Ghost In The Shell 2 – Man Machine Interface is the 2nd manga sequel to Shirow Masamune’ groundbreaking comic Ghost In The Shell ( the 1st being Ghost In The Shell 1.5 – Human Error Processor ). Known as the cyber entity Motoko Aramaki, the former “Major” now works as a security expert for Poseidon Industrial.

While the art work in Human Error Processor still retained the goodness of Shirow’s “classic” style, with traditional media used to render the colored illustrations, Man Machine Interface sees the creeping in of that much dreaded digital look that really cheapens and sullies Shirow’s otherwise fantastic art work.

In addition to that, the characters seem to become much more sexualized, with the female characters deliberately posed to emphasis their posteriors and chest areas. Sure, there’s no lack of sexy women in Shirow’s work, but they’ve always been tastefully presented, and this manga seemed to have veered off that treatment.

All that said, there are still many things to like about the manga though; the artist’s black and white drawings remain fantastic and beautiful to look at, with incredibly detailed and complex scenes that are still fairly easy to read and follow.

For the best of his work, my pick is still Intron Depot. I also recommend Pieces Gem 02, featuring some of his older creations.

“Ghost In The Shell 2 – Man Machine Interface 攻殻機動隊 (2)” manga details :

Dimensions – 21.2 x 15 x 2 cm
Soft cover, 304 pages
Full color/B&W, in Japanese

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