Tatsuya Endo’s Spy x Family manga’s most recent arc focused on the traumatic military past of Martha, the butler of the Blackbell family. During these chapters, the series gave readers a glance at the atrocities committed by both the Ostanian and Westalian governments during the war several decades before the beginning of the series.

Once the confrontation was over, there was no celebration from either side, nor were the soldiers congratulated in any way. Martha’s tragic experience as a soldier was over as fast as it began, being one of the most accurate depictions of being a soldier in recent years. While not as exciting as some fans expected, the ending of the Blackbell Family’s butler’s journey is one of the best and most memorable ones in the franchise.

Martha’s Horrifying Experience As A Soldier Is Extremely Realistic

The Series Does Not Hold Any Punches When Depicting the Horrors of War

Chapter 100 of the Spy x Family manga series shows Martha fighting as a front-line soldier for the Ostanian army. Despite having been one of the few women who volunteered herself to fight for her country, the young woman received horrible treatment from her superiors. Some of her fellow female soldiers were killed in front of her by their commanding officer and Martha herself was abandoned by her battalion for being injured. If not for the kind people of Westalis, who were supposed to be her enemies, she would have died during the war.

Several days after her comrades abandoned her, Martha was spotted by a Westalian battalion, who informed her that the war was suddenly over. The young woman was rescued by the Ostanian army, who placed her in a car that would take all the soldiers left in Westalis back to Berlint City. Those who were injured received no treatment, they were not thanked for their bravery, and many died without any of their superiors caring. One of the soldiers Martha met during the trip back even complained that they fought in a war where no country won anything.

By showing this, Endo is likely trying to convey to his audience the futility of war. Besides those in charge, no one wins in a military conflict. The only things left after a war are injured individuals, thousands of deaths, and destroyed cities. While somber and anticlimactic, the ending of Martha’s journey is an amazing depiction of the aftermath of a devastating war. The choice of not portraying the Ostanian soldiers as heroes and showing how little their government cares about them creates one of the most brutally honest depictions of what being a soldier is like.

Spy X Family’s Latest Chapters Focus On the Series’ Anti-War Message

Endo Has Never Hidden His Disdain Toward Military Conflicts

Behind the wholesome moments and hilarious adventures of the Forger Family, Spy x Family has always portrayed a fervent anti-war sentiment. Not only is the protagonist’s main goal to prevent another conflict from erupting, but the series has also never shied away from depicting the horrors of war. Everything from Anya’s tragic past as an orphan to the constant tension between Westalis and Ostania all revolve around the last confrontation’s losses. The story may often focus on Anya’s daily life and the hilarious misadventures she has at school, but the threat of war is always there.

While not the first time Endo has directly portrayed how brutal and pointless war can be, as he already depicted it during Loid’s flashback, Martha’s story is the most graphic. Soldiers are being betrayed by their superiors for not wanting to die, survivors suffering from horrible injuries, and civilians living in fear of another attack. Despite her initial eagerness to join the army, Martha quickly realized how mistaken she was. This phenomenon is often seen in real-life soldiers, who join the army in hopes of serving their country and being seen as heroes.

Yet, they soon learn that war is not as depicted in movies and video games. Military conflicts are brutal and bloody, often ending with both sides losing more than they could have gained. Endo’s work has often portrayed realistic representations of what war is truly like. His opposition to these dreadful events has always been present, but never has it been so clear as in Martha’s backstory.

The Spy x Family manga is almost guaranteed to return to the wholesome life of the Forger Family soon. Despite this, the lessons portrayed by Endo in his story will remain there for old and new fans to read and learn. While not its main purpose, the series has become an excellent tool for teaching audiences about the causes, effects, and consequences of war.