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Tista #1
Tista, Vol. 1
In New York City, the NYPD struggles to track down a serial killer known as Sister Militia, who has been targeting mobsters and other criminals in the Big Apple. No one knows who Sister Militia really is except a few residents of a Catholic orphanage. Her name is Tista…
Tista leads a dual life as the grim reaper of New York City and a university student studying to be a teacher. With extraordinary eyesight allowing her to make long-range shots with unrivaled accuracy, she has come to be feared by the criminal underground. Tista knows she’s doomed, but can her feelings for a young man she just met bring her back from the abyss? And what will she do if he finds out who she really is?
Tista leads a dual life as the grim reaper of New York City and a university student studying to be a teacher. With extraordinary eyesight allowing her to make long-range shots with unrivaled accuracy, she has come to be feared by the criminal underground. Tista knows she’s doomed, but can her feelings for a young man she just met bring her back from the abyss? And what will she do if he finds out who she really is?
208 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2008
About the author
Tatsuya Endo
67 books2,028 followersTatsuya Endo (遠藤達哉 Endou Tatsuya) is a Japanese mangaka.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
July 4, 2026
Straight up BULLSHIT
February 23, 2023
Before there was Spy x Family there was Tista. Tatsuya Endo's first serialized work definitely shares some themes with his latest - heroine Tista is an orphan who became an assassin after the Catholic Church experimented on her and transplanted her adoptive father's eye into her head; you might notice that really only the "Catholic Church sponsored assassinations" is missing from Yor and Anya's combined pasts. Taking place in modern day New York City, the story follows Tista as she begins to have a dual crisis of faith/mental breakdown, both of which are 100% understandable in her situation. She's largely kept herself aloof from others until she meets the unfortunately named Arty Drawer, a third-year art major at her university, and as she begins to want to be with him, her life begins to fall apart from within. It's a difficult story, replete with themes of what we owe those who "save" us and just how much power any one person (or organization) should have. It's only two volumes long, so I'll finish it out, but honestly, just because you enjoy the Forger family's escapades does not mean you'll like this - in fact, it may be the opposite.
September 7, 2020
The story isn't bad, I just don't feel up to reading about incredible, sharp-shooter child assassins today.
I'm still reeling from the fact that school started and it sucked fantastically as always. Learnt all about moduli. Lucky me.
I'm still reeling from the fact that school started and it sucked fantastically as always. Learnt all about moduli. Lucky me.
April 24, 2026
appreciated the Layne Staley and Chris Cornell references thank you
April 8, 2023
Did not like will not contribute
April 22, 2023
A remarkably talented sharp shooter has been taking out known monsters and bigwig criminals all around NYC. Long range shots that shouldn’t be anywhere near as precise as they are have all of the NYPD wondering who this mysterious vigilante could be?
For now, they call the shooter Sister Militia, the city’s grim reaper.
Tista lives a seemingly simple life. She grew up in a Catholic orphanage after her father’s unfortunate death after a mugging. The sisters and a kind priest raised her. At least, he did until he also passed away.
She recently enrolled in art school.
Another art student, Arty, has been trying to catch her eye. He finds her mysterious, maybe lonely. He’d like to keep her company.
But, Tista is resistant. Her life isn’t her own.
Being Sister Militia is a full-time gig, one she promised she’d take over after her father—the priest—died. It is her obligation.
Who else will keep order in this city if she doesn’t?
Arty is right, though. It’s lonely work. Very lonely.
So, I picked up this series mostly because it’s by the same author as Spy x Family.
That said, my expectations going into this were pretty mild. I knew this was a first work, which can often speak to quality.
Overall, I really appreciate the core concepts around the plot of this series. I think there are some rough patches in regards to execution. But, largely, I do enjoy the “flavor” of this series. It gives me urban, western vibes — which I didn’t think could be blended together.
That said, this series feels like a mishmash of so many different influences that it’s hard to parse Endo’s own voice in this one. I can’t identify every influence but, for example, I get strong Trigun vibes from Tista’s background.
