Asami Tojo (1972–2007)

This second story picks up Kaito where we left off in the first. We get a glimpse of the life he has set up for himself with Renge and how he tries to protect the boy while still giving him his independence. In this volume we are also introduced to the character of Tetsuo, a former orphanage mate of Kaito's and someone who Kaito considers a friend, but not vice versa. When Kaito is called in to take over an assassination from Tetsuo, Tetsuo retaliates by kidnapping Renge. Tetsuo's story is very disturbing and his rage is understandable. I think Kaito deals with him very well. Also very troubling is the idea that the "powers that be" sought out their assassins at this orphanage, training them from an early age to take on the job of killing other people. Unfortunately we never get to learn the reasons why this agency was set up as this is the final volume of the series.

Overall this was an interesting foray that delves into some rather horrifying plot lines and scenes. As before, the artwork is well done, Kaito is still the main feature and very attractive with glasses or without. The author's note at the end reveals that she deliberately drew the character to look older than he really is which is, once again, kind of alarming. The end leaves you with a hopeful vibe that Kaito and Renge will both wind up okay.

Although not a manga I would typically have chosen, when I saw this volume at Borders on clearance I couldn't resist. Luckily the library carried the first volume. Once again, an interesting read for the once through, but probably not one I'll read more than once.… (altro)

This is an interesting story about Kaito, a florist and assassin who uses his own code of ethics to determine who should be murdered. In the first episode Kaito is asked to bring Casablanca lilies (which also happen to be his "calling card" for the bodies he leaves behind) to the blind fiancée of a man who wants her dead. As the story moves forward we learn more about Kaito who seems both lonely and empathetic to those he meets. He certainly doesn't give an assassin sort of vibe, until he meets those other immoral killers he tends to hunt. When he discovers an orphan who has been watching him Kaito's sense of responsibility is touched and out of honor for the hospitalized brother who saved him he takes in the orphan, naming him Renge, after a mythologically fairy attracting blossom.

The artwork is well done, Kaito is an attractive character and Renge is very childlike. There is one very jarring panel of a murder scene, but otherwise I enjoyed the drawing as well as the story itself. Not one I'll read again, but good for a once through.… (altro)

X-Kai- Vol. 2 by Asami Tohjoh is only the second manga I’ve read. The first was X-Kai- Vol. 1 last year, which I primarily read because it was an ‘X’ title, and because I wanted to expand my horizons by reading manga. I liked the first volume quite a bit better. This second volume does finish up Kaito’s story which is nice, but it also has some darker themes going on as well.

Kaito is an assassin who works in a flower shop by day and also takes care of a boy named Renge. He doesn’t like his occupation but does it to help pay for his brother’s hospital care. His brother is a severe burn victim. There are four ’secrets’ in this volume, and the book includes both Renge and Kaito’s brother in the story. As I said, interesting to read — but dark.

2000, English translation 2006; 200 pp.

2.5/5… (altro)

I do confess that the only reason I read this was because it was an ‘X’ title that I needed for the A-Z Challenge. It was also my first manga, AND since it was originally in Japanese, I also counted it for the Japanese Literature Challenge. Reading a manga is interesting because you read the book from back to front and right to left. It wasn’t really that difficult to do, and I enjoyed reading this book just for the experience.

This book features Kaito, a skilled assassin who trained at a very young age. His day job is at a flower shop, and a mysterious woman comes there to give him his assignments. He then uses lilies as a guise to kill his victims. Kaito does have a heart, though, and even takes in a homeless boy. He also cares for his brother who is in a coma.

There are three mini-stories in this book, and some of the drawings are fairly graphic in nature so I would recommend this for adults only. Kaito is drawn in such a way that at first I didn’t know if he was male or female. However, he uses that as a disguise sometimes to lure his victims.

I would read the second volume, if only to fill the need for another ‘X’ title. Mangas are a new and very different genre for me. If you like manga and know of a series I might like, please let me know.… (altro)