REVIEW: ‘Spy x Family,’ Volume 3

Spy x Family is an action-packed comedy (and romantic comedy in some sense) about a fake family that includes a spy, an assassin, and their telepath adopted daughter. Written and illustrated by mangaka Tatsuya Endo and is localized in English by VIZ Media. Now in volume 3, you can also read individual chapters of the manga on the Shonen Jump app that has 37 chapters available as of the publishing of this review. In the series, Twilight is a master spy who is trying to save the world by, checks notes, starting a fake family. Yor is Twilight’s now wife and also an assassin who works under the codename: Thorn Princess. And then there is their adopted daughter Anya, who is a clumsy telepath who just wants them all to be happy. Now in Spy x Family Volume 3 you get to see the emotional connections start to simmer and the threat of the Secret Police become more real.

Spy x Family Volume 3 has chapters 12 through 17 (called “Missions” by Endo) as well as a bonus mission. For the main story, we pick up immediately after volume 2 with Yor’s younger brother Yuri coming to visit their fake household and the fake Forgers needing to put on a show for him.  What ensues is probably one of the most adorable sequences I’ve seen that both use as much physical humor as it can like Yuri chugging wine and emotional moments when you realize why Yuri is so obsessed with who sister is married to. At the same time, there is enough romantic tension that begins to build between Loid and Yor that it feels like more than acting.

Given that it was revealed that Yuri is actually an interrogator in the Secret Police that Loid is trying to take down, the night becomes both romantic comedy and spy thriller. As Loid begins to note elements of the Secret Police’s interrogation training he begins to question if Yor is on her brother’s job. This suspicion is the crux of the bulk of the volume.  While the last volume of Spy x Family focused on Anya and her scholarly pursuits – or lack thereof, Spy x Family Volume 3 focuses on Yor dealing with her complicated feelings about being a wife. Her marriage to Loid is as fake for her as it is for Loid.

After their dinner, Yor begins to question whether or not she is a good wife. She’s not the best cook, she doesn’t read emotion well, and Loid doesn’t really depend on her for anything. But this concern isn’t only brought up because of their dinner, it seems like it comes up from something else. Having never been on a date or in a relationship, Yor is starting to question how to make Loid happy. And Loid’s suspicions feed into her insecurity. This dynamic could easily undercut the strength that Endo has written for Yor but it doesn’t. She is still the independent assassin we met in the first volume but you can tell that her heart is opening up. On the other side of things, Loid’s is opening up too. As he questions her involvement with the Secret Police, he realizes that he should trust her, and ultimately, you begin to realize that he’s coming around because he cares for her, not because she proved him wrong.

Their romantic dynamic is bolstered by the bonus-mission that shows Yor and Loid going on a date. Yor is dealing with the ramifications of an assassination night on the town and Loid thinks he’s done something to make her upset. So he plans 700 plus date ideas sure to cheer her up.

Endo executes the balance between humor and romance effortlessly and once again leaves readers with characters that you can fall for. Additionally, Endo’s art is extremely unique, specifically in how they illustrate emotions for each character. The exaggeration of their faces in simplistic ways makes for comedy and the dialogue pulls at your heart and makes you laugh. Overall, Spy x Family Volume 3 is a great continuation of the series and a volume I highly recommend. Additionally, like the other physical volumes, the physical version has a beautiful cover with a light gloss that makes it perfect for collectors.

Spy x Family Volume 3 is available now from booksellers.