Ghost in the Shell 2: Man-Machine Interface  Highly recommended
Publisher
Dark Horse
Writer
Masamune Shirow
Artist
Masamune Shirow
Country of origin
Japan
Length
1 volume
Year
2002
Ghost in the Shell 2 : Man-Machine Interface
By David Rasmussen
20th Mar 05  It's been a Shirow kind of year it seems.
First we have the first season of Ghost in the Shell : Stand Alone Complex, with Season 2 now gearing up for release in the future (which, if Season 1 is any indication, is going to be good).
We have an all new Appleseed movie released in theaters, as well as GITS : Innocence (the long awaited sequel to the original GITS theatrical movie) which also saw theatrical release.
And we have this, GITS 2 : Man-Machine Interface, to talk about.
Smaller in size than the previous GITS TPB, which was a ponderous release if I ever saw one, this new slimmer release book packs more issues than the previous GITS TPB, and yet takes up less space. Short and sweet since I don't want to spoil anything about this book.
Motoko Aramaki is not the woman she used to be.
It's sometime after the original GITS, yet different... anyway now she has merged with three or four separate entities (ghosts I think) and this new Motoko is a fusion of all these personalities into one greater whole. But the important thing is that she's still cute, and she still kicks butt. And she'll have lots of chances to do that as she seems to have lots to do now that she's working for the giant multi-national Poseidon Industrial. However it seems that Motoko and a certain Professor Rahampol have caught the attention of the Japan Channeling Agency (motto : Yes, Houdini DID call us! Jealous?) and a certain Tamaki Tamai. What starts off as the usual day's work for Motoko and company quickly turns into anything but, as things get weird, goes black/white at times, gets intense and hits hard with action and lots of deep deep content that really gets you thinking... oh, heck, tour de force of literature won't start explaining the deep little treasure of experiences you have right here in your hand so I might as well try to cut to the chase and the end! When it comes right down to it this little gem will really bend your perceptions and gets you thinking like never before... of course it helps that there's a ton of beautiful women in the pages of this book as well... sorry, my mind wandered. Anyway it's way too much to go into here, and I don't want to accidentially spoil anything, but the book is a solid downright pleasant page turner that'll keep you reading from beginning to end. If you've heard the hype about Shirow then let it be known that the "hype" is all true, and the work here is just one example as to why Shirow is the best at what he does, period.
I can't tell you enough why you should be watching GITS : SAC, or looking forward to getting GITS : Innocence and Appleseed (all on DVD now or coming soon), and I most certainly can't tell you enough that you need to get this book. One of my favorites of the year I recommend GITS 2 : Man-Machine Interface for you.
Yes, it is a tad expensive but considering the high quality read here it's not too much to ask now is it. Ghost in the Shell Breakdown the 2nd
(1st being the original 90's Ghost in the Shell TPB)
What's Hot? - It's Shirow, it's one of the best reads out of Dark Horse this year, what else is there to say?
A truly deep book that is a page turner for all the right reasons, this is just something that'll keep you at it reading it non-stop all the way to the end... then it'll get you reading it again and again.
One of my favorite picks of the year, it's just something well worth the effort to locate and buy.
On top of his game, as usual, Shirow delivers a read well worth your time and effort to track down. What's Not? - I don't have anything negative to say about this book at all. It's all good. Moments to Remember? - Now that would be telling... but I can say that I found lots that compelled me to keep reading, and which I fondly remember when I think about this read. It's good, it's all good. What to Ignore? - ...?... (thinking) ...can't think of anything... sorry... Overall? - You read the hype, and heard the words on Shirow and his work. Yes, I know that not everyone was bowled over by his work on GITS : Innocence, but this is something I can't stop raving about.
A solid read that I enjoyed from front to back, GITS 2 : Man-Machine Interface is a title that I can't stop ranting about. Solidly done, and just beautiful and good from start to end, it's one of my solid picks as best title of 2005 and something you shouldn't ignore. Give it a try, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
-- David Rasmussen 20th Mar 05
|
