At first when I started reading this manga I assumed it was going to take a generic Blade Runner theme of "What does it mean to be Human? Are the robots any different than us?" and while it did incorporate some elements of those themes those are more so a side point to some bigger and more important themes; that being what is born from hatred, why do we hate, and from such unspeakable malice are we able to forgive?
I will be alluding to some spoilers involving characters later on in this review so I will be going into my issues/praises now.
Issues:
The ending was kind of abrupt, and will go into more detail in the spoiler section later, but that was really the only problem I had. I can understand why someone would be disappointed with the fights as the majority of them you aren't able to see and are over in an instant but I feel like that helps the stories mystery and will be much more of a personal preference. I also feel like this was one of the "less visually impressive" Naoki stories, but that's because it doesn't really try and be a visual masterpiece and knows when to flex it's muscles while still restraining itself; it's minimalist but but solid.
Prasies:
Uhh, all of it. But to be exact with my praises, the mystery of Pluto is fascinating and one of its strongest suits and I commend the reveal. Not only that but I respect Naoki-san for not sticking with a generic Blade Runner plot, and while he definitely used some of those elements like with the anti robot KKK but it only uses those as a means to a much greater end with the mystery of Pluto being much more akin to the mystery of what it means to forgive when all you love has been destroyed.
All in all I highly recommend this manga. It's short and sweet, it doesn't drag it's feet and make you feel like an idiot because you couldn't see the twists but with enough information you're able to piece the information together alongside detective Gesicht. Clocking in at only 65 chapters it never feels like it's being rushed to meet deadlines and it feels like the perfect length for such an impactful manga.
"It filled my Heart with emotion... My robot heart..."
SPOILER SECTION AHEAD
Of the two main antagonists I thoroughly enjoy Abras story, but I feel like the Teddy A.I. wasn't given much room to be a particularly interesting enemy and while they were present the entire time it didn't exactly make sense why it was so infatuated with killing the 7 most advanced robots while seeking to the destruction of the Human race. Maybe this is something that just went over my head and the Teddy A.I. was actually in cahoots with Abra? I kind of get the President wanting them gone since he wanted Thracia to be the most powerful country but I don't really think Teddy was written the best he could've been, but oh well. He received a fitting end at the hands of the infamous human killing robot Brau who sacrificed himself to kill the secondary antagonist; but I still feel like it was just a little TOO abrupt and if anything needed maybe one more chapter.
