Damn Academy

jumping from the first book to the next book and back to a Christmas special is confusing and sometimes the wording gets confusing.

<p>Damn, I feel like I've read something entirely different from what everyone else has. This title is way overrated, let me tell you. People claim it's the first Ghost in the Shell (GITS), this legendary "BEST" cyberpunk manga ever. But no, it's not. It's just a 300-page compilation of 11 chapters with a story that feels like "oh, there's a new bad guy and we have to beat him because he's bad!!". The very first pages did catch my attention with a decent action scene, but at first glance, I couldn't even figure out what was happening in the panels. The art in GITS? It's just... bad. It's not the "masterpiece art whatever" that everyone talks about. It's an awfully drawn comic with definitely too many elements crammed into every frame. On almost every page, the author writes long summaries explaining everything in the story, only because he didn't properly integrate it into the main plot and describe things gradually. He rushed the story from start to finish, and by the end, you don't even know what you've just read because there's just too much information distracting you from the manga itself. Plus, the story alone is so boring that you might forget what you're reading and get lost along the way. As I mentioned earlier, there's literally no coherent story—just a collection of random actions leading up to lesbian cyborg sex scenes with Motoko as the star. Another issue: the characters. There are way too many of them, and by the end, only 2-3 get enough attention for you to even remember their names. Honestly, I didn't enjoy it. I'll probably watch the movie too and compare the two, but damn, I was reading this 300-page manga for almost a year because it's so freaking boring and repetitive. I don't recommend it to anyone, seriously. If you want to see what real cyberpunk is, try Akira, Gunnm, or Blame. I hope this review helps some people who are thinking about reading GITS. Overall, it's just a poor manga with an ugly art style, forced and useless sex scenes, badly written characters in 90% of their appearances, and literally no straight story. Plus, it seems like the author maybe didn't have any idea for the storyboard, so half the manga is a novel describing every electrical device he invented, in the most boring way possible, and there's just TOO MUCH of it.</p>

Simply put, this is the greatest comic produced in the 80's. There isn't a single generic plotline; instead, it features a series of procedural cases tied together by a main antagonist operating behind the scenes. The characters, especially the protagonist, feel alive and genuine—more so than any animated adaptation has managed to capture (a rare case where I prefer the anime over the original manga). The author's predictions and notes on topics like chemical warfare are fascinating, and the socially conscious critiques blend seamlessly with the tongue-in-cheek writing style, devoid of any pretension. The artwork is stunning, presenting futuristic landscapes that feel tangible and well-designed characters and machinery. As someone who avoided reading this comic for years due to prejudice, believing nothing could surpass the movies and TV series, I can't recommend this masterpiece highly enough. If you're into sci-fi or comics in general, just read it—you won't be disappointed.  

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Ghost in the Shell, the phenomenon that captivated the world in the early 2000s through its anime films, finally led me to explore its source material. In 2023, I read Mangaka Shirow Masamune's magnum opus, the Ghost in the Shell Manga. Better late than never.

I opted for the Hard Cover edition, which featured annotations alongside the panels, providing insights into the GITS universe. Soft Cover editions lack these annotations, as I later discovered. The Manga was a challenging read with those annotations, offering an overwhelming amount of information about the lore of GITS. The mangaka delved deeply into explaining various technologies, from sci-fi robotics and weaponry to religious themes. At times, it felt less like casual reading and more like studying advanced robotics technology... Quite exhausting.

I was also surprised by how the mangaka discussed spirituality, seemingly believing in God and spirits. Yes, the title includes "Ghost," but I assumed it referred to consciousness rather than actual ghosts and spirits. I strongly disagree with the mangaka's view that the "ghost" represents the true self of beings; if we're discussing sentient beings, consciousness is the sole self. Therefore, not all life forms possess a self. There are no ghosts or spirits of any kind. Being a life form isn't about having vast information—a plant has zero information and no self, yet it is still a life form. Moreover, the mangaka supported capital punishment and criticized advanced countries that abolished it... wow... I also disagree here. No one has the right to kill anyone. Executing serial killers isn't a solution because they are mentally ill and cannot control their actions. They require psychiatric treatment rather than being made examples of.

