length I could commit to lightly]. Not knowing how I'd get my hands on manga or how long this series would be let me to putting it back on the shelf. And I confess, it was filled with quite a bit of regret.

When I finally did move overseas - a family friend had a good bye gift. The shape was easy to discern: it was undoubtably a manga volume. While thankful for receiving a gift, I was also nervous: having worked in a comic store, I knew for sure: I either already own it or am not interested in it. In addition, the friend in question doesn't know the first thing about manga. To my surprise, it was the first volume of Pandora Hearts which was probably the single only volume she could have taken from the shelf that wasn't already in my possession and did interest me. How she managed to pick out that one I don't know, but it's a coincidence I feel thankful for and, in some cheesy way, made me feel like it was just meant to be that I read Pandora Hearts after all.

Fast forward to 2023, I finally found the time to read this 24 volume series and am absolutely delighted. My original observation remains: the art is absolutely stunning. With the exception of a oneshot debut work, it's hard to believe that this is quite close to being a beginner's work - you'd not believe it just looking at the first volume's art.

My other thoughts are largely around how hard it is to praise a story you think is so thoroughly good as this one is. It's not really a plot you can explain to someone, it's a story you have to read for yourself as even the latest volumes will throw some surprises at you. But I think, besides the art, what really contributes a lot to this work are the characters. Oz might be our main character, but we have a large cast and they are all lovingly created. There's hardly a character you won't be able to like in one way or another, even the most broken of them. It's quite a feat to create a story that makes you care and worry about almost every character's fate.

And worry you can indeed: it has light and beautiful moments, but it is essentially a dark tale and you'll constantly worry whether the characters will make it through. Needless to say, there are losses throughout the story. There are plenty of twists and turns, things that will surprise and shock you.

I will also add that the plot is complex and not always easy to follow. Some characters have multiple names - this becomes even more difficult for some characters who also have multiple personalities who also have multiple names. Not everything in the plot made entire sense to me - it's hard to say whether they were plot holes, not explained well enough or I was simply missing something - a reread might answer that. But regardless, when these moments arose, I decided to just go with the flow and it didn't disrupt my reading experience at all.

Besides a bit of confusion here and there, I can't fault this series with anything. The pacing is well done, the 24 volumes were neither too long nor too short [something I often complain about] and it wrapped up nicely. For such a dark read, there's also a lot of soft story telling which just concludes this with a very wholesome ending. There is close to no romance but I wasn't missing it [and I'm a big romance reader] - the friendships and bonds between the characters were absolutely beautiful even without much romance thrown in.

I'm glad I did read this series and it is definitely going down as one of my favourites. Highly recommended.

[Cami L. González · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me gustó el momento en que Ada se defendió, la verdad es que a mí sí que me parecía algo idiota e inútil en la trama. Más un peso muerto. Sin embargo, cuando defendió su propia ignorancia y sus diferencias me gustó, porque le da un lugar en la trama.
Break, no, que pena.

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

[lu ¿ aero · Rating 5 out of 5]

io devo ammazzarmi

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stab to the heart would hurt less than this…

[Phantomº · Rating 5 out of 5]

We knew it was coming but...but...but...BUT...
That final scene is probably one of the greatest in PH as a whole. Mad Hatter dying to save Vincent, Leo's consciousness resurfacing. It meant the death of my favourite character, however, his death was meaningful even if he didn't want to go yet. Jun sensei made it work so beautifully.

2 volumes to go.

[Ady Weasley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Conocemos el pasado de Echo y Zwei.
Es momento de ir a Salbier y enfrentar a Glen pues es el momento final de la historia

Breeeaaaaaakkkkkk!!!!!!

[Tania · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ojalá tener el IQ de Jun para sacarme estás tramas, eh.

En fin, se fue Break. Tan listo parecía irse que al ver a Reim y a Sharon se dió cuenta de que no lo estaba. Gran final, gran escena.

El asunto de volver al pasado y cambiarlo me gusta porque la mayoría se opone pues se olvidaría todo lo que ya aprendieron gracias a sus circunstancias. Las doñas estas del jurado la vdd me confundieron, pero ok, sigan vigilando mal a los Glen. Solo un trabajo tenían.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know I'm going to love a volume of Pandora Hearts when it starts out with Break. It's no secret that he's my favorite character with his tortured past and happy-go-lucky facade. And though he is not the central character of this story, his role has been essential and heart-breaking.

Even with so much going on in the story which is quickly coming to its close, Jun Mochizuki is able to take a moment to give us a glimpse into Echo's life and further develop her painful past. We have known for a long time now that she has a split personality, but how that came about and which personality was the original one, comes to light in this volume.

So, where are we now? The series supposedly ends in the next volume, though I saw a report a week or so ago that it looks like there will actually be 24 volumes (hooray and rejoicing if that is indeed true!). I don't want to see this series end so quickly that it feels rushed...I need some time to let the characters go. I know this sounds overly dramatic, but this story has captured my heart with its richly developed characters, crazy twists and turns, and gorgeous artwork.

[Nic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did . . . did Break just die? I mean, he told us in volume one that he was dying, and his physical condition has been degenerating rapidly, and he has little concern for his own safety, but, but, he's my favorite character!

Well, if he is dead (unlike Reim when he faked us out that time), at least he died in the arms of the two people who care about him most. *Sniffle*

Also, what about Duke Barma? Did he die in the last volume? Why is this always so unclear? And why are there so many characters I can hardly keep straight? And why do I love this manga so much anyway?

(Well, because it's pretty and sometimes funny and actiony and pretty and full of Alice in Wonderland references and pretty, probably.)

[Nərmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Character focus: Echo, Vincent, Break and Oz.
We learn about Echo's past .
Vincent's lingering thoughts in past.
Oz's hateful father. Seriously, he pissed me off! He loves Ada but makes Oz cry...
And Break. Xerxes Break. One of my favorite characters.
why? Why did you die too? And you didn't want to die...
Last two volumes...I hope the ending is happy...

[Priscilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This manga will be the death of me!!!!!!!!!
I can't stop crying!!!

[Yeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I don't want to die."

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite manga series

[khione · Rating 5 out of 5]

i’m not crying, you’re crying

[nukes · Rating 5 out of 5]

whatever what the fuck ever I DONT CARE ANYMORE I DONT CAREEEE JUST KILL ME NOW JUST DO IT