Customer Reviews

Ghost in the Shell 1.5: Human-Error Processor

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

 

 

Ghost In The Shell, Human-Error Processor, are the stories between Ghost In The Shell 1 and Ghost In The Shell 2. Five stories, stand alones, which deal more with police procedures and the daily work that Section 9 does to fight crime, both on and off the web. The plots are not as complex as found in Gits 2 but the action is still fast and technology is still cool. The only reason I removed one point was because the Major is only in one of the stories and I think of her as the character that makes the series so hot. Robotic wasps, snipers and cyborgs, oh my!

Having read Dark Horse's GitS and GitS MMI (GitS 1&2) I found this an enjoyable analog to Stand Alone Complex. It features a sampler of stories from the full Section 9 of SAC anime fame (Well, Azuma instead of Bohma - Boomer?), giving it a big cast. This is good. On the down side it is half the size of either of volumes 1 or 2 and feels a bit clipped.

I still liked it better than the Kusanagi(Major)-centric book 2 and even the first book in some ways. It hints at grittier events, but is too short and frantic to be throughly enjoyable. It left me wanting more, because *this* is the Section 9 I want to read about.

It is interesting to note the book flips and scans right to left. The content is less westernized than 1&2. I get a feeling the book is a fan concession. Fortunately for the story the softcore fan appeal is less prevalent than in MMI.

Anyway. I love Ghost in the Shell. This book in particular is what I want from the series in terms of characters (SAC cast, mostly), and tone (investigations). It gets a four because it fell short of inspiring, and I feel the tales contained could have been more serious. It's still worth the price. More, please.

This review is partially in response to one written by Jeffrey D. Sherwood. Jeffrey wrote that he was expecting the art style to be similar to that of the GITS anime series and films. However, there are some key differences between how anime cel art and manga art are done. The original manga btw, predate the anime, so one could argue that it would have been nice if the anime replicated Shirow's unique and captivating style.

Jeffrey refers to the art as "rough". It is important to note that Shirow has a very kinetic style, and uses heavier ink lines than many more recent manga. His color pages (atleast his older work), used a variety of oils, inks, photocopy scans and other methods to produce color. His newer work in Ghost in the Shell 2 uses amazingly well done CGI.

On the note of the story focusing on Togusa and Azuma, Shirow will often use interim or stand alone issues to further flesh out characters that play and intergral role in the overall series but don't get the spotlight. This is quite refreshing, but works mostly because these are actually quite interesting characters in their own right.

GITS 1.5 is another great addition to the series. And even if you were introduced to the series through the anime, if you can appreciate the subtle differences between the anime and manga art story telling styles, there is no reason not to enjoy this book just as much as say the GITS:SAC series.

I was first introduced to Ghost In The Shell through the first movie and then the subsequent series. I was hoping for something like the anime. The anime are very stylish with great artwork and good action.

This manga has a lot of the same writing styles as the anime and is very good, but the artwork is seems kind of rough. It doesn't have the same stylish look. As a matter fact the artwork seemed comical, which was out of place for a serious storyline.

The other part I found disappointing was the absence of the Major and how Batou was a supporting character to Togusa and Azuma, who normally are supporting characters.

I think I'm being too hard on this book, because of my expectations. If you loved the anime and that is what you are expecting, you'll probably be disappointed as well. If you haven't seen the anime, then you should love this book.

Some stories from the 90s, apparently set between 1 and 2, so the numbering makes sense.

The Major isn't in these, apart from a brief cameo.

The stories are itled

Fat Cat

Drive Slave

Mines of Mind

and Lost Past

The Section 9 boys in this case investigating zombie businessmen, rogue cyborgs, military bad boys and out of control ministers, among others.

The author has put the quirkiest footnotes I think I have ever seen in

Political comments, explanations of why he drew something (or didn't), weaponry explanations, jokes, or whatever.

Some interesting work.

3.5 out of 5