SPY X FAMILY CH. 44 – The Honest Review

In SPY X FAMILY CH. 44, available from Weekly Shonen Jump on April 22nd, 2021, Yor aka Princess Thorn has been called in for a new assignment – protect the surviving members of a mob family on an escape cruise without her own “family” finding out.

The Details

• Written By: Tatsuya Endo
• Art By: Tatsuya Endo
• Translation By: Casey Loe
• Letters By: Rina Mapa
• Release Date: April 22, 2021

Was It Good?

Before we get into it, we’re thrilled to add Spy x family as a second manga title. This series is a delight so far as a blend of action and comedy. We hope you’ll like it, too.

Yes, it was good. Up to this point in the series, Loid, Yor, and Anya’s adventures largely take place outside their home and in some isolation from each other. This time, we’re brought into one of Yor’s assignments from the beginning (a first) so we’re getting a fair bit of character development with a “day in the life” arc for our assassin wife/mother. It’s a new perspective combined with all the sweetness and charm that makes this series successful.

What’s It About?

[SPOILERS AHEAD]

Yor aka thorn Princess is called in to meet the Gardener for her next assignment. A mob boss with strong ties to her agency has been killed and Yor is asked to protect the surviving mob family as they flee the country on a ship. The new mob boss put out a very expensive hit on the survivors so it’s expected many assassins will be looking for them. The survivors are leaving in secret, so Yor is simply there just in case.

Of course, it wouldn’t be fun if everything went according to plan.

What’s interesting about this opening scene is the introduction of the Gardener as Yor’s real boss. We see he’s every bit as dangerous as Yor and he leads the agency with a serene demeanor that you instantly respect. Endo does an excellent job of designing the character to look older and world-weary while still being quite deadly.

On the way home from the meeting, Yor runs into her brother, Yuri, on the train and they discuss getting together for dinner. Their schedules don’t mesh and they settle on a raincheck. What works for this scene is Yor’s consideration for Yuri’s place as an adult with an important job. Becoming an assassin was necessary when they were kids, and she’s realizing she doesn’t need the work now.

Cut to a Loid and Anya shopping at a store where a raffle is being held. The raffle prize is two tickets for a cruise ship. Anya uses her mind-reading powers to figure out the ticket holder is trying to cheat customers so he can keep the ticket for himself, but she figures it out and wins the raffle.

If there’s one down of this chapter, it’s that the cruise trip Anya wins is on the exact same ship as Yor’s assignment. It’s way too convenient and coincidental. Anya is always a treat to see, but this plot point was too contrived to be believed.

When everyone gets home, Anya delivers the good news to Yor at the same time Yor explains she has to take a “business trip” for work. NOw they’ll all be on the same ship together while Loid and Yor are having fun and Yor (potentially) has to stop a small army of assassins from killing a mob family.

How Does It End?

Yor considers a different future. Loid asks for forgiveness. Yor isn’t going to have a chance to relax.

Final Thoughts

SPY X FAMILY CH. 44, available from Weekly Shonen Jump on April 22nd, 2021, sets up the latest chapter with greater insights into Yor’s real job, and fun shenanigans with Anya fooling a con man. Despite a contrived plot point that puts the whole family together, this was a fun chapter.

Score: 8.5/10