Black Cat, Vol. 5: Spark of Revolution

Black Cat [ブラックキャット] #5

by Kentaro Yabuki

Train Heartnet, also known as "Black Cat," was an infamous assassin for a secret organization called Chronos...until he abandoned that cold-blooded existence to live on his own terms as an easygoing bounty hunter. But is Train's past as far behind him as he thinks?

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Comics Manga, Shonen, Action, Comics

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 19, 2003

About the author

Also known as 矢吹 健太朗.
He is a Japanese manga artist. His mentor was Takeshi Obata, the illustrator of Death Note, Hikaru no Go and Bakuman.
Yabuki is best known for his series Black Cat which ran from 2000 to 2004 in Weekly Shōnen Jump and later adapted into an anime. Since 2004, he has only been working as illustrator to works written by other authors. Most notably on the series To Love-Ru alongside his former assistant Saki Hasemi.

Reviews

[Marco Esteves · Rating 4 out of 5]

well I only have the first 5 volumes, and today I marathon them, and i miss them already!!

For my first manga experience ever, I rlly enjoyd it.. It was so fun, full of adventure, action (etc..)

LOVED IT!!!! I'm sure I will start watching the anime bc I'm broke and I can't afford more books :')))

[Dilan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first one in the series I give 5 stars,because it had built up so much suspense in the end and you are getting very familiar with the characters.It starts to feel like you're getting attached to the characters.

[Francine · Rating 4 out of 5]

In which we meet Rodney, the Black Cat, and Creed and his Apostles of the Stars finally make their first big move. I like that some of the chapters don't even have the main characters in them. Introductions are almost done and the overarching story is starting to get going.

[Alexis Uchiha]

Love the book when they show creed and the character sketches at the end of the book

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Apostles of the Star. Where do they get these names? Anyway, loved it.

[Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was Awesome.I really like Trians evil eyes^_^.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creed's plans are set in motion as the world prepares for war- and our trio of protagonists deal with a "Black Cat" imposter riding off of Train's fame. Not only does this feel like some proper progression for the story as we get into the war between Creed's Apostles and Chronos, but the Black Cat wannabe is a funny interlude that explains how dangeorus Train really is. He's so famous that even random nobodies can use his name and be feared- of course, this also makes them targets, so there's a downside.

Have I mentioned how much I love Eve? She makes our trio so fun to read. Sven is the straight man, Train is the chaotic dumbass, and Eve... is a naive child with a pension for violence? She's got superpowers, but is also the least experienced (and usually least useful) of the three. She's young and doesn't know much about the world, so she can act as an audience insert at-times where Sven has to explain things to her (like Train's past and their connection). And as she competes for Sven's attention with Train, it leads to lots of bickering and in-fighting that makes the group dynamic work so well.

This volume manages to progress the plot more than any of the others so far, while also being silly and hilarious in all the best ways. It reads like Kentaro Yabuki is finally deciding what he wants this series to be and how it's supposed to grow from here.

[I'mogén · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars

So far my least favourite volume out of the manga series. I'm wondering if its because of the way I read it, due to being rushed, snatched moments due to being at work.
To be fair though, all the main plot stuff occurred at the start of this volume and maybe the rest of it just didn't shine as much as the start did, however in saying that, Lugart Won's scene didn't go as I expected... However, I totally respect the challenge he set and will look forward to seeing more of his character, I bet when I least expect it.
It was cool seeing more of the Apostles of the Stars, specifically Kyoko at school... It just made me chuckle how she has to deal with normal, teen life too.
I really enjoyed Eve and Train's friendly completion but this is when I felt like the rest of the volume felt more like a filler. Despite this, most the of the developments for the rest of the volume created events that I think will propel the main storyline in some way.

Pick it up, give it a go and enjoy! >(^_^)<
Gén

[evofox · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay finished volume 5.

this volume is probably my favourite so far since we had a few elements better explained or cleared up. the series villain group has finally been revealed and we have been shown a large chunk of the group in action which shows not only what they were capable of but gives a glimpse of possible fights to come. some of the stuff revealed about train was also kind of interesting since we found out more about the weight of his moniker but also the group he left before the series. this helps flesh his character beyond what had previously been done as well as giving more details on a major group within the series. my only other comment really is i am not too sure about my opinion of the plot direction since it is moving fairly quickly early on and bringing in a lot of major elements early on. really enjoying it so far though.

overall another really good volume which set a possible direction for later volumes, it will be interesting to see what direction this series will go in from this point onward.

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok we’re back on memory lane. I vaguely remember the impostor episode. The humor I’m finding in the manga continues to impress me. The anime caught my attention for its serious tones. The light-hearted, carefree attitudes that are just as present escape my recollections, though I know it’s there. I’m sure we can attribute that to lack of color and music. I suppose the humor’s in the same boat it just stands out much more in the manga.

