Manga Monday: Battle Angel Alita Deluxe Edition 1: Believe in the Strength Within Yourself

Western audiences know the series at Battle Angel Alita, but when it began in late 1990 it was known simply as Gunnm/Ganmu. From Yukito Kishiro, the series would eventually find massive success and even become billed as the original cyberpunk classic. It’s the type of manga that transcends the oftentimes strict expectations of the medium with both an incredibly impressive aesthetic and deep character drama to back it up. It’s no wonder this story inspired an OVA and live-action film!

There are countless analysis and devoted fans who have poured hours into even the subtlest of details in this vivid cyberpunk coming of age story. In the decades after its released, the series has found its way into mainstream popularity, even receiving a 400+ page hardcover deluxe edition printing, which is what brings us here. This comprehensive dive covers fights 01-11 in both pt. 1: Rusty Angel and pt. 2: Iron Maiden which takes readers from Alita’s origins in the Zalem scrapyard to her climactic confrontation with the nefarious Vector . Collected editions are great ways to take a deep dive into classic series and this is one of the best examples of this I’ve come across in quite a while. There is a dedication to storytelling that is so evident on every page, that even at this length, it’s impossible to put down until the very last panel. You’ll actually most likely be sad that it isn’t longer!

Purely sci-fi/cyberpunk with a lead woman character who is essentially the definition of badass, there is a lot to enjoy very quickly when starting this series for any fan. Discovering her relationship with Ido and the complicated trauma that pushes Alita into more relatable territory. There is incredible worldbuilding that continues to inspire the cyberpunk aesthetic today, but before any of that truly comes to light, we fall in love with Alita because of her powerful character development and stunning depictions. Kishiro understands the nuances of pacing so well that even in a 400+ page sitting, it’s almost impossible to stop even for just a break.

The bulk of the story in Edition 1 is made up of Alita’s journey as a hunter-warrior and the devastatingly extensive fight with the creepy menace, Makaku. We quickly see Alita come into her role as the Battle Angel, even to her own harm. As the battle rages on against the Great Makaku we see incredible sci-fi goodness like the Beserker body and classic manga craziness like Makaku’s maggot form and strange love-oriented fascination with Alita. It’s almost difficult to describe the quality of execution in the visuals to tell this action-packed story. The intricacies of the mech-parts merged with human elements give Kishiro more than enough opportunities to shine while never forgetting to pull readers in with a heartfelt story. It’s a near perfect compliment of synchronizing both art and writing from a talented creator with a vision.

The back half of this deluxe volume takes Alita out of the battle where we get some insight into the angelic aspects of the story. Her past creates a godsend type aura around her and Yugo brings something out of her that sends the story in unpredictable directions. After such a long and brutal fight that put Alita through real hardships, its easy to think the story is settling into more familiar territory with a love interest, but that really isn’t the case. Yugo is a catalyst to force emotional expression from Alita and bring context to her reincarnated role, the rollercoaster that ensues with her relationship with Yugo matures her as a character and elevates her connections just a little bit more with the floating utopia and key to her past, Zalem.

There are plenty of uniquely interesting character dynamics such as Alita’s sometimes strange relationship with Ido and Vector’s motivations, but all of these developments help to also flesh out the world with rich lore. It’s something you can really obsess over and continue to find details with multiple readings. For fans of the movie, this story will feel structured very differently with a noticeable lack of the famous motorball sport, but it’s honestly for the better. The pacing allows for a more natural development and the result is a remarkably engrossing story that anyone can enjoy. It’s willingness to embrace modern executions despite traditionalist complaints helps to make it a timeless read for fans anywhere, even those with no familiarity in manga.

The Battle Angel Alita Deluxe Edition 1 sets Alita up for a much more dangerous presence both with herself and her enemies, but the internal journey of self-discovery is what will also make these first pages a true classic.