My belief that this was the end that GSC deserved has not changed. The story has a little bit of everything that made GSC a classic series – one that actually stood the test of a few decades of time. Guns, car chases, sexy women…none of this goes out of style.
For this English-language version, Dark Horse provides the kind of work we expect from them – great reproduction, good quality pages, solid translation.
So what is there to say about the English edition that I did not about the Japanese? This. Sean Gaffney asked me to talk about the drug Goldie is selling. It enhances people’s susceptibility to “persuasion.” It’s not a brainwashing drug, just one that makes it easy to convince people to see your point of view, especially when it fits their already preconceived beliefs.
Some of you may not know this but I work in the pharmaceutical industry and I thought I’d tell you that there is *already* a pill like this. In fact, I smiled through the entire book knowing *exactly* what Goldie is pushing. You know what it’s called? It’s called…a placebo. No, seriously. If I give you a pill and tell you that it’s going to make you relaxed (or tense or hot or full or whatever) chances are, your brain (which is no doubt a finely honed instrument, capable of great feats of imagination) will immediately set you to feeling just that way.
Don’t believe me? Let’s do a little experiment.
Imagine that you are outside in the cold. It’s cold and dry and you enter your home and are greeted with a blast of cinnamon-flavored warmth. Someone is baking in the kitchen. Perhaps it’s cinnamon bread or muffins. You walk into the kitchen where the air is redolent with the smell. You open the oven door and a puff of warm air hits you in the face, and the room is once again filled with the scent of cinnamon.
Now…notice that you are salivating. You are, more than usual just sitting here. (Except for those of you who HATE cinnamon, hah on me.) I know you are, because your mind was imagining eating delicious cinnamon bread and when you do that, you start to salivate.
So, the power to persuade? Give a person a pill or a shot and tell them that it’s going to help them be convinced of your point of view and most people will be *thrilled* to give up their responsibility and let you make the choice for them.
In any case, with May married and in the role of a new mommy, Misty assuaging her desire for Rally with Goldie and Roy moving out to the suburbs, it’s no real shock that Rally decides it’s time to move on.
And now, so can we. With no lingering regrets, the book finally closes on a series that was one of the first to really make an impact here on Western shores.
Farewell Gunsmith Cats – it was loads of fun.
Ratings:
Art – 8
Characters – 9
Story – 9
Yuri – 6
Service – 5
Overall – 9
Today’s review was sponsored by the kindness and generosity of new Okazu Hero Ariella M! Thank you and welcome to the team, Ariella – email me to receive your Okazu Hero badge for proud display on websites and social media profiles. ^_^
I am a registered pharmacist in North Carolina, Erica. Small world isn’t it?
Ariella M. here. Hah… I just now read this review because I completely forgot that I’d sent you this book. The shipping was sooo far delayed, and I just now thought to myself, “did she ever get it?.” Just want to clarify one thing, I’m “Ariel D.” Ariel, short for Ariella and D. is my middle initial. :) So if you want to fix the Hero roll…consolidate me into one.
If I’m not making sense, just disregard this. It’s no biggie.
@Ariella – Thanks for letting me know. I’ll take out the one mention, but my appreciation will not be lessened one iota. :-)
Right on. And you are very welcome, of course. I’m down for the cause, and I appreciate your dedication. You’re the smartest Yuri blogger I’ve come across. I like reading your reviews when I can, and I think it’s really great that you donate a lot of the English manga to libraries. Why wouldn’t I support?