SENGOKU YOUKO (VOL. 2), from TokyoPop on 7/12/23, expands the circle of friends surrounding Lady Tama and Jinka when sibling assassins come for Jinka’s head.
The Details
- Written by: Satoshi Mizukami
- Art by: Satoshi Mizukami
- Letters by: Satoshi Mizukami
- Cover art by: Satoshi Mizukami
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $15.25
- Release date: July 12, 2023
Is It Good?
SENGOKU YOUKO (VOL. 2) takes Lady Tama and Jinka on two adventures that increase their circle of friends, increase their knowledge of threats hunting them, and give Jinka an impressive power upgrade. It’s all in a day’s work for adoptive siblings that aren’t quite human.
When last we left Lady Tama and her adoptive brother Jinka, they made friends with Shinsuke (a would-be warrior) and Saku ( a human bonded with a katawara). Now, an assassin comes to challenge Jinka on behalf of the Dangaishuu, resulting in a draw and mutual respect. When the assassin’s sister comes to finish what her brother started, the challenges become infinitely more dangerous.
Satoshi Mizukami captures the spirit (literally and figuratively) of a band of supernaturally enhanced misfits who simply want to belong. Through their interactions – some friendly and some not-so-much – the characters find a common ground that leads them to become respectful allies with the possibility of more. Each character is endearing in a unique way, and the action is exciting.
How’s the art? Satoshi Mizukami’s figure designs and facial acting are excellent. Lady Tama, in particular, picks up on the thoughts of her brother through little facial expressions and gestures to make it seem like they almost have a telepathic bond (they don’t… yet). Despite the slightly cartoonish character designs, every character presents a human, grounded quality that draws you in.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our SENGOKU YOUKO (VOL. 1) review to find out how Lady Tama and Jinka became friends with Shaku and Shinsuke.
We begin with the four friends enjoying an afternoon of training and chores when they receive word of a katarwara eating people in a nearby village. Lady Tama and Jinka head out to take care of the monster, believing they can dispatch it quickly. When they find the monster and prepare to attack, the monster is immediately destroyed by a new arrival – Zanzou Raidou.
Zanzou is an assassin hired to take out Jinka on behalf of the Dangaishuu, and he’s come to challenge Jinka. Fearing nearby villagers may be hurt, Jinka agrees. The duel is fierce, and Jinka loses, but Zanzou decides not to kill Jinka because he appears to not be evil.
Later, Zinzou’s masters insist on a rematch to the death, or they will harm Zanzou’s sister. What Zanzou doesn’t know is that his sister has bonded with a katawara and become a powerful assassin. We conclude the issue with a rematch, a wayward sister, and a dragon.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
SENGOKU YOUKO (VOL. 2) continues the entertaining tale about inhuman siblings with a mission to kill monsters and make the world a better place. Satoshi Mizukami’s tale captures the essence of sibling bickering and big Manga action with a simple-but-effective plot plus great art.
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.