Spy x Family is essential reading for fans of the spy genre. Manga isn’t a new fad though. The art actually stretches back to the 12th century, long before Osamu Tezuka - Japan’s 'God of Comics' - used Manga to challenge and reinforce Japan’s official narrative during the late 1940s and Cold War.
Manga is a style of comic book or graphic novel typically serialized in magazines and compiled into tankōbon volumes. Manga creators - known as ‘mangaka’ - play a crucial role in shaping the narrative and artistic direction of their work.
Meanwhile, Anime (animated adaptations of Manga) includes TV or web series, films, and original video animations. It often features complex narratives, intricate world-building, and well-developed characters.
Ready to dive in? Here’s your fast track to the mysterious world of Manga, Anime, secret agents, and what’s hot to read and watch right now.
MANGA SECRET AGENTS & SPIES
Spy Classroom (Volumes 1-11) - After a gruesome war, the world’s governments adopt new tactics to further their agendas - wars fought in the shadows. Lily, a beautiful girl with white locks, is trained to become a capable spy.
Bloody Monday (Three series and a television drama) - High school student Takagi Fujimaru, alias Falcon, transforms into a genius hacker to clear his father's name after he's framed for murder but discovers a terrorist plot against Tokyo.
Mission: Yozakura Family (20 tankōbon volumes) - Orphan Taiyo Asano finds solace in childhood friend Mutsumi Yozakura but their lives take a spy twist when Taiyo discovers Mutsumi's teacher is her spy-related brother.
Spy x Family (Volumes 1- 12)- Spy x Family revolves around master spy Twilight, unparalleled when it comes to dangerous undercover missions. When he is assigned to get married and have a child though, he may finally be in over his head.
Alice in Borderland (18 tankōbon volumes) - Ryohei Arisu, 18, and his friends are transported to a parallel world but, far from being paradise, the new world is a vicious game. Alice in Borderland is the source of the hit Netflix drama.
Moriarty, The Patriot (Volumes 1-13) - The early days of detective Sherlock Holmes’ greatest rival, Moriarty, as he fights against the unfair class caste system in London. Can even the most well-intentioned plans spin out of control?
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Spy x Family is essential reading for fans of the spy genre. Manga isn’t a new fad though. The art actually stretches back to the 12th century, long before Osamu Tezuka - Japan’s 'God of Comics' - used Manga to challenge and reinforce Japan’s official narrative during the late 1940s and Cold War.
Manga is a style of comic book or graphic novel typically serialized in magazines and compiled into tankōbon volumes. Manga creators - known as ‘mangaka’ - play a crucial role in shaping the narrative and artistic direction of their work.
Meanwhile, Anime (animated adaptations of Manga) includes TV or web series, films, and original video animations. It often features complex narratives, intricate world-building, and well-developed characters.
Ready to dive in? Here’s your fast track to the mysterious world of Manga, Anime, secret agents, and what’s hot to read and watch right now.
MANGA SECRET AGENTS & SPIES
Spy Classroom (Volumes 1-11) - After a gruesome war, the world’s governments adopt new tactics to further their agendas - wars fought in the shadows. Lily, a beautiful girl with white locks, is trained to become a capable spy.
Bloody Monday (Three series and a television drama) - High school student Takagi Fujimaru, alias Falcon, transforms into a genius hacker to clear his father's name after he's framed for murder but discovers a terrorist plot against Tokyo.
Mission: Yozakura Family (20 tankōbon volumes) - Orphan Taiyo Asano finds solace in childhood friend Mutsumi Yozakura but their lives take a spy twist when Taiyo discovers Mutsumi's teacher is her spy-related brother.
Spy x Family (Volumes 1- 12)- Spy x Family revolves around master spy Twilight, unparalleled when it comes to dangerous undercover missions. When he is assigned to get married and have a child though, he may finally be in over his head.
Alice in Borderland (18 tankōbon volumes) - Ryohei Arisu, 18, and his friends are transported to a parallel world but, far from being paradise, the new world is a vicious game. Alice in Borderland is the source of the hit Netflix drama.
Moriarty, The Patriot (Volumes 1-13) - The early days of detective Sherlock Holmes’ greatest rival, Moriarty, as he fights against the unfair class caste system in London. Can even the most well-intentioned plans spin out of control?
Zero: The Man of the Creation Series (1-78 Volumes) - Zero is an expert in antiquities, archaeology, and art. He excels in uncovering the histories and unique qualities of artifacts - including curses - for clients. He searches the globe to provide answers and eliminate threats associated with these items.
Sakamoto Days(14 tankōbon volumes)- Once a legendary hitman, Sakamoto falls in love, retires, and becomes a shop owner. Now, with the help of a telepathic staff member, Sakamoto strives to safeguard his family in a world of hitmen.
Assassination Classroom(21 Volumes) - Meet the would-be assassins of class 3-E: Sugino, who let his grades slip. Karma, who keeps getting suspended for fighting, and Okuda, who excels at one subject: chemistry. What chance does their teacher have?
ANIME
Spy x Family - Engaged in a covert mission, a spy goes undercover, forming a family by marrying and adopting a child to solidify his cover. Yet, as the complexities of their intertwined lives unfold, his wife and daughter harbor secrets of their own, forcing the trio to navigate a delicate balance to preserve their facade and unity.
Joker Game- Set in 1937, just before the onset of WWII, Lieutenant Colonel Yūki establishes the D Agency, an Army intelligence unit, and instructs Lieutenant Sakuma to monitor the unit's operations.
Naruto - In the pursuit of recognition and the coveted title of Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki, a spirited and mischievous young ninja, navigates challenges and dreams within the hidden village.
Mission: Yozakura Family - Taiyo Asano, orphaned after a tragic car crash, finds solace in childhood friend Mutsumi Yozakura. Yet, his world turns upside down when he learns that Mutsumi's teacher, also her spy-related brother, hails from a family of spies.
Spy Classroom(aka Spy Room) - In the aftermath of a devastating war that left society in disarray, governments adopted a clandestine approach to advance their goals, engaging in covert conflicts. Lily, an elegant girl with striking white hair, attends an institution dedicated to molding young individuals into adept spies in this new era of shadow warfare.
ANIME - HONORABLE MENTION
Looking for something completely different? Check out these classics.
Attack on Titan - Attack on Titan isn’t a spy series but it is one of the best examples of Anime and worthy of your attention. Set In a post-apocalyptic world shielded by walls, Attack on Titan is the journey of protagonist Eren Yeager and his friends.
Dragon Ball- Dragon Ball unfolds the journey of Son Goku, a spirited young warrior who sets out on a quest for strength. Along the way, he discovers the existence of the Dragon Balls, powerful artifacts that, when all seven are collected, can grant any desired wish.
Spirited Away - Chihiro Ogino, 10, and her parents are en route to their new home when her father decides to explore an abandoned amusement park. On entering a mysterious house, Chihiro's parents are transformed into pigs, and she discovers an array of fantastical creatures, but can she reclaim her identity and rescue her folks?
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Gadgets & Gifts
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