Delinquent high schooler Arakuni Ibuki is drafted to protect his childhood friend Honeko Akabane, the secret daughter of a yakuza leader. It’s no small task, especially when they’re up against hired assassins who also have just one job…to kill Honeko Akabane! Ibuki joins the elite corps of bodyguards that make up Class 3-4 of Sosoji High School. Akabane is oblivious to the elaborate covert operation surrounding her. Is this team of misfits really up for the job?!
Honeko Akabane's Bodyguards 1 by Masamitsu Nigatsu was published January 28, 2025. Kodansha Comics provided a galley for review.
The cover of this manga volume really got my attention. The contrasting black and white with the red all work well together to create an eye-catching visual.
The interior art has a very classic manga style to it. The line work is varied in its weights, thin to show off details while also heavy for emphasis. The faces and body language are all very expressive. It reminds me in so many ways of the manga I discovered back in the mid-1990's (which is a very good thing).
Is the story full of classic elements and tropes? Most definitely. However, that's part of its charm. It is not looking to reinvent the wheel. It is just trying to deliver a tale of action and romance in a known form. And for that, it does deliver. There are also a number of twists that send the story down an interesting path. I will be looking for the next collection of chapters.
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