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GOLGO 13: EYE OF GOD (VOL. 7) [ADVANCE REVIEW] |
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Thursday, 15 February 2007 |
 | | ▪ | PUBLISHED BY: | | VIZ MEDIA | | | ▪ | ART/AUTHOR: | | TAKAO SAITO | | | | ▪ | FORMAT/COLOR: | | JAPANESE FORMAT / BW | | | ▪ | PAGES: | | 170 | | | ▪ | RATED: | | M | | | ▪ | RELEASE DATE: | | 03/15/2007 | | | ▪ | REVIEW DATE: | | 02/16/2007 | | | ▪ | REVIEWED BY: | | SCOTT CAMPBELL |
Golgo 13 is a classic series that has spanned four decades and is still going strong. From manga to live action films, Golgo 13 has seen popularity with a variety of media, and should continue to do so. This series has much of the same appeal as the James Bond franchise, with its spy-thriller escapades and plots, but enjoyably seems to want to go further with its realism and sophistication.
Golgo 13, for those who haven’t read any of the previous volumes, is a fairly realistic look at crime drama and at the life of an assassin. The characters do not use tricky new gadgets and their cars do not sprout wings to get them out of a bind – they have to deal with each conflict in a generally realistic realm of possibility kind of way. The story is sophisticated with its plot twists and hidden agendas. It’s almost impossible to try to figure out what’s happening before you finish each story, which is very entertaining. The motives and twists are what will keep you reading – likely finishing this one in a single sitting.
Volume 7: Eye of God features two separate stories to keep things interesting. The first involves a complicated plot by somewhat of a “mad genius” working for the American government who finally goes off the deep end. He hires Golgo 13 to make a hit, but only to ensure his whereabouts so as to later control him. In his attempt to betray Golgo 13, he finds out that even the best laid plans are no match for an assassin’s cunning. In the second story, a loving husband orders a sniper on his own wife, but only to scare her out of any further “activities” with an underground terrorist group. He only wants her to lose her left ear – and Golgo 13 is just the man to make the shot. The shot goes wrong, but who actually fired? Old friends become quick enemies as this plot unfolds. This one was especially enjoyable as it was difficult to discern what had happened until the final pages. A great read.
The style of art is also worth mentioning as it is very different than most of the newer manga we are seeing these days. It has a classic, 70’s/80’s feel to it with much more “human” looking characters. It almost has an American comic-like feel to it, but then adds in all the details that make Japanese manga stand out from the rest. It may not be for everyone, but it’s a unique style in comparison to the cutsey, big-eyed characters that are the norm of our current time.
IN SUMMARY:
Golgo 13: Eye of God should appeal to anyone who enjoys a good spy thriller with a believable plot and real world rules. The story is intelligent, and the motives are interesting. It’s been around for 40 some odd years, so surely there’s a reason it has experienced this amount of staying power. Try it out if you’re looking for something a little bit more sophisticated than the old James Bond routine. |
