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Reviewed by Michael Aronson “Her heart broken, Alita runs away from home and becomes a challenger in motorball, a combat-like game that pits cyborg competitors against each other. Doc Ido is determined to bring Alita back home and forms new alliances as he formulates a desperate plan...” The world of Alita gets that much more immersive as finds sanctuary from last volume’s heartrending conclusion in the seedy society of motorball. While her attitude undergoes a stark change from the first two volumes, it follows a believable arc of development, as does Doc Ido’s personality in reaction to Alita’s new career. Though the story is slow to build in stakes, complexity and drama, it reaches a high level of intensity as soon as all the major players stand revealed in confrontation with one another. The cast expands rather dramatically, with unique creations like Shumira, Jashugan, Ajakutty and more, most of which come decked out in extreme motorball duds. Though we don’t get sprawling landscapes as in the last volume, Kishiro crams this one full of interesting and intricate designs for all the motorball competitors. It’s a story that feels slightly familiar, but so did the story in volume two and that had a few pleasant twists, so I’m optimistic about the continuation of the motorball competition in volume four. The tension between Alita and Ido is the real juicy bit this time out, but it doesn’t yet reach fever pitch. It’s good stuff though, and I don’t think there are many other places you’ll find a line like “Here, put your heart away!” Sci-fi at its purest. Interested in writing for MangaLife? We're always looking for talented reviewers and columnists, so drop us a line! Charles Webb Editor-in-Chief, MangaLife.com |
1 September 2010
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