Gunslinger Girl Recommended

Publisher
ADV Manga
Writer
Yu Aida
Artist
Yu Aida
Country of origin
Japan
Year
2002

Gunslinger Girl Volume 1

By David Rasmussen
12th Jul 04

Studio - ADVManga
Age - 15+
By Yu Aida
ADV Manga Staff
Translator - Eiko McGregor
Lead Translator/Translator Supervisor - Javier Lopez
ADV Manga Translation Staff - Javier Lopez, Amy Forsyth & Brendan Frayne
Publishing Editor - Susan Itin
Editorial Assistant - Margaret Scharold

Graphic Novel 1
Henrietta just didn't get a good break.
Let's see now. She was brutally attacked along with her family. Her family died, she was maimed (lost an arm, leg and eye) and most likely gang raped while she bled and her family laid dead around her.
Yeah. That'd make anyone want to die.
But die she didn't -- though in retrospect that would have been a mercy.
The Italian Government (if I read this right) is making little girls into cyborg killing machines, assassins they brainwashed to the cause of keeping the "order" as they see fit. Tools of the power.
Don't you just hate it when you vote idiots into office that turn little girls into mini-Terminators? Sheesh.
But it seems that for this one girl there might be a chance she's not entirely "T-800" braindead material yet. With a "handler" that treats her like a human being there's a chance she might have some humanity left.
But in the dark world of covert assassination can she afford to be human? Will her masters let her?
About as grim as it can be, yet with some hope, it's the kind of title that (if they made a live action movie of it) I could see Jean Reno starring in as Henrietta's handler.
No, the guy doesn't look like him at all, but he'd got the role down pat after being in movies like The Professional, and if you liked stuff like that you'll go for Gunslinger Girl.
A thought provoking, action packed, real page turner of a book. Keeps you reading up to the end, and then makes you ask for more… for however long this'll last.
Let's hope it's got some distance on it.

Gunslinger Girl Breakdown the 1st
What's Hot? As I stated above? The title is a strong shot in reading similar to a armor piercing round. Both dark, strong and violent, yet with hope and thought provoking reading? It's well balanced and with it's nicely done artwork to add to it's good points it's the kind of read that just grabs you and compels you to keep reading to the end. Highly recommended from me to you.
What's Not? Be mindful of the age restriction. Also remember this is intense violent stuff so be sure you can take it before giving this title a spin.
Moments to Remember? It's quite a memorable read all around. Kudos to the title for being well crafted.
What to Ignore? Nothing. It's all solidly done.
Overall? It's a strong title with both darkness and light, violence and action and dark moments yet also humanity and hope. Thought provoking and attention grabbing, the title is a solidly done read that both the manga fan and mainstream (MARVEL, DC, etc) fan can get into.
Highly recommended from me to you, and well worth your time in checking out.

-- David Rasmussen 12th Jul 04