Battle Angel Alita: Last Order, Volume 1: Angel Reborn

Nova, the villainous researcher who spent much of the first Alita series foiling the efforts of the beautiful cyborg is back. This time with a different agenda. Equipped with the barest fragments of Alita's brain he remakes her, this time with an even better artificial body, the Imaginos. Alita awakens to a world in chaos - Nova has reveled that citizens of Tiphares have had their brains replaced with chips, and the overprotective guardian machines turn on the populace to conceal the secret.Still created and drawn by Yukito Kishiro, this new series has all that magic of its predecessor. Battle Angel Alita remains a fine example of Manga that uses are to expand the imagination at the same time it entertains. For all the spellbinding action and violence, the driving factors behind the series remains the intangibles that separate human from non-human, and life from imitation.For all that Alita is 'made' rather than born, she is clearly more human than the chip-brained adults of Tiphares, who see themselves as the perfection of the species. In the beginnings of a complex plot that pits adults against their children, Alita once again displays both her power and her compassion, We are also granted glimpses of Alita's origins - the promises of explanations that were never forthcoming in the initial series.In a world where sequels are cheap and easy, it's nice to see the effort Kishiro and VIZ publishing have put together to create something even better than its origins. You won't be disappointed.

I love the 'Battle Angel Alita' novels. I really really love them. I love them so much so, that I consider the first novel, the best book I have ever read (with all the "best ever" fan praise I can give it). I love the whole series and was always happy with the way it ended. With news that Yukito Kishiro rushed the original ending for health reasons and that he was going back to the Scarpyard to tell what he intended in the first place, I knew 'Last Order' was going to be something special.In every way, 'Last Order' delivers. The art, writing, characters, and everything else comes through in spades. Kishiro's pallet shows a wide range of painstakingly drawn details in the backgrounds and people. The pattern that seems to morph on a blanket that Alita wares is so gorgeously drawn, that I wish she wore it through out whole the book. Kishiro's writing is still very good, even if it does occasionally get into techno babble. The story has also lost some of the innocence and mystery when it first started, but Alita has grown a lot since then, so it makes sense.Alita is as good as she ever was. Her character has matured and change so much, that she feels like a different person. Because of that, you can't put the book down. I just wanted to keep reading on to see what she would do next and where it would take her. Alita will really take you on a wild ride, so hold on to something. 'Last Order' is one great trip.

I have read the japanese version of #1 and #2... the english translation from viz is not as well translated as the original series... but Alita still kicks butt... wait until Volume 2 where you get the reintroduction of kaos. all in all the original ending of the series is the best and this might not work in the universe as it was set up, but i am glad Alita is back!

(4 and 1/2 stars for this Alita-is-back experience. Sure becomes 5.)>> What's the news?<br>Master Yukito Kishiro has grown even better!!! I thought t h a t<br>was impossible. Some new drawing and rendering techniques<br>are introduced to the new series style.<br>Backgrounds are more exciting than ever. Kishiro has complicated<br>detail and decoration. Exquisite work! Thank you, master!<p>>> What else is new? <br>Book format is smaller. <br>It reads from right to left - like<br>in Japan. It has some airbrush rendered pages <br>in the beginning of each chapter.<p>>> How about Alita herself?<br>Unfortunately, Alita has changed.<br>Now SHE is more mature. She looks somewhat less<br>vulnerable and emotional. More coldhearted and even diabolic<br>at times. She is different. Her body is more muscular. What is most<br>embarrassing - her lovely face has changed. And that was what<br>I liked the most about her. : sigh :<br>I guess her creator is somewhat out of love for her.<br>He decided to replace the adorable graphic actress with<br>a new one. Anyway.<p>>> What's the story? <br>The story in this volume brings us back<br>somewhere in the middle of VOl. 9 from the first series.<br>It interchanges the 'well known end' with a new 'beginning'.<br>Alita is revived by Desty Nova with a new, stronger body.<br>She finds herself again on Tiphares where she discovers<br>that total pandemonium has already taken over harmony and peaceful living.<br>There is a war going on - a final war between children and adults.<br>Alita meets a new friend and fights some ferocious enemy - <br>her own better warrior-self - this time it's number 6. Sechs. <p>>> Conclusion?<br>After all it's Alita, but somewhat changed.<br>It's like a dream. Everything looks familiar and yet it's different.<br>You feel a light ache every time you set your<br>eyes upon her lovely face. Something has gone for good.<p>I guess, I'll need some time to believe<br>the new Alita is as deserving my love as the old Alita.<p>But hey - I'll follow her for sure.<p>Despite some disappointing facts concerning only the<br>most eager and passionate Alita fanatics, the book<br>is sure worth buying. <p>Alita stays on top of my manga list. Forever!

Being a HUGE fan of the original Battle Angel Alita series I was insanely happy to learn that Yukito Kishiro decided to go back and rewrite the last portion of the story. I was very happy with the original story line, but I learned that Kishiro was ill during the creation of the last part of the story and felt the quality wasnt as good as it could have been.Anyway, there is a new Battle Angel comic on the market and I couldnt care less about why. This new story line picks up when the mad scientist Desty Nova defeats Alita (using much trickery) and decides to regenerate her using his theory of Karmatron Dynamics and Nanotechnology.In the new story Alita awakens in a new body and in Tiphares, the city above the Scrap Yard! She finds that a civil war has broken out in the city due to the fact that the Secret of Tiphares is no longer a secret. There is a war between the two related parties to the Secret, and robots programmed to keep the secret a secret are racing all over the city killing everyone in their path.(To find out the Secret of Tiphares check out the original Battle Angel Alita series, you will not be sorry)The story so far is fantastic! It is just as deep and intruiging as the original. Lots of new and fun characters are popping up and the action is definitly intense.The artwork is extremely beautiful, but I would have to say less detailed than before. this is not necessarily a bad thing though, as the story takes place in the clean and sterile City above the Clouds.I have to say that the absolute high point and main reason for reading this (if you are not sure you want to) is for the sections of the story about Alita's child hood. In the original story it is only known that Alita is a few hundred years old and that she was a great warrior from Mars. This story actually opens up with a traumatic scene from Alita's tragic childhood on the Red Planet. Truly amazing. Not much of her past is shown in this part of the story, but more is on the way! I can hardly contain myself!!