Tatsuya Endo, the creator of Spy x Family, deviated from his "no handsome characters" rule when writing the popular action-comedy manga.
This information came to light on Reddit in a translated version of a three-way conversation between Endo, Blue Exorcist creator Kazue Kato and Kono Oto Tomare: Sounds of Life creator Amu. During this conversation, the three manga authors discuss their opinions of each other's works in a light-hearted, joking fashion. Kato and Amu both praise Spy x Family, but during the discussion, Amu mentions an earlier work of Endo's called Gekka Bijin, an action-fantasy manga about a young princess that must regain control of her mother's kingdom from a rival clan that has taken over the government.
Amu recounts Gekka Bijin's serialization, explaining that "while the characters were likely to be popular, he [Endo] deliberately distorts them and says that orthodox good-looking men (ikemen) will never appear." Amu emphasizes Endo's change in artistic direction when she references Endo's one-shot fantasy manga, Ishi ni Usubeni, Tetsu ni Hoshi, which Endo wrote in place of a Spy x Family chapter during the series' run. This one-shot is about a strong, handsome warrior named Gath who befriends a little medusa girl due to his immunity to her deadly powers. Amu comments that "this combination of a young man and a little girl is good! If it had been the old Endo-san from before, he would have made Gath a foolish geezer."
Endo Jokes About Giving Up His No Ikemen Rule
At this point, Kato also chimes in, jokingly applauding Endo for drawing a handsome character for Spy x Family. She presumably refers to Loid Forger, aka Agent Twilight, who many fans would likely describe as handsome. Endo accepts their praise, laughingly replying that "he has no attachment to the character" because of that reason and that "it's the result of giving up in some ways." Endo did not elaborate on the precise reason why he gave up drawing unattractive characters.
Spy x Family revolves around an elite spy named Agent Twilight who, as part of his mission to prevent a powerful figure from starting a war between the East and West, marries an assassin named Yor and adopts a little telepathic girl named Anya. Together, the three of them try to enjoy everyday life while simultaneously trying to protect their nation and conceal their true identities. Wit Studios and CloverWorks produced a 12-episode anime adaptation of Endo's manga that aired from April to June of this year. The second half of the anime's first season debuted on Oct. 1.
Spy x Family is currently streaming on Hulu and Crunchyroll. The manga is available in English from VIZ Media.
Source: Reddit