A review by kingofspain93
Spy x Family, Vol. 8 by Tatsuya Endo

3.75

I’m a white american, so I’m lacking cultural context

Great volume. Giant hitman trap box on a cruise ship was good for Yor, it really allowed her some room to breathe. It was also a good opportunity to see Loid and Anya together, and how they are getting used to the family structure which is notably unsettled in Yor’s absence. 

There were some issues, though. First off, Endo’s characterization of Yor as a ditz doesn’t feel loving, it feels lazy. It really stands out when she is supposedly in an environment where she is extremely competent. And while having her question why she is still an assassin is an interesting move, it does (probably not incidentally) set the stage for her to shift to housewife mode while Loid stays employed as a spy. Let’s take the cool action scenes and give ‘em all to the dude? Lame!

Still, lots of great action on the cruise ship, including kills by Yor which I am always shocked + pleased to find are extremely violent. Loid moves into a comedic supporting role here as the spy who is trying to nail being a fun-loving dad on vacation and it works, lends him a little bit of himbo energy. I really think that this is what parenting must be like.