Galaxy Angel Beta

Publisher
Broccoli Books
Writer
Kanan
Artist
Kanan
Country of origin
Japan
Year
2004

Galaxy Angel Beta V. 2

By David Rasmussen
5th Mar 06

Are you reading this yet? Galaxy Angel from Broccoli Books.
This, Galaxy Angel Party, Kamui… these are some of the reads I’m presently hyping from Broccoli Books, but today it’s Galaxy Angel Beta which is the focus of this review. Now heading into the second series of the run, Galaxy Angel Beta is still a strong read worth checking out (and if I haven’t impressed this important knowledge onto you yet now is a good time to try again).
With two Galaxy Angel reads out now, this and the long in coming Galaxy Angel Party, not to mention the third season of Galaxy Angel the Anime being out now? Now is as good a time as any to jump into the series and make it one of your favorite reads. How so? Let me tell you why as we hit Volume 2.

Volume 2
So what’s going on this time out…
We’ve been having it pretty easy, haven’t we? The title has been rolling along at a nice quiet happy pace with only the occasional hiccup here and there… too bad that is about to end. While there is still some cute left in the book a major bad mojo is coming as the newest Angel is going to get her own Emblem Frame… and then get dragged into the dark side.

There is still the light stuff but we slowly watch Chitose get brainwashed into evil until it leads to a dark turn as the volume ends. Guess Space Whale Jr. knew what it was talking about when it tried to warn Takuto about Chitose, but he didn’t listen… now it’s too late, and things can only get worst as Chitose is about to jet with Takuto and bring about some very bad mojo next volume, especially when she and Takuto turn against the rest of the team and we start to see the very real possibility of some deaths to come.

But that’s next time. Meanwhile if you ever wondered what the 4-1-1 on Prince Shiva was…. Well, now you’ll know for certain. Yes you will. Then there’s some weird extras (like Imagination Theater and the continued misuse of Space Whale Jr. as a sleepaide) and we wrap up. Breakdown time.

Galaxy Angel Beta Breakdown the 2nd
What’s Hot?
If you haven’t read Galaxy Angel the manga yet now is as good a time as any.
Of course you should go back and get the original Galaxy Angel V. 1-5 but getting in with Galaxy Angel Beta and Galaxy Angel Party is a good start if you missed the first run.
The read is becoming more intense and a twist of the knife may bring a cataclysmic crash and burn next time out, but it’s still got it’s good moments here…which might be lacking next time. So, while the title still has some lightness to it get in now, you know, before the fall.

What’s Not?
I guess the fact that the title is about to take a rather uncharacteristic dark turn. Even at it’s darkest last time the title didn’t take such a dark spin as it is now… but maybe I’m over reading things. We’ll see what happens next time when the hammer falls and… you know.

Moments to Remember?
The last bit of light moments that are in this book.

What to Ignore?
Nothing. Nothing at all.

Overall?
Still a recommended read if I ever had one. Still looking for Broccoli Books to expand their titles and bring out more reads to look over, of course, but this (along with some of my other favorite reads) is still recommended reads.

-- David Rasmussen 5th Mar 06