Alien Nine: Book Two Paperback – July 9, 2003

The cover has a large scratch on it, but it does not distract too much from the cover art. Also it was pretty cheap because of it, so I am not that bothered by it.

What many people neglect to notice is that the anime was merely an interpretation of the manga; not an animated version of it. Because of this, many think the story ended where the anime did, but is not the case. The anime ends right in the middle of book two, which happens to be one heck of a cliffhanger, leaving many new viewers confused (and even angry). This review was written to clear that up for those who recently watched it.The first two graphic novels can be grouped in this manner:-The introduction and the growing friendship-The trials of each girlThe third is most likely about protecting Yuri, but assumptions is a no-no in a review. During book two, Tomizawa starts giving depth to each of the girls, their emotions and fears being the highlights of the novel.The art style is Tomizawa's usual-- big ears, no noses, that sort of thing. However, the amount of detail that went into some of the more critical scenes is amazing, and definitely gives the surroundings more liveliness.As for story, it goes almost without saying that it's full of metaphors, symbols, and plot twists. And like usual, leaves you with more questions than answers. If you're someone who's a sucker for instant gratification, you should probably pick up all three at once.Book two isn't perfect, however. Since Tomizawa intended to have Alien Nine be without a target audience, he ended up alienating both the younger and older crowds. It feels too kiddy for adults, since the characters are all pre-teens schoolgirls who are drawn cutely. It's also too graphic for children, as partial (but drawn vaguely) mutilation and nudity are in a few pages.If you can look beyond the cute exterior (or embrace it), you'll find a wonderfully deep science fiction manga that continues the surprisingly twisted story of Alien Nine. It's a must if you want to understand the anime's ending.