Kill Blue

Fans have eagerly awaited Tadatoshi Fujimaki’s follow-up to "Kuroko’s Basketball," and it's finally here with "Kill Blue." Unlike his previous sports manga, this time Fujimaki ventures into fantasy assassin territory, demonstrating the author's impressive range. The basic story follows legendary assassin Juzo Ogami, who, after completing a job, gets stung by a mysterious bee while relaxing on his balcony. Unexpectedly, this turns him into a child! When Ogami informs his boss he must pause his assassination work, he’s instead tasked to enroll in a middle school. Initially reluctant, he soon discovers the joy of studying, beginning to appreciate school life. However, various incidents begin occurring at the school, forcing Ogami to secretly solve them without revealing his assassin background. While the early chapters follow an episodic format, the main story revolves around extracting information from his classmate, Noren Mitsuoka. Noren happens to be the daughter of a CEO whose pharmaceutical company is allegedly responsible for the bee that rejuvenated Ogami. Complications arise when Noren's parents announce her arranged marriage, intended to secure the company's future. Ogami, who already has an ex-wife and daughter, isn't thrilled but must still extract information from Noren. Soon, various threats targeting the pharmaceutical heir emerge, leading to battles involving Ogami, rival assassins, and enemies keen on acquiring the rejuvenation drug. How will Ogami’s journey unfold? This sets up the core narrative. With assassin-themed manga recently gaining popularity, readers should easily adapt to this setting. Think of it as "Sakamoto Days" meets "SPY×FAMILY." Fujimaki’s exceptional artwork—proven through "Kuroko’s Basketball"—delivers detailed characters and dynamic action scenes, providing immersive reading. Each character is distinctively portrayed, and readers can easily empathize with them, a crucial aspect for manga storytelling. Although somewhat contrived, the plot moves swiftly, maintaining a brisk pace. With series like "My Hero Academia" and "Jujutsu Kaisen" concluding, whether "Kill Blue" becomes a new flagship for Jump depends on future developments.

June 18, 2025

A slight disappointment, personally speaking, was how far into fantasy territory the manga ventures—similar feelings arose during "Kuroko’s Basketball." Ogami's sharpshooting expertise was acceptable, but later chapters introduce enemies with outlandish supernatural abilities. This direction seems inevitable as the story progresses. "Kuroko’s Basketball" also started believably but eventually escalated into exaggerated fantasy, leaving readers thinking, "Surely, that's impossible!" Personally, I prefer realistic depictions when the story is set in a recognizable world. Thus, this fantasy direction feels slightly disappointing, despite otherwise excellent story and character developments. However, if you enjoy the exaggerated fantasy of "Prince of Tennis" or "Kuroko’s Basketball," "Kill Blue" will certainly appeal to you. Still, unlike those previous series, I don't see this manga capturing the devoted female fanbase of otaku girls to the same extent.

June 18, 2025