The Geek Ex-Hitman, Vol. 1

そのヲタク、元殺し屋。 #1

by Ko-dai

In his life as a hitman, Marco never failed to eliminate his targets. Known throughout Italy as “The Oracle of Florence,” he made a name for himself executing his missions quickly and silently, with no hesitation. However, one day, in the course of his work, he comes upon a remarkably cute figurine that will change his life forever! Determined to track down the source of such a charming visage, he leaves Italy behind to immerse himself in the world of anime, manga, and games! But his departure ruffles more than a few feathers, and now, with a bounty on his head, Marco can’t let his guard down just yet...

Genres: Manga, Humor, Comedy, Graphic Novels, Crime, Comics Manga, Comics

194 pages, Paperback

First published August 23, 2022

Reviews

[Francis Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Marco, one of the best hitmen in Italy commonly known in the underworld as T. O. (The Oracle), and his journey into becoming an Otaku in Japan.

A friend of mine recommended it to me, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It obviously reminded me of The Way of the House husband, but it is different enough not to get the two mixed up. If you like House husband you will probably enjoy this manga too!

The secondary characters are quite entertaining: they are two secret agents (Viviana and Andre) ordered by the Italian government to capture Marco dead or alive. Viviana is actually a secret fujoshi and loves the same anime as Marco, while Andre gets entrapped in the other two's project of creating a doujinshi together. There is also a very cute cat called yakuza!

The style is angular and almost sketch-like, and the dialogues are very entertaining.

One last comment: as an Italian it was nice seeing Italian words written correctly!

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marco is the much feared “Oracle of Florence”—a notorious hitman known for always completing his jobs with ruthless and unrelenting efficiency.

Or, well, he was known as a fearsome hitman.

When he came across a remarkably cute figurine on a job, he decided the quit his life as a hitman and move to Japan to commit his life to anime, manga, and games!

Now, to his similarly geeky friends he’s T.O. — The Otaku of Florence!

Unfortunately, it’s not so easy to leave such a notorious life behind.

When some of Marco’s old colleagues and enemies come calling, will he be able to take care of them and preserve his new, happy life?

Or, will he be pulled out of retirement?

So, I f*cking LOVE this!

Whatever this emerging manga genre is of spy/hitman/yakuza/tough guy + [cute thing] = slice of life story — I LOVE IT! It’s my absolute favorite genre of manga to read currently!

This story is so funny and it has so many sweet characters throughout! The story paired with the art style is just absolutely dynamic and engaging. I had so much fun reading this manga and laughing out loud at the bizarre situations Marco and squad got themselves into.

I cannot wait to read more!

This is such a great pick for fans of The Way of the Househusband, The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting, Spy x Family, and, of course, the recent and much beloved Buddy Daddies anime~

[Peach Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no expectations going in other than it being about a hitman that becomes an otaku. Marco has easily become one of my favorite characters in manga overall. He is funny, earnest, and well dressed. He definitely gives of cuddly Aizawa vibes. Since he gave up his hitman career to pursue his passion of geekdom, other hitmen have been sent by the Italian government to take him out. But the two that get sent, end up getting roped into his shenanigans. If you are a fan of Spy X Family or Great Pretender this manga is for you. I would give it a 5 star review but I reserve those for works of art. I will definitely be pre-ordering the next copy.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very strong Wotakoi and Way of the House Husband vibes over here 🥰

[Sheepy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rather interesting premise, it was quite fun to read and the art was really intriguing also!

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

An otaku assassin, followed by a girl otaku/fujoshi assassin, what could possibly go wrong?


Meet Marco, an otaku and assassin who decides to retire and go to Japan to watch anime, go to concerts, and get all the goods for his favourite show + more (also he is afraid of cockroaches). He is done with murder and all he wants is live a quiet life. I really loved that he was wooed by anime and decided to just give it all up. Then again, I can’t blame him. Being an assassin is a tough and tiring job, whereas now he can just enjoy some quiet time. Or well, in the beginning.

Because of course, people aren’t happy with him leaving not the assassins and not the people who have been looking for him for years as he is so dangerous, so insert more assassins, including a girl named Viviani who is a BL fujoshi and makes up all sorts of cough interesting BL stories. Then there is a guy named André who sticks around, in his words to make sure these two don’t do anything…. but actually he just loves the pancakes in Japan.

At first they are pretty stand-offish towards each other, but slowly they are just getting together for things (mostly otaku stuff) and they even are thinking about making a doujinshi, yes really. I was just laughing and enjoying myself so much. I loved the mix of action with humour with otakuness.

The art is a bit rough/not entirely my style, but it does fit the manga.

