 | Watch Dogs Tokyo, volume 1 (Watch Dogs Tokyo (Manga)) Author: Shirato, Seiichi | |
| Price: $12.29 | ||
Summary:
When the Tokyo Metropolitan Government applies a new, futuristic urban infrastructure management system called J-ctOS, it appears to be an instant success. Citizens' lives are quickly improved thanks to the ease of interconnectivity and convenience. However, all is not as it seems; while everything may appear to be going well, there are secrets lurking behind Blume Japan, the creator of J-ctOS. In manga graphic novel format.
Reviews:
School Library Journal (+) (12/06/24)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 12/06/2024 Gr 8 Up—Following the installation of Blume Corporation's J-ctOS, an AI system that controls infrastructure and security, crime rates in Tokyo are down. But what the corporation and government don't want the populace to know is that this comes at the expense of privacy and other freedoms. When Inspector Goda realizes that the death of a blackmailer is subject to a cover-up facilitated by the police, he joins DedSec, a hacktivist group bent on fighting for those rights. Goda's distaste for this pervasive corruption only just beats out his distaste for DedSec's tactics, especially when it comes to S.S.B., a punk woman who relishes anarchy. Sharply panelled, crisply choreographed action ensues. The point-and-click hacking, digitized camera views, and demonic Noh masks all feel true to the hacktivist aesthetics established by the game franchise this spin-off manga is based on. Even in the premise, this is still an action series wrapped around succinctly shrewd commentary. Blume's disregard for privacy and big data's uses, the willingness of government officials to bed a corporation for personal gain, and the lethargic public turning a blind eye mirror real world concerns. VERDICT With the hackers as vigilantes premise wrapped around a critique of the surveillance state, this thrilling manga will speak to teens.—Rachel Forbes - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
