Hayate the Combat Butler Vol. 24
Story and Art by Kenjiro Hata
Review by Mara Wood
Poor Hayate. It’s bad enough that his parents owe money to the yakuza. To avoid drastic measures to pay off their debt, Hayate becomes a butler for a wealthy young lady, Nagi. In Kenjiro Hata’s series from Shonen Sunday features a comedic story of a butler struggling to protect his mistress.
Volume 24 kicks off with a massive house party held by Nagi in Greece. Through a grand gesture, Nagi puts her own future into jeopardy to save Hayate. He has to confront his long-time love, Athena, as a result. Hayate ends up displaying his extensive combat skills as he battles against Athena. Hayate the Combat Butler is more than a day-to-day story of a butler. Hata incorporates fantasy, magic, and mythological elements into Hayate’s duties. The result is a fast-paced story that is unpredictable and fun. The volume wraps up satisfyingly while simultaneously pulling the reader into the upcoming volume.
Hayate the Combat Butler tends to stay away from large, sweeping storylines. The focus is taking the premise – a young man serving as a butler to a wealthy young woman – and telling many different types of stories. This is great for new readers; with minimal research, you can find out enough about the main characters to enjoy the story.
Hayate the Combat Butler is published by VIZ Media. Currently, 24 volumes are available in North American markets.