Plus, I love the action scenes! Marco may be retired but don’t screw around or he will go all out (in otaku fashion at times which had me in stitches).

All in all, this is one series that I definitely want to keep on reading!

Review also posted on https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[S.Q. Eries · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Summary

If you’re not versed in anime/manga culture, The Geek Ex-Hitman might not be a good fit. But if you’re an established weeb, this title’s entertaining in how it juxtaposes a hardened Italian cast with otaku tropes. The artwork complements the jokes well, and overall, it’s lighthearted if otaku-heavy fun.

The Review

Marco is “The Oracle of Florence,” a.k.a. T.O., one of Italy’s top assassins. But his life takes a turn when he encounters a remarkably cute figure during a hit. Utterly charmed, he abandons the Italian underworld and moves to Japan to immerse himself in anime and manga! But a new leaf doesn’t erase his sordid past, and the Italian government sends out its best to eliminate him.

I was puzzled at first that the translation used the older term “otaku” in favor of the more recent “weeb.” It turns out the choice is deliberate because Marco’s T.O. handle gets misinterpreted by his weeb community as the acronym for “Top Otaku.” If you know Italian, you’ll realize T.O. doesn’t make much sense as an Italian moniker, but if you don’t sweat that detail (and the fact that all the Italians have no trouble communicating and interacting with the Japanese populace), the dialogue’s pretty funny.

The story opens with Marco in Japan and fully entrenched and accepted in the otaku community. But while he’s adopted all weeb mannerisms, he still–as you might expect–retains all his assassin skills.

The chapters are short. The 194-page volume contains 11 chapters. I expected this manga to be episodic, that it would be a collection of short anecdotes about how Marco’s appearance doesn’t jibe with the personality beneath. While the first three chapters are along those lines, things change once Secret Agent Viviana enters the story.

Unlike Marco, Viviana is a lifelong weeb and hard-core fujoshi to boot. Thus, she’s thrilled to get sent to Japan for her newest mission. However, she’s thrown out of sorts when she discovers that she and her target T.O. have more in common than she realized. The POV shifts to Viviana for certain scenes, and the BL scripts she overlays onto Marco during her stakeouts are hilarious.

Then a third Italian, Andre, gets added to the mix. Unlike Marco and Viviana, he despises otaku culture. Ultimately, he winds up the unwilling normie that the other two drag into their weeb activities.

Due in large part to this combination of personalities, I found this highly trained killers/weeb culture combo really entertaining. However, I’m biased because I’m a long-time otaku. Newcomers unfamiliar with Comiket, doujinshi, and anime tropes probably will have trouble grasping much of the humor. Also, the characters are all grown adults, so this title will likely resonate more with older readers.

Extras include first page in color, artwork on the inside covers, three pages of bonus comics, and translation notes. Oddly, the honorifics list of the translation notes does not include the -shi honorific used by Marco and his otaku compatriots.

For more manga and book reviews, drop by my blog Keeping It In Canon!

[LG (A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marco was once known as "The Oracle of Florence," or "T.O." He was a hitman for the mafia who suddenly disappeared for no apparent reason. What really happened: one of his targets had a Hades Girl Eurydice anime figure that snagged his attention. He canceled all his jobs, went to Japan, and became an otaku.

The mafia didn't take well to this, but they also didn't know his true motives. They figured he was planning on turning on them at some point, so they sent Viviana to take him out. However, Viviana happens to be a secret fujoshi. When Viviana is perceived as dragging her feet over completing her mission to kill Marco, another hitman named Andre is sent. He, too, is sucked into the otaku vortex in his own way.

Despite the fact that I know actual gangsters/mafia/etc. are dangerous people, I seem to be drawn to titles that make them cute, cuddly, and/or funny. Between this, The Way of the Househusband, The Yakuza's Guide to Babysitting, and other works, I'm not lacking for things to read. I bought the first couple volumes of this series because of that aspect, and because I liked the cover art.

It's ironic that the artwork turns out to be one of the things I dislike most about this series. It works well enough at conveying a sense of movement, so the action scenes are decent, but people's faces have a tendency to look really odd - eyes, chins, and mouths all out of whack. On the plus side, based on a quick flip-through of volume 2, it seems like Ko-dai improves a bit.

In terms of jokes, so far the series doesn't add anything new. All of Marco's intensity and toughness is now turned towards living his best otaku life rather than killing people, so on the one hand there's the otaku who naively see him as entirely one of them ("T.O." means "Top Otaku," dontcha know?) and on the other there are people who take one look at him and think he's seconds away from killing them. Viviana is a typical fujoshi, right down to the part where she mentally pairs Marco off with any guy he's even a little friendly towards - could we have a fujoshi character who just ships fictional characters, please? And then there's Andre. I can't reveal what manga his part reminds me of without spoiling things, but I wouldn't say the jokes involving him were all that fresh or unusual either.

