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Excel Saga Volume 1, Mission 5: Those That Burn, Those That Get Burned by Rikdo Koshi

Originally published 1997 by Shonengahosha Co.. Ltd; this edition July 2003, September 2003 printing

Publisher: Viz

(V, L)

Cartoon Violence {G} {Excel is repeatedly dropped into the pit by Il Palazzo (on the second occasion, being attacked(?) by cave crickets).}

Coarse Language {PG} {A pun; a couple of 'sad bastards' exchanged in argument between Sumiyoshi and Iwata}

Representations

Gender:

Bechdel pass, with Excel and Hyatt discussing their looting of the neighbourhood trash and the subsequent fire.

Sex:

Watanabe's ongoing infatuation with Hyatt, leading him to abandon his own salvage to her. Hyatt appears to remain oblivious to his interest.

Race & Ethnicity:

Sumiyoshi speaks with an accent from the Okayama area (and without speech bubbles) (rendered in translation with a northern England accent).

Disability, Physical Diversity and Health:

Nothing particular.

Notes

Title page features Excel in a parody Nazi uniform, with a blushing romantic expression, kicking the Earth behind her. Just so we're under no illusions here.

Excel accidentally starts a fire, which she and Hyatt then exacerbate through their cluelessness. I didn't quite feel right flagging this as violence, since it is accidental (although Excel claims it was arson directed at them) and no one was hurt.

Felt like a short episode, serving to introduce Sumiyoshi; mainly we learn that he is a bit technically savvier than Watanabe, and maybe poorer.