Manga
The manga that were hits in Japan in the 1980s.
1980S HITS
About
It is the 22nd Century, the Third World War (2099-2126) has decimated a large part of Earth even though nuclear weapons have not been employed during the conflict. Old nations such as England, France and China have survived but have difficulty restoring their power. On the other hand, new nations and organizations such as the Sacred Republique of Mumna and the Poseidon Organization have been born on the ashes of the world resulting from the Third World War. In this bleak future, we are introduced to ex-L.A. SWAT members Deunan Knute and Briareos Hecatonchires. Having survived the world conflict and living in a desolated city, they are found by a young woman called Hitomi who proposes them to follow her to the utopian city of Olympus which has become the world's most powerful organization and which registers the new relations in terms of politics, economics and military between new and old nations/organizations. In Olympus, they are integrated in the prestigious ESWAT (Extra Special Weapons And Tactics) organization, whose main mission is to protect Olympus from terrorist attacks and Olympus's interests in the world. From here on, the two main protagonists encounter a great number of other characters and organizations who will be implicated in international plots that target Olympus.
Character analysis
Deunan survived a devastating world war as a SWAT officer, and settling into Olympus, a carefully engineered utopian city, means reckoning with how her combat instincts fit (or don't) into a society designed around peace and genetic management.
Briareos lost most of his original body in the same war Deunan survived, and his cyborg form, along with his steady, protective partnership with her, grounds the story's more abstract political themes in a real, long-standing relationship.
Hitomi represents Olympus's bioroids, genetically engineered citizens designed to be emotionally stable, and her position bridging human and bioroid society puts her at the center of the city's underlying political tensions.
Athena holds real authority within Olympus's government, and her role managing the city's fragile social and political order puts her in direct contact with the tensions Deunan and Briareos encounter on the ground.
Status evaluation
Detailed mecha and cyborg designs give the series a distinct, influential cyberpunk visual identity.
The post-war utopia premise gives the series a thoughtful science-fiction backdrop for its action.
This is a serious science-fiction story with very little comic relief.
Deunan and Briareos's partnership has real weight, though the series prioritizes world-building and action over drama.
The post-apocalyptic backstory and political tension create some unease, though the tone stays action-focused.
Mecha and combat violence is shown fairly directly.
The bioroid-and-utopia political system and dense science-fiction worldbuilding ask for real attention to follow.
This figure has not been verified against a current source and should be treated as approximate.
“A soldier from a dead world trying to adjust to a genetically engineered utopia is a quieter kind of science fiction than most 80s mecha manga attempt.”