I wonder, is this series ever going to get into the fact that none of the characters really have jobs right now (I realize Viviana and Andre's statuses are debatable, but still), and they're all involved in hobbies that require money? I'm probably thinking too much, but I can't help it.

I'll see how well volume 2 works out, but this doesn't seem like a series I'll be keeping up with for long.

Extras:

One full-color illustration, the cover illustration sketch, a few four-panel comics, and 6 pages of translator's notes.

(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)

[Oswego Public Library District]

Marco, a notorious hitman who never failed at a job, was once the terror of Italy. Then one day he gives it all up to embrace his life as a dedicated otaku in Japan. His new obsession doesn’t erase his sordid past, and the Italian government puts a bounty on his head to be captured dead or alive. He’s pursued by another expert hitman, Viviana, a secretive fujoshi, who’s in for a surprise when she finally encounters Italy’s top assassin. Following hard on her heels is yet another hitman, Andre, who doesn’t understand either one of them.

These three make up a strange but lovable trio as they clash with explosive gunslinging feats and their mismatched personalities. This smoothly flowing manga is packed with plenty of action and passion that is topped only by the superb humor. It’s perfect for those who are engaged with anime/manga culture, and for fans of Spy X Family and The Way of the Househusband , though it has its own unique and attractively messy art style. Marco is so adorably earnest as he collects all the latest merch and snatches up tickets to every concert, and Viviana’s impromptu BL pairings are a delightful diversion.

Never underestimate the power of geeks. -AD

Click here to place a hold: My Geek Ex-Hitman Vol. 1 .

Continue the series with My Geek Ex-Hitman Vol. 2 .

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit silly, but funny and cute.

Marco, an extremely skilled and ruthless Italian hitman, is in the middle of a job when a cute figurine catches his eye. When he finds out it's from a magical girl anime, he flies to Japan, discards his old life, and wholeheartedly embraces the life of a devoted otaku.

There isn't a whole lot of depth to any of this, but it reminds me of the General's obsession with pandas in Mr. Villain's Day Off , including a secondary character who steadfastly refuses to work overtime on her day off. It has some of the same strangely thoughtful sweetness, too, with Marco taking down another agent who's sent to eliminate him - but who, less forgivably, mocks the otaku lifestyle.

"It's the things people love and cherish that makes them shine!" Marco says, quoting his beloved magical girl, and it turns out to be true for him, too. He's a formidable opponent who chose to retire and enjoy life, and through the eyes of Viviana and Andre, two assassin-agents-turned-friends, this genuine joy in something he loves...well, it makes him shine.

Viviana's an otaku as well - mostly into BL, although she also watches Marco's favorite show, so they can have long, animated discussions about their favorite episodes and character arcs. This absolutely bewilders Andre, who's definitely my favorite character at this point. His outsider view on their conversations and their absolutely hideous drawings is hilarious. Unfortunately, he's a really good artist, so once Viviana and Marco discover this, he's sucked into their terrible otaku world by being forced to draw a doujin for them.

There are lots of fun BL teases through Viviana's very active imagination, although I sadly assume that will remain entirely fictional. Still, I'm enjoying what there is so far, and I have a soft spot for these "tired working adults finding joy in small things" series.

[Iqra M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW/CW: violence,guns,bullying, blood & gore

"Otakus keep Japan’s economy growing." You've got that right, sir.

This manga centres around an adorable MC named Marco, who is an ex-hitman. He moved to Japan and bonded with people through nerdy otaku things. He reminds me of Tatsu (from The Way of the Househusband) —scary on the outside, but a softie on the inside. My man’s got all the latest merch and is not afraid to show his otaku side. I respect him for always standing up for bullies. There's no toxic masculinity here. WE STAN!!!

Then Vivianna, another hitman, is thrown into the mix. Her mission is to capture Marco, dead or alive, not to bond as an otaku. She is a fujoshi. This manga isn’t exactly BL, but it feels like it is thanks to Vivianna’s vivid imagination. Then another hitman appears called Andre, who is just simply tagging along. Should I say blackmailed into it? They’re the weirdest trio. I can’t wait to see how this manga plays out though. It has a lot of potential, and the characters are interesting too.

[Randi Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a fan of The Way of the Househusband or The Yakuza's Guide to Babysitting, you're going to love this series. It's yet again another hardened criminal turned soft, but not turned into some sort of domestic god with a knack for couponing, but instead an otaku. Unlike Yakuza's Guide, where Kirishima's still a part of the Yakuza, or Househusband where it seems like Tatsu leaving the criminal life is no big deal, the Italian Mafia is still currently after Marco, giving it more plot while also letting it feel episodic.

