Welcome to This Week in Shonen Jump, our weekly check in on Viz’s various Shonen Jump series. Viz has recently changed their release format, but our format will mostly remain the same. We will still review the newest chapters of one title a week, now with even more options at our disposal. The big change for our readers is that, even without a Shonen Jump subscription, you can read these most recent chapters for free at Viz.com or using their app.
This week, Robbie checks in with “Spy x Family.” If you have thoughts on this or any other current Shonen Jump titles, please let us know in the comments!
Spy x Family, Mission 86
Written and illustrated by Tatsuya Endo
Translated by Casey Loe
Lettered by Rina Mapa
Reviewed by Robbie Pleasant
One of the most engaging things about “Spy x Family” is how well it can shift between the more serious and comedic elements without compromising any of the parts that make it great. On one side, there’s a spy thriller featuring nations locked in a war of information, where lives hang in the balance based on a single secret. On the other side, there’s a pink-haired girl with amazing expressions and a love of peanuts.
Well, the latest arc has focused far more on the spy thriller side, with Loid chasing down a mole who stole information on Operation Strix (the very reason for Loid’s fake family). Along the way, it brought him into conflict with Yuri (Yor’s brother), got him shot, beaten, and nearly unmasked and killed (either of which would have been just about equally bad).
So, how does this chapter wrap up that story? With a combination of a cathartic return to comedy but also some dramatic plot and character progressions.
To be certain, it does still bring the spy escapades this chapter to a proper conclusion, showing the characters’ spycraft and wrapping up this part of the story as they escape (while continuing to put Nightfall’s tendency to internally freak out over how much she likes Loid/Twilight to good use). But the most poignant part of the chapter hits afterwards.
As Loid walks the stairs back to his apartment, we feel a weight lifted with him, basically in agreement with his statement that “it feels like I’m coming home for the first time in ages.” Seeing Yor’s smile as she welcomes him home comes as a relief to both us and the character, as it indicates a shift back to the relative safety of the main plot.
But these moments are filled with character work as well, as we see Loid actually collapse after he walks back in. Is this a sign of actual development for how he feels about this fake life he’s developed? Considering how he and others have commented that he’s growing soft, it would seem that this is the direction his character is going on. The character development continues through his conversation with Yor, showing them growing closer but also giving us a look at the internal conflict Loid is facing.
This also gives Tatsuya Endo a few moments to show off his skill with character expressions, with Loid getting a completely goofy expression, Yor getting both comedic panic and a bright smile, and a darkly serious look in Yuri’s eyes.
Speaking of, Yuri’s role in this chapter indicates a growing threat for Loid, as he gets his first hint that Loid is actually the super spy Agent Twilight. This ups the overall sense of danger in the secrets each character carries, reminding us that they’re facing real risks between the lighter and comedic scenes.
Aside from the expressions, the artwork remains solid all around. Endo has a knack for switching up the lighting, shading, and styles to match the atmosphere as needed, so when the mood switches, we’re taken instantly into the proper zone with the art style. This works to great effect when the mood lightens, and the panel uses white space and reflective lights to make the scene seem to glow, but also adding extra shading and details when things get more tense.
In short: chapter 86 of “Spy x Family” progresses the characters, story, and overarching atmosphere nicely, highlighting the developments as it goes on. All the while, the artwork leans into Endo’s strengths, utilizing extremely expressive characters to good effect while alternating the style and detailing to match the mood of each moment. It balances the drama and comedy nicely, as we’ve come to expect from this series.
Final Verdict: 8.9 – Another exciting chapter, bringing us back to the more lighthearted side of “Spy x Family” while still progressing the characters and plots to build tension.
