Tista, Vol. 2

Tista #2

by Tatsuya Endo

In New York City, the NYPD struggles to track down a serial killer known as Sister Militia, who has been targeting mobsters and other criminals in the Big Apple. No one knows who Sister Militia really is except a few residents of a Catholic orphanage. Her name is Tista…

Tista’s activities as the grim reaper of New York City have drawn the attention of the FBI. Agent Snow makes contact with Arty and begins to investigate. Meanwhile, Tista continues to bury her emotions in order to complete her deadly missions. But when the organization she serves issues a particularly cruel order, can she carry it out?

Genres: Manga, Graphic Novels, Crime, Comics, Drama, Action, Dark Fantasy

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 2008

About the author

Tatsuya Endo (遠藤達哉 Endou Tatsuya) is a Japanese mangaka.

Reviews

[jd567 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obviously with a 2-volume serialization, you wouldn't expect much from development or pacing, but Tista does well enough all things considered. The background on the organization Tista belongs to and its leadership remains scarce - and hard to follow when it isn't. The exploration of Tista's friends, though, is satisfying; and the exploration of Tista herself is... better than in the first volume at least.

I'd recommend this so long as you didn't absolutely hate volume 1. If you haven't read volume 1, I'd recommend this series if you liked Spy x Family and are curious about Endou's previous work.

[Joldettori · Rating 2 out of 5]

My worries were justified. The slow pacing kept going until we started going everywhere and nowhere all at the same time until it just, ended? Interessting to see the early work of Tatsuya Endo, but that is the only reason why i would ever recommend this to someone.

[Vail Chester · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oof, while the first volume could get away with no trigger warning, THIS ONE NEEDS A TRIGGER WARNING!

Despite my championing of graphic novels because visuals help those of us who are imaginationally impaired, I didn't need to be reminded that real life can be cruel, especially to children.
And that the Christian god randomly curses the kids who've suffered the most to have the friggin' Sharingan.
And that justice is absolutely not served because of cover-up & conspiracies & snipers.

The one thing to praise however, IS the art since the illusion of motion in still panels is still the artist's greatest strength.
Not bad for the first series of a fledgling mangaka, but it definitely took a while for him to iron out how characters & story & backstory will have to blend seamlessly into a final product.
...
I am very worried now about what he has planned for Anya's backstory now that I know what he's capable of...

[The Book Dragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arty is looking for Tista. The FBI is looking for Tista because they think she's Sister Militia. The cops are hunting for Sister Militia. Tista is busy being Sister Militia until she abruptly isn't which really messes her up and we see why after we get her backstory. Then the whole thing comes to a big clashing end.

It's... a bit too convoluted, but that could be because a lot of plot got smushed intoed this final volume. BUT points for making a character with a disability be an important plot point. I liked Susie. Other than that... uh... the character naming scheme was full of puns. Arty Drawer. Scar Bandaid. Loid and Yor are much more fun. Again, not bad, but slower pacing could've saved it.

This series has 2 volumes.

[K · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was worth going through Tista vol. 2 just to observe Endo's art style prior to working on Spy x Family. I wasn't a fan of the story but I appreciate Endo's character design skills. I think the most amusing part to me is the author bonus at the end where Endo talks about a trip to New York when he went with someone to a "neighboring state" and joined a gun shooting tour. It's always interesting seeing non-Americans' reactions to American gun culture. I may not have liked Tista but at least that gun shooting tour he went on added to the artistic skillset for Spy x Family. (I received a free ARC of this title from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.)

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting duology. I liked volume one and this volume was interesting as well. I liked that we got to explore more of Tista's background and her friends from when she was a kid. I wish there had been more volumes so that we could have explored more of the organization that she works for but, oh well. I liked this series enough that I would recommend it if you're looking for something short and entertaining to read.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tista is losing it. She has big, big issues with the assignments she is being given by the Society. And her interactions with Arty is breaking loose her past. She has become erratic and the Society has pulled her status and rank. Now she has one last chance to get back in their good graces. But is that what she wants? Read this volume to find out how and why Tista became Sister Militia.

Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title!

[Andrew Ladouceur · Rating 4 out of 5]

The context and added disposition of Tistas character in Volume 2 seems to enhance the first volume for me. Overall it's worth the read especially if you've read the first volume. I think the story would be better if the pacing through the volumes was different.

[Catarina Prata · Rating 5 out of 5]

An astonishing conclusion to Tista, this second volume was peak plot twist and dark story telling. Absolutly in love with these characters and the well done development and plot.
TW for child abuse, suicide attempt and mental illness

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the second volume more than the first. I agree with others that it should have a trigger warning because it caught me off guard. I enjoyed getting more back stories, so I was able to understand the characters more. I did feel like some things could have been expanded more.

[Deidre · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s not bad, there are aspects of quality. I would call it young, like a teenager pulled in multiple directions who cannot organize their thoughts.
Slightly more cohesive than the 1st in the series, but still not anything I would recommend to a friend to read.

[Kaiya · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending felt… rushed


I liked the backstory that was added, and seeing into the mechanics of this shooting skill, but it just felt like they shoved a lot into a second volume instead of giving themselves time to tell the story with 1-2 more.

Cool premise, moderately good execution.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darker and more action packed than the first, I realized that the premise reminded me in part of Boondock Saints. But continuing Tista's tormented search for peace, backstory and self determination come to the forefront as the established factions come into violent conflict.

[Yv · Rating 2 out of 5]

4/10

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

So sad that this had to end early! There was so much potential to flesh this out even more!

[bogo_lode · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read both volumes. Some good art and interesting bits but not quite long enough or fleshed out enough

[Gal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story had so much potential! I loved the characters but I wished they had more. It was rushed indeed.

[Karrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember liking the first book a lot. But this one was confusing (I also had strep throat)

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story wasn’t interesting but the art definitely was. Really love the artist’s ability to draw unique characters.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5, Such a good series, kinda wish it was longer though

[Jeremy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This volume felt like it was all over the place compared to volume one. I appreciate that Tatsuya Endo was able to craft a much better story in Spy x Family after completing Tista.

[Magik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the first one this felt a little rushed. I wanted more with Arty. Still, I liked it

[Rene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read!! Loved it

[Addi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not quite sure what I was expecting to happen in the second novel of this series. While I enjoyed it, it was certainly not my favorite series I have read. I really liked how things were not always as the reader anticipated them to be, and how things happened that you couldn't quite see coming. It was vaguely predictable, but not in an inherently bad way. I liked Tista and I loved watching her character develop as the story progressed.