What's also so fun is the closeted otaku and everything that continues throughout the volume because it does build up a plot rather than just episodic shenanigans.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever picked up a random manga series with very low expectations and then found yourself completely sucked in? The Geek Ex-Hitman just did that to me.

An Italian hitman, T.O., escapes his family and the business to live his best otaku life in Japan. Other hitmen follow him to fulfill the capture order that his family put out on him. Hijinks ensue. A friendly bond is created during their 'non-working' hours. Doujinshi are created by the trio of badass assassins. Doujinshi conventions are attended. More hijinks ensue.

I am so ready for volume 2!

[Sarah Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an alright read. The art style was very nostalgic for me as it looks like something out of the early 2000s. The problem is, with the fluid strokes it doesn't fit the comedic feeling of the manga. To me the style fits more of an action series and with the main characters being the mafia you'd think there'd be more action. I also would've liked Marco to interact with the locals as I think the comedy would come out better that way.

[Lorie Ham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this. The contrast of a former Italian hitman who becomes an otaku is hilarious and wonderful! Now instead of pursuing his targets, he pursues tickets to the latest anime con, new figures, and the latest manga. If you are looking for a manga that is just plain fun and very unique, don’t miss this one. Vol 2 came out in 2022 as well, and Vol 3 in December of 2023—I just got both in the mail so watch for those reviews sometime soon!

[Lauren ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this by chance recommendation online - as a fan of Hitman (and the assassin-type character) AND an otaku myself, I knew I had to read it. It hits every note I want based on the title alone - and then some, as our ex-hitman is wanted after leaving Italy to become a fully devoted otaku!

I can’t express how fun this manga is!

10/10 making sure everyone I know reads this.

[Amanda Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this based on the premise and knew I had to read it. The story reminds me of HBO’s Barry, with a slightly lighthearted take. I like how it shows fandom as a positive experience and one that helps in making new friends or improves your life. The art style took me a while to get used to but I grew to appreciate the frenetic lines.

[Librarian Jessie (BibliophileRoses) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This honestly is written like a love letter to the 2000-2010s anime community. It features classic words like 'otaku' and beautiful inside references that will fully make you want to pull up old Death Note memes while listening to the Fairy Tail soundtracks and eating strawberry cake. The manga is incredibly funny and totally worth the time and money.

[Tib · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

This was just as ridiculous as I thought it would be based on the synopsis. If you enjoy The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 1, you may enjoy this one as well.

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 3 out of 5]

My friend Andy tells me I should be reading lots more manga, because of the amazing story lines. I think I will, but to be honest I found this book a little confusing. Perhaps it is just me - but the multiple story lines confused me. It could very well be that I am just not used to reading manga. Nothing negative to say about this book, I just did not really get it.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love genres like this, where the protagonist is something completely different than what we judge on the outside. It very much gives us “Sakamoto Days” or “Way of the Househusband” vibes. A very silly take on otaku culture as well, seeing a hit man so enthralled with characters. Also, the art style is unmatched-it’s very refreshing!

[Zian B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like that with Marco, his past as a hit man was hinted at or very briefly shown throughout this first volume and it wasn’t solely focused on his new life as an otaku. Viviana and Andre were both interesting additional characters, and their even more unique dynamics with Marco.
Overall, this was a good read and I’m curious to see what else happens in this short manga series.

[Azia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art is interesting, though some side profiles do look like they need some practice. Besides that, I thought this was fun and funny and light-hearted despite it being centered around a group of assassins.

[Brice Culhane · Rating 5 out of 5]

It probably should be less of a surprise to me that I love this. This is a combination of Wotokoi, which is a series I loved and Way of the Househusband, which is a series I love. It is a lot of fun and I see a lot of potential here!

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

hilarious. I love the 'dangerous people who are actually super nerdy and goodhearted' trend of manga that's starting to become popular. can't wait to see the trio at comisu next volume!

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was fun! Was expecting more of a Way of the Househusband clone, but this is more action-y.

[D.T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little gimmicky and corny, but it's all lighthearted fun. The mangaka can draw handsome men from the top up, but at the bottom, they all have chicken legs lol

[Shawnie Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was funny. I can’t wait to read the next one

[Jah Jah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t know what to expect with this manga but I found it hilarious with good action packed elements. Definitely getting Vol.2 !!

[Skye (Skye's Scribblings)]

2/23 Gave it a few short chapters, but a little too silly-odd for my tastes.