Candy & Cigarettes
Candy and Cigarettes

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Candy and Cigarettes perfectly nails my personal love for the stereotype of little girl+old man combo and the wit and dialogue that comes off the two of them all to the backdrop of an amazing crime action story about politics and secret societies. The story is about an ex-cop becoming an assassin with a schoolgirl who has known nothing but murder her entire life and how their differnet lives up until now influence who they are as well as their opinions on their new partnership in this world of kill or be killed. The Characters overall are solidly written with plenty of likable characters and ... an equal amount of hatable villains with barely any of either of them going too far and feeling cartoonishly evil or good etc.

The Story itself I felt was very well paced and all the arcs and twists and turns along the way combined with the solid pannelling, story flow and overall progression made it feel like a classic crime film from the 80s and I mean that in the highest praise possible sort of way. However, I do agree the final 4~ chapters or so do feel somewhat rushed and forced but in the way of it feels like they could have lasted another 2 or 3 chapters. The actual writing during these chapters I thought was almost perfectly fine not counting a few smaller details I felt like should have been expanded on further. No, the final volume of chapters felt rushed in how it felt like we were supposed to get an entire new volume still to develop this entire finale that was builtup for the last 15 chapters or so but the ending itself was still good, just lacking in its execution.

Overall, I loved this series for its great characters, dialogue, pleasent art style and wonderful story about shadow organizations trying to control the world from the shadows and its commentary on how we view conflict today.

EDIT: I read about 1 or 2 volumes when I originally made this review and now I've completed reading the whole series. One of the best action manga I've read in awhile. Extremely recommend. All the things in the old review still stand.

Probably rating this way too high (in other people's eyes) but I'm pretty specific with what I like. I barely give any manga a solid 10/10 unless they somehow manage to amaze me to hell and back (not including this one, I gave 8 manga a 10/10.)

I am a sucker for action like this. I'm sure there's many many things out there that ... follow a similar plot of "adult and child hitmen" or something along the lines but this was really good, even if it is possibly unoriginal.

It IS unfinished and I've only read the first volume in its entirety but even then, this still is a great manga series and I highly recommend it. The characters are awesome and I love the little girl, "Miharu". Probably a terrible comparison but she's pretty much Spike Spiegel here......or something along the lines, as said, probably terrible comparison.

Anyway, as of what I've read, this is a really easy 10/10. So far in vol. 2, my opinion's not changing. Sucks this is so underrated.

Also, I really really hope this doesn't get an anime adaptation. Please don't ruin it, big studios.

(since this is an early review, my ratings will be lower than usual)

Candy & Cigarettes is a new manga about an old man trying to earn money for his grandchild's medication but soon found himself into a high paying job where he helped a 11 yr old girl and an organization to assassinate high profile people whom were involved a secret criminal organization that operates and corrupt Japan behind the scene.

So far the manga had shown some very nice action scenes and ok character development. However, this premise is not something really eye opening as it had done a millions times before not just in ... manga, but also in movies, tv shows, and literature. Unless the stakes are getting higher and higher, this manga might get very autopilot

Story 6/10

The artwork in Candy & Cigarettes is the best part of this manga. Influence by Cartoon artwork and OG anime art, every page of this manga is very nice looking and different.

Art 9/10

The characters in Candy & Cigarettes aren't really much different than many similar assassination manga. But they are likable, and likable characters are great.

Characters 6/10

For the most part Candy & Cigarettes isn't a manga that will break high grounds, however if done properly, it can evolve into a great joyride of shootouts. And oh please make this happen.

Enjoyment 7/10

Overall, Candy & Cigarettes has potential to be really enjoyable or meh.

Overall 6/10

Recommend? Not really, but if you want, why not?

Good anime material? may...be...