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銃夢 新装版 [Gunnm shinsōban] #2
Battle Angel Alita Deluxe Edition, Vol. 2
In a dump in the lawless settlement of Scrapyard, far beneath the mysterious space city of Zalem, disgraced cyber-doctor Daisuke Ido makes a strange find: the detached head of a cyborg woman who has lost all her memories. He names her Alita and equips her with a powerful new body, the Berserker. While Alita remembers no details of her former life, a moment of desperation reawakens in her nerves the legendary school of martial arts known as Panzer Kunst. In a place where there is no justice but what people make for themselves, Alita decides to become a hunter-killer, tracking down and taking out those who prey on the weak. But can she hold onto her humanity as she begins to revel in her own bloodlust?
416 pages, Hardcover
Published March 6, 2018
About the author
Yukito Kishiro
344 books350 followersYukito Kishiro (木城 ゆきと, Kishiro Yukito) is a Japanese manga artist, born in Tokyo in 1967 and raised in Chiba. Kishiro began his comic career at age 17 in the pages of the magazine Weekly Shonen Sunday. He is best known for the cyberpunk manga Battle Angel Alita, which started in 1990 and, through different iterations of the series, has been going on to this day.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
August 13, 2021
This second volume of the Deluxe Edition of Battle Angel Alita contains Book 3 (Killing Angel) and Book 4 (Ars Manga). Both the stories revolve around Alita's time in the Rollerball leagues.
The story has developed from the first volume. Alita has left Dr. Ito and is missing, after the events of the first volume. Dr. Ito has his own strange motivations regarding Alita. Alita turns up in the amateur league Rollerball. This is a sport that consists of cyborgs playing a rather violent game on a track. The best players on the pro circuit are known even in Zalem.
The first part focuses on her rise through the ranks and the second part is her learning her true abilities and performing on the pro circuit as she vies for the championship. Along the way she will learn more about her skills and the curious relationship with Dr. Ito continues.
Volume Two was interesting, it adds more to the character and builds the story further. While, perhaps, not as interesting as the first-the sport focus was a good look at the society of the Scrapyard.
The story has developed from the first volume. Alita has left Dr. Ito and is missing, after the events of the first volume. Dr. Ito has his own strange motivations regarding Alita. Alita turns up in the amateur league Rollerball. This is a sport that consists of cyborgs playing a rather violent game on a track. The best players on the pro circuit are known even in Zalem.
The first part focuses on her rise through the ranks and the second part is her learning her true abilities and performing on the pro circuit as she vies for the championship. Along the way she will learn more about her skills and the curious relationship with Dr. Ito continues.
Volume Two was interesting, it adds more to the character and builds the story further. While, perhaps, not as interesting as the first-the sport focus was a good look at the society of the Scrapyard.
March 29, 2021
This volume covers the Motorball segment of Alita's story. Alita grows as a character as she starts making decisions for herself rather than for others. The action is frantic, but sometimes hard to follow. However, the world of Motorball perfectly depicts the world of a post-apocalyptic cyberpunk world. As with the first volume of the deluxe edition, it's really nice to have this manga in a larger size and printed on good paper.
June 29, 2018
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
Bringing her back to life might have seemed like a brilliant initiative for cyber-doctor Daisuke Ido, but for Alita it has only been a realization of all the things she has yet to learn, but also remember, as she continues to figtht off the curveballs that life throws at her. Collecting book 3 and 4 of the original classic cyberpunk manga series, Battle Angel Alita Deluxe Edition 2 brings us a beautiful collection that reminds everyone that martial arts can still be as beautiful as it is deadly, especially when it comes from a killer cyborg.
The story now ventures in unexpected territories by driving both Daisuke Ido and Alita away from The Scrapyard where they first met in order to embrace the brutal world of Motorball. This sport gathers some of the most deadliest cyborgs into a high-octane circuit where players race to capture an unconventional ball and bring it to the finish line. However, players are allowed to channel their craziest and most dangerous strategies and techniques to destabilize and destroy their opponents in order to prevail. There’s nothing like a nice little competition to highlight the best parts of ourselves, right?
The direction the story went was a bit surprising (there was no hint of this sport before), but it is definitely an entertaining story-telling decision. Following a tragedy that shocks Alita to the core early in this volume, she turns to a deadly sport to seek salvation, regardless of the sport’s cathartic purposes. It being a distraction (and an emotional release) for the “forgotten” and “exiled” population sort of brings you to also draw parallels with the real world and all the different sports we watch religiously. What made this particularly enjoyable is that the focus on this Motorball sport offered the author to further demonstrate and exploit Alita’s combat style. Similar to what we see Alita accomplish in the past, this story arc gives us the opportunity to enjoy extremely fast-paced action sequences and all the violence that comes with it; there’s no holding back on the gore here.
