Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon is an unconventional manga and anime series, given its lead is a human turned into a vending machine. With volume 2 of the series, we’re getting a better appreciation of how the unique skillset of the character can aid people, as well as how he could still be understood even with such a limited amount of information.
Editor’s Note: There will be some spoilers for Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon manga volume 2 below.
We get to see Boxxo’s versatility in some major ways here. The manga begins with the obvious. Lammis and the group are in the midst of a battle, so everything starts with Boxxo finding a way to convey a potential strategy for the fight. He stocks sodas first, then Mentos like candies. After a bit of a miscommunication, people finally figure out what he’s trying to convince them to do. The result is an especially effective type of attack that ends up helping to win the battle, while also showing his transformative ability.
But from there, we see how his growth and development influences his interactions with others and leads to new options. For example, immediately after that Boxxo happens upon a way to communicate with and encourage Lammis with his limited vocabulary. Seeing him continue to learn to work with what he has is really encouraging. It also helps further the idea that Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon can be more than just a joke manga playing with the idea of what an isekai could be. We’re seeing the beginnings of real communication and progress.
It’s the additional growth that we eventually see showcased at the end of he volume. Because of Boxxo’s newfound skills and experimentation throughout volume 2, when he meets Hulemy we see all of that come together. The language skills he’s been honing and means of using what phrases he has to communicate? That’s there. Using purchased transformations and strategy to survive? That’s there too. It comes together so well.
It’s in Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon volume 2 that we’re really seeing the manga and story develop into something beyond a play on how ridiculous isekai series have been. The series is taking chances and showing how it can grow and Boxxo can become useful.
Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon volume 2 is available now, and Yen Press will release volume 3 in the future. The anime is streaming on Crunchyroll.
