VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia
MANGAKA: Tatsuya Endo
TRANSLATION/ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Casey Loe
LETTERS: Rina Mapa
EDITOR: Amy Yu
ISBN: 978-1-9747-1724-6; paperback (December 2020); Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK
Spy × Family is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tatsuya Endo. It has been serialized biweekly for free on the Shōnen Jump+ application and website since March 25, 2019. VIZ Media began publishing an English-language edition of the manga as a paperback graphic novel series under its “Shonen Jump” imprint in June 2020.
Spy × Family focuses on the mysterious master spy, “Twilight,” a man of a hundred faces with extraordinary combat, memory, and information processing skills. His latest mission takes him from his native Westalis to its neighbor to the east, The People's Republic of Ostania. To protect a fragile truce between Westalis and Ostania, he must get close to Donovan Desmond, a politician, and spy on his activities. To do that, Twilight poses as a family man, “Loid Forger,” with a pretend-wife, Yor Briar, and an elementary school-age daughter named “Anya.” Is Twilight finally in over his head?
Spy × Family, Vol. 2 (Chapters 6 to 11) opens at prestigious Eden Academy on its “Admissions Day.” Now, Twilight and Yor will learn if Anya has been admitted to the school, which she must if Twilight is to be successful in his mission. But Twilight may have done something that could cost the child admittance into Eden.
Later, Anya learns about the academy's system of merits (“Stella” or stars) and demerits (“Tonitrus bolts), the hard way. Plus, Twilight plots “the Friendship Scheme” as a way for Anya to get close to her Eden classmate, Damian Desmond, the second son of Donovan Desmond. However, the plan goes awry as soon as the two children meet.
[This volume includes the bonus manga, “Extra Mission 1;” “Spy × Family Confidential Files: Franky's Secret Files;” a bonus illustration; and “Anya's Favorite Things.”]
THE LOWDOWN: The Spy × Family manga (which is apparently pronounced “Spy Family”) is a spy manga with a domestic twist. The family part of the series is a story of growing love, and the spy part is edgy and filled with suspense.
Spy × Family Graphic Novel Volume 2 does two things. First, it introduces new characters, including a classroom rival and also a best friend for Anya. Creator Tatsuya Endo also provides a deeper look at some supporting cast members, including Henry Henderson, Headmaster at Eden Academy. The second thing is that Endo reveals that the series' world of spies and Twilight's mission are more complicated than the first volume suggested.
Casey Loe's English-language adaptation captures the nuance of the dialogue, character relationships and drama, and the plot. While Vol. 2 of Spy × Family is not as dialogue heavy as the first volume was, the narrative remains a complexity of different tones, both in drama and comedy. Once upon a time, it would have been published under VIZ Media's “Shonen Jump Advanced” imprint, which is no longer used. Spy × Family is no mere shonen manga, nor is it a battle manga. The drama can be poignant, but the comedy can by seriously edgy. I think this is a series to keep watching.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of secret agents and of international intrigue will want to spy on the “Shonen Jump” title Spy × Family.
A
8 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
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