Battle Angel Alita: Mars Chronicle Vol. 9 by Yukito Kishiro

 Battle Angel Alita: Mars Chronicle Vol. 9 by Yukito Kishiro-176 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Goodreads Synopsis: The cyber-martial arts saga that has spanned a solar system and over two decades in print returns, with creator Yukito Kishiro's new sequel that reveals the true story of Alita's childhood on Mars, and the mind-bending adventures that still await her...

Freed from the Fardarrig military, the Dejah Thoris can only enjoy a momentary peace before another dangerous foe descends upon Keun and the residents. The enemy’s name is Gyapollo, and he’s taken Yoko hostage and spirited her away! On top of that, he seems to have an enduring grudge against Keun, but why…?

Thoughts: I enjoyed reading this. Battle Angel Alita is still my favorite manga to read. I like the mix of genres (dystopian, sci-fi, fantasy, and manga). I am always rooting for Alita/Yoko. 

Battle Angel Alita: Mars Chronicle, Vol. 8 by Yukito Kishiro

 Battle Angel Alita: Mars Chronicle, Vol. 8 by Yukito Kishiro-145 pages

The story of Yoko (Alita) and Erica continues in the latest volume. Yoko and Erica have been taken in by Keun the Kaufmann. Keun is looking for information on NNN and the hero's journal. Alliances shift and decisions are made that will affect character's lives in the future. This series is a prequel to to the original Battle Angel Alita series. This volume ends with a big cliffhanger that has me anticipating the next volume, if and when it is released. I enjoyed reading this, though not quite as much as the previous volumes, and I rate it 3 stars. 

Battle Angel Alita: Last Order Omnibus, Vol. 5 by Yukito Kishiro

Battle Angel Alita: Last Order Omnibus, Vol. 5 by Yukito Kishiro-592 pages

 

Alita's story continues (concludes??) in this fifth volume. The last page says "To be continued," but no other volume of this has been published. It ends in the middle of the finals of the Z.O.T.T. The reader never learns of the outcome of that battle. I still enjoyed reading it, though. I really like anything Battle Angel Alita. I like that the author takes pieces of several different cultures and languages and melds them together to make these worlds. 

Battle Angel Alita: Last Order Omnibus, Vol. 4 by Yukito Kishiro

Battle Angel Alita: Last Order Omnibus, Vol. 4 by Yukito Kishiro-640 pages

Alita's story continues. She finds Lou's Brain, but must trade her own to copies of Dr. Desty Nova for it. Will she survive and will the Space Angels win the Z.O.T.T. Tournament? I continue to enjoy reading anything that is Battle Angel Alita. 

Battle Angel Alita: Last Order Omnibus, Vol. 3 by Yukito Kishiro

 Battle Angel Alita: Last Order Omnibus, Vol. 3 by Yukito Kishiro-672 pages

As I have stated before, Battle Angel Alita is my favorite manga series/universe. I continue to enjoy reading through this arc of the Battle Angel Alita series. Alita continues her search for her friend Lou's brain in Melchizedek while her team continues fighting in the ZOTT Tournament. Readers learn more about Alita's past and about the origins of Melchizedek and Merlin. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys manga and/or dystopian. I look forward to reading the final two volumes in this arc. 

Battle Angel Alita Mars Chronicle Vol. 7 (Battle Angel Alita: Mars Chronicle) by Yukito Kishiro

 Battle Angel Alita Mars Chronicle Vol. 7 (Battle Angel Alita: Mars Chronicle) by Yukito Kishiro-162 pages

I have previously read through vol. 6 of this series and this is the latest. I enjoyed this volume just as much as the previous ones. I continue to hold anything "Battle Angel Alita" in high regard. If you've read any of the previous "Alita" works, then I would recommend this. 

