Before the anime adaptations of Ghost in the Shell, there was the original manga by Masamune Shirow and it changed the world of cyberpunk fiction forever.
When this manga first appeared at the end of the late 80’s, it was during the final part of Japan’s boom years. Many thought the good times would go on forever and in many ways, this manga was an example of that.
It took the then fledgling science of its era and imparted Japan’s industrial drive into a unique take on cyberpunk, the result was probably one of Shirow’s best works and it’s telling that it has gone on to create such a long running saga in the time since.
This original manga then is where Ghost in the Shell started. It introduces us to Motoko Kusanagi, also known as the Major, who is a full-blown cyborg. Her body is entirely mechanized but she has retained her human brain.
The manga opens up with this group of cyber technology specialists having to deal with a dodgy diplomat. Aramaki storms the building with troops, only to be stalled by diplomatic regulations, resulting in the Major blasting the diplomat apart to resolve the argument.
It may sound familiar, as this was the scene used to start the 1995 anime movie adaptation directed by Mamoru Oshii. Here though it is done more directly in terms of the narrative and the violence is arguably gorier.
Following that, the Major and her gang chill out in a bar only to be contacted by a very high ranking government official, who gives the major a rather roundabout pat on the back. The Major then asks for a brief cyberbrain connection, to which she hacks his motor controls and firmly lands his own fist in the center of his face.
It’s here you realize that this is much like Shirow’s previous manga but with a lot more silliness and slapstick juxtaposed with complex technology as well as nuanced politics.
We also have the artificially intelligent tank-like Fuchikomas that are similarly cute and silly as per the later Tachikomas in Stand Alone Complex. However, they also strive to better understand themselves and this in turn results in some interesting and quite involved philosophical discussion amongst the characters.
In addition, the Major is not the stoic mannequin from the later anime adaptations either; here she is a bright, exuberant and almost tomboyish type character with considerably more warmth. She has her arms wrapped around what it means to be human and it’s this that Shirow uses as a starting point for the quest to discover the Major’s innate humanity.
Despite the Major slamming a government official’s fist into his own face, this act in turn helps to create Section 9 with Aramaki as the head. The resultant stories then are quite episodic but we are also introduced to the Puppet Master early on and this plays an important part in the manga towards the end
Aramaki here is also very much a master strategist and often comes up against the other members of Section 9, as he plays them out. He’s not reviled though and there is a degree of respect and concern from people like the Major and Batou, even when they cross the line.
In general, this manga is a wonderful mix of irreverent silliness and warmth coupled with some very dense cyberpunk technology and future politicking. The former is something that Shirow goes to great pains to explain and give context on, as the manga is full of very detailed footnotes.
Much of these footnotes are self-deprecating, as they explain that he knows he is being unrealistic or even silly. However, he gives a lot of extra context when the situations get difficult to understand.
This is because the world of the Ghost in the Shell is a complex and layered one. It’s obvious that Shirow planned this world out in detail but he likes to put the reader outside of any comfort zone. The result is that you really have to pay attention to figure out what is really going on.
This new release is also probably the best to date. It uses the original right to left reading format and doesn’t flip the pages. The result is a manga that is faithful to the original publication but also very clean as to the reproduction of the art itself. There is some censoring of the more graphic sexual elements in the manga but it doesn't detract from the story and you're not really missing anything important.
While Shirow is revered in manga circles, there are times this manga looks a bit simple but this is often done to stylistic effect. The action sequences are also incredibly kinetic and very well drawn. In addition, Shirow’s hand at mecha design is unparalleled, with much of the hardware in the manga looking thoroughly amazing and really quite sleek with it.
Of all the Shirow manga I still think the original Ghost in the Shell is probably his best work. While I liked Black Magic and Appleseed, Ghost in the Shell was a lot more accessible in the way that it dealt with a near future with the effect of cyborgs on human society. It’s no wonder that it has resonated in the decades since and we now finally have the ultimate release of this genuinely classic cyberpunk manga.
In short, probably the best manga Shirow ever did and it is now available in its best ever format. Miss this at your peril.
Ghost in the Shell: Deluxe Edition is available in hardback for $29.99 from retailers such as Amazon.
Disclosure: Kodansha Comics sent me a copy of this manga for the purposes of this review.
Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii and do toy reviews over at hobbylink.tv.
Read my Forbes blog here.
