Lycoris Recoil is the story of two young women, both contract killers, who have been burned by the organization that uses them as tools. One of them has secrets she cannot share and a mysterious past, one has very little memory at all. As they work together, they will see in each other something important for themselves, and will protect one another – even against the people that made them the perfect instruments of death that they are.

Oh, sorry. That’s Noir, isn’t it?

Well…it is also Lycoris Recoil, Volume 1. We meet Takina, who is clearly too good for the organization who uses her, DA, to control. So they exile her to a cafe front for their best and least-controllable agent, Chisato. Togther, they will serve coffee – here it would be great to say “and justice,” but that is not what it is – and do jobs for DA and whomever they serve.

It’s no accident that Lycoris Recoil is similar to Noir. It’s a winning formula, after all. Fans are always willing to pencil in the details that they think ought to be there, when they are give a general storyline – girls with guns, in this case, sort of on the run, is a broad, but popular, concept. Yuri fandom is, of course, happy to equate intimacy with romantic interest, even if the series itself does not commit, e.g. Noir. ^_^

To continue the comparison, where Noir gave us a “beloved Mirielle” that was instantly downplayed by Bee Train. Lycoris Recoil gave us a Chisato willing to put herself on the line to save Takina, and a dream sequence in the novel in which Takina literally awakens to her feelings. No actual relationship, just intimation of intimacy. Which is why when I noted on the Internets that I do not think of them as a couple, a lot of fans took that very personally. I could certainly see that they might one day become a couple, but as the series ended they are partners probably on the run for all eternity. You know, like Noir.

I’ll stop now. ^_^

Volume 1 cleaves pretty closely to the anime, but fills in enough info that if you haven’t seen the anime, you can follow the manga easily.  (Except the obvious, and never-answered questions about the existence and functioning of DA, but we just have to accept that it is.) There is a lot of action, and the art by Yasunori Bizen really holds up to those scenes.

If you are a fan of the anime, this is a fun way to relive the story that got you hooked the first time. The translation by Kiki Pitkowska is solid and where Adnazeer Macalangcom could replace the s/fx, they did, which I always think adds readability to a manga.

It’ll make a nice gift for that friend who love cute girls with guns, for sure.

Ratings:

Art – 9
Story – It’s all plot to drive action. In that, it succeeds 8
Character – 8 Except, Mizuki being a drunk is still not funny
Service – 3 Chisato in underwear because
Yuri – 0

Overall – 8

Thanks very much to Yen press for the review copy!