Just when you start thinking that the gore might have been toned down in this volume, you get caught off guard by some nasty moments. I won’t even lie and mention how ridiculous it can get it; so ridiculous that it sometimes turned out to be undeniably hilarious. The artwork does a nice job in emphasizing the violence and making it more impressive than disgusting. You also still find a balanced inclusion of morals that help deliver some iconic moments, as well as some world-building scientific concepts to immerse you into the world. While the volume in itself felt like a detour from the main track, it was without a doubt a fun ride that kept me glued to the pages till the end. The final chapters in particular went into overdrive and really delivered the final blow with a lot of pizzazz. I got a feeling that what Alita will learn from all this and what she will seek out in the next volumes will probably start to get much more heavier and serious.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
Bringing her back to life might have seemed like a brilliant initiative for cyber-doctor Daisuke Ido, but for Alita it has only been a realization of all the things she has yet to learn, but also remember, as she continues to figtht off the curveballs that life throws at her. Collecting book 3 and 4 of the original classic cyberpunk manga series, Battle Angel Alita Deluxe Edition 2 brings us a beautiful collection that reminds everyone that martial arts can still be as beautiful as it is deadly, especially when it comes from a killer cyborg.
The story now ventures in unexpected territories by driving both Daisuke Ido and Alita away from The Scrapyard where they first met in order to embrace the brutal world of Motorball. This sport gathers some of the most deadliest cyborgs into a high-octane circuit where players race to capture an unconventional ball and bring it to the finish line. However, players are allowed to channel their craziest and most dangerous strategies and techniques to destabilize and destroy their opponents in order to prevail. There’s nothing like a nice little competition to highlight the best parts of ourselves, right?
The direction the story went was a bit surprising (there was no hint of this sport before), but it is definitely an entertaining story-telling decision. Following a tragedy that shocks Alita to the core early in this volume, she turns to a deadly sport to seek salvation, regardless of the sport’s cathartic purposes. It being a distraction (and an emotional release) for the “forgotten” and “exiled” population sort of brings you to also draw parallels with the real world and all the different sports we watch religiously. What made this particularly enjoyable is that the focus on this Motorball sport offered the author to further demonstrate and exploit Alita’s combat style. Similar to what we see Alita accomplish in the past, this story arc gives us the opportunity to enjoy extremely fast-paced action sequences and all the violence that comes with it; there’s no holding back on the gore here.
Just when you start thinking that the gore might have been toned down in this volume, you get caught off guard by some nasty moments. I won’t even lie and mention how ridiculous it can get it; so ridiculous that it sometimes turned out to be undeniably hilarious. The artwork does a nice job in emphasizing the violence and making it more impressive than disgusting. You also still find a balanced inclusion of morals that help deliver some iconic moments, as well as some world-building scientific concepts to immerse you into the world. While the volume in itself felt like a detour from the main track, it was without a doubt a fun ride that kept me glued to the pages till the end. The final chapters in particular went into overdrive and really delivered the final blow with a lot of pizzazz. I got a feeling that what Alita will learn from all this and what she will seek out in the next volumes will probably start to get much more heavier and serious.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
February 12, 2024
4.6/5
Alita joins the great Motorball tournaments to prove herself, much to Ido's chagrin. Honestly, Ido acts like a child in this combined volume (I'd previously read the Killing Angel portion of this in a separate paperback edition) and it just gets worse as the volume goes on. I know Ido cares and all, but he's way out of bounds here, trying to destroy the dreams of someone he cares about for the sake of making things back to the way they were, the way he wanted.
It's all a bit frustrating, since he was much more compelling in the first volume. Here, he's just an ass.
Anyway, that aside, Kishiro's skills are on full display here, with riveting Motorball matches dominating the majority of this volume and stellar linework throughout. While the strong emotional aspect is still there, it's not as prominent here as it was in the first, sitting behind amazingly executed spectacle half the time. I think Kishiro found a decent balance for both, though.
Not much else to say. Aside from Ido this particular volume is near-flawless. I'll be reading through the rest of the boxed set I got for Christmas soon enough and look forward to the rest of the series. I just hope Ido smartens the fuck up real soon, LOL.
[2024 thoughts]
Revisiting this volume, there are many things I seem to have missed the first time around. While Ido is still a bit childish in the beginning, his part in this volume does improve in its own unique way, and even backfires on him a little. So, there's that. I don't dislike as much this time around as I had before.
