Review date: 8/15/2003

Publisher: Seishinsha / Dark Horse

Artist: Shirow, Masamune

Released: 1998

Availability: NORMAL

Type: Artbook

Bound: Softcover

Review Edition: First Printing

 
 
Personal Story/ Introduction:
This is the second artbook titled "Blades" by manga legend Masamune Shirow. I first saw this in a comic book store and grabbed it. No long journey here. :)
 

Main Themes :
Girls, Demons, Medieval Fantasy
 

Art / Content:
Watercolor/acrylic/color pencil/digital art. This artbook continues to showcase Shirow-san's best works. The size of this book is larger than his previous collection. The majority of the subjects are based in fantasy with monsters and demons. It also features Shirow-san's first foray into coloring his art with a computer. The results are mixed. The clothing on the girls are great but the 3D backgrounds look amateurish. The most impressive art in this edition is the medieval stuff and it was drawn without computers. The details in the armor and wardrobes are exquisite. There are some pages with nudity but most of it is topless stuff. Shirow-san's art has definitely improved in this edition.

Shirow-san's trademark running commentary continues in this issue. It features the same humor and ramblings we've all come to know and love from his previous edition.

 
Overall: A-
Once again, Masamune Shirow shows us he's a master of drawing hot babes. But the 3D stuff just doesn't work quite that well. I really enjoy this book but it's not as cohesive as it could be.
 

Where can I find this?
The popularity of Masamune Shirow is still going strong so this artbook can still be found quite easily at comic book stores and online.
 
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