Battle Angel Alita Deluxe Edition, Vol. 5 by Yukito Kishiro

 Battle Angel Alita Deluxe Edition, Vol. 5 by Yukito Kishiro-400 pages

This is the thrilling conclusion to Alita's story in the original Battle Angel Alita manga (Last Order and Mars Chronicle continue/add to the story). Alita faces off against Dr. Desty Nova one last time and learns more secrets of Zalem. Extra endings are included in this edition that were not included in the original publication. I think Alita gets a good ending here. She experienced a lot of happiness along with sadness, pain, and suffering as we all do (although, she goes through more probably in this fictional setting than most do). Also included is the story "Ashen Victor" which is about a Motor Ball racer named Snev (aka "Self-Destructo"). It is set in the world of Alita, but is a separate story. Snev loses every race but isn't sure why. He's 0-18 in races and self-destructs/blows up every time. However, what will happen in his 19th and final race? Will he blow up as the crowd wants or will he win? I really liked reading the deluxe editions of the original Battle Angel Alita and look forward to reading Battle Angel Alita: Mars Chronicle, Vol. 7 when it is released later this year (I've finished the first six volumes). Additionally, it was interesting to read the interviews of Yukito Kishiro in the back of the book. It was especially interesting to read about his writing/drawing process and how he chooses names and languages (such as how German became prominent in the language of Mars). 

Battle Angel Alita Deluxe Edition, Vol. 4 by Yukito Kishiro

 Battle Angel Alita Deluxe Edition, Vol. 4 by Yukito Kishiro-452 pages

I finally got back to reading this series. I wanted to read Ready Player Two first and I had to get this and Vol. 5 through ILL. Alita's story continues in this volume. She has been through many tough experiences and she is still working for Tuned. Her search for Dr. Ido continues along with her hunger for revenge against Dr. Desty Nova. Key revelations come to light about Zalem, Den, and Barjack. I continue to enjoy reading this series and look forward to its conclusion in vol. 5 of the deluxe edition (which I am currently reading). 

Battle Angel Alita Deluxe Edition, Vol. 3 by Yukito Kishiro

 Battle Angel Alita Deluxe Edition, Vol. 3 by Yukito Kishiro-436 pages

I read the first two volumes of the deluxe edition back in October for the graphic novels challenge. I want to, eventually, read all five or six volumes. In this volume, Alita meets new characters like Figure Four and Yorg and Dr. Desty Nova. After using a gun given to her by Desty Nova (which is prohibited in Scrapyard) to defeat Zapan once and for all, Alita is in a Factory about to be destroyed like garbage. However, she is saved by Tuned, which is a secret agent organization based in Zalem. Her mission is to apprehend Dr. Desty Nova, but really she just wants to see Dr. Ido (who has been reanimated/brought back to life) who is in Dr. Nova's service now. I am eagerly awaiting an opportunity to finish the series. 

Battle Angel Alita Deluxe Edition, Vol. 2 by Yukito Kishiro

 Battle Angel Alita Deluxe Edition, Vol. 2 by Yukito Kishiro-416 pages

The story of Alita continues. After losing Yugo, Alita is hurting and lost. She turns all her efforts and attention into a Motorball career and quickly rises through the different levels of competition. Each time she fights in close combat, she relives memories of her forgotten past on Mars. She ends up fighting the Champion of the top level of Motorball and remembers more about her past, including her former name. It is fun to compare the manga to the movie.

Battle Angel Alita Deluxe Edition, Vol. 1 by Yukito Kishiro

 Battle Angel Alita Deluxe Edition, Vol. 1 by Yukito Kishiro-430 pages

This is the original Battle Angel Alita manga in new deluxe editions. This is the first volume of the editions. I really enjoyed reading this. The somewhat recent movie Alita: Battle Angel is loosely based on this manga. I have seen and enjoyed the movie, so I wanted to read the manga. Some similarities and differences exist between the manga and the movie. One major similarity is that Alita becomes a Hunter-Warrior in both the manga and the movie. Another similarity is that Yugo wants to go to Zalem to get out of Scrapyard and to get a better view. He is tricked by Vector into believing that if he raises 10 million chips Vector will take him to Zalem with him. One difference (at least in this volume) is the absence of Ido's ex-wife. Ido has an ex-wife who works with Vector in the movie. I am looking forward to reading volume 2 of this series. 

Battle Angel Alita: Mars Chronicle, Vol. 6 by Yukito Kishiro

 Battle Angel Alita: Mars Chronicle, Vol. 6 by Yukito Kishiro-200 pages

The story continues with even more shocking revelations. Yoko's origin is not what is previously thought. No, she was a Masketoma of someone else who was given life and a mechanical body to go along with her living brain. She was not a Masketoma of Lady Kagura and, therefore, she can't be named as Lady of Cydonia since she is not of that line. Erica continues down a dark path and Baron Muster's plan of vengeance comes to its epic conclusion. I await volume 7 which, alas, will not be published until next spring. 

