Tatsuya Endo (1) (1980–)

Our library's copy of Spy Family 6 has gone missing, so a student donated a copy. As we must now read every book before we place it on the shelf, I wanted to read it ASAP so that the students don't have to wait but can go from #5 to #6 immediately.

Obviously, I don't have the background from #1 - 5, but there is a nice explanation at the beginning. Basically, the "dad" is a spy. He's an expert psychiatrist but seems unable to really understand the women in his life: his fake wife and his spy partner. He misinterprets everything. In this volume, many things happen but the first is that he and his spy partner must participate in a tennis match. It's beyond unbelievable, but it's crazy to imagine. They need to win in order to get access to an art vault. There's no way any of what happens could happen, but that is what makes it fun. His spy partner and his fake wife both love him, so the spy partner works to show him what a great partner she is and would be even better as his fake wife, entering them as a husband and wife tennis duo. Meanwhile, his wife, is an assassin--although I never saw this side of her. She's totally in love with her husband. She also seems to forget things, so I don't know what is up with that. She's amazingly talented as well and performs feats that are also unbelievable. She's not a wilting flower by any means. Their daughter--adopted--has mind reading abilities and attends a private school in order to give "dad" access to an evil man whose kid attends the same school. She's quite capable herself. "Dad" employs his intelligence analyst to babysit Anya frequently, Franky's dismay. It's entertaining.

I see why the students enjoy this series; it's very Batman and Robin--like those I watched on TV as a kid, not the modern movies. I still struggle with reading from right to left, as is required in manga. I also struggle with the drawings and knowing what I'm supposed to get from them. It's good for my brain!… (mere)