Even the mangaka admitted that the entire manga was a product of his wild imagination, acknowledging that he might have rambled nonsensically at times. So, take it all with a grain of salt. Overall, it was an enjoyable read, especially with the random Section 9 operations and the inclusion of the hacker puppeteer at the end.

The Ghost in the Shell - A Story about the Current Reality

"Technology has become what we are experiencing."

Throughout the history of Japanese animation, there have been a few works that transcended the niche of anime enthusiasts to secure a significant place in popular culture, such as Studio Ghibli, Akira, or Dragon Ball, known for their vibrant animation techniques and realistic narratives. The Ghost in the Shell, particularly its 1995 adaptation, is among these productions embraced by Western audiences, even inspiring the Wachowski brothers to create "The Matrix." While the manga that originated the feature film might not be as widely recognized, it remains an intriguing read for fans of its cinematic counterpart.

Written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow, the story follows Major Motoko Kusanagi, the android leader of a cyber counter-terrorism unit. Set against a quintessential cyberpunk backdrop dominated by massive corporations where people access cyberspace via cables inserted into the back of their heads, this work is one of the most notable examples of this science fiction subgenre, popularized through the novels of William Gibson (especially Neuromancer) and other authors. Over the course of its 352 pages, the manga chronicles this team's battles against cases of cyber terrorism, many seemingly tied to a mysterious figure called the Puppet Master.

The reason why Shirow's manga never achieved the same level of popularity as its film adaptation becomes apparent from the very first pages. Readers are immediately bombarded with an overwhelming amount of information, with dialogue balloons filling the panels so densely that it slows down the reading process. This approach can make the plot confusing quickly, requiring readers to sift through what impacts the story's progression. However, this does not imply that we're dealing with a poor narrative. Shirow's script delves deeply into this captivating cyberpunk universe, drawing on concepts from authors like William Gibson and Philip K. Dick while infusing his own philosophical and sociological perspectives into every page. Initially, the primary antagonists are the corporations that have infiltrated society so thoroughly that the government has become a mere puppet, a fact clearly highlighted on the opening pages. Major Kusanagi embodies freedom, the punk figure of cyberpunk, representing an element that isn't governed in this dystopian future and often acts impulsively, setting her apart from everything around her.

Shirow's art complements this portrayal through the protagonist's facial expressions. Despite being an android, she conveys clear emotions, from a simple laugh to delivering a punch to a politician's face, making her rebellious stance relatable and adding "color" to the story. Unfortunately, Masamune occasionally disrupts our immersion with pages packed with visual details, which, combined with the complex ideas presented in the text, can confuse readers, forcing them to reread certain sections to grasp what's happening.

Interestingly, some of these perplexing pages are visually stunning, especially when they depict continuous action. At such moments, readers instinctively pause reading just to appreciate the artwork, which eschews the sanitized style common in contemporary comics (both Eastern and Western). Each character is easily distinguishable by their unique appearance, characteristic of 1990s manga, with unmistakable parallels to other classics like Evangelion.

The colors, usually present at the start of each chapter, enhance the visual identity of this world, frequently relying on shades of blue and gray, complemented by red to signify violence in select frames. Occasionally, the abundance of colors can hinder readability, adding another element for our eyes to adjust to – black and white pages tend to flow more smoothly.

Fortunately, this doesn't significantly impede the reading experience, especially once readers acclimate to the concepts introduced midway through the manga. Although it's not an easy read and may not surpass the 1995 anime adaptation, Masamune Shirow's work deserves attention from cyberpunk aficionados. With its undeniable value marked by the author's philosophical and sociological vision, along with clear nods to other genre works, The Ghost in the Shell captivates its audience swiftly. Even with the recurring breaks in immersion caused by the convoluted narrative, readers can feel connected to its protagonist, who stands out in this dystopian future that isn't far removed from our reality.