I think it’s clear that Endo is still finding his own voice as a storyteller in this one — which makes this a fascinating read, purely from a literary analysis of the author perspective. And, I’m a nerd so I love tracing threads of a writer’s evolution through their works.
Anyway, those are my thoughts for now~
I believe fans of Endo’s other works would appreciate this series but, also, readers who enjoy series that play with genre, particularly westerns or crime procedural thrillers, may enjoy this one as well. If you like a good vigilant tale/vengeance story, this may be your cup of tea too~
For now, they call the shooter Sister Militia, the city’s grim reaper.
Tista lives a seemingly simple life. She grew up in a Catholic orphanage after her father’s unfortunate death after a mugging. The sisters and a kind priest raised her. At least, he did until he also passed away.
She recently enrolled in art school.
Another art student, Arty, has been trying to catch her eye. He finds her mysterious, maybe lonely. He’d like to keep her company.
But, Tista is resistant. Her life isn’t her own.
Being Sister Militia is a full-time gig, one she promised she’d take over after her father—the priest—died. It is her obligation.
Who else will keep order in this city if she doesn’t?
Arty is right, though. It’s lonely work. Very lonely.
So, I picked up this series mostly because it’s by the same author as Spy x Family.
That said, my expectations going into this were pretty mild. I knew this was a first work, which can often speak to quality.
Overall, I really appreciate the core concepts around the plot of this series. I think there are some rough patches in regards to execution. But, largely, I do enjoy the “flavor” of this series. It gives me urban, western vibes — which I didn’t think could be blended together.
That said, this series feels like a mishmash of so many different influences that it’s hard to parse Endo’s own voice in this one. I can’t identify every influence but, for example, I get strong Trigun vibes from Tista’s background.
I think it’s clear that Endo is still finding his own voice as a storyteller in this one — which makes this a fascinating read, purely from a literary analysis of the author perspective. And, I’m a nerd so I love tracing threads of a writer’s evolution through their works.
Anyway, those are my thoughts for now~
I believe fans of Endo’s other works would appreciate this series but, also, readers who enjoy series that play with genre, particularly westerns or crime procedural thrillers, may enjoy this one as well. If you like a good vigilant tale/vengeance story, this may be your cup of tea too~
May 26, 2023
I can’t remember where I found this but it looked really interested so I picked it up. It’s about a girl named Tista who leads a double life as the notorious Sister Militia, who doles out punishment to criminals. No one knows her true identity. Except one day she has a job to gun down a guy whose planning to bring an enormous amount of coke into the city. Turns out, he’s the godfather of a boy, Arty, she just met who is really kind to her. This man practically forced Arty to go with his plan and when he tried to push back he was tortured. Tista saves him hit does it by killing his godfather and so he’s not very happy. She runs off and doesn’t show up to school. Arty tries to find her and one of his friends do, but they don’t have a meeting again in this volume, which was kind of anticlimactic. A lot of the rest of the volume was Tista trying to figure out her purpose and we realize she’s been sort of created for this and has her father’s eye who was also carrying on the deeds that she’s now doing. I think this story definitely has potential, but it sort of lost me in the end there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2024
So I'm thinking somehow Endo's editor saw the potential for the main character of Tista...but split up into 3 people:
Anya = smol girl
Yor = assassin with social anxiety
Loid = firearms proficient & tragic past
But I guess the secret ingredient for making SpyxFamily work is that it's primarily a comedy, while this is played completely straight.
And while Loid & Yor can still maintain a regular façade despite their violent, clandestine alter egos, Tista's wetwork is starting to get to her, leading to an out-of-nowhere mental break near the end of the book that kinda reminds me of some scenes from Soul Eater. The religious fanaticism might have something to do with it, the implanted magic eye from her deceased adopted father might have something to do with it, but all in all, it's just incredibly dark&gritty with the briefest moments of levity.
Also, finding it very distracting that the main male lead is essentially just Ichigo Kurosaki from Bleach.
