My thanks to NetGalley and Fantagraphics Books for an advance copy of this graphic novel that updates a story by a renowned manga creator into a cyberpunk thriller about a future city in beset by corruption, hatred, and criminal behavior, a place where a young woman seeks revenge for acts committed to her long ago.

I was late to manga and anime, thought I have been reading comics and enjoying science fiction most of my life. I grew up in a time where one had to not only physically seek out things, but do the research, and even finding the the sources to do the research was hard. I would see odd ads for things in the back of Starlog, and occasionally in Comic Buyer's Guide, but I was not a regular reader of both. My first big comic convention in New York City was a revelation to me on many levels. Hardcover graphic novels from Europe, different stories about my favorite heroes from all over the world. And more manga and anime than I knew existed. Having no idea where to even start I grabbed somethings randomly, and that is how I enjoyed tales from Japan for the longest time. Piecemeal, or if something was discussed, I would do my best to try and find it. Many classics, many cornerstones to manga history have escaped me, and I am doing my best to keep up. After reading this collection I am eager to start making deeper dives into both past and current stories, for there is some amazing things still happening. The second volume in a reimagining of a story written by a classic manga creator, Search and Destroy Vol. 2 is written and illustrated by Atsushi Kaneko, based on the story Domeo by Osamu Tezuka, and translated by Ben Applegate. The story takes place in a future city, a mix of Soviet-style and good old fascism, dealing with a young woman finding much about the life she never knew, and the path of vengeance she needs to take to make her body whole.

In a city that is full of snow, Hyaku is colder than anything around her. A young woman whose past was stripped from her, Hyaku has learned that not only her memory but her body parts were taken away, and used by assorted types for murderous reasons. Hyaku is the daughter of the city's mayor, one who has his own secrets, and his own police force to find Hyaku, who is making scene and a mess killing all over town. As this is happening strange things are happening the lowest forms of life, including a new messiah who is promising change. Different groups are fighting for power, using blackmail and murder as their tools. Hyaku herself is not immune to the changes happening around her. As Hyaku succeeds in gaining her body back, strange feelings begin to fill her brain. Emotions like fear, for losing what she has fought so hard to get back.

A very well done story, with much going on, and a lot of kinetic storytelling and art. I found this one easier to read than the first one, maybe it was the familiarity of the story that helped. As I said a lot is going on, but it is not hard to follow, and with a few plots running, nothing gets bogged down or lost. The art is amazing. The backgrounds are really strong, a mix of Soviet Propaganda, with a Japanese aesthetic. There is one section that takes place in a holo-room which constantly changes the background, from castle, to space, to Blade runner, to field, and the ocean, that really stands out. The characters are rendered well, and stay consistent.

This is the second volume, and while I found it easier to get into the story than the first one, I think it was the fact that I had read the first volume. One could probably start here, but why. Read the first issue, be happy, than read this one and enjoy. A really good series that makes me not only want to read more, but read more manga, and try and catch up with all I have missed over the years.

I'm sure it is difficult for any artist to tackle the re-telling of a manga from a legend like Tezuka. However, Kaneko does a beautiful job of modernizing while still paying respect to the original and to Tezuka himself.