Gunnm: Last Order

The first thing that struck me about Last Order was the shift in artistic style. What used to be distinct and creatively designed characters became rather bland and unoriginal. This change is significant because, despite some initial mediocre artwork, the original Battle Angel managed to look incredibly awesome! The art style remains somewhat consistent for the first volume but then changes abruptly. Suddenly, Alita looks like she has a horse face and frog lips, and so do most of the other human-looking characters. To counter this, there are significantly more robots and cyborgs that don't resemble humans at all, but these designs are also flawed. It seems they ran out of ideas for robot designs, leading to some truly hideous creations. In the rollerball arc of the original Battle Angel Alita, there was only one character who looked silly, and he was meant to be a joke.

Here are some examples of new designs:

1. A huge monkey bot that shoots lasers from its even bigger penis
2. A shrimp bot (like the shellfish)
3. A Thing rip-off
4. A bot inside a bot inside a bot inside a bot

This list barely scratches the surface of the absurdity. The only redeeming quality of the art is that it looks decent, but that's it.

Battle Angel Alita: Last Order begins by discarding the weak ending of the original series, which is a positive move since the original ending was rushed and nonsensical. The sequel picks up a few chapters before the original conclusion. However, Last Order quickly succumbs to the "gotta explain everything" syndrome. The original Battle Angel Alita was great because it focused on characters and action. Last Order feels like reading a Wikipedia entry about the Battle Angel universe. Yes, there is action and poorly executed philosophical musings, but they're ruined by boring flashbacks about people we don't care about. All the mystery surrounding the setting is lost when they try to explain everything.

At least the characters act the same, right? Wrong. For some reason, Alita forgot how much of a badass she used to be. Remember when she loved battle because it made her feel alive? That girl is gone. Now she asks clichéd questions like "Why am I fighting?" Hello! It's because you love to fight.

And then Alita grows a tail.

I feel so let down by Last Order. The original Battle Angel Alita excelled at conveying drama with minimal dialogue and inner monologue, but Last Order does the opposite: WORDS WORDS WORDS. Everyone now has a "special" attack they shout out like in every shonen anime (the monkey's is called the libido cannon). Whatever happened to just punching brains out? I don't know because it never happens anymore. A punch will happen, then the punched guy will take a page to talk about how this has changed him as a person. Seriously?

Fans of Battle Angel Alita, read it because it retains some essence of the original. Just don't be disappointed when you find out Last Order is vastly inferior to the original.

Hopefully, you've read the original series before diving into my review!

When it comes to sequels, this one didn't quite hit the mark for me. It's not bad by any means, but after thoroughly enjoying Gunnm, I found myself somewhat disappointed with this follow-up. Many of the beloved characters from Gunnm are noticeably absent, replaced by new ones that simply didn't resonate with me as much. In my opinion, the story tends to drag a bit, which likely explains why I didn't find Last Order as engaging. Alita, the central figure in the previous series, takes more of a backseat here, with several volumes focusing on backstory and supporting characters instead. This shift just wasn't as captivating for me.

Additionally, Kodansha, if you're reading this, please consider releasing this series as a hardcover edition that includes all the volumes! The original series looked fantastic in hardcover format, so it was a letdown to switch to the omnibus paperback version. A comprehensive hardcover release would be greatly appreciated by fans like me.

I was genuinely intrigued by Battle Angel Alita: Last Order after the rather fascinating read of its predecessor. This interest primarily stemmed from hearing that LO improved significantly in story, character development, art, and action. But does it truly live up to the hype? Let's dive in.

[Story - 3]

First off, let’s address the Retcon: Yes, this narrative essentially rewrites the final chapter or so of the original story to make sense. Although I remain critical of the rushed ending of the first series, I appreciated some concepts like Ketheres the Space City and Figure Four's quest for Alita making their way into Last Order.

However, I’m not entirely convinced these elements should have carried over into a sequel like this. To be more specific, I question whether this should even be considered a Battle Angel Alita story, as it simply doesn’t feel like one. The painfully stereotypical shonen tropes (tournament arc, power of friendship, hyperfocus on martial arts) coupled with poor pacing (the tournament arc takes up two-thirds of the 124 chapters) leave me wondering why the tone shifted. Whether it was to attract new readers or the mangaka thought it was a good idea is unclear, but I certainly don't appreciate it. Compared to this, the original story now feels like the Iliad.

Beyond 'destiny' and 'space karate,' there aren’t many actual themes worth discussing. The cast is overwhelmingly large, and I found myself enjoying a side character’s backstory more than the main plot. This leads to a lot of focus shifting around; while large casts aren’t inherently bad, they need proper handling, which is lacking here.

