MC- Fighting Robots, Terrorists and... High School

Ok, I noticed that I’ve not reviewed a manga in a while now, so I’m bringing it back with Full Metal Panic! (not fumoffu or overload) which exhibits a not-uncommon way of creating manga in Japan.

On the cover, it clearly shows that the story is by someone different to the artist. This means that although specific characters and everything visual is created by the artist (Retsu Tateo) but the character personalities and storyline is created by the Author (Shouji Gatou).

Full Metal Panic! (the ! is part of the title) follows the story of Sousuke Sagara, who, in the first volume, is a gun nut obsessed with protecting the class president, Kaname Chidori. Kaname has to put up with the crazy new guys antics until he blows up the shoe lockers, suspecting them to be rigged. Furious, Kaname storms off and is promptly kidnapped by boys from another school, who try to abuse her before Sosuke shows up.

Over the series, it transpires that Sousuke is actually part of a private anti-terrorist organization and, along with a few co workers, has been instructed to protect Kaname by any means necessary.

It turns out that Kaname’s a little more exceptional than she thought, and there are people out there who will do anything to get their hands on her, and the secrets she possesses.

The series storyline seems frivolous and pointless at first, but as the books progress the storyline becomes much more interesting, and the attitude of some of the more war-hardened characters is wonderfully savage.

This series is really carried by its characters, however, as people from all nationalities make up the secret anti-terrorist organization, Mithril. All characters are exaggerations of themselves, and the clashes provide often much-needed humour (particularly in later books) as the mercenaries get more affected by their jobs and the responsibilities they bear.

Interestingly, the series actually follows some real events in the Eastern late 20th Century, with some minor changes. Which is especially incredible when compared with the series generally seeming too extreme to be true.

A problem in the story-telling is that theres almost too much backstory. We follow the story from Kaname’s appearance, but as the series progresses you feel that Sosuke’s history is almost too much to make the present story seem interesting. The arrival of an old enemy with no foreshadowing left me disorientated, and everyone’s sudden interest in giant fighting robots was surprising when I only heard about it two or three books into the series.

Full Metal Panic is a wonderful, lighthearted read, and I enjoyed it greatly, even though sometimes I got the feeling that I( would have enjoyed parts more if I’d been a boy. The characters are engaging and entertaining, and the disarming moments where you think “Where did that plot point come from???” actually end up making this a really charming series.

The art work is pretty and neat, and with the general storyline being so bizarre, random funny story arcs like the trip to the beach end up more entertaining than annoying.

I wouldn’t say this is a must-buy that you need to seek out, but if you come across it in a shop or online, I couldn’t forgive anyone if they didn’t just take it to the checkout. It’s a really pleasant read, and wonderfully light hearted. It really doesn’t take itself too seriously.

A nice break from the tortured, complicated romances and serious, intense battle scenes you find all too often.