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Reviewed by Michael Aronson A new supporting cast and a massive confrontation bump this volume of Alita up from the previous one. It’s not an absolutely smooth ride, but it continues to thrust the series in exciting new directions while building on every subplot and character that have come before. The introduction of Lou, Alita’s handler and tech support, gives readers their first view of Tiphares, the sky city of elitists who take advantage of the citizens on the earth below, and for whom Alita works as an agent. Koyomi, the tiny girl from volume five, makes a surprising return as a slightly more aged and crafty brat with her adopted cyborg dog Fury. Kaos is a radio DJ with many mysterious powers, questionable obsessions and shocking ties to at least two major characters. And then comes Den, the adversary for the volume. Den is freaking enormous and his weapons, both for personal use and for ultimate conquest, are equally extreme in scope and potency. This is a threat whose effectiveness rely a hundred percent on the scope of the visuals, which pull through magnificently. Of course, the confrontation between little Alita and Den is really only engaging for the difference in stature of the characters, but it’s a wild battle, and that’s all it needs to be to entertain. The only misstep in this volume is the balance of subplots and revelations. Many subplots promise resolution or at least direct address but don’t pull through by the volume’s end, such as the ongoing pursuit of Desty Nova. Meanwhile, key revelations certainly nudge a few subplots forward, but the lack of exploration of certain subplots leaves the revelations a little hollow since the readers don’t yet understand their implications. It’s perfectly good setup with some of the best design and action in the series, but it can’t put off the resolution of certain outstanding subplots for much longer. 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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