The Most Frustrating Inconsistency in Jujutsu Kaisen: Analyzing the Black Flash Phenomenon

Jujutsu Kaisen has garnered acclaim for its combat mechanics; however, one notable inconsistency arises from the Black Flash technique. Critically, this ability appears unexpectedly, as acknowledged by the characters themselves, which can serve as a convenient plot device. Furthermore, this technique is claimed to boost a user’s power by a factor of 2.5.

Understanding this concept may initially be challenging, yet if this holds true within the context of Jujutsu Kaisen, it presents a myriad of contradictions in the narrative, particularly regarding character strength, which ought to be significantly higher.

For instance, considering the prowess of powerful sorcerers in the story such as Satoru Gojo and Ryomen Sukuna, these individuals should have been capable of obliterating their foes effortlessly. Nevertheless, their targets continue to endure, casting doubt on the supposed amplification of power.

**Note:** This article contains spoilers from the series.

Examining the Inconsistencies Associated with Black Flash in Jujutsu Kaisen

Characters utilizing Black Flash in the anime (Image via MAPPA).

The manga asserts that a Black Flash can enhance a character’s power by 2.5, which inherently creates a plot inconsistency, because this enhancement should yield vastly different results.

Take the example when Ryomen Sukuna struck Maki Zen’in with a Black Flash on two occasions; according to the technique’s purported power-up, this should have completely annihilated her, yet she survived and continued to battle.

Additionally, Sukuna himself ought to have been severely impacted when assaulted by Satoru Gojo’s Black Flash, but he remained in the fight. Some might contend that Sukuna’s strength allows him to withstand such strikes, but it’s pivotal to note that Gojo’s strength is comparable to Sukuna’s, making it logical to expect that such a power increase would be sufficient to defeat him.

The 2.5 power increase becomes puzzling when we consider that such a surge should enable characters to utterly obliterate opponents with a Black Flash attack.

A telling instance occurred when Mahito struck Yuji Itadori with a Black Flash during the Shibuya Incident arc. This assault should have been lethal, given their comparable strengths.

Additional Aspects Relating to Black Flash

Yuji Itadori performing Black Flash in the manga (Image via Shueisha).

In light of everything, the most significant inconsistency regarding Black Flash in Jujutsu Kaisen emerges during the Shinjuku Showdown arc, where Yuji Itadori repeatedly employed this technique against Sukuna.

There is a scene where Yuji, known for his extraordinary strength as a sorcerer, unleashed multiple Black Flashes consecutively on the King of Curses, which should logically have been sufficient to eliminate him.

The overarching issue is that while the Black Flash has been established as a formidable enhancement for users, the impacts fail to align with the anticipated level of strength. Numerous instances indicate that characters who should have perished from a Black Flash attack survive and keep fighting, revealing a noticeable plot inconsistency.

Concluding Thoughts

Jujutsu Kaisen undeniably presents major inconsistencies, particularly regarding the Black Flash technique, which poses as a significant plot hole when evaluating its emergence and the severity of damage it inflicts.

This aspect appears to be an area where author Gege Akutami faltered, ultimately diminishing the quality of some pivotal battles throughout the series.

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