Black Clover Chapters 372 and 373 Review - Noelle's Big Moment

Black Clover Chapters 372 and 373 were released on Wednesday in the 2024 summer issue of Jump GIGA, giving Noelle and the rest of the Silva family around 50 pages worth of emotional moments and intense fighting. The newly released chapters were highly anticipated once fans learned it would be centered around Noelle and it didn’t disappoint in the slightest.

With detailed artwork and many callbacks to other characters including Asta and Fuegoleon, the new chapters did Noelle and her family justice. The most common criticism of the chapters is that they felt a little rushed, which can be understandable considering this is a very significant moment in the Black Clover story and for the Silva family overall.

But this hasn’t been the first time Black Clover fans have been critical of the story’s pacing since it moved from Weekly Shonen Jump to Jump GIGA in 2023. That being said, series creator Yuki Tabata still managed to find a way to give us two amazingly well-thought-out chapters that left plenty of room for discussion and praise.

When we take into consideration the abuse, self-doubt, and inner conflict that Noelle has endured since the very beginning of the series, it finally feels like a huge weight has been lifted off of her shoulders with the events from these chapters. When a story can make you feel genuinely happy for a character as it did for me with Noelle in chapter 373, that’s how you know the writing for a story is solid.

It was difficult not to get emotional. Facing her own mother who she never got to see growing up. Solid and Nebra finally apologizing after all they’ve done to her. And Nozel living by Acier’s own words of protecting his younger siblings, even if it means harming himself in the process. All of this happened in a flash for Noelle and, in a way, maybe that’s how Tabata intended it to be.

These chapters also prove that Noelle is way stronger than she realizes. Nozel could see it and, eventually, Solid and Nebra did too. Having the latter of the three having to physically be with Noelle to stabilize her magic so it can be semi-controlled in order to end it all was a nice moment that Tabata built up from the very beginning of the story.

Nozel being poisoned by his mercury while Nebra and Solid both bleeding from Noelle’s magical pressure-building was a fine scenario of atonement after all they did, even more so realistic for Nozel. Do they still have a long way to go? Absolutely. They can’t erase what they did to Noelle and some may argue their apology to her wasn’t enough. But to Noelle, it was.

That’s all she ever wanted from her siblings. Even though the apology was brief, it was good enough for her and the tears proved it. We also have to remember, they are in a life-and-death battle here. So it’s not like they had time to sit down and talk over some tea about how remorseful they are either. But I’m sure once the war is over, they will hopefully have their time together and we get a more drawn-out resolution to the Silva family story.

Were these chapters rushed? Sure, that argument is understandable. Although, you wouldn’t think that from just how incredibly detailed the artwork is. I for one wouldn’t complain to see more of Noelle fighting Acier. But around 50 pages worth of Noelle at the forefront of everything and the Silva family coming together is one of my favorite moments in all of Black Clover and always will be. These chapters may have been centered around family, but I still say the spotlight was on Noelle the entire time.

Noelle becoming the spitting image of her mother in her siblings’ eyes who she had to end up defeating is heartbreaking, yet also relieving. She never got a chance to be with her mother like the other Silva siblings did. So for her to take on the mantle of leading them against Acier truly defined how much Noelle has grown.

What many fans forget is that between now and when Noelle went to train for the upcoming war where she made a promise to herself that she’ll protect a home for Asta to come back to, they still haven’t seen each other yet. There’s much to unfold still with the story, but I cannot wait for the reunion between Asta and Noelle. If she says, “Welcome home” with a smile on her face and tears in her eyes, I will be bawling in my own glass case of emotion.

Black Clover chapters 372-373 are available to read on the official Shonen Jump and Manga Plus apps.

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BLACK CLOVER © 2015 by Yuki Tabata/SHUEISHA Inc.