This post contains spoilers for Alien Headbutt Chapter 6, currently available for U.S. readers from VIZ Media
One of the things I’ve grown to love across this first six chapters of Alien Headbutt is how down to earth it is. The concept is simple yet over-the-top, and the characters are proving to be surprisingly relatable. Ouga is just a guy who wants to wrestle everything, even massive aliens. Tatsumi has his own skillset, which we get to see in Chapter 6, “The Hunter & The Wrestler.” And Haruya’s just an adorable kid experiencing the most effed-uppinest existence right now.
Chapter 5 leaves us in front of the bathhouse where Ouga’s sister works. Held prisoner by a bunch of pterodactyl-looking, flying aliens, prospects don’t look good. Figuring out how to get to the survivors poses a challenge even the world’s most outrageous wrestler can’t solve at first. Aliens on the ground are one thing. Flying E.T.s are something else entirely. Fortunately, Ouga’s not the only one with valuable skills.
Alien Headbutt Continues Living Up to Its Name
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The biggest challenge Ouga Shirokiba and friends have come up against so far is the new breed of flying aliens. All the other aliens encountered, even the massive building-climber, have been wrestle-able. But if Ouga can’t actually grab onto ’em, he can’t wrestle ’em. As he decides it’s time to scope out the situation and devise a strategy, Tatsumi is actually a little surprised.
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Ouga definitely comes across as a “body slam first and ask questions” later kinda guy. As he takes off running toward the building, using the cars as cover, he admits that strategy comes first, even for wrestlers. One comes crashing down into the roof of a car.
Looking at it, there is definitely something prehistoric about it’s appearance. It reminds me of one of those terrible flying aliens in Pitch Black. You know, the one that Riddick had to sway with to stay in its blindspot. Eep! My wandering brain is now trying to imagine Ouga wrestling Riddick, so I need to quickly steer myself back on track.
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A Quick Realization Shapes Tatsumi & Ouga’s Strategy
As they come in, diving one after the other, it seems like a never ending stream of nasty alien birds. It’s quickly discovered, however, that they aren’t able to go beyond a specific radius to attack. If they can figure out a way to launch an attack from beyond that barrier, things could go their way.
As Haruya calls out for Shirokiba to come back to their position, he hesitates. Fearing he will lead the aliens straight to their location, he can’t bring himself to do it. With a whole flock of them streaming down hard toward Ouga, they stop short and turn back, heading toward the tower over the bathhouse again. Tatsumi’s observation makes a lot of sense, as he calls out that he thinks they are only able to go within a specific radius from the tower.
If they can drew them out, and send a projectile attack from beyond the radius, they may have a chance. Ouga asks Tatsumi if he still has his gun, but it was wrecked back on the rooftop. Fortunately, Tatsumi has training beyond guns that will make all the difference in this situation.
The Hunter & the Wrestler Make an Excellent Team in Alien Headbutt
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As it turns out, Tatsumi learned how to hunt with a slingshot years before learning to shoot a gun. The age restriction on guns put a damper on his desire to learn to hunt. When his grandpa asks him why he’s so eager to start hunting, Tatsumi explains that his friend left the island to pursue his dream at 15. He wants to start pursuing his dream, too.
Obviously, he’s referring to Ouga, which is a heartwarming nod to the payoff for following a dream. Little did Tastumi know at the time, learning how to hunt with that slingshot would be a gamechanger during the alien occupation. With Ouga heading back out to create a distraction, Tatsumi’s able to take one of the fliers down. Not before we get the expected shōnen manga explanation for how slingshots work, however.
The artwork in this whole series of panels is absolutely perfect. You can feel the excitement, the concentration, the height of the stakes as Tatsumi takes aim. The action is all portrayed so well, you actually feel like you’re standing behind him with Haruya, watching him and Ouga work seamlessly together on th is. I love that.
Alien Headbutt Celebrates Shirokiba the Hero
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One of the standout moments in Alien Headbutt Chapter 6 is Tatsumi’s realization. Ouga is a true hero, and nothing proves that more than what he’s already done. Risking his life numerous times, he saves Tatsumi and his little brother both. And he hasn’t even had a chance to save a single member of his own family yet.
From the very start of the manga, focus on Shirokiba’s love for his family stands out, even above his love of wrestling. A young man willing to sacrifice his own dream for the sake of his family will do whatever it takes to rescue them from the aliens. My only question that remains is how long this story can go on, and how many chapters it will entail. I haven’t looked anything up yet, so if there is info out there, I’ll have to search for it.
Without knowing the answers, I am curious to see how Alien Headbutt will address its future overall. I’m enjoying it a lot, but I won’t deny the plot’s simplicity. When I try to think about a bigger picture, beyond saving his family, it’s hard to imagine. Once Ouga’s family is rescued, he could potentially go on fighting aliens for years. But would that even stay interesting? And… what about the parasite within? How long before that becomes a problem?
Now my questions are just going into overtime, which we hate, so I’m shutting this brain down for the rest of the day.
Alien Headbutt Chapter 6 on a Scale of 1 to 10
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Six chapters later, and I’m still having fun with Alien Headbutt. Despite my own brain wanderings about the future, I definitely recommend it to manga readers looking for solid, action-packed art and a fun story. The characters continue to be interesting, and I remain interested in seeing why so many different aliens are battling for this one island on planet Earth.
It’s silly, but my favorite part of this chapter was Shirokiba running headlong into battle shouting, “Come and get me, ptero-dorks!”
It’s the kind of manga that would make a fun anime, almost Gintama-level fun. As much as I like Shirokiba the Hellhound, Sakata Gintoki is still my most favorite ridiculous protagonist of all time. Probably because I have a soft spot for Samurai, and obviously characters with messy white hair. Also, I now feel forced to admit that all of my declarations about being sick of manga aliens were obviously false. I need to stop lying… mostly to myself.
