“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?” (Viz Media)
Best known for his work on “Spy x Family”, Tatsuya Endo's “Tista” predates the popular manga by more than a decade. With such a large gap between the projects and ending its run after two volumes, the reason behind the lack of release for this series until now starts to make sense as one digs into the project. Notably, the title becomes a note of intrigue for its tie to the now-popular mangaka and showcasing his early workings and direction. Beyond this element, the series is unlikely to entirely meet the expectations of readers.
However, what is undeniable from this project is Endo's talent as an artist in conveying motion and crafting expressive characters. “Tista,” if anything, is an enjoyable experience on art alone, as the book is extremely sleek and stylized in a way that makes it utterly absorbing. In particular, Endo's depiction of assassination from sniper fire is equal parts shocking and explosive, capturing that kinetic energy that helped define a lot of the 90's aesthetic of anime/manga that was heavy on violence. Though originally released in 2007, the work does seem heavily inspired by the sensationalism of the previous decade, even down to a plot that feels vaguely familiar (Kite).
The explosive artwork may ensure the reader will enjoy their time with the work on aesthetics alone, but this is the only appealing attribute of “Tista”. The story is generic, the characters are rather dull in personality and there is a lack of depth or attempt at a greater narrative. Every element of the story, essentially, is utilized to lead into heavy action sequences that wow the readers. There are hints of charismatic personas that Endo would be known for later in his career, but the small cast falls far below the bar set by the fan favorite in “Spy x Family”.
At only two volumes, readers will gather all they need to know about the direction of the series in this inaugural volume. This can be a blessing or a curse, either the lack of depth will dissuade readers or they will be enticed by the explosive artwork and content to have a completed series of two volumes. Alternatively, the book serves as a companion piece for fans of “Spy x Family” for those who like to support their favourite mangakas'. The existing fandom for Tatsuya Endo, undeniably, won't be disappointed with this release if they approach it with curbed expectations.
There is no getting around that “Tista” lacks the story depth to make a lasting impact on readers, as an ideal series has both visuals and narrative work to craft an unforgettable experience. Add in the two-volume release and it is hard to get enthused or recommend the title outside of fans of Endo. Ultimately, the sleek visual direction and the name value alone will make it worthwhile for many to grab, but it does make sense why the series has only been released at this point as it would not stand without the name value behind it.
