Black Cat Review: Chronos's Most Dangerous Assassin Walks Away
by Kentaro Yabuki
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Quick Take
- The most feared assassin in a secret world-controlling organization abandons everything after a woman teaches him what it means to live freely, and becomes a bounty hunter chasing his former colleague who murdered her
- Clean, fast action manga from the creator of To Love Ru — more serious and focused than his later work
- 20 volumes, complete
Who Is This Manga For?
- Readers who want compact, complete action manga with a clear protagonist arc
- Fans of cool-gunslinger protagonists and the action anime aesthetic of the early 2000s
- Anyone who wants a finished series with consistent pacing and a satisfying conclusion
- Readers who want action manga without excessive power inflation
Content Warnings & Age Rating
Age Rating: T (Teen) Content Warnings: Gun violence, dark backstory elements, action themes
Accessible. Standard action content.
Yu's Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Story Depth | ★★★★☆ |
| Art Style | ★★★★★ |
| Character Development | ★★★★☆ |
| Accessibility for Non-Japanese Readers | ★★★★★ |
| Reread Value | ★★★★☆ |
Story Overview
Chronos is a secret organization that controls one-third of the global economy through its Numbers — thirteen elite operatives, each lethal in a specific way. Train Heartnet is Number XIII, "Black Cat" — a gunslinger with a weapon called Hades that fires bullets at impossible speed, and with an engraving of a black cat on his neck.
A Sweeper (bounty hunter) named Saya Minatsuki befriends Train and begins to show him that his assassin's existence is a choice he could unmake. When Creed Diskenth — Train's colleague who becomes obsessed with his admiration for Train — murders Saya, Train abandons Chronos to become a Sweeper himself.
The manga follows Train's pursuit of Creed and Creed's organization, with his new partner Sven Vollfied (another Sweeper) and Eve (a bioweapon girl they free and informally adopt).
Characters
Train Heartnet — The protagonist whose transition from assassin to free person is the manga's central story. His emotional development — from someone who lived to kill to someone who chooses who to protect — is handled with care.
Sven Vollfied — The experienced Sweeper who becomes Train's partner; his "Eve's Father" energy is the manga's primary warmth source.
Eve — The bioweapon child who becomes human through exposure to Sven and Train; her arc is the manga's most quietly affecting.
Creed Diskenth — The antagonist whose obsession with Train is the engine of the conflict; his characterization is more complex than a typical action villain.
Art Style
Yabuki's art is clean and stylish — Train's character design became iconic in anime/manga circles of the early 2000s, and the gun action sequences are dynamic and clear. The character designs are distinctive and well-realized.
What I Love About It
The trio. Train, Sven, and Eve are one of action manga's better found-family configurations — not because the manga is sentimental about it, but because each member's development feeds the others'. Eve's humanity comes from Sven's belief in her and Train's casual acceptance of her. Train's warmth is produced partly by having somewhere to direct it.
What English-Speaking Fans Say
Black Cat has a nostalgic Western following from the early 2000s anime era. Western readers consider it a solid, complete action series that does what it sets out to do without overstaying its welcome. Train's character is consistently praised as a well-executed "cool assassin going straight" protagonist.
Memorable Scene ⚠️ Spoiler Warning
Train's confrontation with Creed's final form — and what he chooses to do rather than kill — is the payoff of his entire arc from assassin to someone who makes different choices. The resolution is earned.
Similar Manga
- Trigun — Gunslinger protagonist, similar redemption arc
- D.Gray-man — Similar early 2000s action aesthetic
- Fullmetal Alchemist — Assassin-adjacent protagonist, similar emotional arc
- One Piece — Similar found-family structure, different scale
Reading Order / Where to Start
Volume 1. Linear story — no good entry point mid-series.
Official English Translation Status
VIZ Media published the complete 20-volume series. All volumes available.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 20 volumes, complete, satisfying conclusion
- Train's character arc is cleanly executed
- The art is stylish and consistent
- The found-family trio is well-developed
Cons
- Story depth limited compared to the genre's best
- The antagonist organization is more interesting than its individual members
- Reflects early 2000s shonen conventions that date slightly
Format Comparison
| Format | Notes |
|---|---|
| Individual Volumes | Standard VIZ release |
| Digital | Works well |
| Physical | Fine |
Where to Buy
Get Black Cat Vol. 1 on Amazon →
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*Affiliate link — I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Written by
Yu
Manga Enthusiast from Japan
I grew up in Japan and manga literally saved me during a tough time in elementary school. My English isn't perfect, but my love for manga is real — and I want to share it with you.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.