I also noticed a lot more depth and nuance this time around that I quite enjoyed, as well as Kishino's skill at balancing comedy with tragedy to great effect. A lot of new characters are introduced in this volume, and they're all intriguing to some degree or another. And that world! My God. The attention to detail in the subtle world-building here is mesmerizing. It feels realistic and lived-in. Bleak and grimey, but not a total loss, either. I enjoyed this a lot more the second time around. Bumping it from 4.2/5 to a 4.6/5.
Alita joins the great Motorball tournaments to prove herself, much to Ido's chagrin. Honestly, Ido acts like a child in this combined volume (I'd previously read the Killing Angel portion of this in a separate paperback edition) and it just gets worse as the volume goes on. I know Ido cares and all, but he's way out of bounds here, trying to destroy the dreams of someone he cares about for the sake of making things back to the way they were, the way he wanted.
It's all a bit frustrating, since he was much more compelling in the first volume. Here, he's just an ass.
Anyway, that aside, Kishiro's skills are on full display here, with riveting Motorball matches dominating the majority of this volume and stellar linework throughout. While the strong emotional aspect is still there, it's not as prominent here as it was in the first, sitting behind amazingly executed spectacle half the time. I think Kishiro found a decent balance for both, though.
Not much else to say. Aside from Ido this particular volume is near-flawless. I'll be reading through the rest of the boxed set I got for Christmas soon enough and look forward to the rest of the series. I just hope Ido smartens the fuck up real soon, LOL.
[2024 thoughts]
Revisiting this volume, there are many things I seem to have missed the first time around. While Ido is still a bit childish in the beginning, his part in this volume does improve in its own unique way, and even backfires on him a little. So, there's that. I don't dislike as much this time around as I had before.
I also noticed a lot more depth and nuance this time around that I quite enjoyed, as well as Kishino's skill at balancing comedy with tragedy to great effect. A lot of new characters are introduced in this volume, and they're all intriguing to some degree or another. And that world! My God. The attention to detail in the subtle world-building here is mesmerizing. It feels realistic and lived-in. Bleak and grimey, but not a total loss, either. I enjoyed this a lot more the second time around. Bumping it from 4.2/5 to a 4.6/5.
October 30, 2021
If there is one fictional sport I could bring to life I think it would have to be Motorball. Those were some of the most memorable scenes for me in the live action movie so having a whole volume devoted to it was awesome!
Some of the panels are really hard to make out when it's all cyborg body parts clashing in a blur, but other pages are fantastic at conveying the speed, noise and sheer violence.
Again, there wasn't a ton of time spent on the characters but Alita has made some progress on figuring herself out which is what we all want for her! Ido unfortunately gives me really bad vibes and I don't enjoy his part in the story- his possessiveness and need to control are themes that are 30 years out of date and not representative of a healthy relationship.
I'm not sure if any of Alita's new friends will have a future role but it was really great to see her being independent and just kicking ass.
Some of the panels are really hard to make out when it's all cyborg body parts clashing in a blur, but other pages are fantastic at conveying the speed, noise and sheer violence.
Again, there wasn't a ton of time spent on the characters but Alita has made some progress on figuring herself out which is what we all want for her! Ido unfortunately gives me really bad vibes and I don't enjoy his part in the story- his possessiveness and need to control are themes that are 30 years out of date and not representative of a healthy relationship.
I'm not sure if any of Alita's new friends will have a future role but it was really great to see her being independent and just kicking ass.
March 20, 2019
In this volume, we get introduced to the world of motorball, and this volume certainly ups the ante on the action. We get some development with Ido and Alita which I thought was well done. The climactic fight at the end had a surprising, yet charming twist to it at the end which I also appreciated. Looking forward to reading more.
March 18, 2018
Amazing. Contains one of my favorite pieces of sequential art in all of comics.
July 23, 2019
In this volume, Alita abandons Doc Ido and her life in The Scrapyard for the brutal world of Motorball. In this deadly sport that pits cyborg warriors against each other, Alita finds herself facing some stiff competition in the reigning Motorball champion, Jasugun. The showdown against Jasgun pits the champions' Maschine Kratz technique against Alita's panzerkunst, and despite all her efforts to escape her origins, she falls into a trance that brings a startling truth from her past to light.
I loved this volume, not as much as the first but enough to still give it five stars. We learn more about where Alita comes from. We meet new characters like Jasugun, his sister Shumira. Ed who works with Alita. The Motorball was one of my favorites in the book, it was most of the book which I loved. I believe they took some of this material for the live-action movie which I excited to see which is a rare thing. I look forward to seeing where Alita goes next.