Anya = smol girl
Yor = assassin with social anxiety
Loid = firearms proficient & tragic past
But I guess the secret ingredient for making SpyxFamily work is that it's primarily a comedy, while this is played completely straight.
And while Loid & Yor can still maintain a regular façade despite their violent, clandestine alter egos, Tista's wetwork is starting to get to her, leading to an out-of-nowhere mental break near the end of the book that kinda reminds me of some scenes from Soul Eater. The religious fanaticism might have something to do with it, the implanted magic eye from her deceased adopted father might have something to do with it, but all in all, it's just incredibly dark&gritty with the briefest moments of levity.
Also, finding it very distracting that the main male lead is essentially just Ichigo Kurosaki from Bleach.
September 10, 2023
Rating: 3 stars
208 pages (4 episodes)
Tatsuya Endo created the story and artwork for Tista. This is the first of two volumes (9 episodes total). This is the same author/artist who created Spy X Family.
Tista, a.k.a. Sister Militia, the Grim Reaper of New York City, leads a dual life as a university student studying to be a teacher. With extraordinary eyesight allowing her to make shots at exceedingly long range, she has come to be feared by the criminal underground. Tista knows she is doomed, but can her feelings for a young man she just met bring her back from the abyss? And what will she do if he finds out who she really is? The NYPD struggles to track down Sister Militia, who has been targeting mobsters and other criminals. No one knows Sister Militia's true identity except for a few residents of a Catholic orphanage.
208 pages (4 episodes)
Tatsuya Endo created the story and artwork for Tista. This is the first of two volumes (9 episodes total). This is the same author/artist who created Spy X Family.
Tista, a.k.a. Sister Militia, the Grim Reaper of New York City, leads a dual life as a university student studying to be a teacher. With extraordinary eyesight allowing her to make shots at exceedingly long range, she has come to be feared by the criminal underground. Tista knows she is doomed, but can her feelings for a young man she just met bring her back from the abyss? And what will she do if he finds out who she really is? The NYPD struggles to track down Sister Militia, who has been targeting mobsters and other criminals. No one knows Sister Militia's true identity except for a few residents of a Catholic orphanage.
September 29, 2026
Very interesting read. Somehow it was something I havent read before but felt very similar to other animes ive watched/read. I got a little lost at some points but I got there in the end which had a cliff hanger of course. Its a pretty straight forward plot but I could see it going some places. Let's just say one of the characters name is arty drawer and he is studying arts at university. Idk if thats some translation thing but that may contribute to why the review isnt 5 stars...
July 12, 2024
Slow build-up but i was intrigued. It was going somewhere. So far it didnt show me much yet but enough to keep going. The slow pacing had me worried since it is only a 2 volume series, so i am not sure if it had enough room to go anywhere still
November 9, 2023
It has potential to be something I like, but for now it's just one of the series I've started
July 22, 2023
I received an eARC of this title through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
I liked the beginning of this. It mixes some religious themes with questioning morality and following orders blindly. There are also some cool aspects of science fiction involved. I think what makes this first volume so interesting is the fact that it is not just a story about a girl who is an assassin, but a girl who believed that was her purpose until she met someone who started changing the way she thinks of the world and her original beliefs.
In the end, I feel like this story is about people struggling to find themselves while questioning the world around them. It's not just a story about an assassin, it's a story about humanity.
The art in this manga is well done. I honestly like not seeing all of the crazy movements that some action mangas try to use. Most of the time it causes me to not understand what is happening. In this, it was clear what was going on even though there were some short cuts and transitions.
I liked the beginning of this. It mixes some religious themes with questioning morality and following orders blindly. There are also some cool aspects of science fiction involved. I think what makes this first volume so interesting is the fact that it is not just a story about a girl who is an assassin, but a girl who believed that was her purpose until she met someone who started changing the way she thinks of the world and her original beliefs.
In the end, I feel like this story is about people struggling to find themselves while questioning the world around them. It's not just a story about an assassin, it's a story about humanity.