I must say that my first encounter with the world of GitS was through the 1995 film. So, when I began reading this, I was initially put off by how different the Major's character is. The entire book has a much lighter tone compared to the movie.  
For the most part, it reads as an episodic work. We jump right into the story in medias res, and this feeling only dissipates towards the end as we experience fragments of life within Section 9 and this futuristic sci-fi world. You don't really get all the context, but there are some small notes—whether from the author or translator—that help significantly. Ultimately, though, you don't need to know everything about the universe. Eventually, I reached a point where the brand/model number jargon became sparse enough that I stopped feeling guilty for filtering it out.  
As I mentioned, this is more of an episodic work, with only the later chapters forming a longer narrative. Because of this, you could argue that the writing evolves throughout the book, transitioning from short chapters with scenes like the lesbian encounter on the boat (with its starkly contrasting dialogue) to longer chapters focused on uncovering the identity of the antagonists amidst political intrigue.  

The art style isn't my favorite, but it fits well and works for both machinery and human depictions.  
When it comes to paneling, I struggled a lot during close-quarters action sequences. Who came from where, and what exactly were they doing? At times, it felt like a missing panel would have clarified things, or we could have benefited from insight into a character's thoughts.  
However, the color choices were excellent. Some pages have a vibrant, oily sheen, while others predominantly feature dark tones with strong contrasts between cold and warm colors. This effectively conveys the atmosphere of a massive, artificial, and polluted city.  

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Ghost in the Shell is an incredible action-filled manga, brimming with cutting-edge technology, firearms, and vehicles [many of which are still remarkably advanced even by today's standards].

Story: This manga features elements that I haven't encountered elsewhere and hadn't even considered before. As it approaches the end, it becomes slightly challenging to follow, but I was still able to grasp it.

Art: Shirow's artistic style remains consistent throughout the narrative, and the backgrounds are more intricately detailed compared to some anime. Every panel is packed with intricate elements. The guns are meticulously designed, closely resembling their real-life counterparts [except for the Seburo guns, which are fictional but undeniably cool].

Characters: Each character possesses one or more distinct traits, enhancing the enjoyment of the manga. Their personalities differ significantly from those in the animated adaptations of the manga.

Enjoyment: I can't get enough of it.

Overall, I'd say this is one of the best mangas I've ever read, partly because I'm a tech enthusiast with a passion for firearms and electronics. If you share these interests, grab a copy right away!

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There are many people familiar with the 1995 animated film, yet few know about the original manga from 1989. It's a pity because the manga does a better job of world-building and has more developed characters, even if much of it is for comedic effect.

Story:
The original Ghost in the Shell manga is actually the most light-hearted and comedic entry in the series. The Tachikoma shorts aside, it still handles serious issues like cyber-terrorism with great respect. It portrays these problems as commonplace rather than something new, unlike the movie.

Instead of focusing solely on the creation of a new digital entity, the manga also addresses themes such as child experimentation, poverty, and police brutality, while paying homage to the movie Blade Runner.

Art & Character:
If you expect Major Motoko Kusanagi to behave exactly as she does in the movie, you might be surprised by her more whimsical side. Her expressions may seem akin to an '80s teen character, but she reveals her mature side that we've come to admire.

The rest of the cast is given more attention here compared to the movie where they were sidelined. Even though only four members of Section 9 are primarily focused on, it's still a significant improvement.

Enjoyment:
Most of the 11 chapters are episodic, except for the final ones dealing with the Puppet Master incident. If you're unsure whether to watch the movie or read the manga first, watching the movie before enjoying the manga can be rewarding.

Moments involving the Puppet Master are toned down in the original manga. This version presents a more everyday perspective rather than serving as a cautionary tale from the future. I personally found some of these moments enjoyable; there's humor in imagining Major having a casual conversation with a cyborg engineer about their experiences with death.

Overall:
Despite being mostly episodic, the manga is contained within one volume, making it short and sweet. If you're considering reading it, I can confidently say it's worth your time and thought.

As a fun piece of trivia, the manga also predicted the conflict between America and Syria.