The Dirty Pair, Book 4: Dangerous Acquaintances

The Dirty Pair #2

by Adam Warren, Toren Smith

No intergalactic terrorist threats, no plots to overthrow the United Galactica, no 7:00 a.m. training runs -- it's just a relaxing vacation for Kei and Yuri, also known as the Lovely Angels, also known as the Dirty Pair. But their poolside bash goes bust when an old friend -- Shasti -- turns up at the same vacation spot! Shasti was their partner, a genetically-engineered superagent for the 3WA, until she betrayed the Pair. And now it's payback time!

Genres: Comics, Manga, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Adam Warren (born 1967) is an American comic book writer and artist who is most famous for his original graphic novel Empowered, for adapting the characters known as Dirty Pair into an American comic book, and for being one of the first American commercial illustrators to be influenced by the general manga style.

Reviews

[Taddow · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dirty Pair are AWESOME!! I first learned of the Dirty Pair when I started reading one of my friend's comic books on the Pair from the Plague of Angels storyline (back in 1992). I was instantly hooked, and realized that this comic book was just the tip of the iceberg- the Dirty Pair had cartoons, action figures and more comics. While there are still a couple of the Dirty Pair storylines that I have yet to read, out of the ones I have read to date, this one is the best.

The Dirty Pair have a chance sighting of the traitorous 3WA Agent Shasti on the planet of Rocinante during the midst of a mega-celebration hosting many of the planet and galaxy's government officials and celebrities. With the appearance of the mega-luxury space liner, the Lyra, one of three ships fitting with a super-powerful warp engine for high speed space travel, the Dirty Pair are sure that Shasti is planning something to do with this expensive ship and its dignitaries- and they're right. In typical Dirty Pair fashion with great punch lines, an ample amount of violence and things that go horribly wrong, the Dirty Pair end up confronting Shasti and foiling her schemes but their efforts are at a cost to many others.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second story is probably my favorite of the first three, the pair go up against Shasti, a woman who was engineered to be the ultimate agent, grown in a vat, given split personality and generally royally fucked over by the agency that made her. Eventually she manages to break free of her programming and go rogue. It's interesting as despite her evil she's a sympathetic villain, and all the flashbacks to the early days of the pair are interesting and enjoyable. Plus it has Kei quite drunk which is very amusing!

[Robert Bussie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art is the highlight in this sci-fi action story.

The story is interesting but hard to follow at times with no word boxes or drastic art changes to indicate that it is a flashback scene. The flashbacks are essential to the story with setting up the relationship between the main characters. However, it occurs in the middle of a scene with no warning. It is not a deal breaker when reading this book; it is more of an annoyance.

Overall, this is a fun action packed American manga.

[Robert Hudder · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Dirty Pair go on vacation only to be interrupted by a scheme from a fellow trainee. There is double crossing and the whole schtick. This one hits the parody harder than the other Warren ones that I have read.

Reminds me of the TMNT in some ways. Mostly the production value and some of the sequences have that kinetic feel. Some of the flashbacks are less obvious and hard to follow but on the whole this is a well put together hostage romp.