I loved this volume, not as much as the first but enough to still give it five stars. We learn more about where Alita comes from. We meet new characters like Jasugun, his sister Shumira. Ed who works with Alita. The Motorball was one of my favorites in the book, it was most of the book which I loved. I believe they took some of this material for the live-action movie which I excited to see which is a rare thing. I look forward to seeing where Alita goes next.
October 8, 2023
The 'Panzerkunst' instructor is clearly a techpriest of Mars XD ! He literally taught her on Mars, & he even has a loudspeaker where his mouth should be! I remember finding out that 40K borrowed from the 'Priests of Science' in Asimov's 'Empire' series, including the red robes. Looks like they took the visual design, and the home planet of their order, from Battle Angel Alita :P
Which is all fine. Imitation is the highest form of flattery. I think there is a good chance that 'Ghost In The Shell' took a lot inspiration from Alita too. I don't know any of this for certain, but it's fun to speculate, & I suspect that this has been a hugely influential comic book. Battle Angel Alita was published in 1990, Ghost In The Shell came out in 1995, & I don't think 'Tech Priests' were a thing in 40k until relatively recently. The arena champions in Vol. 1 & 2 also both remind me of The God Emperor, with Jasugun being referred to as an 'emperor' several times, & once as a 'god' at the end. & he really looks a LOT like big E. Coinciedence? Maybe. The more I read this series the more I love it!
Which is all fine. Imitation is the highest form of flattery. I think there is a good chance that 'Ghost In The Shell' took a lot inspiration from Alita too. I don't know any of this for certain, but it's fun to speculate, & I suspect that this has been a hugely influential comic book. Battle Angel Alita was published in 1990, Ghost In The Shell came out in 1995, & I don't think 'Tech Priests' were a thing in 40k until relatively recently. The arena champions in Vol. 1 & 2 also both remind me of The God Emperor, with Jasugun being referred to as an 'emperor' several times, & once as a 'god' at the end. & he really looks a LOT like big E. Coinciedence? Maybe. The more I read this series the more I love it!
March 13, 2021
4/5
Alita is making me drink more.
I can't drink alcohol and read. I, however, found out I can drink and read Alita just fine.
So instead of telling myself "no Boofy, you got some reading to do tonight you best stay off that delicious glass of whiskey." It's now. "Go ahead Boof, you can start drinking at 5 because you know you'll be reading Alita and your going to have a hell of a time."
Farther I got into this book the more I wanted to read it, and by the end of this book I couldn't put it down.
So yes Alita is making me drink more but in a .. good way?!?
I can NOT wait to pick up book 3.
Alita is making me drink more.
I can't drink alcohol and read. I, however, found out I can drink and read Alita just fine.
So instead of telling myself "no Boofy, you got some reading to do tonight you best stay off that delicious glass of whiskey." It's now. "Go ahead Boof, you can start drinking at 5 because you know you'll be reading Alita and your going to have a hell of a time."
Farther I got into this book the more I wanted to read it, and by the end of this book I couldn't put it down.
So yes Alita is making me drink more but in a .. good way?!?
I can NOT wait to pick up book 3.
January 30, 2019
Volume 2 did not disappoint with its action packed motorball centered story and a small tease at Alita's past. I've really fallen in love with the series, the classic 90's art style and the story and environment created by Yukito provides a nice visual of life in this cyberpunk action manga. In the first manga Alita starts off as an innocent android without a clue as to who she really is and what her beliefs are. In volume 2 Alita stands on her own and learns more about herself and the abilities she has while also reconciling with Ido after winning motorball.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2022
This continues to suck me in. I didn't expect the story to go where it went, with what Alita decides to get involved in after the events of the first deluxe volume. New characters make things really interesting, leading up to the finale in this set. I'd say a lot more, but I'd have to mark the spoilers tag for a few things, and I'd rather not have to do that. Looking forward to reading the next set soon.
June 28, 2022
So still the same greatness as volume 1, the setting is so different but it’s still ridiculously well illustrated and action packed as book 1. I docked a point because the character arcs and development just aren’t as great, Ido is a creepy old fuck and Alita isn’t exactly as cool as in the previous volume.
October 1, 2018
Excellent read!
December 25, 2020
I think this was a very good continuation of the story and Alita's development as a character. The artwork is impressive but the story-telling is pretty good too.
August 31, 2023
In what feels like a few hundred pages of exhilarating filler, the second hardcover omnibus of BATTLE ANGEL ALITA harbors a less genuine flair for violence and a more circuitous taste for doling out life lessons.