[Art - 7]

The artwork is thankfully solid. It’s cleaner and more fluid compared to the predecessor. Even during large-scale action scenes, which are plentiful, you can easily follow who is doing what. This clarity is especially beneficial during team battles with numerous participants.

Character design also deserves mention. Despite my issues with the sheer number of characters and their poor writing, each has a distinct look. Whether it's the robot combatants, their pit crews, or space council members, everyone is easily identifiable. Combined with the cleaner art style, this allows for true appreciation of their designs.

That said, not everything is perfect. The background/setting art isn’t terrible but lacks visual intrigue and context. While a sketchy art style can work, its implementation here often results in confusing visuals, especially during action sequences.

[Character - 6]

Hoping characterization might compensate for the messy plotting and pacing, I was left somewhat disappointed. There are standout characters and arcs, but mostly, it feels like the mangaka is trying to inject life into rejects from an Ultraman toy line.

It speaks volumes about the writing when I prefer side characters over the main cast. Caerula Sanguis barely features in the story, yet her backstory and interactions with Alita were far more engaging than the drawn-out tournament arc. Her narrative carries genuine anguish and melancholy, unlike the bland karate antics of other characters. Aga Mbadi/Trinidad is a compelling antagonist, embodying the belief that he’s the hero despite his misguided direction due to plot necessities. Jim Roscoe, a minor antagonist, evokes tragic villain vibes effectively.

This enthusiasm cannot be extended to the main cast. Alita has grown slightly since the previous manga, but she remains the same bratty 'shoot first, ask questions later' character without justification. Her counterparts fare no better: Sechs excels in action but suffers from an overly tsundere personality. The twins barely merit discussion. Nova's mad scientist persona grows tiresome quickly, Zazie embodies a stereotypical good soldier, Toji’s repetitive dialogue wastes panel space, and Zekka tries too hard to be cool but comes off as obnoxious. Enough said.

[Enjoyment/Overall - 5]

I'm somewhat disappointed with Last Order, though it's not the worst thing I’ve read. There are worse titles out there, and the good aspects do exist, albeit overshadowed. It's disheartening to see potential squandered like this. I’d recommend it if you enjoyed the action and art in BAA but steer clear if you valued characterization, plot, or pacing. Hopefully, Battle Angel Alita: Mars Chronicle will surpass this installment.

I truly loved this series, especially the battles which were incredible and mind-blowing one after another. The story adds a lot of world-building to the series, and Alita's backstory is fascinating. My main issue with the story would be the finale; apart from being a cliffhanger for Mars Chronicles, there are some aspects I wasn't quite satisfied with at the end. However, the story still retains the classic vibe of the original series, making it a must-read for Seinen enthusiasts. The art is absolutely stunning, and that alone is reason enough to read it. There's a lot to cover just on this topic alone, but everything from the backgrounds to the battle sequences was amazing to read.

This series stands out as one of the finest I've ever delved into. If you're a fan of profound, thought-provoking narratives coupled with exceptional character growth and adrenaline-pumping combat sequences, then this is precisely what you seek. While Battle Angel Alita explores the existential question of "who am I?", Last Order dives deeper into "what makes us human?" This inquiry becomes a recurring theme throughout the series.

Though it doesn't strictly adhere to the storyline of the original Battle Angel Alita series, Last Order does weave in several events from its predecessor through flashbacks. Consequently, while reading this sequel, some liberties should be taken with certain details. The most apparent discrepancy lies between the conclusion of BAA and the beginning of BAA:LO (Space City Ketheres). However, this divergence is not detrimental; rather, it enriches the narrative, allowing for more intricate storytelling and multiple plot trajectories.

The meandering plot of the previous series, with its absurd conclusion and forgotten characters, certainly had its faults. Yet, it managed to keep my attention through its entertainment value and commendable illustrations.

THE BUZZ surrounding this new series is that it resolves the mess left by the last one. Initially, it seems to do just that, albeit in a clumsy, less enjoyable manner, riddled with excessive violence and gore. One must acknowledge – Kishiro remains a remarkable visual artist, his depiction of gore as impactful as ever, his line work and shading more polished and evocative than the first series. Pity about the story, though. A significant red flag appears with the introduction of interplanetary travel – gone is the beloved cyberpunk slum setting from the original series. Instead, we get a Martian desert and, worse still, a space station battle arena.

Indeed, what goes unmentioned about this series is that it's not really about the titular Battle Angel but rather a fighting tournament among random cyborgs in a floating arena. I lost interest after reading most of it and realizing where Kishiro was heading – even giving detailed backstories to one-off side characters. The post-apocalyptic vampire storyline was genuinely intriguing and could have stood on its own as a cool series – but it isn’t Battle Angel, and ultimately feels inconsequential. There’s barely anything reminiscent of Battle Angel here, not even Gally, whose self-discovery narrative takes a backseat to filler material between endless chapters of karate cyborgs battling each other. I’ll give credit where it’s due – some of these characters are visually interesting. However, pages upon pages of random cyborgs rambling about their fighting techniques does not make for an engaging story.

