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vicki_1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
nolansmock's review
5.0
Re-read. I love how disorienting this series is. Not that you could ever get your bearings but suddenly a giant robot knocks you through a wall and down 400 floors. Half this volume is battling (not my fav), the other is narrative (expository), which is a big change from the murkiness of the first. Realizing now just how much this sets up for what's to come and honestly having read through before it did answer some lingering questions I had from reading it three years ago (to the date almost!). A series I'm glad I've kept on the shelf to revisit because the world-building through the artwork is so consistently breathtaking and oppressively huge, a feeling enhanced by these larger "MASTER" editions. You can really soak it up although I'm definitely speeding through this read-through to keep the momentum going.
il0v3l0la's review against another edition
4.0
The colour panels were so gorgeous in this one. Tsutomu Nihei really said show don’t tell.
ralu's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
zare_i's review
5.0
Second volume finds Kyrii roaming the City with recently resurrected scientist Cibo in search of Net Terminal gene. During the search they will learn that City's mechanisms are not united in their approach and that, almost at will, Safeguards can possess the very environment in order to materialize (project/download/incorporate?) deadly machines with single purpose - extermination of humankind. Infiltration Safeguards surely gave me creeps - T1000 looks like something from child story when compared to these monstrosities. And during all of this Kyrii starts to show capabilities that stupefies Cibo and just increases number of questions.
Art is now much better, people are much better drawn and are more in line with the again majestic depictions of environment and bio mechanical creatures - especially Safeguard entities that are capable of escalating in size and utilizing variation of Kyrii's weapon. Not to mention visualizaition of part of humanity that use cybernetic enhancements to ensure dominance over their brethren - that conflict in the area known as Cluster..... man, it just screamed W40k to me.
Also excellently handled are actions in cyberspace, very well done indeed, very cinematic. As story progresses Safeguard has that daemonic look and feel not unlike ungodly creatures from the Berserker.
Excellent continuation of the story, we get some of the answers and details but, of course, not all. And universe (in lack of better world) of this series is continuing to be extremely merciless - everyone can die, and many get heavily wounded or maimed including our protagonisy. Again considering the lethality of technology used this should not come as surprise.
Highly recommended to fans of SF and cyberpunk dystopias.
Art is now much better, people are much better drawn and are more in line with the again majestic depictions of environment and bio mechanical creatures - especially Safeguard entities that are capable of escalating in size and utilizing variation of Kyrii's weapon. Not to mention visualizaition of part of humanity that use cybernetic enhancements to ensure dominance over their brethren - that conflict in the area known as Cluster..... man, it just screamed W40k to me.
Also excellently handled are actions in cyberspace, very well done indeed, very cinematic. As story progresses Safeguard has that daemonic look and feel not unlike ungodly creatures from the Berserker.
Excellent continuation of the story, we get some of the answers and details but, of course, not all. And universe (in lack of better world) of this series is continuing to be extremely merciless - everyone can die, and many get heavily wounded or maimed including our protagonisy. Again considering the lethality of technology used this should not come as surprise.
Highly recommended to fans of SF and cyberpunk dystopias.
maxwellatewell's review against another edition
4.0
2 is a much easy read than 1, mostly due to more dialogue and actual explanation to what's going on. This does change the dynamic to be less ambiguous, losing this sense of discovery volume 1 gave. The best parts are still here. Tsutomu Nihei's art is outstanding. Spine tingling monster designs. Jaw dropping action sequences. Beautiful backgrounds of barren mechanical landscapes.
warlore's review
4.0
weird, beautiful, unusual. not much of a plot, but a pretty cool and unique vibe