Life in the scrapyard turns muddy and depressing for Alita when her relationship with Yugo goes south. The girl runs away from home and finds solace in the mindless sport-carnage of Motorball -- a derby-for-cyborgs with a bunch of wholesale gambling thrown in. Alita, in short, makes a lot of enemies, reifies what few friendships she has left, and comes face to face with the sour reality that even in a dump like the scrapyard, there's no place like home.
Volume Two doesn't have much in the way of a living, breathing, functional story . . . but it does have sexy characters, dismembered cyborgs, and plenty of brooding Ido to go around. Volume Two also doesn't have much in the way of background visuals and mise-en-scene either . . . but it does have sharp character designs, exquisite page composition, and amenable pacing. This trade-off isn't entirely desired but works well enough.
Alita holes up with a team of mechanics whose history of recklessness and indifference to authority mirrors her current station in life. These days, Esdog and Umba are friendly old guys, but they're well aware of the dangers of pushing a young woman already on the edge just a bit too far. Indeed, Alita's temper bristles and flares. She is constantly trying to prove she's strong enough, durable enough, capable enough to be anyone and do anything. But as readers soon learn, Alita is mortal. Her leg can be ripped off just like everyone else's. . .
BATTLE ANGEL ALITA clearly holds promise of being something fantastic, but this volume takes pleasure in slumming the alleyways with a prodigal child. The manga does explore Ido's emotional connection to Alita to a considerable degree, which is very welcome. And although readers still don't know much about the good doctor, it's clear that his conscience is what has gotten in the way of keeping the man at the peak of his profession. Ido's got issues, and he's none too eager to resolve them.
Hopefully, future chapters will further explore the grime, in both setting and character, and work hard at exposing the impudent, the frivolous, the well-worn, and the kind-hearted, wherever they may lie.
Life in the scrapyard turns muddy and depressing for Alita when her relationship with Yugo goes south. The girl runs away from home and finds solace in the mindless sport-carnage of Motorball -- a derby-for-cyborgs with a bunch of wholesale gambling thrown in. Alita, in short, makes a lot of enemies, reifies what few friendships she has left, and comes face to face with the sour reality that even in a dump like the scrapyard, there's no place like home.
Volume Two doesn't have much in the way of a living, breathing, functional story . . . but it does have sexy characters, dismembered cyborgs, and plenty of brooding Ido to go around. Volume Two also doesn't have much in the way of background visuals and mise-en-scene either . . . but it does have sharp character designs, exquisite page composition, and amenable pacing. This trade-off isn't entirely desired but works well enough.
Alita holes up with a team of mechanics whose history of recklessness and indifference to authority mirrors her current station in life. These days, Esdog and Umba are friendly old guys, but they're well aware of the dangers of pushing a young woman already on the edge just a bit too far. Indeed, Alita's temper bristles and flares. She is constantly trying to prove she's strong enough, durable enough, capable enough to be anyone and do anything. But as readers soon learn, Alita is mortal. Her leg can be ripped off just like everyone else's. . .
BATTLE ANGEL ALITA clearly holds promise of being something fantastic, but this volume takes pleasure in slumming the alleyways with a prodigal child. The manga does explore Ido's emotional connection to Alita to a considerable degree, which is very welcome. And although readers still don't know much about the good doctor, it's clear that his conscience is what has gotten in the way of keeping the man at the peak of his profession. Ido's got issues, and he's none too eager to resolve them.
Hopefully, future chapters will further explore the grime, in both setting and character, and work hard at exposing the impudent, the frivolous, the well-worn, and the kind-hearted, wherever they may lie.
March 25, 2021
This catches me up to the end of the fourth volume of the original edition, where I left off on my first read and technically the end of the movie, even though a significant story arc from volume four isn't included on screen.
Like the first deluxe volume, I struggled with the translation. It does seem to improve by the end, but I had to pull out early volumes to compare because it sounded like a different book. There's a poetry to Viz's translation that Kodansha's newer license doesn't have, but maybe since I don't have the rest of the earlier printings anymore and haven't read them, it won't be as noticeable.
Regardless of that, viewing this artwork large is essential and probably an equal trade-off. The action and landscapes are dense and I can't believe the detail rendered in these pages that are hardly noticeable in the earlier paperbacks, not to mention what's lost in the gutter. They've also included the original, Japanese sound effects, which is cool, especially since it's mixed with the English (as opposed to a giant index in the back I'll never read).
Personally, I love how the narrative shifts in the second story arc. Alita is crushed at the beginning of this edition, and the world is not what she thought it was. She fights towards uncovering her mysterious past, a pursuit that leaves her with blinders on occasionally, and maybe without the greatest coping mechanisms. I'm not a big fan of sports, so I could imagine someone reading this volume and not liking that this entire volume revolves around Motor Ball, but it works for me as a potentially unhealthy/healthy obsession that pushes her closer towards her destiny.
