I think my interest in this series will hinge on the bond between Hayate and Nagi- there were slight flickers of it in this volume, but I hope it builds more in the next one 🤞
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Themes continued. In this case, we see the theme of poverty develop--Wataru, being poor, displays hauteur as a coping mechanism (at first). The emotional core of Hayate's life, his resignation and smiling kindness, is hinted upon via being abandoned again basically--although, in a sense, he doesn't seem to feel it when others are around to help him.
I really like this comedy boys manga like the manga calls itself. Even tho I like reading it some stuff are getting anoying like the girl nagi she is possessif and mean and also very jealous. Isumi is a nice attachment in this volume her shy behavior is adorable
If there's a prize out there for the most over-the-top manga in the world, I might recommend this one. Nothing in Hayate is done by half measures. So, our main character Hayate doesn't just have bad parents, he has parents who steal money from him, then sell him to the mob to pay off their other debts. Our main female character , Nagi, isn't just rich, she's Scrooge McDuck-style loaded and buys companies on a whim just to make some trivial pursuit simpler. Her friend doesn't just have a bad sense of direction, she can get lost just standing around. No one can just have a misunderstanding, it has to be a protracted, awkward misunderstanding exacerbated by both sides. And so it goes.
So if that doesn't sound like a good time, turn around right now. A lot of the humor in this book is in the absurdity of its very premise - Hayate, sold by his parents to pay off their debts, ends up being saved by Nagi and serving as her Butler. This involves not only cleaning and generally helping around the house, but also combat to the death, dealing with in-home tigers, and death robots with vendettas.
In book 3, we have a duel for Nagi's affections, a trip to an amusement park on the grounds of Nagi's home, and a lesson learned for Nagi.
Really, there is a bit of poignancy when Nagi, who mistakenly believes Hayate and her best friend Izumi are in love, tells Izumi she'll sell Hayate to him for the original price she paid the mob. It's telling that because of the tone of the book, it comes across as childish and silly, but there's that undercurrent of discomfort as you realize just how awful a thing she did - and in the moment when she realizes it too.
Overall, though, there's nothing deep here. It's generally a light read, and you'll know pretty quick whether it's for you or not.
Kenjiro Hata, Hayate the Combat Butler, vol. 3 (ViZ, 2007)
In this amusing installment of the series, Hayate is challenged to a duel by Nagi's fiancee, Wataru Tachibana. Quandary: does he let the guy win? And if so, how can he make it look as if he's not letting the guy win? Of course, he messes it up, and hilarity ensues, all of which masks such obviousl questions as “Nagi's old enough to have a fiancee?” and “someone actually plans on trying to put up with her for the rest of his life?”Maybe Hayate shouldn't have considered letting him win and rationalized it as putting him out of his misery... ***
More enjoyable 'combat butler' comedy. In this volume we learn more about Nagi's fiance, Wataru (and his maid, Saki). Plus, more Nursing Robot Eight comedy.
I really enjoyed the book. Some of the humor was pretty good (though aimed directly at anime fans), but even if you're not an otaku, most of the humor is still something you can get.