Golgo 13 is Japan's second longest running manga series. It follows an assassin for hire named Duke Togo who often goes by the code name Golgo 13. Often compared to James Bond, Golgo 13 travels the world carrying out "contracts" as a hitman. Unlike James Bond, Duke Togo is not a charmer. Stoic nearly to the point of absurdity, Golgo 13 is much more like the Bond of Fleming's novels than the one-liner-spouting, Tuxedo wearing Hollywood Bond. He never shows emotion and only cares about his work. Golgo 13 has a dedication to his job that mirrors Japanese salaryman culture. It's the duty and dedication to his craft that makes Golgo 13 so interesting. I just finished the last volume of Viz Publishing's English translations. Viz, who publishes many great English translations of Japanese manga series, has translated 13 volumes of Golgo 13. The various plot lines cover everything from postwar Japan to the Bush/Gore presidential race. The first story I read involved the docking of the US Apollo and Soviet Soyuz space capsules. Though the translated volumes aren't published in chronological order, its safe to say that Golgo 13's stories have always been firmly rooted in current events.
What keeps the series so fresh is that often the stories don't focus on Golgo 13. Sometimes he's more of a supporting character. The series certainly use this to its advantage. The writers do a great job of grounding each story's narrative in story's setting. It's wonderful to see how each new story will incorporate elements of the setting's culture or history. The artwork usually features great images of the cityscapes include memorable renderings of Chicago, New Orleans, and of course Tokyo. If you're interested in a great manga experience ,make sure to checkout Golgo 13. It's thrilling, has amazing art, and certainly isn't for kids.
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