Looking forward to reading the new (to me) volumes now!
Like the first deluxe volume, I struggled with the translation. It does seem to improve by the end, but I had to pull out early volumes to compare because it sounded like a different book. There's a poetry to Viz's translation that Kodansha's newer license doesn't have, but maybe since I don't have the rest of the earlier printings anymore and haven't read them, it won't be as noticeable.
Regardless of that, viewing this artwork large is essential and probably an equal trade-off. The action and landscapes are dense and I can't believe the detail rendered in these pages that are hardly noticeable in the earlier paperbacks, not to mention what's lost in the gutter. They've also included the original, Japanese sound effects, which is cool, especially since it's mixed with the English (as opposed to a giant index in the back I'll never read).
Personally, I love how the narrative shifts in the second story arc. Alita is crushed at the beginning of this edition, and the world is not what she thought it was. She fights towards uncovering her mysterious past, a pursuit that leaves her with blinders on occasionally, and maybe without the greatest coping mechanisms. I'm not a big fan of sports, so I could imagine someone reading this volume and not liking that this entire volume revolves around Motor Ball, but it works for me as a potentially unhealthy/healthy obsession that pushes her closer towards her destiny.
Looking forward to reading the new (to me) volumes now!
December 8, 2019
After losing her first love Yugo, Alita abandons her old life and throws herself into the sport of motorball, rising up the ranks pretty quickly. She challenges the reigning champion, Jasugun, to a match, and in the course of that, she learns more about her past.
I didn't find Alita hugely likeable in this volume. After the fairly bubbly personality from volume one, she goes full emo here, as she abandons Ido (even ignoring him when he comes looking for her), wanting to forget her loss. Ido finds new family with the trusting young woman Shumira and her brother, who he helps when he has seizures.
I've mostly never felt that the characters in this series are sexualised. Even when Alita isn't wearing clothes, she's very clearly more machine than person, and the images (to me) don't feel sexual. Which is why a full-frontal nude scene of Shumira in the shower felt so out of place. As well as feeling unnecessary, it felt entirely gratuitous and not required for the plot at all.
Some of the action scenes are still difficult to follow, and I thought it got confusing towards the end. I'm still not entirely sure how the fight between Alita and Jasugun played out. But there was some tantalising back-story in there, and the art does remain pretty, quite distinctive and very evocative.
I didn't find Alita hugely likeable in this volume. After the fairly bubbly personality from volume one, she goes full emo here, as she abandons Ido (even ignoring him when he comes looking for her), wanting to forget her loss. Ido finds new family with the trusting young woman Shumira and her brother, who he helps when he has seizures.
I've mostly never felt that the characters in this series are sexualised. Even when Alita isn't wearing clothes, she's very clearly more machine than person, and the images (to me) don't feel sexual. Which is why a full-frontal nude scene of Shumira in the shower felt so out of place. As well as feeling unnecessary, it felt entirely gratuitous and not required for the plot at all.
Some of the action scenes are still difficult to follow, and I thought it got confusing towards the end. I'm still not entirely sure how the fight between Alita and Jasugun played out. But there was some tantalising back-story in there, and the art does remain pretty, quite distinctive and very evocative.
February 4, 2019
Second volume of Alita continues the story where the first volume ended.
After the tragedy that strikes at the beginning of the volume Alita is on the brink of despair and walks away from Ido and [what has become her] home to participate in motor-ball, gladiatorial sport (not unlike Rollerball if anyone remembers that SF movie acting James Caan - if you did not do yourself a favor and watch it) in which person can very easily die permanently (considering all the participants are cyborgs and death is not so terminal in this world).
As story progresses we get introduced with the entire gallery of motor-ballers - some helping Alita some bent on killing her for mere joy of killing her and some puzzled by her stand and motivations.
During the constant battle in the rings [and especially following the grand finale against Jashugan], Alita starts to have her memories awaken and slowly she starts to remember who she is (at this point in story-line she is far from the full recall but first steps are made).
Art is excellent, especially beautiful are two-page illustrations that can easily be made into posters.
Highly recommended to all fans of SF, cyberpunk and of course Alita story and universe.
After the tragedy that strikes at the beginning of the volume Alita is on the brink of despair and walks away from Ido and [what has become her] home to participate in motor-ball, gladiatorial sport (not unlike Rollerball if anyone remembers that SF movie acting James Caan - if you did not do yourself a favor and watch it) in which person can very easily die permanently (considering all the participants are cyborgs and death is not so terminal in this world).
As story progresses we get introduced with the entire gallery of motor-ballers - some helping Alita some bent on killing her for mere joy of killing her and some puzzled by her stand and motivations.
