Ghost in the Shell (manga)

Ghost in the Shell
Cover of the first manga volume, featuring Motoko Kusanagi
攻殻機動隊
(Kōkaku Kidōtai)
GenreCyberpunk[1]
Manga
Written byMasamune Shirow
Published byKodansha
English publisher
ImprintYoung Magazine KC
MagazineYoung Magazine Zōkan Kaizokuban
DemographicSeinen
Original run19891991
Volumes1
Manga
1.5: Human Error Processor
Written byMasamune Shirow
Published byKodansha
English publisher
  • NA:
    • Dark Horse Comics (former)
    • Kodansha USA
MagazineWeekly Young Magazine
DemographicSeinen
Original run19911996
Volumes1
Manga
2: Man-Machine Interface
Written byMasamune Shirow
Published byKodansha
English publisher
  • NA:
    • Dark Horse Comics (former)
    • Kodansha USA
  • UK: Titan Books
MagazineWeekly Young Magazine
DemographicSeinen
Published1997
Volumes1
Manga
The Human Algorithm
Written byJunichi Fujisaku
Illustrated byYuki Yoshimoto
Published byKodansha
English publisher
  • NA: Kodansha USA
Magazine
  • Monthly Young Magazine (September 16, 2019–November 18, 2021; 1st part)
  • Comic Days
  • Yanmaga Web
DemographicSeinen
Original runSeptember 16, 2019 – present
Volumes6
Related
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Television series
Video game

Ghost in the Shell (Japanese: 攻殻機動隊, Hepburn: Kōkaku Kidōtai, lit.'Mobile Armored Riot Police') is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow, which spawned the media franchise of the same name. It was first serialized in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Young Magazine Zōkan Kaizokuban from 1989 to 1990, under the subtitle of The Ghost in the Shell, and was compiled in one tankōbon volume on October 2, 1991.[2] Set in the mid-21st-century, it tells the story of the fictional counter-cyberterrorist organization Public Security Section 9, led by protagonist Major Motoko Kusanagi.

The manga was followed by two sequels, Ghost in the Shell 1.5: Human-Error Processor, and Ghost in the Shell 2: Man-Machine Interface.

The mangas contain Shirow's thoughts on design and philosophy, including sociological issues, the consequences of technological advances and themes on the nature of consciousness and identity. Several artbooks have been released to detail the concept art and the world of Ghost in the Shell. All three volumes have received mainly positive reviews.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference KoDan was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "『攻殻機動隊(1)』(士郎 正宗) 製品詳細 講談社コミックプラス". 講談社コミックプラス (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved June 14, 2024.