MANGA REVIEW | "Kill Blue" - Volume One
It’s surprising that there aren’t many series that follow Detective Conan’s formula. The idea of a lead character being de-aged and forced to find the culprits and a cure is so ingenious, that the lack of imitators is something of a shocker. Perhaps that’s why Kuroko’s Basketball creator Tadatoshi Fujimaki figured the time was right to bring his own twist to Gosho Aoyama’s formula, in the form of Kill Blue. Thankfully, there’s enough uniqueness here that makes this series stand out from the one who believes that one truth prevails.
Our hero in Kill Blue is the legendary hitman Juzo Ogami, a man whose tactics could give Agent 47 a run for his money. However, a little accident involving a genetically-altered wasp and its sting takes out Juzo. The good news is that he survives, but he’s no longer the big scary divorcee who’s got child support to pay for. No, Juzo’s now stuck in the body of a middle schooler, and is now out of a job. That’s when the head of the Z.O.O. assassination syndicate gives Juzo a simple assignment: go to a middle school the president aims to send their kid and judge how safe it is.
This is a job that seems demeaning to the nearly 40-year old hitman. That is, until Juzo starts actually enjoying his middle school life. But his mission gets a lot more complicated when Noren Mitsuoka enters his life. Not only is she the most popular girl at school, but Noren also happens to be the daughter of the president of the pharmaceutical company that made the age-reversing serum that runs through Juzo’s veins. And now the only way to get cure may very well be for Juzo to marry Noren.
There’s quite a bit to digest in Kill Blue. On top of Juzo’s own issues, he’s now shouldering the troubles and suffering of Noren. Perhaps it’s his way to become a better person, what with his last marriage ending terribly. However, his ideas regarding chivalry and even housework are so outdated, it would seem like Juzo came from the 1950s. As such, he’s got quite a lot of maturing to do, both mentally and physically. Oddly enough, that’s where Noren may be able to help Juzo with.
The two middle schoolers, despite their many differences, find each other as their avenue to deal with frustrations. Although Juzo can’t fully reveal to Noren why he’s attending this middle school, he can at least find ways to get his problems off his chest with some clever wordplay. As for Noren, on top of Juzo being the only guy not chasing her skirt, she sees her classmate as someone who fully listens to her family troubles. Oh yeah, and being the daughter of a big company makes her a target for kidnappings.
It’s when Noren enters the picture when Kill Blue starts firing in all cylinders. Even if Juzo’s quest to grow up again is the main focus, having now to possibly marry Noren to get the cure adds some fun (and often funny) complications to the plan. But even in a middle schooler’s body, Juzo can fight. And boy, does he whoop a lot of kidnapper ass! These fight scenes reach the same heights as Sakamoto Days, with its own share of clever means of beating up baddies and rescuing the damsel-in-distress.
Just one teeny problem: he can’t exactly fight the bullies at school in fear of expulsion, transforming our Number One Hitman into Hojo Tokiyuki. And why are they bullying him? Well, this is where Noren can be blamed for a brand-new headache of Jozu. And it’s a situation that results in the hitman and middle school target having all of the world’s eyes on them. Not even escaping to Home Ec and attempting to make rice balls can keep these two from dealing with all sorts of enemies.
Kill Blue starts things off on a strong foot. It takes a premise I’m surprised hasn’t been copied by many, and adds a terrific flavor to it. Although it takes a bit for all the gears to start turning, Volume One delivers with some great fights, good laughs, and some nice heartfelt character growth. Like ramen broth made by a loving family member, Kill Blue’s debut volume goes down nicely and satisfyingly!
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media. Coming to the US in 2025!