The art in this manga is well done. I honestly like not seeing all of the crazy movements that some action mangas try to use. Most of the time it causes me to not understand what is happening. In this, it was clear what was going on even though there were some short cuts and transitions.
March 28, 2023
New York has a vigilante on its hands. Someone is killing, mainly at long range, gangsters, criminals, and others who are guilty of various crimes. The police are baffled regarding the identity of Sister Militia. But some folks at a Catholic orphanage know all about her. Tista was raised there to become "Sister Militia" and trained to believe that she needed to suffer so that others could live. But as she attends a local university and interacts more with a boy named Arty, she starts to wonder. And that wondering is starting to affect her mindset and eyesight. Can she continue to carry out the missions she is given or is she starting to question her life. Tune in for the next volume of Tista to find out the answers!
Thanks Netgalley for the chance to read this volume.
Thanks Netgalley for the chance to read this volume.
September 9, 2023
I expected to love another story by the famous author of Spy x Family, one of my favorite mangas. But I did not expect to love it so much or to make it my whole personality! This was incredible and I am absolutly speechless by the darkness and emotion pouring out of it.
TW for child abuse and mental illness.
TW for child abuse and mental illness.
May 27, 2024
I’m a bit confused but I think I liked it
July 1, 2024
Trying to get into Manga again, twenty years later. I picked this up at B&N on a whim. A good start and the series is short, so managable.
Set against the gritty backdrop of New York City, Tista Volume 1 introduces readers to a dark world where the NYPD's hunt for the elusive 'Sister Militia' is a central plot point, yet the narrative struggles to provide a compelling cat-and-mouse game, often feeling more like a one-sided pursuit. The city's underbelly is caricatured as rife with fear and speculation, but the story fails to fully capitalize on this atmosphere. It is a little disjointed.
Tista herself is a character of contradictions, embodying both innocence and vengeance. While her dual life as a university student and a vigilante is intriguing, the execution of the idea falls short. Her journey towards becoming a teacher feels underdeveloped and disconnected from her nightly escapades.
Her extraordinary eyesight, which allows her to execute long-range shots with remarkable precision, is one of her defining traits. However, this skill is presented without much explanation or backstory, making it seem more like a convenient plot device. The fear she instills in the criminal world is palpable, but the narrative does little to explore the psychological impact of her actions, both on herself and the city's criminal landscape. Why and how did she get incredible sight and her superpowers? Nothing is explained.
Moreover, the sense of vulnerability that surrounds her is touched upon but not explored in depth. The story hints at a complex character grappling with the weight of her double life, yet it stops short of delving into the emotional and moral implications of her vigilantism. This lack of character exploration leaves a gap in the narrative, making the struggle feel superficial rather than profound or indicative of anything too deep.
The story's pacing and exploration of its central character need refinement to truly capture the essence of a vigilante's conflict and the city that serves as her battleground. I was intrigued by the concept but ultimately dissatisfied with the execution. The potential for a gripping tale is there, but it requires a more nuanced approach to reach its full promise. I think I will buy the second volume just to finish this story and see where it goes...
Set against the gritty backdrop of New York City, Tista Volume 1 introduces readers to a dark world where the NYPD's hunt for the elusive 'Sister Militia' is a central plot point, yet the narrative struggles to provide a compelling cat-and-mouse game, often feeling more like a one-sided pursuit. The city's underbelly is caricatured as rife with fear and speculation, but the story fails to fully capitalize on this atmosphere. It is a little disjointed.
Tista herself is a character of contradictions, embodying both innocence and vengeance. While her dual life as a university student and a vigilante is intriguing, the execution of the idea falls short. Her journey towards becoming a teacher feels underdeveloped and disconnected from her nightly escapades.
Her extraordinary eyesight, which allows her to execute long-range shots with remarkable precision, is one of her defining traits. However, this skill is presented without much explanation or backstory, making it seem more like a convenient plot device. The fear she instills in the criminal world is palpable, but the narrative does little to explore the psychological impact of her actions, both on herself and the city's criminal landscape. Why and how did she get incredible sight and her superpowers? Nothing is explained.
