This brand-new chapter fills in the gaps between The Ghost in the Shell: Human-Error Processor and Man-Machine Interface manga with a tense cyberpunk thriller written by Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex script writer Junichi Fujisaku. Just in time for the release of the new Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 anime on Netflix!
Hackers attempt to assassinate a politician during a speech preaching the advantages of cybernetic prosthetics. Fortunately, Togusa is there to whisk her to safety, and the investigation leads Batou to a suspicious factory in the artificial islands in southern Japan. Meanwhile, Chief Aramaki hears of a disturbing discovery at the other end of the country: dozens of artificial bodies, illegally dumped near a village where an anti-cyberization sect conducts their training and "rites." Among the empty shells is one formerly inhabited by the woman who embodied Section 9 until she left it behind and disappeared: Major Motoko Kusanagi...
Not bad, I was entertained. The characters all look different and it took a few pages to get used to those changes.
The story took a bit to get started. The female characters, I don't know if calling the portrayal of grown women in this story sexist is harsh enough. One just keeps freaking out in that manga style of out of character art so you know it is meant to be silly. I'll not mention the other woman since that would be a spoiler.
Once the story gets going it was good. So 3.5 stars.
Excellent new story-line from GITS universe (following the omnibus Neural Network).
First thing, story - as always Section 9 encounters a conspiracy that threatens the Japan. What makes this one different from others is the fact that Major's shell (cyborg body) was found dumped with several others in not so good condition with no indications what happened to their respective Ghosts. This seems to be connected to terrorist attacks targeting people that want to become cyborgs, strange "disconnected" religious sect, heavy crime and strange industry concern in the Japan's south.
All story arcs are interwoven and flow naturally and we follow Section 9 agents as they try to figure out what is happening and what was the Major's involvement. It got me glued to the pages 'til the end. Additionally entire story had a level of seriousness to it - this is dangerous world Section 9 inhabits and people die...... unexpectedly.
Art wise approach is little bit different (but then so was Neural Network). In general only character I could not recognize outright was Togusa. All other characters I had no issues with. Art is beautiful and goes for the realistic style and this has impact especially when heaviness of the incident kicks in.
Beautiful art and very good story make this book great addition to GITS universe. Cannot wait for vol 2.
I love Ghost in the Shell and found this manga refreshing and entertaining, though not without issues. The plot is good but the new characters are questionable, with the female recruit being the kind of jokey moe character that doesn’t necessarily fit the series. Also the fact she is a psychic medium is strange, not something established within the canon so I’m a bit on the fence.
Batou making funny anime faces is worth the price of admission though. The art is pretty good and, again, the plot is very good; much better than what we got in SAC 2045.
This series feels like a combination of the original manga and the Stand Alone Complex anime. It has the intertwining plot threads of the latter, with some of the humor of the former by way of the female character. Once things start to get serious she becomes a nuisance (to teammates and readers), which might get grating later on if they don't give her some more to do.
A bit confusing. I wasn't sure where the characters were (location wise), who was doing what, characters/fight scenes/transitions. To many plot lines. I would have been fine with one vol and "The White Bear".