Shirow’s art is super detailed with dense backgrounds that help create atmosphere and add weight to his futuristic portrayal of Japan. Poor fashion choices do nothing to obscure the quality of the visuals or the masterful storytelling in Ghost in the Shell, though. This is most obvious in the clothing styles, which reflect an 80s era idea of what the future of fashion would look like. Shirow Masamune’s artwork definitely looks and feels a little dated. Just a taste of the wonderfully fluid action scenes in the book. The characters discuss and ponder these issues, while also engaging in incredibly goofy banter and explosive actions scenes. If we create technology capable of rewriting memories, then how sure are we of our own past? If robots become so advanced that they’re indistinguishable from humanity, then what does it really mean to be human? and similar ideas. The series consists of a number of stand alone investigations and chapters, Shirow uses each one to explore different aspects of the futuristic society and the ways in which humanity and technology interact, and how technology affects our ideas of what it means to be human. The series is a cyberpunk/political thriller mash up with stories focused on corporate espionage, corrupt politicians and institutions, terrorists and the mysterious super hacker known only as “The Puppeteer”. Over the years it’s seen numerous reissues and reprints and now Kodansha is rolling out a new “Deluxe Edition,” just in time for the upcoming release of the live action movie!įor those not familiar with The Ghost in the Shell in one form or another, it follows the adventures of Major Motoko Kusanagi and the rest of Section 9, a Japanese “hostage rescue unit” active in espionage and counter terrorist operations in a future Japan. manga scene really exploded into what it is today. Initially published by Dark Horse Comics 90s, the series was translated/localized by the late, great Toren Smith and his Studio Proteus, and regularly appeared on the rack of comic and book stores throughout the 90s, back before the U.S. Mamoru Oshii’s anime adaption was a staple of Blockbuster rental stores and helped introduced a new generation to the world of Japanese comics and animation. Originally published in the late 80s/early 90s, Ghost in the Shell was one of the major manga/anime franchises to make its way to the U.S. Just in time for the release of the live action, Kodansha rolls out a new edition of Shirow Masamune’s classic manga, The Ghost in the Shell! Schodt and Toren Smith, Additional Translation by Stephen Paul By Shirow Masamune, Translation & English Adaption by Frederik L.

The ghost in the shell deluxe