Customer Reviews

Battle Angel Alita: Last Order, Vol. 2 - Angel of the Innocents

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A previous reviewer mentioned he disliked this new series because it does not fit with the original series... I have to disagree. Last Order begins one year after Alita dies at the hands of a bomb and Nova collects her brain matter. The original ending came about quickly due to medical and stress related problems on the part of the creator, and as a result, there are far too many questions left unanswered.

Last Order attempts to remedy this by filling out the universe in which this story is set.

Admittedly, LO #2 is rather high in battles and low on plotline. LO #1 itself places the reader in a whole new world that is largely left unexplained amidst outright chaos. LO #2 continues this for a short while as it deals with the problems of Tiphares. The most important thing to be learned from this volume is that it serves as a transitional space and motivation for Alita & co. to make their journey through Ladder to Ketheres in Volume #3. However, if you felt this book lacking, I highly recommend hanging in and checking out #3, as the Battle Angel universe starts a whole new ball game.

I don't believe it. The series is getting better and better. As are the story lines. Little by little, we get to know more about Alita's past, as she discovers herself in battles. As usual with the series, there are occational humors to keep us light hearted. Don't get me wrong, this is a very serious stories. It draws you in with the rich characters and griping story lines. I can't wait for the next one.

In a struggle that pits adults against children the residents of Tiphares act out the age old questions of whether an imitation can replace human nature. Of course, the answer is no - the adults, who have had their brains replaced with tiny computer chips, have become compliant, but that does not mean they are not jealous of their prerogative.

For the youth, who now understand the deeper meaning of freedom, the fight is for survival as individuals - as true humans. Yet, when pressed, they too will stop at nothing, and it is the children who unleash a monster so deadly that only Alita can stand up to it, But even the super-powered cyborg is dangerously outclassed.

As Yukito Kishiro's new series unfolds, the reader learns that this story is far larger that the limits of the city in the sky. Kaos, who lost almost everything in the first series has returned - ruined, but determined to make amends. And by the simple, age-old mechanism of a paper plane a bond is re-forged and a faint, slightly cynical glimmer of hope appears to light the way.

For all the this series is still a vehicle for Alita's spectacular fighting skills the story reveals more depth and a finer sense of rhythm than the first series. Too often sequels seem to suffer from weakness, but Kishiro seems to have husbanded his strength. As complexity and character develop the story grows stronger as well.

I liked this book alot. It has excellent artwork; the story, as usual, was excellent, and I found it just as exciting as the first series. It continues the Alita Legacy quite nicely.

This is a review not of the story, but of the quality of the book itself.

I have every singe edition of the library bound BAA/LO's, and I have to say, except for volume 10 for the most part, they are all terrible (like volume 6 of last order) or just "good", not excellent, but good.

Like all the other hardcover editions, this one has fine print quality on the inside, nothing wrong with that. Except Viz/Pawprints/ whoever is in control of the size of these things once AGAIN made it standard manga-sized, without shrinking the art a little, so the artwork and words just plain get cut off on every page. Also, another problem with the size is that it won't open all the way, so you can't see the artwork anywhere close to the spine of the book.

And the image quality on the cover, while being vastly improved, is still streaky in places and the fine details are lost.

On a positive note, this, beside volume 10 of the LO hardcovers, is the first edition with bright, vivid, beautiful colors. But Alita looks like she has pink-eye because of the formerly mentioned loss of detail. BUt everything on the spine of the cover is in order, nothing too high, too low, discolored, but again, the image on the spine is terribly under detailed and unattractive unless being seen from afar.

Because of the artwork cutoffs, I can't recommend this. Definitely go with the trade paperbacks!!!!

I have always enjoyed looking at Yukito Kishiro artwork in the Alita books. I use the books as a comparison when looking at other authors works. I feel that his art has a very organic and smooth (but a little ruff) quality to it. It looks perfect, but never to perfect. The wide range of ideas that he comes up with in his books is what makes the art great to. From the mesh of flesh and metal combined in cyborgs, to the graphic detail of the violence, Kishiro's art is pure eye candy.

'Last Order' continues his streak of fantastic craftsmanship with Volume 2. Out of all the books, I found 'Angel of Death' the most violent and gory. 'Angel of the Innocents' now surpasses 'Death' as the most graphically violent and disturbing Alita book yet. No sooner do you turn to the first page, is there a man getting his limbs pulled off by a huge robot (let me also point out, this robot is acting like a baby with a play thing). Later on, the same robot carries around a dead body and waves it around like a rage doll (the eyes on the body sometimes open to make it look like he is still alive). Several other scenes show the many crazy looking forms of the robot, more people getting killed, and (this is my personal favorite) a cube of dead bodies.

This is some pretty intense stuff, but that is just one of the several things I love about the 'Battle Angel Alita' novels. I like how every book gives you a wonderful story (this book has one of the best) great characters, and imaginative imagery. This is Kishiro's most "out their" book yet. Its also one of his best.

I am not a big fan of this new Battle Angel series. The first series 1 - 8 are my all time favorite, right next to Nauiscca. But I don't like this new story line, it doesn't fit in with what happened in the earlier books. The series retains Kishiro's incredible art work and violence which is all good, but I rated this as a 2 star becuase of the story and where it fits in her life. As a stand alone I guess the comic is alright, nothing that spectacular, but as a continuation of the series it's confusing, not as bad as the first Last Order, but close.

I would have given the book 1 star but some old characters show up and give some hope back that this series might end up making some sense. The only reason I keep buying this series is becuase I think Alita is one of the most well developed and deep characters in recent comics. If you haven't read the earlier series, start there. If you have and feel like me on this book I guess we just have to trust that Kishiro knows where he is going with all of this.