Masamune Shirow Pieces 8 Wild Wet West [Japanese Edition] Tankobon Hardcover – January 1, 2012

Absolutely beautiful artwork of anime women, possibly the gold standard for manga, I can’t get over it.It’s just artwork, no story worth mentioning.If you are at all uptight, this is not for you, the subject matter is pretty wild.But hey, If you like sexy anime girls drawn by a living legend...

Masamune Shirow's work is incredible, creatively and technically. He has developed an unbelievable, hyper-realistic, computer-based "multi-media" technique that incorporates 3D modelling, conventional digital "paint"/"airbrush" techniques, sampled photography, and a broad variety of digital effects, all of which combine to create some breathtaking and utterly unique imagery.However, specifically in the "Pieces" series, IMO the subject matter has developed in a particularly cryptic (and, dare I say disturbing) direction.Much of this artist's work can be characterized, at worst, as "tasteful pinup" art, virtually entirely on fantasy/scifi themes (entirely consistent with the artists various manga). It is obvious that the artist adores the female form, and can portray it intricately in a wide variety of "styles", ranging from relatively "realistic" to an exaggerated/stylized "comic book" flavor. The "Intron Depot" material, the first couple volumes of the "Pieces" series, along with the rest of his published "folio"/"art book"material, all falls into this "tasteful pinup" category.However, the rest of the "Pieces" series ("Pieces 2" is borderline, and then from "Pieces 3" onwards), has undergone an "evolution". As of "Pieces 8". I would have to characterize it as a fully realized and intricately executed kind of "bestial/occult bondage rape pornography". I am at a loss to psychoanalyze this (perhaps the rationale is as simple as "this stuff sells!"), and equally at a loss even to speculate regarding the target audience, but this is some seriously bizarre material, explicitly portraying female characters engaged (for the most part apparently involuntarily) with demons, undead, fantasy/occult/mutant animals, mythological creatures, and what I can only describe as "big black guys" (i.e. dark skinned male humans in the guise of pirates, bandits, etc, which materialize out of nowhere occasionally, in large numbers, with predictable results).Psychotic sexual fantasies constructed and rendered in elaborate detail by an artistic genius.Thinking I knew what to expect, I bought the whole series ("Pieces 01" through "PIeces 09") sight-unseen here at Amazon, and once they had arrived from the various merchants, I spent a puzzled afternoon trying to figure out what I had gotten myself into. The "Pieces" series is all in Japanese (no English-language editions exist, as far as I know), which is perhaps just as well, though understanding the associated text might provide some context... or not. I remain mystified, and I have NO idea where the artist might take this stuff next.(Several of these can be accessed, at least in a rudimentary fashion. on the web, so you might avail yourself of that to preview them before buying.)FYI, the "Intron Depot" series continues to document the artists ongoing "professional" character/mecha design/development work for computer games, anime, books, etc. Again, "tasteful pinup" at worst, and creatively/technically astounding. As well, the first half or so of the "Intron Depot" series are available in English-language editions (hopefully the publisher will release more), highly recommended.