Kaito ’84 #2: Ghost of the Past

Kaito and his old crew reluctantly reunite to pull off the heist of decade. However, when they are set up and put in the crosshairs of Osaka’s finest, Kaito gets a vision from his ancestor that shows that there is more to this broken spear than he thought.

We officially get to the meat of the story with this issue and for the most part it proves effective by the creative team. We are introduced to a good number of characters in this issue, and from what is shown they have the potential to add meaningful layers to this story. Kaito’s old crew: a rhino named Gen, and a pair of foxes named Kitsune (very on the nose name) and Kiyoko. We don’t know the exact reason why the friend group broke up, but the tense dynamic between Gen and Kaito is an avenue that will like be explored in later issues. There is also Inspector Ame, who is like the Zenigata to Kaito’s Lupin. There is also the flashback scene at the climax of the issue that provides the biggest moment so far and the book’s hook.

Zack Rosenberg continues to craft a fun narrative while retaining an emotional core. The new characters introduced expand the world slightly, but enough to further develop Kaito as a lead. Gen, Kitsune, and Kiyoko bounce off of Kaito in a way where you can tell the group used to be close, but can see why they might not deal with one another anymore. Inspector Ame is also fun so hopefully she sticks around for later issues.

Jared Cullum’s art is stellar, with the biggest highlights being the car chase after the heist goes sideways, and Kaito’s flashback to what looks to be the final battle of his ancestor Usagi Yojimbo. The colors in that latter scene are especially gorgeous, showcasing the brutality and darkness of the situation, but also showing how Usagi still stands against like a hero.