Battle Angel Alita: Mars Chronicle, Vol. 5 by Yukito Kishiro

 Battle Angel Alita: Mars Chronicle, Vol. 5 by Yukito Kishiro-176 pages

We learn how Baron Muster came to be the villain he is today in this volume. Also, we learn how he was betrayed by the Lady of Cydonia and those who he thought were his friends. We learn how Muster used to be called Itall and how he got the Masketomas. Additionally, the reader learns that Yoko was a Masketoma of Lady Kagura of Cydonia and that is why she needs prosthetics for much of her body. We learn the utter depravity and pain that Itall endured to ultimately become Baron Muster. This volume is mostly back story of Baron Muster. I eagerly await reading the next volume. 

Battle Angel Alita: Mars Chronicle, Vol. 4 by Yukito Kishiro

 Battle Angel Alita: Mars Chronicle, Vol. 4 by Yukito Kishiro-200 pages

In this volume, Erica continues under Baron Muster's tutelage. They continue their search for the Great Treasure of Mars, which Baron Muster thinks is the immortality potion. Muster needs the potion because he is mortally ill. The reader also learns more about Baron Muster's origin and how he came to be in possession of the Golden Cane. Baron Muster and Erica find the treasure and thwart a plot to kill them by a supposed slave/captive. However, is the treasure really the immortality potion or is it something else? Meanwhile, Yoko/Alita and her mother are in Cydonia and someone powerful wants to install Alita as the Lady of Cydonia, but only so he can take the power for himself. 

Battle Angel Alita:Mars Chronicle, Vol. 3 by Yukito Kishiro

 Battle Angel Alita:Mars Chronicle, Vol. 3 by Yukito Kishiro-176 pages

In this third volume, the story goes back in time and shows how Yoko (Alita) and Erica get separated. The doctor who took Yoko and Erica in has found where Erica's parents live in Curie Stadt. However, they find a burned house when they arrive and Erica's parents are dead. It's revealed that Erica directly and indirectly killed her parents because they were mean, bad people. They find a book that her father had in his possession at his death that plays a key part in the story. Erica's father was a treasure hunter. A bit later, after it's revealed that the doctor has found Yoko's mother, he and the girls meet her mother. Yoko goes with her mother and Erica feels abandoned. Erica is then kidnapped by a villain named Baron Muster after an altercation with a group of bandits/bounty hunters who are searching for Yoko. Baron Muster takes Erica to his secret hideout. I am eagerly awaiting the next volume in this series. 

Battle Angel Alita: Mars Chronicle, Vol. 2 by Yukito Kishiro

 Battle Angel Alita: Mars Chronicle, Vol. 2 by Yukito Kishiro-210 pages

This is the second volume of the series. It is a pretty dark story, but I am enjoying it so far. The story jumps ahead 200 years from the first volume. Erica has been turned into a Necro-soldier, which is someone who has died but has been re-animated as a soldier to do the bidding of the one who re-animated him/her. Yoko is now going by Alita (her full name is Alita Yoko). She has apparently been many places in the last 200 years and is very secretive about what she's been doing. Erica and Alita are now enemies and they fight at one point in the story. I am looking forward to volume 3 (and the subsequent volumes). 

Battle Angel Alita: Mars Chronicle, Vol. 1 by Yukito Kishiro

 Battle Angel Alita: Mars Chronicle, Vol. 1 by Yukito Kishiro-208 pages

While I wait for copies of the next volumes of Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization I am reading this. It caught my eye on the shelf because I have seen the film "Alita: Battle Angel" based on the manga. This is not the story line explored in the movie. However, this is a captivating story on its own. Yoko (Alita) is a young cyborg girl who is taken to live in an orphanage with Erica in the town of Mamiana on Mars. At first, Erica and Yoko are bullied but then they almost sort of become friends with some of the other girls. However, an army faction (one of 3 at war on Mars) slaughters all the girls except Yoko and Erica. They are the only ones who escape the slaughter. They are rescued by a different army faction. This is pretty much how the first volume ends. I am now reading the second volume of this series and plan to read the third, as well. As I said in an earlier post, I plan to read a lot of manga and graphic novels for this month's challenge.