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4.39 AVERAGE
4.39 AVERAGE
Another Manga, recommended by a friend. Definitely not what I expected. European setting, robots, a murder mystery, a bit of a superhero feel, a bit of crime noir. Interesting.
Act 1 : "Mont Blanc" (モンブラン)
A world were robots are part of everyday life, apparently mostly fulfilling service positions in society. A human is murdered and things unfold from there.
The first few panels are in colour and then we switch to black and white.
Act 2 : "Gesicht" (ゲジヒト)
We are exploring what an A.I. might experience, feel, dream... This is not bad.
Act 3 : "Brau 1589" (ブラウ1589)
Gesicht is a very likable character. And tragic—being a robot, but as an A.I. being so sad about the circumstances of his being.
We learn the meaning behind the name of this Manga! Interesting... ominous! Foreboding!
Nice build-up of suspense and tension. Well done.
Act 4 : "North No. 2 (Part 1)" (ノース2号前)
A future world. Robots have evolved. Humans... not so much.
Pretty tragic plot.
Act 5 : "North No. 2 (Part 2)" (ノース2号中)
Continuation of North‘s storyline in Scotland. I wonder where this is taking us and how it relates to the murder case and Gesicht?
Act 6 : "North No. 2 (Part 3)" (ノース2号後編)
Conclusion to the Norse/North #2 story. Now I know how this relates. Chapter 4 to 6 are another good piece of story telling.
Act 7 : "Brando" (ブランド)
The landscapes in the last three chapters looked a litte wishy-washy. Here we immediately come across some lovely detail...
Nice little story again, making robots appear human and more accessible. Followed by a little cliffhanger and a rather abrupt ending. Good post scriptum.
Bottom line, good story telling. Quiet introspection alternates with action and noise. Overall it made me feel melancholy.
Still pondering the artwork. It definitely has its moments. I am pretty sure I will continue this at some point.
Act 1 : "Mont Blanc" (モンブラン)
A world were robots are part of everyday life, apparently mostly fulfilling service positions in society. A human is murdered and things unfold from there.
The first few panels are in colour and then we switch to black and white.
Act 2 : "Gesicht" (ゲジヒト)
We are exploring what an A.I. might experience, feel, dream... This is not bad.
Act 3 : "Brau 1589" (ブラウ1589)
Gesicht is a very likable character. And tragic—being a robot, but as an A.I. being so sad about the circumstances of his being.
We learn the meaning behind the name of this Manga! Interesting... ominous! Foreboding!
Nice build-up of suspense and tension. Well done.
Act 4 : "North No. 2 (Part 1)" (ノース2号前)
A future world. Robots have evolved. Humans... not so much.
Pretty tragic plot.
Act 5 : "North No. 2 (Part 2)" (ノース2号中)
Continuation of North‘s storyline in Scotland. I wonder where this is taking us and how it relates to the murder case and Gesicht?
Act 6 : "North No. 2 (Part 3)" (ノース2号後編)
Conclusion to the Norse/North #2 story. Now I know how this relates. Chapter 4 to 6 are another good piece of story telling.
Act 7 : "Brando" (ブランド)
The landscapes in the last three chapters looked a litte wishy-washy. Here we immediately come across some lovely detail...
Nice little story again, making robots appear human and more accessible. Followed by a little cliffhanger and a rather abrupt ending. Good post scriptum.
Bottom line, good story telling. Quiet introspection alternates with action and noise. Overall it made me feel melancholy.
Still pondering the artwork. It definitely has its moments. I am pretty sure I will continue this at some point.
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This graphic novel has something to do with AstroBoy, but I think we just get a hint of that in the end. This is a story of robots being killed and leaving no trace of the killer. Robots that look like robots and robots that look like humans. All are fair game. This book is part I Robot, Bladerunner, and Westworld, and I love everything about it. It falls between a cyberpunk and Techno Thriller, and it is thrilling. It’s a dark mystery with no answer in book 1, so I need to hurry up and get book 2.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
There are seven great robots in the world, and one of them has been killed. Gesicht is a detective assigned to the case. The fact that this robot was killed is bizarre enough, but Gesicht finds a connection between this murder and that of a human. It looks like someone is out to rid the world of the seven. The problem is, Gesicht is one of them.
Naoki Urasawa wrote Monster, which is one of my favourite animes. I don't think the premise and story behind Pluto are really my thing, which is why I won't be continuing the series, but even this short volume had moments of brilliance that made me care, if very briefly, for the characters. It has the same grimness that I associate with Monster but less of the hope, and I think that's the part I'm missing. I've also never read Astro Boy, which this series is related to, but I think if you have this might be a nice nostalgia trip alongside a good story.
(review by Heena)
Naoki Urasawa wrote Monster, which is one of my favourite animes. I don't think the premise and story behind Pluto are really my thing, which is why I won't be continuing the series, but even this short volume had moments of brilliance that made me care, if very briefly, for the characters. It has the same grimness that I associate with Monster but less of the hope, and I think that's the part I'm missing. I've also never read Astro Boy, which this series is related to, but I think if you have this might be a nice nostalgia trip alongside a good story.
(review by Heena)
I admit to not knowing anything at all about manga and just a little about anime. I do know enough to recognize older and more famous characters in anime, so I was completely surprised when, during this manga about robot murders, I suddenly encountered Tetsuwan Atomu, known to me as Astro Boy. Super unexpected, especially in this way more mature and compelling story about robots and their murders.
The character designs and the overall look of the manga is fantastic and the fact that it is accompanying a compelling story makes it all the better. I was hooked with this. Naoki Urasawa is a genius.
First volumes are usually a way to get acclimated with the world, the characters and the tone and this is no different, but it is well done and had me hooked.
The character designs and the overall look of the manga is fantastic and the fact that it is accompanying a compelling story makes it all the better. I was hooked with this. Naoki Urasawa is a genius.
First volumes are usually a way to get acclimated with the world, the characters and the tone and this is no different, but it is well done and had me hooked.
Absolutely incredible. I now understand why Urasawa is considered a master.
This was a Comic Book of the Month choice from Page 45. I have mixed feelings, overall. It was an interesting portrayal of a future in which robots and humans live together and in which robots can have children, want to learn the piano, can dream and can even have nightmares.
Somehow I wasn't drawn into the story or drawn to the characters, I felt disconnected and very much like I was reading the story rather than experiencing it. Perhaps something was lost in the translation, it's hard for me to tell. I'm also wondering if I might enjoy it more if I'd read Astro Boy on which it's based, but it really ought to be able to stand on its own.
This is the first volume in the series which has finished in its original Japanese and began publication in English earlier this year. Sadly I don't feel interested enough to pick up the next volume.
Somehow I wasn't drawn into the story or drawn to the characters, I felt disconnected and very much like I was reading the story rather than experiencing it. Perhaps something was lost in the translation, it's hard for me to tell. I'm also wondering if I might enjoy it more if I'd read Astro Boy on which it's based, but it really ought to be able to stand on its own.
This is the first volume in the series which has finished in its original Japanese and began publication in English earlier this year. Sadly I don't feel interested enough to pick up the next volume.