‘Search And Destroy’ Vol. 2 Reviewed
by Tito W. James
Search and Destroy by Atsushi Kaneko is a sci-fi reinterpretation of the classic manga Dororo by Osamu Tezuka. Search and Destroy Vol. 2 continues the revenge-quest of a cyborg named Hyaku as she hunts down members of the dystopian underworld to collect the body parts they stole from her.
Just as the first volume could also be read as an allegory for women’s bodily autonomy — Vol. 2 explores contemporary concerns of refugee immigration, class discrimination, and artificial intelligence. However, this story is far from a maudlin satire ripped from the headlines. Search and Destroy revels in the unhinged madness Kaneko has created. This is pure cyberpunk that seamlessly blends a hardboiled noir atmosphere with bloody samurai action. Every page of Kaneko’s stunning art had me enraptured and poring over the details. The use of minimalism and heavy blacks makes this book stand out in contrast to any other contemporary manga. Kaneko’s character designs and crisp panel structures lend a slick graphic design quality to the full manga. Search and Destroy is a supreme update on a classic story that makes for something totally new. Once the series concludes with Vol. 3, we could have a masterpiece trilogy. Search and Destroy Vol. 2 is available from Fantagraphics.
