The Great Adventure of the Dirty Pair, by Haruka Takachiho

The Great Adventure of the Dirty Pair, by Haruka Takachiho
ISBN: 1-59582-100-7
Price: 8.95
Dark Horse Books

Review may contain spoilers

Kei and Yuri make up the duo code named “Lovely Angels,” but they are better known throughout the galaxy as “The Dirty Pair.” Acting as Trouble Consultants for the Worlds Welfare Work Association, the two scantily dressed young women are assigned to various trouble spots where their particular skills are most needed. Too bad for the planets they visit – one of their greatest skills is wreaking havoc wherever they go.

This volume collects two Dirty Pair stories. In “The Great Adventure of the Dirty Pair,” a Gravas Heavy Industries facility has been destroyed and Kei and Yuri have been called in to determine if it was an accident or espionage. In “The Case of the Backwoods Murder,” Yuri is reunited with two childhood friends who are out for revenge for the murder of their adoptive father. As the stories unfold, readers are introduced to the nefarious organization Lucifer, to the skill so special that Kei and Yuri remain employed even after causing untold deaths and millions in destruction, and to Mugi, their very special cat. The entire book is narrated by unsophisticated, self-centered, and unintentionally funny Kei, whose every action is conveyed in an attempt to make herself look beautiful, strong, brainy, decisive, or in some way better than Yuri, her best friend. This is made even funnier when the reader realizes that every mystery is solved via coincidence or fortuitous happenstance and that many of the disasters occur thanks to Kei’s hasty actions. The action scenes are full of shooting lasers and exploding space ships and work well in moving along an otherwise silly story.

Once again, Dark Horse brings us a beautifully translated book. The black and white illustrations by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, one of the character designers for Mobile Suit Gundam, are perfect for this spoof of 1970s era space operas, and bring back fond memories of campy shows like Vega$ and Charlie’s Angels (but in a good way), with their big hair and wide lapels. Fine for teens and adults, this book won’t linger in your memory, but you’ll have a good time while you’re reading it, and it may make you want to read more of the adventures of the Dirty Pair.