Battle Angel Alita, Vol. 6: Angel of Death [Paperback]

Yukito Kishiro (Author, Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

When he was only seventeen, Yukito Kishiro was nominated for Japanese publisher Shogakukan's Best New Comic award. Creator of other popular VIZ Media series Aqua Knight, Ashen Victor, and Battle Angel Alita, Kishiro is known for his strong characters, original settings, and intricate, lifelike artwork.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (January 5, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569311277
• ISBN-13: 978-1569311271
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #821,739 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

When he was only seventeen, Yukito Kishiro was nominated for Japanese publisher Shogakukan's Best New Comic award. Creator of other popular VIZ Media series Aqua Knight, Ashen Victor, and Battle Angel Alita, Kishiro is known for his strong characters, original settings, and intricate, lifelike artwork.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly what the motorball volumes SHOULD have been!, December 24, 2001

By 

"arxane" (Oklahoma City, OK United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Battle Angel Alita, Vol. 6: Angel of Death (Paperback)

In a perfect transition from volume five, the story of Alita continues beautifully with "Beyond the Yellow Door". However, the later parts of volume six, "Angel of Death", might seem as meaningless and weak as the motorball volumes, volumes three and four. But that depends upon your tastes, really. For me, "Angel of Death" is a perfect demonstration of what the motorball volumes should have been!

With volume six, Alita becomes nothing but a weapon, a tool, and a good deal of the volume is spent with Alita fighting and battling. Of course, the still-beautiful artwork is filled with mature-audience blood and gore, so it's good to see Yukito Kishiro maintain his sense of dedication to the series. Probably the part where people might run into problems is with the plot.

Unlike the motorball episodes, volume six doesn't divert too far away from the main plot, but some of the volume is dedicated to a new character, Figure Four, who eventually falls for Alita (and vice versa). "Angel of Death" doesn't make it clear whether Figure Four plays a major role in future volumes, so this might frustrate some Alita fans. Also, the growth of the relationship between Alita and Figure Four isn't too realistic and feels a little sloppy.

But does this make "Angel of Death" like the motorball volumes? Not really. The main plot does manage to stay that way throughout the book: main. And although there is a lot of seemingly needless fighting, it can be considered "enjoyable" needless fighting. What fan of Alita doesn't want to see her wield a scythe-like blade with an evil snicker on her face? It's a lot better than seeing Alita battle for a silly motorball!

All in all, "Angel of Death" does make a few questionable choices in its execution, but in the end it's still an enjoyable read. But even if you feel that "Angel of Death" fell as low as the motorball volumes, look at it this way: at least the story in "Angel of Death" didn't span another volume!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful manga!, May 10, 2000

By 

inkstone (VA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Battle Angel Alita, Vol. 6: Angel of Death (Paperback)

Battle Angel Alita was one of the first manga that I ever started reading and it has never disappointed me. Full of action, obscure references, great art and a loveable heroine, it has everything that you could possibly want.

This volume picks up after Alita has violated one of the major laws of the Scrapyard -- firing a handgun. And in the tradition of La Femme Nikita, she is saved by none other than the government of the utopian Tiphares in exchange for becoming one of their assassins -- hence the name, Angel of Death. She agrees... all just for the chance to see her surrogate father, Ido, once again.

In past volumes, we've seen Alita struggle to find herself, fall in love, lose her way and find it once again. This volume is no exception as Alita descends into the madness found in death and destruction only to be brought again by a man named Figure Four. Definitely a must-read.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Angel of Death is Right!, August 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Battle Angel Alita, Vol. 6: Angel of Death (Paperback)

She is the Angel of Death! Alita is now working for Tiphares. After defeating Zapan with a gun (which are illegal in the Scrapyard), Alita is sentenced to death. Tiphares offers to let her die of work for them. Looking forward to finding Ido, she accepts the job as a one man army. Alita meets a human with power usually un seen in a non-cyborg. Alita falls in love with Figure Four, and finds another reason for living.