In the near future, large mecha known as Labors are developed to assist with various reconstruction projects in major countries threatened by global warming. In Japan, the government has initiated Project Babylon to carry out land reclamation efforts. Besides civilian applications, Labors are also being utilized for police and military purposes.
However, terrorists, common criminals, thugs, and guerrillas are now exploiting Labors to further their own agendas. To counteract this threat, the National Police Agency has established the Special Vehicles Division, a task force composed entirely of Labors aimed at combating criminal and terrorist activities involving these machines.
Kidou Keisatsu Patlabor received the 36th Shogakukan Manga Award for shounen manga in 1991.
The series was partially released in English as Mobile Police Patlabor by VIZ Media, who published the first two volumes between July 6, 1998, and October 6, 1998, before discontinuing the license.
I want to start by expressing my gratitude to CynicalRuins for their countless hours of effort in scanlating the later volumes of Patlabor, which allowed me to write this review. The chapter-end illustrations were also incredibly charming!
Having thoroughly immersed myself in the Patlabor franchise over the past year, I eventually turned to its manga adaptation. Spanning an impressive 22 volumes, it surprisingly features only a few narrative arcs, each unfolding slowly and blending into the next. The tone begins lightheartedly like the series but gradually becomes more serious, tackling some genuinely intense scenarios. Unfortunately, this progression makes the manga feel more like a standard cop story as it progresses, which isn't what I seek in Patlabor.
Each version of Patlabor emphasizes different aspects within its overarching premise, and this manga focuses on the conflict between SV2 and the mysterious corporation Schaft. While acceptable, it lacks the atmospheric depth of the movies or the playful camaraderie seen in the TV show. The villainous mecha Griffon is genuinely terrifying, and Bud is excellent, but it's harder to care about most of Schaft's operatives. They're rather one-dimensional, and their endless cat-and-mouse games overshadow the more engaging main cast. Noa Izumi receives ample page time (as she should!), but the rest of SV2 is sidelined to make room for Schaft. There are no equivalent standalone episodes focusing on specific supporting characters, something the manga could have benefited from as a buffer between major arcs.
Regarding the cast, if you're a fan of Kanuka like me, you'll be let down. She appears only near the end and is portrayed in a very serious role that doesn't do justice to her swagger and skills. Conversely, Kumagami fares much better than in the show, serving as SV2's dedicated support throughout the manga, leading to meaningful character development.
The character art is adequate, but it's the mechanical illustrations that truly stand out—Ingram and all other Labors are drawn with evident passion. You can almost feel the gloss on the Griffon. Mecha is challenging to depict in manga due to the loss of dynamic animation found in shows. Nevertheless, Masami Yuuki did an admirable job maintaining high quality, especially given the manga's length.
Even though it's all main plot for a series best known for its random side stories, this remains Patlabor. It boasts a fantastic setting and a grounded approach to mecha, leaning towards the technical side in the manga. This certainly isn't the franchise's best work, but it's also unlikely to be someone's first exposure to Patlabor. If you've finished the TV show, movies, and OVAs and still crave more, the Patlabor manga is definitely worth checking out.
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