Moreover, the sense of vulnerability that surrounds her is touched upon but not explored in depth. The story hints at a complex character grappling with the weight of her double life, yet it stops short of delving into the emotional and moral implications of her vigilantism. This lack of character exploration leaves a gap in the narrative, making the struggle feel superficial rather than profound or indicative of anything too deep.
The story's pacing and exploration of its central character need refinement to truly capture the essence of a vigilante's conflict and the city that serves as her battleground. I was intrigued by the concept but ultimately dissatisfied with the execution. The potential for a gripping tale is there, but it requires a more nuanced approach to reach its full promise. I think I will buy the second volume just to finish this story and see where it goes...
June 20, 2024
I picked this up because I saw it was by the same artist/writer as Spy x Family, a series which should need no introduction. It seems that Tista was Endo's first work that wasn't a one-shot, and boy does it show.
This series really doesn't feel like it has any idea what it wants to be. Is it a stylish, Hellsing-esque action series? A gritty cat & mouse crime drama? A quirky yet tragic coming of age story? Tonally, Tista is all over the place. At times, it seems like it wants to be a commentary on the corruption of those in positions of power, but we never get a chance to know more than the bare minimum about any of the targets before the eponymous protagonist snipes them. And if it were better-paced, it's hard to take that kind of social commentary seriously when you've got characters with names like Arty Drawer. Three guesses as to what his profession is. But then, conversely, that air of goofiness is undercut by astoundingly grim plot points, like a kid getting beaten to death. It never feels like it settles into a coherent identity.
Don't even get me started on the biological experiment, eye transplant subplot.
Honestly, Tista is kind of a mess across the board. With the notable exception of the art--it's fantastic, and really, that's the only reason this isn't a one-star review. Whatever you're expecting out of this series, it's been done better somewhere else. Over-the-top, stylish action with religious undertones? Hellsing Child assassins (morally conflicted or otherwise)? Candy and Cigarettes or Gunslinger Girl. Experiments or accidents that turn people into superhuman killers against their will? Tokyo Ghoul or Ajin: Demi-Human...which I should really get back to at some point. At any rate, there's really nothing Tista does especially well--certainly not well enough to really recommend it.
This series really doesn't feel like it has any idea what it wants to be. Is it a stylish, Hellsing-esque action series? A gritty cat & mouse crime drama? A quirky yet tragic coming of age story? Tonally, Tista is all over the place. At times, it seems like it wants to be a commentary on the corruption of those in positions of power, but we never get a chance to know more than the bare minimum about any of the targets before the eponymous protagonist snipes them. And if it were better-paced, it's hard to take that kind of social commentary seriously when you've got characters with names like Arty Drawer. Three guesses as to what his profession is. But then, conversely, that air of goofiness is undercut by astoundingly grim plot points, like a kid getting beaten to death. It never feels like it settles into a coherent identity.
Don't even get me started on the biological experiment, eye transplant subplot.
Honestly, Tista is kind of a mess across the board. With the notable exception of the art--it's fantastic, and really, that's the only reason this isn't a one-star review. Whatever you're expecting out of this series, it's been done better somewhere else. Over-the-top, stylish action with religious undertones? Hellsing Child assassins (morally conflicted or otherwise)? Candy and Cigarettes or Gunslinger Girl. Experiments or accidents that turn people into superhuman killers against their will? Tokyo Ghoul or Ajin: Demi-Human...which I should really get back to at some point. At any rate, there's really nothing Tista does especially well--certainly not well enough to really recommend it.
March 31, 2023
Thank you to VIZ Media and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
As a fan of Spy X Family, I've been looking forward to reading more of Tatsuya Endo's work, so this volume was an instant read for me. That said, it wasn't quite what I was expecting. Tista is a college-aged assassin, caught in a conflict between serving righteous vengeance on criminals and...becoming her own person? It wasn't entirely clear to me, but the "body rejecting the implant of her father's eye" seemed to hint at that. It has a dark tone with an emphasis on religious motivation for Tista, and the characters are hinted at being deeper and well-rounded but we don't quite get to see that in this first half: the most interesting character is Tista herself, who has certainly gone through some traumatic experiences and faces a crisis of faith, and of herself. The other lead character, a young man named Arty Drawer (who Tista may be developing feelings for) seems like a nice enough guy but I'll be interested to see what more he has to offer in the next chapters.
