2.5

This was an interesting read. Inconsistent in many ways, it failed to maintain a particular tone, often jumping between humorous and serious scenarios. The art changes a lot as it progresses, as do the characters - none of which helps. The most inconsistent thing of all is Major Kusanagi's breasts which seem to vary in size by the page.

The plot is very episodic, making it hard to invest in. A concept is introduced at the beginning of the book, and then referred back to every now and again throughout mostly unrelated political escapades before finally getting wrapped up in the last chapter.

Some of it I found enjoyable, particularly towards the end, as it focuses more on the puppet master and its motivations. Shirow clearly knows his stuff, and the book is filled with interesting ideas that are often communicated intriguingly through the art. However, for the most part, it's quite boring. It's difficult to care about the characters or half the situations they're in, and the simple stand-alone adventures they pursue are often made unnecessarily complicated and difficult to follow.

As one can only expect (I suppose), there's quite a bit of unnecessary nudity, and a few smutty scenes here and there; often displayed in full colour at the beginning of chapters as opposed to where the rest of the story is in traditional black and white. It's a bit tasteless to be honest but it seems to be a Japanese standard.

The greatest credit that can really be given to the Ghost in the Shell manga is that it has spawned an excellent adaptation. Mamoru Oshii improves on this work tenfold, taking concepts, characters and the better story elements and forming it into a masterpiece of science fiction animation.

In all honesty, if you've already seen the film then I don't think there's a lot to gain from reading the manga. ( )

A cyberpunk classic. Urban. Cybernetics are widespread. Artificial Intelligence is already manifest. Politically degraded and ruthless officials exhibit a cynical attitude to life. Section 9 is a team of elite operatives,at least some of whom are all or part cyborg. They deal with domestic cyber-tinged crime in a near-future Japan. Its opponents are corporate and governmental bad actors from home and abroad. The Section 9 agents are hard-boiled and efficient and the closest thing to 'the good guys' in this cynical materialistic world. ( )

Influenciado por obras cyberpunk do final dos anos 1980 como Akira e por filmes como Blade Runner - O Caçador de Androides, o cenário escolhido por Masamune Shirow para The Ghost in the Shell foi o futuro distópico de 2029, onde a alta tecnologia se mistura a uma sociedade decadente e desigual.
É nesse mundo à beira do colapso que a Major Motoko Kusanagi encabeça a Seção 9 da Segurança Pública japonesa. Motoko é uma ciborgue altamente treinada incumbida de desmantelar uma série de crimes cibernéticos realizados por um hacker conhecido como o Mestre dos Fantoches.
Em meio à caça ao criminoso virtual, Masamune Shirow insere na trama questionamentos existencialistas, ponderando até mesmo se alguém provido meramente de Inteligência Artificial é, de fato, um ser vivo. E foi exatamente essa mistura de ficção científica, ação e temas filosóficos que fizeram do mangá The Ghost in the Shell uma leitura obrigatória. ( )

"Security Force Kokaku", begins as a police force (Section 9) mostly against computer crimes, in a future society where humans have many cyborg implants. The main character "Major" only has a human brain, and is skilled in fighting. She questions how much of her humanness is necessary to make her sentient, and ends the novel/series by fusing with a possibly sentient computer brain. The author relates many of the questions about what the soul is to not only technology, but Japanese religion too. There is much female nudity throughout. ( )

So disappointed that I can't finish this manga. I know it's a classic. I never figured out what was going on. I also have a problem with 80's hair and clothes distracting me from vintage manga and old movies, but that's my own issue. I think I might check out the anime, though.

I did appreciate Motoko's sense of humor but it wasn't enough to get me through this book. ( )