Too funny XD

[Sedna Dragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting more interesting...

[Jessamine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read these in one sitting, I fricken love them!!!

[Shin Donghae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jilid kelima kelar. Semakin menarik dengan kehadiran para gerombolan di sisi Creed dan tokoh2 Chronos mulai naik ke permukaan

[Nanang Stiawan · Rating 5 out of 5]

No. 1 Sephiria menyita perhatian. Pembawaan yg tenang membuatnya semakin terlihat kuat

Smakin seru aja

[Sam Coppola]

Now we’re cooking with gas.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

On to the next

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking like things are getting more serious...

[kuristina- tabreez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Apostles of the Stars have enacted their grand plan to turn the entire world against them, and to eradicate all those that stand in the way of their perfect world. They've murdered all twenty leaders of the World Federation of Nations! Meanwhile, Train and his crew are hanging with an impostor Black Cat. Woodney, the impostor, has been using the name Black Cat as a means to get whatever he wants, but when troubles calls on his doorstep and Train saves his ass, Woodney realizes he's been gloating his lies to the /real/ Black Cat and wishes to become his apprentice! Train shakes him off by telling him that he'd be a better informant than apprentice, but Train's troubles will never end when his past follows him everywhere he goes. The Chronos numbers found Train and are requesting his assistance in taking down Creed Diskenth and the Apostles of the Stars!


Ahh, I waited too long to read this. I also read the first chapter right after I finished volume four and just left this one until this morning. .__. So I DEFINITELY did not read this in one sitting and I wish I would have. Q.Q Because this was a really good volume! Things got spicy and were great! But.. a little different from how they went in the anime, especially with Woodney. Durham wasn't even there when Woodney was! And who were those mob guys? Just simple mob guys that wanted that bounty, then Black Cat's head so that Sven could prove a point? Urgh. *Shakes head*. I'm definitely going to have to reread this manga series, a year AFTER I last view the anime.

[Ace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Train left underground organization Chronos to live his life on his own terms - two years later, he's working with his partner Sven as a sweeper. The action scenes are well-choreographed, the art is good, and the plot is easy to follow and (mostly) believable. I love stories about assassins, and I like how Train's past with Saya is only hinted it; the readers are given enough info to keep them wondering -- a few tidbits here, a little more there. It's great suspense!

With four volumes behind us, the characters are a bit more appealing now than they were in earlier volumes. Sven got some great page-time in the last volume. Train has shown a darker side of his personality; I like the juxtaposition of this darkness and his childishness. It's much more effective this way than it was in earlier volumes. All good things.

But the women! I've tired of their highly sexualized roles. I'd love to see something else happen with these women, something to make them a little more 3-D. The only character who doesn't suffer from this is Saya (Eve doesn't count because she's not an adult) -- this makes me want to see more of Saya because I'd really like to see a nuanced, interesting, adult female. Hopefully soon?

[Rena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I and II don't seem to care very much that Train left Cronus two years ago. I actually like that difference. It suits them much better than the begging and attempting to kill him that they do constantly in the anime. Eve is by far my favorite character. I find myself always rooting for her and get very upset when someone lays a hand on her. Train just needs to go kick Creed's butt now, but that probably won't happen before several more volumes. *waits impatiently*

[Yvensong · Rating 4 out of 5]

We meet more of Creed's team bent on world revolution and they make their first move. Can they be stopped...or, more importantly, should they be stopped? Is it so wrong to want to rid the world of complete domination by Chronos?

Meanwhile, Train and his companions have their own issues to deal with, such as a "Black Cat" impostor, before Train "Black Cat" Heartnet is approached by Chronos numbers I and II to request his aid in stopping Creed and the Apostles of the Star.

[Ashley]

I appreciate the pacing of this series as well. It's very consistent and appropriate to the story. I liked the scene where the cartoon was playing in the background. It was a clever contrast for the heaviness of the conversation. Also it's cool that the lead of the chronos numbers is a lady :)

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorite manga series. Not my first, but second or third at the least.

~~

Re-read for fun; still one of my favorite manga series.

[The Third Place A Teen Library]

F YAB bc v.5

[Rachel (Sfogs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

And the war begins!
Poor Eve!

[Bobby Hougen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really loving this manga series so far!

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someone is impersonating The Black Cat. So many good scenes in this one! Train and Eve are just fantastic. I love their competitiveness.

[Apatricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kentaro Yabuki You are a genius, we are discovering so much about the characters, I just can't stop loving this, I need more, Im going to watch the anime, I love this! Especially black cat eheh

[nidah05 (SleepDreamWrite) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good volume.