I'm trying not to compare this to Spy X Family too much, but after having already watched/read it, you can see where the roots of ideas that built that world came from in this series. Obviously, the assassin as main character relates, but the themes of living a secret life spilling into your "real" life are parallel, too. Tista is also an orphan, but that's about where the similarities end. If you love crime/assassin stories this is a good one to check out, but if you're looking for another fun romp like Spy x Family, you may want to find another series.
All that said, I am still a fan of Endo and look forward to reading more of his work, such as volume two of this series when it comes out in July.
As a fan of Spy X Family, I've been looking forward to reading more of Tatsuya Endo's work, so this volume was an instant read for me. That said, it wasn't quite what I was expecting. Tista is a college-aged assassin, caught in a conflict between serving righteous vengeance on criminals and...becoming her own person? It wasn't entirely clear to me, but the "body rejecting the implant of her father's eye" seemed to hint at that. It has a dark tone with an emphasis on religious motivation for Tista, and the characters are hinted at being deeper and well-rounded but we don't quite get to see that in this first half: the most interesting character is Tista herself, who has certainly gone through some traumatic experiences and faces a crisis of faith, and of herself. The other lead character, a young man named Arty Drawer (who Tista may be developing feelings for) seems like a nice enough guy but I'll be interested to see what more he has to offer in the next chapters.
I'm trying not to compare this to Spy X Family too much, but after having already watched/read it, you can see where the roots of ideas that built that world came from in this series. Obviously, the assassin as main character relates, but the themes of living a secret life spilling into your "real" life are parallel, too. Tista is also an orphan, but that's about where the similarities end. If you love crime/assassin stories this is a good one to check out, but if you're looking for another fun romp like Spy x Family, you may want to find another series.
All that said, I am still a fan of Endo and look forward to reading more of his work, such as volume two of this series when it comes out in July.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2023
Imagine if Mei Hatsume from My Hero Academia (the girl with a zoom function built into her eyes) decided to become a sniper assassin for a religious group that targets the really bad guys... except she's got some sort of mental problem (that isn't explained in this volume).
Meanwhile, this random dude she ran into on the street wants to be her friend, but she's avoiding him like the plague after he witnessed one of her massacres.
I can kind of see how this was maybe Tatsuya Endo's first attempt at making an undercover spy story. Which... it's not bad, just seems rushed. Simple mistakes that were fixed in Spy x Family where the characters dancing around secrets is played up for comedy.
This series has 2 volumes.
Meanwhile, this random dude she ran into on the street wants to be her friend, but she's avoiding him like the plague after he witnessed one of her massacres.
I can kind of see how this was maybe Tatsuya Endo's first attempt at making an undercover spy story. Which... it's not bad, just seems rushed. Simple mistakes that were fixed in Spy x Family where the characters dancing around secrets is played up for comedy.
This series has 2 volumes.
September 4, 2023
An early work by the creator of the hit manga/anime Spy x Family (which I love and highly recommend), but this is obviously a less-developed story. The protagonist feels a lot like a mashup of Spy x Family's Yor and Anya: a kid trained to be a top vigilante assassin by the Catholic Church in NYC. She also attends university, where she meets a classmate who is an art student named (hilariously enough) Arty Drawer. To be fair, this kind of very-on-the-nose naming is common in manga; English-speakers just typically don't know enough Japanese to be in on the joke. There's a fair bit of this kind of humour, as in the orphanage kids' favourite TV show, Slider Man (not Spider-Man - you wanna get sued?!? ;P), a financially-struggling vigilante who swings around the city wearing a balaclava, briefs, and fishnets.