Overall, it’s a substantial letdown for fans of the first series hoping for a conclusive ending. It’s so detached from the original in theme, story, and setting that I refuse to consider it canon. Perhaps the greatest disappointment is the squandering of Kishiro’s exceptional artwork.

That's going to be subjective, as most reviews of this manga are, but this is my first review on this site. (Why do most people think the original Gunnm was a serious cyberpunk manga? It can be as goofy as it wants to be.)
The story: 7 - It's well-written but suffers from shonen clichés, mainly revolving around a tournament arc.
The art: 8 - The creator's style is more polished compared to the original. Battle scenes and architecture are just stunning (these are the main two elements you'll frequently encounter, so they're very impressive). Characters look fresh and detailed. Good coloring and lighting.
The characters: 9 - This is the best part of this manga. Whole chapters are dedicated to their bios. You'll get attached to the new characters, and the old ones aren't forgotten either.
The enjoyment: 10 - I haven't read such a good battle manga in a while.
Overall: 8.

NOTE BEFORE READING: This is a review of Gunnm: Last Order, so it assumes you have already read the first series.

The highly anticipated sequel to the incredibly fantastic original Gunnm series. This sequel is somewhat controversial due to its altered pace and narrative from the original story, yet I still believe this is an outstanding addition to the universe.

Art: 8

The first thing you'll notice is the change in art style. Gally looks different than before. Yes, she has bigger lips and nose, but her original design, while memorable and sexy, was more like a perfect doll. In Last Order, I felt she looked more realistic. Her body also becomes more muscular, showing a significant shift from her originally slim self into a badass fighter.

The rest of the designs are great too... mostly. There is less detail in the background and character faces, but the eccentric designs make up for it. While the original series had a rustic, gritty feel, things are a lot cleaner and smoother, fitting better with the new setting.

Some robot and creature designs are very odd though. I won't give anything away, but there are some questionable choices that are difficult to take seriously.

Story: 8

The series starts off by completely nullifying the ending of the original, beginning where Gally was exploded by Nova's bomb.

You'll also notice that Last Order is less subtle in its narrative compared to the original, focusing more on world-building and philosophical elements with more dialogue and explanations.

This isn't bad per se, although transitioning from the original's style to Last Order's can be jarring. They chose this narrative style because the scale of this series is far greater than the original. They go into space and distant planets, introducing loads of new cultures, worlds, and fighting styles. Things need to be explained to feel believable. It would be almost impossible to keep things as subtle and laid back as the original series. Nevertheless, it's still heavily dialogue-driven, which might not appeal to everyone.

The story splits between two sides: the action side filled mostly by Sechs on a journey to find what it means to be a warrior, and the philosophical/sci-fi side filled by Gally on her quest for enlightenment and self-discovery.

The series does a good job explaining almost everything, from how the scrapyard was formed to why Gally feels the way she does about fighting. Though, it doesn't explain EVERYTHING, giving hints to parts likely expanded upon in the sequel "Mars Chronicle". The explanations add depth and realism, though they can be a bit tiresome at times.

I didn't quite like some aspects of the story, such as some over-the-top and goofy fighting styles. While the fighting is still pretty badass, it often revolves around characters yelling out their attack names, feeling more shounen-esque rather than seinen. Still, the fights have loads of variety and excitement.

The ending isn't conclusive, serving more as an arc-ending since there's a sequel being written.

Characters: 9

The characters, like the original, are very well done. Every important character gets an interesting backstory, helping you sympathize with them, even the supposed "bad guys". Characters introduced as horrible human beings are later revealed to have justifiable or plausible reasons for their actions, making conflicts feel less black and white. I was impressed with this.

Gally gets a new angle here, delving into her past and revealing why she's drawn to fighting and likes it so much. We see her go through many human emotions and question her own humanity on a journey of self-discovery. I won't spoil anything further.

The other characters serve their purposes well, often being properly fleshed out and developed. Interesting side stories never felt interruptive, always used to flesh out characters, build the world, or further the plot.

Occasionally, characters feel either silly or too evil to be believable, but these instances are rare and didn't detract from my enjoyment.

Enjoyment: 9

Despite occasional silly designs, dull narration, or unbelievable characters, I had a lot of fun with this series. It's very interesting with likable characters, fun action, great artwork, and builds on everything from the original series even if it doesn't always work out perfectly.

Verdict: 8/10

I recommend this to fans of the original series, provided they can get past the different kind of narrative it goes for.

Be sure to check out the sequel "Mars Chronicle" for more Battle Angel Alita goodness.