Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Recommendations

• Vol: 3; Ch: 45
• 2004 - 2005

In the not-too-distant future of 2032, the frontier dividing humans and machines has been crossed. Crimes comitted by flesh-and-metal cyborgs are investigated by Section 9, an elite counter-terrorist squad run by Chief Aramaki and his cyborg assistant, Major Motoko Kusanagi. Section 9 has faced countless adversaries in the real world and in cyberspace, but none like 'The Awakened.' It is believed that this lethal group of terrorists can take over the minds and bodies of almost anyone. Used as tools to commit crimes against the state, the victims are unaware of who or what is controlling them. When Major Kusanagi captures one of the victims, she hacks into his cyberbrain to learn the ringleader's identity-what she discovers leads her on a journey deep into the heart of cyberspace, a journey that shakes her to the core.

• Vol: 2; Ch: 12
• 1995 - 1998

• Vol: 1; Ch: 7
• 2017

Steel and rust. The City structure has endlessly propagated itself for so many years that the reason for such growth has long since been forgotten. Even within such a techno-dystopia, humans still exist: The Electrofishers. Driven to the brink of extinction, they are visited by a traveler—a man named Killy. But will his presence bring the Electrofishers ruination or hope...? 

• Vol: 1; Ch: 4
• 1995 - 1996

In the world of the Scrapyard, citizens play a deadly game called Motorball. Snev is a Motorballer on the pro circuit who is better known as the Crash King since he's never made it past the finish line in one piece. Amazingly, no matter how many times he's crashed, his brain had remained intact; but Snev is haunted by visions of The Marathon Man, affecting his self confidence and his will to win. Soon he is dropped from his team, only to be brought back because the audience cares more about carnage than victory. Will Snev ever find it in himself to win a race?

• Ch: 3
• 2018

In this future, advertisements have infiltrated fashion, and young people earn lucrative amounts of money by becoming affiliates. As affiliates, people wear devices attached to clothing that advertise products. However, crimes related to this advertising trend have increased. Law, a persona program, has teamed up with Reisen, a former ad agency employee,  to investigate these crimes. An odd-couple team, Law and Reisen dive into a hi-tech world of commercialism and…murder?

• Vol: 10; Ch: 65
• 1997 - 2003

Killy is a wanderer in a vast technological wasteland known as the Megastructure. His mission is to find a human with net terminal genes to prevent the collapse of the Netsphere, a virtual realm under control of the Authority. His long, desolate journeys are punctuated by brutal encounters with silicon creatures bent on annihilating humanity; cyborgs intent on infiltrating the Netsphere; and the builders, massive machines that mindlessly add to the chaos of the Megastructure. His only protection is an incredibly powerful gun known as a gravitational beam emitter, which he never hesitates to unleash on his enemies. Will Killy be able to find net terminal genes amidst the scattered human tribes, or is the Netsphere doomed to failure?

• One Shot
• 2004

In a dark, dystopic future, the Church of Transfiguration was formed; their charter was to promote extreme cybernetic enhancements. However, mankind also perfected the art of immortality through genetic manipulation, and then the great ruin came. Now, the Church sends its Inquisition to track down these genetically modified beings, and the only one who is seemingly able to stand in their way is Digimortal, a deadly, violent mercenary...

• Vol: 3; Ch: 13
• 2009 - 2010

In the future, all facets of society are tied into OZ, a virtual world inhabited by millions of users. Kenji, one of OZ’s moderators, was set to begin another typical summer when the lovely Natsuki asked him to accompany her to her hometown as a job. However, little did Kenji know that the 'job' entailed pretending to be Natsuki’s fiancé in front of her eccentric family! Now on display and feeling like a fish out of water, Kenji tries his best to fit in with Natsuki and her relatives, until one day he receives a mysterious math problem through a text message. As an avid math fanatic Kenji can’t help but try to solve it, unaware that his actions may jeopardize not only OZ, but also the entire world...

• Vol: 11; Ch: 96
• 2007 - 2009

Takagi Fujimaru may seem like a regular high school student, but behind the cheery facade lies a genius hacker by the name of Falcon. When his father is framed for a murder, Falcon uses his brilliant hacking skills to try and protect his sister and clear his father's name. However, he finds that his father, an agent in an elite government agency, was involved with something far more complex than a simple murder. A terrorist group is plotting against the city of Tokyo and it is up to Falcon, with the help of his friends, to unravel the twisted plans set in place to kill millions of people.

• Vol: 19; Ch: 129
• 2000 - 2014

How do you define "human"? That is a question that Gally has to answer for herself after she awakens in the sky city of Salem. When she learns that her former enemy Dr. Desty Nova has rebuilt and perfected her body, Gally seeks to find her friend Lou and re-access her own lost memories. But she is confronted with a tragic incident: Desty has revealed the Secret of Salem. At the age of 19, the people of Salem have their brains removed and replaced with computer chips. Learning this, the citizens go mad and begin to riot or commit suicide. Amidst the carnage around her and ghosts from her past, can Gally truly come to terms with herself?