The story itself feels kinda weak: our girl is a crack shot cleaning up corrupt officials while the police struggle to figure out who this sniper is, but is having second thoughts/guilt about her role, and Arty first tries to get her out of her shell then tries to find her when she goes underground. But the story somehow fails to get a lot of traction, wandering around without much emotional impact.
Maybe an interesting read for existing fans of the author, as a glimpse into their development as a creator, but for newcomers I would stick to Spy x Family for stronger story and characters.
The story itself feels kinda weak: our girl is a crack shot cleaning up corrupt officials while the police struggle to figure out who this sniper is, but is having second thoughts/guilt about her role, and Arty first tries to get her out of her shell then tries to find her when she goes underground. But the story somehow fails to get a lot of traction, wandering around without much emotional impact.
Maybe an interesting read for existing fans of the author, as a glimpse into their development as a creator, but for newcomers I would stick to Spy x Family for stronger story and characters.
May 19, 2025
A grim reaper has been terrorizing New York City killing off highly upholded politicians. The NYPD has been trying to track down who this grim reaper could be and the FBI have been starting to notice the murders. The only clue they have is the name Sister Matilda.
Sister Matilda is under the radar with her true identity being an awkward college girl studing to be a teacher. Tista goes to school to become a teacher but the reason she's so awkward is her job. At her local church she is employed to be Sister Matilda. Tista is fine with this life being a loner until she meets a boy named Arty which makes her question her life.
This book is amazing with it being a little more gritty than Tatsuya-sama's other works, i love the characters as they're all written to have a wonderful balance of both normal lifes and being killers. The characters are amazingly blended to where they're feelings seem real and not heartless.
Though sadly they're are only 2 volumes of this series out as Tatsuya-sama put other series ahead of Tista, such as Blade of the Moon Princess, and his most popular SPY x FAMILY.
Sister Matilda is under the radar with her true identity being an awkward college girl studing to be a teacher. Tista goes to school to become a teacher but the reason she's so awkward is her job. At her local church she is employed to be Sister Matilda. Tista is fine with this life being a loner until she meets a boy named Arty which makes her question her life.
This book is amazing with it being a little more gritty than Tatsuya-sama's other works, i love the characters as they're all written to have a wonderful balance of both normal lifes and being killers. The characters are amazingly blended to where they're feelings seem real and not heartless.
Though sadly they're are only 2 volumes of this series out as Tatsuya-sama put other series ahead of Tista, such as Blade of the Moon Princess, and his most popular SPY x FAMILY.
January 24, 2023
*Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*
I picked this one up because I love Spy x Family and was interested to see how the story would play out. The plot is pretty straightforward, Tista is an assassin, using her extraordinary eyesight to kill targets from such a long range it baffles most people. She's also a university student studying to be a teacher. Volume one features Tista having a bit of a crisis, with her ability to complete her jobs getting worse after befriending a guy in her class. I'm not sure where the plot is going with this, but there's the sort of vibe that Endo likes to put into their series that is present, and you can tell a lot of thought went into the story. The art style is not what I was expecting, it's pretty different from SxF, and is often sketchy and unfinished looking. These parts seem to increase as Tista's problems do, so the connection between the art style and her vision is interesting.
I picked this one up because I love Spy x Family and was interested to see how the story would play out. The plot is pretty straightforward, Tista is an assassin, using her extraordinary eyesight to kill targets from such a long range it baffles most people. She's also a university student studying to be a teacher. Volume one features Tista having a bit of a crisis, with her ability to complete her jobs getting worse after befriending a guy in her class. I'm not sure where the plot is going with this, but there's the sort of vibe that Endo likes to put into their series that is present, and you can tell a lot of thought went into the story. The art style is not what I was expecting, it's pretty different from SxF, and is often sketchy and unfinished looking. These parts seem to increase as Tista's problems do, so the connection between the art style and her vision is interesting.
