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It's been a little over two months since Jujutsu Kaisen dropped its sequel, Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo, and it's already a hit among fans. Despite following a whole new generation of sorcerers and bringing on an all-new illustrator, the sequel continues to draw in just as many readers as the original did when it ended last year. Beyond the popularity, however, Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo is also proving itself in the ways that matter most, such as its writing and characterization. In fact, the series' latest flashback proves that the sequel may even be better than the original series in this regard, showcasing some of the strongest writing fans have seen to date from series creator Gege Akutami. Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo's Latest Flashback Proves the Series Is A Masterpiece in the Making Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo recently wrapped up a flashback into the past of the Simurians, revealing the group's war-torn history and their true reason for seeking refuge on Earth. Until recently, it seemed like the Simurians were certainly going to be the big antagonists of the series, and that war between humans and the Simurians was unavoidable. However, Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo's latest flashback has completely recontextualized the Simurians, painting them in a surprisingly sympathetic light. Even the Simurians' so-called trump card, Dabura, who was being likened to Sukuna in terms of power, was depicted in a whole new light, with chapter #10 cementing him as a much more peaceful and diplomatic figure than readers initially believed. What's more impressive is that Modulo manages to completely flip readers' opinions of the Simurians within only two chapters. The flashback is compact yet impactful, with chapter #8 familiarizing fans with the political landscape of the Simurians' home planet and the core conflict between the Rumelians and the Deskunte. Chapter #8, which serves as the first part of the flashback, truly takes readers through the motions, presenting the canal as a ray of hope for the Rumelians and just when it seems like things are looking up for the Rumelians. Unfortunately, that's when things abruptly come crashing down, with the chapter ending on a chilling cliffhanger, as it is revealed that the daughter of a Deskunte chieftain was mauled to death by a Kalyan, a beast held sacred by the Rumelians. While cliffhangers are nothing new, especially to Jujutsu Kaisen, this one is somehow far more evocative, invoking strong dread in the reader of what's to come. Chapter #9 of Modulo goes on to expand on the Rumelians' culture before dropping the massive bombshell that is the duel to be held between the two tribes, which is essentially unavoidable. There's little focus on the battle between Dura and Dabura itself, but more so on the characters and the relationship between them as the series surprisingly reveals that not only is Dabura being forced to fight, but that he and Dura were once best friends, making the situation all the more bittersweet. What follows is Dura's final plea to be neighbors, but the Deskunte chief coldly orders the duel to begin anyway. The anguish on Cross, Jabaloma, and the rest of Rumelians' faces as he does so strongly resonates with readers and is frankly a testament to Modulo's incredible art by Yuji Iwasaki. That said, beyond the excellent bait-and-switch the series just executed with the Simurians, Modulo's latest flashback would not have been half as evocative without its strong characterization, especially with regards to Dura. Jujutsu Kaisen's Sequel Just Introduced Its Best Character Since Gojo Without a doubt, Dura is the true star of Modulo's latest flashback, and he might just be one of the most well-written characters of the sequel so far. Within the two chapters that fans get to know him, Dura goes from being a father figure to Cross and Maru to being a ray of hope to all the Rumelians. His ideals of coexistence are very reminiscent of Yuji's plea to Sukuna at the end of Jujutsu Kaisen, making him an instantly likable character. It's quite impressive how Modulo not only manages to get fans attached to Dura in this short amount of time but also feel sadness at his death, all while fleshing out his and countless other characters like Cross, Maru, Jabaloma, Osuki, and of course, Dabura. One might even go as far as to say Jujutsu Kaisen hasn't had a character this instantly liked among fans since Gojo himself. That said, unlike Gojo, Modulo does give Dura quite the send-off with a gorgeous panel of his funeral and his face surrounded by flowers and tears streaming from his third eye. Though he may just be a passing character, Dura's influence is felt on every character that ever crossed paths with him. In fact, Dura's ideals and actions are directly responsible for bringing the Simurians to Earth in search of neighbors, with the mul ore he painstakingly set aside quite literally becoming the Rumelians' spaceship and their new hope even when Dura's no longer around. Gege Akutami's Writing Is Finally Getting the Chance to Shine in Modulo Overall, although fans were initially disappointed to hear that Gege Akutami would only be handling the writing for the sequel, it seems to have turned out for the best as Akutami's writing has never been stronger. Furthermore, while Modulo's art style might be a little different than what fans are used to, Yuji Iwasaki's art has left nothing to be desired. Modulo's recent flashback is an excellent example of just how expressive Iwasaki's art can be, and fans should rest assured that the series is in safe hands. More importantly, this flashback proves that not having to handle the illustration is likely taking a huge burden off Akutami's shoulders, in turn allowing him to focus fully on the story writing. This isn't to say that Jujutsu Kaisen did not have strong writing or characterization. However, it's impossible to deny that, especially towards the Culling Game and the finale, the series did feel quite rushed.
