Spy x Family Ch. 89: Yuri The Yor Fu Master [Review]

Spy x Family Ch. 89 is one of the more interesting chapters of the manga. On one hand, this chapter stars Yuri Briar in his day job as a secret policeman for the SSS. Theoretically, this should be a dark espionage chapter of a similar nature as Loid’s Backstory Arc. However, the reality is a bit more complex than that due to Yuri and his Yor obsession. Combined with a fellow SSS agent (and a female agent on top of that) reacting to that aforementioned Yor obsession, and Tatsuya Endo has created a wonderfully complex comedy for this chapter. Complete with Yuri demonstrating that he’s the master (and sole practitioner) of Yor Fu. It makes sense in context.

Spy x Family Ch. 89: Details

Spy x Family Ch. 89 is the latest chapter of the manga by Tatsuya Endo (Blade of the Moon Princess), and unlike the previous chapter, is a standalone story instead of a multi-chapter arc. Although technically, it is a continuation of the WISE vs. SSS Arc (you can read reviews for Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Pt. 3, Pt. 4, Pt. 5, and Pt. 6 here for context) in that it depicts the aftermath. Casey Loe returns as the translator, with Rina Mapa also returning as the letterer. Shueisha originally published this manga in Japan under their Jump Comics+ imprint in the magazine Shōnen Jump+. Viz Media is the company publishing this manga in English in the NA region.

Where to Read

Spy x Family Ch. 89 made its debut on October 29, 2023. You can read this chapter entirely for free on Shonen Jump on Viz Media. Ch. 89 will remain free for 2 chapter releases after it. Upon the release of the third chapter after it, Ch. 89 will go into the Shonen Jump vault. Once there, you will have to pay a subscription fee to read it and all previous chapters. Admittedly, the fee is only $2.99 per month, so it’s not that big a hit to your wallet. All the same, if you’re short on cash, then you might want to hurry up and read Ch. 89 for free before you can’t anymore.

Anime Adaptation Details

As a side note: Spy x Family now has an anime adaptation that premiered on April 9, 2022. In fact, season 2 just recently premiered on October 7, 2023. You can watch all episodes on either Crunchyroll or Hulu. Note though that only Crunchyroll has any of the dubs. So if you like watching the English dub for some reason, then you have to watch the anime on Crunchyroll.

Spy x Family Ch. 89: Plot Summary

Spy x Family Ch. 89 begins with Yuri having a face-to-face meeting with Truck-kun. Fortunately, Yuri is not isekaied into another world. Yuri is far too durable for a mere truck to do more than inflict minor wounds on him, even though his SSS colleagues advise him stop getting hit by trucks. The fact that this is a repeat occurence is something they do not elaborate on.

As it turns out though, the reason why Yuri lets trucks hit him is because he’s feeling depressed about letting Twilight escape during that WISE vs. SSS Arc, despite Yuri shooting him in the right arm. That incident causes Yuri to feel that he’s weak and no longer deserving of Yor, in his mind. Then suddenly, a fellow agent named Chloe catches a guy who has a gunshot wound on his right arm. It’s a shame that he doesn’t fit Twilight’s build in the slightest. Not unless he can use magic, in which case, the SSS can’t win anyways.

Fortunately, that guy provides an emotional punching bag for Yuri in the form of his anti-government group. After a particularly, unnecessarily, and verbally harsh interrogation of the suspect; Yuri rides out with Chloe for the anti-government group’s HQ. During the ride, Chloe reveals that she’s actually a classmate of Yuri’s, and that they have a past together. One in which Yuri is the same stuck-up and sister-obsessed person he is today. This car ride is also where Yuri reveals that he can hear and sniff out his sister from inside a car at 50 paces. Even Chloe thinks this is taking the creepiness to a whole other level.

The Birth of the Yor Fu Legend?

Eventually though, they do arrive at the group’s HQ building. Chloe suggests the sensible thing: that they recon the place to determine enemy strength and numbers. But when has that stopped Yuri before? No, Yuri decides to go the full Leeroy Jenkins route, and barges in on his own. His mastery of Yor Fu (including such diverse moves such as Yor Punch, Yor Kick, and Yor Hadoken) easily defeats nearly the entire group. The last conscious member of the group has a knife though, and makes it his mission to slay this Yor Fu master.

Fortunately, Chloe takes down the suspect as he’s trying to rush Yuri’s back. She then berates Yuri with words and slaps of sense that knocks him back “10 or so meters.” She convinces him to stop risking his life so much to avoid making his sister sad…only, this convinces Yuri to train his agility and dodging ability instead. Fortunately, Yor arrives and gives him a much deserved dinner break, even if he does spit it out when Yor informs him that Loid cooke the meal. Really, he should’ve known when the meal was edible. Regardless, it makes Yuri daydream about Loid being Twilight so that he has an excuse to arrest and execute him…only for him to realize that it might make Yor sad. Will he carry out his daydream? Well, hopefully, Tatsuya Endo will expand on this plot thread in a future chapter of Spy x Family.

Spy x Family Ch. 89: The Good

Need I say that the best part of Spy x Family Ch. 89 is the story? In particular: the characters? Heck, Yuri and Chloe are driving the entire events of this chapter, with Yor as mostly offscreen motivation for Yuri. Frankly, this entire chapter proves just how good Tatsuya Endo is at writing his plot and characters. He basically took a situation that would normally be deadly serious, and made it into a morally and emotionally complex comedy.

It’s not just the story though. Spy x Family Ch. 89 features incredibly good artwork as always, particularly in the facial expressions. Facial expressions seem to be Tatsuya Endo’s best work. Yuri’s faces in this chapter are just spot-on for the comedy, and even for the feels parts. True, there’s far more comedy than heartwarming moments, but they both still demonstrate Tatsuya Endo’s skill with facial expressions.

Spy x Family Ch. 89: The Bad

Do you not like action? Or comedy? Or even heartwaming details? Well, then I’m not sure why you’re sticking with Spy x Family after 89 chapters then, not counting all the bonus chapters. If you are though, then welcome to the club. A club that’s only going to grow as more of the anime comes out.

Keep Reading:

Spy x Family Season 2 Ep. 5 “Plan To Cross The Border”: No Normal Vacation For The Forgers [Review]