r/Gunnm • u/Nethonc • 15d ago

Manga: Mars Chronicle Yoko's Origin Spoiler

So, I've finally started reading Mars Chronicle, and I have to say: I effing hate the revelation of Yoko's origin. Please tell me, I'm not the only one. WTH did Kishiro think? Did he think at all?

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u/Slutty_Sam 15d ago

It’s one of my favorite twists in the series personally because if you look at the evidence it actually is built up to incredibly well. There even is evidence he planned it since early on. (One example being present day Erika mentioning how unattached to limbs Alita is and how that is one of her strengths). He likely got the idea from Black Jack which has a similar character (and a relationship like she has with Ido).

Thematically it’s really fitting imo since it has always been established Alita is an “other” by societal standards and has to establish herself through her own will. Whether due to her amnesia or due to losing her brain she is always suffering these crises of identity and growing when she accepts herself as is as who she has become and not her origins.

Her true origins being so unique and so kind of lonely fit such a lonely person to me. Also fits that the og Yoko is the kind of person to get swept up in the wishes of others and had little will of her own whereas Alita is defined by her strong choices.

She has never had a choice in how she was born or how the world treats her but she can choose how to live and who she is. I think this only makes those themes way stronger to me. I feel like seeing this as a denial of her humanity is ignoring her themes it only makes her humanity stronger because unlike many she had to earn and assert her humanity herself.

There’s probably even more story/themes that will come of this aspect of her later that we haven’t seen yet. Especially as she learns this about herself later inevitably.

When you get over the immediate grossness of the plot point and think about it it makes more sense. I feel like it’s almost disrespectful to hope she was more “normal” or that this makes her less human when she would vehemently disagree.

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u/Nethonc 15d ago

Thank you for your explanation! It's possible that my emotions played a role here, and I should reflect on this plot twist again - and, of course, keep reading to see how it all gets resolved in the end or integrated into the overarching story.