Golgo 13 Vol.#06

By: Eduardo M. Chavez
Review Date: Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Release Date: Tuesday, December 19, 2006



Creative Talent
Writer/Artist:Saito Takawo
Translated by:Kenichiro Yogi
Adapted by:Kenichiro Yogi

What They Say
1998: Security on Virginia's death row has never been tighter, as ex-CIA agent Henry Michael prepares for his fate. But if a lethal injection awaits him, why is Golgo needed to execute the sentence?

Then, in 1981, Pope John Paul II survives an attempt on his life - or does he? To uncover the conspiracy that lies behind the missing pontiff, Golgo 13 will need two million dollars, a rifle, a revolver... and a priest's robe! Plus FILE 13 reveals why Golgo has sex before a mission, his international list of partners, and the secrets of his technique!

The Review
You know about six degrees of separation, right? Well have you ever wondered if there is someone or some secret organization behind all the major moments in history? Conspiracy theorists can see a correlation between certain significant events. Sometimes the lines are blurred, but if you read Saitou Pro�s books you might come to realize that one man has been behind almost every significant event in modern history.

In this latest issue of Golgo 13, the Assassin is sent on two missions and each could change the course of history. Back in the early 80�s, G13 with the help of another secret organization the Free Masons infiltrated one of the most powerful organizations in the world � the Vatican. Forces inside the Church quietly take down the Pope. Golgo saves the Pope and allows for the eventual fall of the Berlin Wall with his own version of stealth and cunning.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union a large segment of the CIA suddenly no longer found itself active in any way. While the former Soviet republics were still hotbeds for intelligence activity, the CIA put its resources into other areas. Those spies are still around and some of them still know a lot about the US and their allies. G13�s job is to keep a person who leaked American intelligence silent. Unfortunately, this man is behind a SuperMax waiting for his date with a lethal injection. You might not see a problem. The guy is going to die either way, but G13 has to make sure no one not the government not god makes this guy talk.

When reading a title like Golgo 13 I have to remind myself that this series is much more than just a seinen manga. This is a political thriller and a page-turner in everyway. It combines action and political theory to create potential alternate realities that freakishly resemble real world situations. At times when reading this I almost have to wonder if Saitou Pro drew up these scenarios after they took place or if these crazy stories actually influenced global policy in a round-about way. That is the power of G13. As a reader I was left wondering what is real and what really is fiction. The conspiracy nut in me believes in nothing but the way that Saitou Pro is able to weave these very relevant stories together around their mercenary extraordinaire fascinates me. Villain or hero Golgo makes history and he makes me wish Viz would release more seinen.