Iron Wok Jan 12
August 2, 2008
As much as I really like reading this series, I’m not so fond of the competition between Jan and the spoiled rich boy. I figured it was over at the end of last volume, so I wasn’t really anticipating an entire volume more of it, let alone two more volumes. But it’s still good, because it’s offering more opportunities for crazy stuff than the Taoist Gogyo story did.
I think the thing I love most about this series is that it’s not ashamed of using conveniences and coincidences in the most obvious ways possible, which is hilarious to me. A good example is when the rich kid makes his and Jan’s battle sort of impromptu out in front of Gobancho, and a busload of Chinese tourists smell something good and wander over just in time to judge. Later, they come back, this time with some French tourists, because now there’s some French elements to the rich kid’s cooking. There is a total lack of irony in the story when these things happen, and I love the take-it-or-leave-it way this stuff comes up. I just do.
The dishes are also somehow more and more insane every time. The pidgeon blood pie and deer tendon dishes are still standouts in my mind… but somehow, Jan winds up doing something for each match that apparently few chefs in the world can do. Somehow, this is never enough to win him the battle in and of itself, but only worth commenting on once or so, just so you know its a special skill. Somehow though, his opponent inevitably does something that makes everyone ooh and aah. Please, ignore Jan! He’s only using Dragon Tears! He’s only roasting a whole duck on a spit!
He’s also still a huge jerk, which is a big plus. There’s some in-between moments here too, parts where Jan isn’t competing, and I could always use more of those. I especially like the parts with him and the male apprentice chef. It’s good to know that even Jan has a friend.
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