June 17, 2026
2 1/2 stars
Has a promising albeit nothing-new start: an unassuming yet secretly a badass assassin girl and a go-with-the-flow nice boy despite his circumstances cross paths, and it looks set up for the girl to come to terms with her buried heart and her past traumas. But then the second volume happens and it’s a rushed, confusing dump of a mess to simply say that actually they knew each other from before, they just forgot, and Tista’s efforts were almost all for naught: she still has her issues, she’s locked away from the people she cares about, and the organization will continue the cycle of assassins. I read volume 2 as a scanlation since my library didn’t have it, and it had obvious translation/editing issues, but still, there were times it was confusing when a memory came out of nowhere or we were suddenly back to the present
Has a promising albeit nothing-new start: an unassuming yet secretly a badass assassin girl and a go-with-the-flow nice boy despite his circumstances cross paths, and it looks set up for the girl to come to terms with her buried heart and her past traumas. But then the second volume happens and it’s a rushed, confusing dump of a mess to simply say that actually they knew each other from before, they just forgot, and Tista’s efforts were almost all for naught: she still has her issues, she’s locked away from the people she cares about, and the organization will continue the cycle of assassins. I read volume 2 as a scanlation since my library didn’t have it, and it had obvious translation/editing issues, but still, there were times it was confusing when a memory came out of nowhere or we were suddenly back to the present
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2023
Tista is working double time. She's a student going to school to be a teacher but she's got a few unexplained long absences. It's because that's what she does by day but she also has a second job, as Sister Milita, a militant young girl with an eye for sharpshooting which means she's taking down criminal empires under the umbrella of the Catholic orphanage where she's at.
The action scenes are intense and there's a high octane feel to the story but as a reader I never quite get the introduction I'm looking for for the awkward, eyeglasses wearing Tista to understand the duality of her experiences.
The action scenes are intense and there's a high octane feel to the story but as a reader I never quite get the introduction I'm looking for for the awkward, eyeglasses wearing Tista to understand the duality of her experiences.
March 30, 2023
Tista was Endo's first serialization and while it's not terrible, it comes off awkward, like a teenager who hasn't figured out if they want to be a punk, an emo kid, or one of the artsy kids. I thought the title character was way younger than she turned out to be; the wildly fluctuating character design did not help. I admire Endo's commitment to drawing guns properly, but he was definitely still finding his footing as an artist and storyteller in this book. (I received a free ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.)
July 26, 2023
This was certainly interesting. Children assassins, experimentation, and a sense of loyalty combine into this tale. Tista was raised in an orphanage by the Catholic church in modern day NYC. Her job is to execute criminals that cannot be touched by the law, however her life gets upended when she meets Arty at school and begins to crave more than her isolated existence. It was good, however I was not entranced by the story. I found myself a little lost at parts but the overall concept is engaging.
*Thank you NetGalley and VIZMedia for the advanced reader digital copy of this book.
*Thank you NetGalley and VIZMedia for the advanced reader digital copy of this book.
March 17, 2024
So complex to the point of confusion…
Orphan assassin origin story tropes accepted.
After the first manga though, I do not possess a clear understanding of the main character’s motivation. Compounded with the point that I’m not sure the character does either. The slow reveal of character development is a perfectly acceptable literary device, but when employed, the character’s motivation of the moment is known.
It’s not a horrible manga, it simply lacks identifiability.
Let’s see if things change in the 2nd installment…
Orphan assassin origin story tropes accepted.
After the first manga though, I do not possess a clear understanding of the main character’s motivation. Compounded with the point that I’m not sure the character does either. The slow reveal of character development is a perfectly acceptable literary device, but when employed, the character’s motivation of the moment is known.
It’s not a horrible manga, it simply lacks identifiability.
Let’s see if things change in the 2nd installment…
August 3, 2023
In this manga we follow Tista, a long range sniper who takes out the criminals of New York City. As we read this volume we find out that the Catholic Church has experimented on Tista, giving her amazing eyesight. This is why she's able to make such amazing long distance shots. But the police are looking into all of these murders and trying to figure out who's doing them. Will the police catch up with Tista? You'll ahve to read to find out!
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