During the constant battle in the rings [and especially following the grand finale against Jashugan], Alita starts to have her memories awaken and slowly she starts to remember who she is (at this point in story-line she is far from the full recall but first steps are made).
Art is excellent, especially beautiful are two-page illustrations that can easily be made into posters.
Highly recommended to all fans of SF, cyberpunk and of course Alita story and universe.
February 7, 2019
The second deluxe edition of "Battle Angel Alita" sees the series becoming more of a traditional action manga. It has plenty of the cliches you associate with the genre: Defeated opponents becoming allies, special attacks, goofy comic relief characters. This volume is concerned with "Motorball," a Rollerball-esque death sport for cyborgs. Once again, Yukito Kishiro's action scenes are so stylized as to be hard to follow at times. We also see how absolutely nuts his character designs can be. Kishiro's androids reach to almost abstract levels at times. And then, sometimes, just for the hell of it, he throws in a Grace Jones lookalike.
And the crazy robots and hyper-violent action scenes are fun, of course. However, I do dislike that this second deluxe edition separates Alita from most of her established supporting cast for most of the book. Not to say there isn't some emotion here. The connection between Alita's primary Motorball rival - Jashugan - and his adorable little sister provides some heart. As does Jashugan's desire to keep on living to protect her, even as his brain fails him. I just wish we got a little more of Ido and Alita interacting here.
And the crazy robots and hyper-violent action scenes are fun, of course. However, I do dislike that this second deluxe edition separates Alita from most of her established supporting cast for most of the book. Not to say there isn't some emotion here. The connection between Alita's primary Motorball rival - Jashugan - and his adorable little sister provides some heart. As does Jashugan's desire to keep on living to protect her, even as his brain fails him. I just wish we got a little more of Ido and Alita interacting here.
October 1, 2019
Maybe even 3½ stars.
It has some moments, there is some character growth... but on the whole this volume lacks the feeling I had when reading vol. 1. That feeling of "real"-ness was not so much there. It slipped more into recognition of the sci-fi suspension of disbelief whereas in vol. 1 I didn't have to recognize I was suspending it, I just was unconsciously because the characters were more "real".
Volume 2 has much more of a focus on Motorball. While it makes for some interesting action moments, it genuinely lacks any genuineness. The only reason this volume gets 3½ stars is for those few moments spread throughout that make this volume worth reading. Otherwise it is a bunch of mindless filler that hardly take the story farther away from the starting point than one can spit.
I hope the next one brings Alita back to an actual storyline rather than just what felt like several hundred pages of filler.
Verdict: If you want to know Alita there are tidbits scattered throughout you may not want to miss, but otherwise, this volume is somewhat of a bore.
It has some moments, there is some character growth... but on the whole this volume lacks the feeling I had when reading vol. 1. That feeling of "real"-ness was not so much there. It slipped more into recognition of the sci-fi suspension of disbelief whereas in vol. 1 I didn't have to recognize I was suspending it, I just was unconsciously because the characters were more "real".
Volume 2 has much more of a focus on Motorball. While it makes for some interesting action moments, it genuinely lacks any genuineness. The only reason this volume gets 3½ stars is for those few moments spread throughout that make this volume worth reading. Otherwise it is a bunch of mindless filler that hardly take the story farther away from the starting point than one can spit.
I hope the next one brings Alita back to an actual storyline rather than just what felt like several hundred pages of filler.
Verdict: If you want to know Alita there are tidbits scattered throughout you may not want to miss, but otherwise, this volume is somewhat of a bore.
January 12, 2020
Paper book review.
This book is entirely about Motor Ball. It starts up right where the first left off. Alita and Yugo are confronting the man who says he has access to Zalem. Yugo is a bit crazy at this point, and ends up climbing the support cable, just like in the movie. Drama drama, the spiky rings come down, Yugo falls, drama drama.
Alita throws herself into Motor Ball as a way to cope with the loss of Yugo, and we follow her rise through the ranks from amateur to second class. And of course, being the arrogant warrior she is, she challenges the champion of Motor Ball himself, Jasugun. A few new characters, really interesting artwork drawn in fierce battle action on the race course. I kinda like Alita's character arc in this story. I'm kinda confused at the ending, but it sounds like at least the next book should really dive into Alita's old life and more of the history of Zalem. I can't wait!
This book is entirely about Motor Ball. It starts up right where the first left off. Alita and Yugo are confronting the man who says he has access to Zalem. Yugo is a bit crazy at this point, and ends up climbing the support cable, just like in the movie. Drama drama, the spiky rings come down, Yugo falls, drama drama.
