hontou ni Stripey Insists Sisters Cry Oniichan Now

GITS 1.5 Human-Error Processor : Issue 1-4

How many times can one tell the same story? Or to re-use the same motifs, albeit in different iterations? The 1.5 locates this series after the original manga from which the first GITS movie drew on for the puppet master conspiracy and is a bridge to the Man-Machine Interface compilation which concentrates the post-merger Motoko.

In 'Fat Cat' (Issue 1-2), Section 9 investigate a rich businessman who might be dead but is walking. Togusa and Azuma investigate if he is indeed a remotely controlled zombie and what his puppeteers are up to. This is the first time I've had more than a superficial impression of Azuma and it was quite different to see Togusa in the role of mentor rather than rookie. Nonetheless, while I got a sense of why Azuma was recruited, the short story couldn't convey the strength of partnership the way Innocence delivered on the Motoko-Batou relationship - even though the former is physically absent for most of the movie.

The Major does make an appearance in 'Drive Slave' (Issue 3-4) in her Chroma The Hunter remote body. In this story, Batou and Togusa are protecting a police witness he undergoes a surgical procedure to remove a nano-explosive device that has been infiltrated into his heart. The Major once again does battle with a tank-like enemy and is severely mauled but triumphs with through sheer endurance, cunning, the help of insect-like robots (which also feature in Fat Cat).

Of all four covers, I liked the Issue 4 one best (bottom left) which is her Motoko Aramaki corporate warrior incarnation; the suit jacket-like top, short skirt, lace trimmings on skirt and boots, fingerless gloves and the whole Sharon Stone Fatal Attraction type seating position. ~~ Just wish that the four issues had more of this type of art as the were nowhere as sensuous or fanservicey as in Man-Machine Interface.

Despite my belly-yakking, it's just a bridge [rejected offshoot - see comments] from GITS to MMI so no expectations of a grand over-arching narrative here. I'm still looking forward to the conclusion of these vignettes (4 arcs - 8 issues in total).

Related posts:

1. Ghost in the Shell: Innocence (London screening)
2. GITS:SAC OST 1 and 2 getto daze!
3. The Melancholies of Motoko Kusanagi