Alita throws herself into Motor Ball as a way to cope with the loss of Yugo, and we follow her rise through the ranks from amateur to second class. And of course, being the arrogant warrior she is, she challenges the champion of Motor Ball himself, Jasugun. A few new characters, really interesting artwork drawn in fierce battle action on the race course. I kinda like Alita's character arc in this story. I'm kinda confused at the ending, but it sounds like at least the next book should really dive into Alita's old life and more of the history of Zalem. I can't wait!
August 23, 2018
I am still really enjoying the world of Alita and her as a character, however this volume was maybe not quite as good on the story front as the first volume was. Although we do get a very brief clue into her past, most of it felt like a ‘side story’ to the whole. Sure it drove her character growth some, but the ‘acting out teenager phase’ thing felt a bit mainstream. I was hoping to explore the world more and the mystery behind Zalem...all I’m sure in good time for future volumes. Still there were interesting developments and the story was good enough to keep me flipping pages, so certainly by no means bad. Definitely up there in my list of manga favourites!
October 29, 2018
Druhý díl Ality trochu upozaďuje příběhový vývoj a více se zaměřuje na akci a osobnostní rozvoj hlavní hrdinky. K akci nám slouží brutální sport zvaný motorball, kde si bizarní designy cyborgů a adrenalinovou jízdu Kishiro užívá a plynový pedál drží u podlahy většinu knihy.
Čas od času ale zvolní a snaží se dostat Alitě do hlavy. Řeší se její vztah s Idem, její vzpomínky a motivace acelé to krásně funguje. Závěrečné kapitolvy knihy pa přináší různá odhalení, návrat starých nepřátel a neskutečně brutální Cliffhanger.
70% za tuhle akcí nabitou jízdu, ubraná procenta za to, že příběhu tam bylo přeci jen moc málo :)
Čas od času ale zvolní a snaží se dostat Alitě do hlavy. Řeší se její vztah s Idem, její vzpomínky a motivace acelé to krásně funguje. Závěrečné kapitolvy knihy pa přináší různá odhalení, návrat starých nepřátel a neskutečně brutální Cliffhanger.
70% za tuhle akcí nabitou jízdu, ubraná procenta za to, že příběhu tam bylo přeci jen moc málo :)
April 1, 2019
Manga ALITA finds you backfilled in a scrapyard. You don't have a name, neither a body, neither a memory. You're just a female-looking head of a cyborg.
On the way of looking for who you are the others misleads you. Either they project their inner desires into you and you have to react. Or they hates you, are after you and you have to react. Or later they attacts a train you defend and ...
By reacting, you're uncovering your past. And this is why I love ALITA so much as the main character evolves from a little naive girl through a sportswoman full of hate to a killing machine.
On the way of looking for who you are the others misleads you. Either they project their inner desires into you and you have to react. Or they hates you, are after you and you have to react. Or later they attacts a train you defend and ...
By reacting, you're uncovering your past. And this is why I love ALITA so much as the main character evolves from a little naive girl through a sportswoman full of hate to a killing machine.
June 5, 2019
I first encountered Battle Angel Alita way back in the early 90s when Viz published the series in western comic sized issues—one per chapter. They also inverted the panels to left to right format instead of the original Japanese orientation. So rereading Alita’s story several decades removed feels new. The art is beautiful and beautifully represented in these large format deluxe editions. There are a lot of weaknesses in the story and the whole battle ball business is very goofy, but charming... like professional wrastlin’. Still, it is a lot of fun!
March 9, 2018
I figured I’d read these now so I can be disappointed when the movie comes out.
Not as good as the first deluxe volume. Alita’s story progresses only slightly as we take a long detour into the scrapyard sport of Motorball. As world building it was pretty cool, but the story was lacking in this volume. Towards the end we got a couple great moments- enough to keep me invested. I’ve already preordered vol. 3; April 3rd seems a long way out. Glad there’s always more to read.
Not as good as the first deluxe volume. Alita’s story progresses only slightly as we take a long detour into the scrapyard sport of Motorball. As world building it was pretty cool, but the story was lacking in this volume. Towards the end we got a couple great moments- enough to keep me invested. I’ve already preordered vol. 3; April 3rd seems a long way out. Glad there’s always more to read.
May 16, 2018
Really enjoyed reading Battle Angel Alita (Deluxe Edition), volume 2. I had to read this volume as soon as I could after reading the first volume. The first volume was so good! This volume revolved around the brutal game of Motorball, which is somewhat a mix of WWF-type wrestling and roller derby. Entertaining to read! Definitely looking forward to reading the next volume in the series at some point in the future.
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