Reddit reviews The Ghost in the Shell 1 Deluxe Edition

I think that if he loves the movie that much, the original manga would be a great gift for him. They released some really nice hardcover editions a year or so back.

Here's the first volume stand-alone currently at $21.87 plus shipping.

However, there's also a slipcase of all three volumes for just about double that at $43.41 plus shipping.

The first volume alone is fine depending on what you have available, since most of the stories from it are what were adapted together into the 1995 movie (the stuff that got made into the movie is spread out among more smaller stories rather than one continuous event), so you're not missing out on anything by picking it up alone.

However, the two additional volumes in the slipcase set, Volume 1.5 and Volume 2, have a lot of other really great material in them. 1.5 is the basis for the Stand Alone Complex anime, featuring a more procedural kinda storyline. Volume 2 is... trippy. It gets really deep into the transhuman aspects of the series and follows up much more directly on the stuff in volume 1, but can also get kinda hard to follow depending on how much he might be into the weird kinda philosophical aspects of it.

Hope that helps! But if you're still unsure, you absolutely can't go wrong with getting him the movie. As odd as it might sound, I'd recommend the original DVD release of the movie, since a lot of the newer releases have some odd choices made with adding in some CGI stuff or poor subtitle choices.

Ordered!

Links:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1632364212/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_jf7gyb1P22XGY

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1632364220/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_5f7gybVVBAPNZ

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1632364239/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_6g7gybCAD9WA9

It'll be very interesting to see if GitS 2 truly is uncensored for once.

Wow! Thanks, individual.
So you took this yourself or you are sure it's from the new edition? If that so, thanks again. I cannot read it fully but even like that it makes more sense than the Spanish gibberish text. Haha. So versions like this one, apart from the two missing/censored pages come in Japanese reading order and sound effects plus the previously missing notes, right? Awesome!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ghost-Shell-Deluxe-Shirow-Masamune/dp/1632364212/ref=pd_cp_14_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=QQ29V7HGF5C2REQ4FCEP

Ooh, the new unaltered manga from Kodansha is out? Awesome!

Edit 1 - It actually looks like your picture is something different from what I meant: https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Shell-1-Deluxe/dp/1632364212/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8 /u/Symon_joestar, what version of the manga do you have?

Edit 2 - Figured it out, JBC is a Brazilian manga publisher. http://mangasjbc.com.br/the-ghost-in-the-shell/

The new release in December was only a digital one as far as I know all around the world - it's sort of unclear if that is just a redo of a lot of the older stuff but it seems to be connected to [the new deluxe editions coming out in February] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1632364212/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1).

The caution at buying these by most people is the lack of original status, in that the heavy porn scenes are removed for less direct ones. While I agree this is not the best for people that want to experience it all I actually think you should get them and try to get your hands on the uncencored both. My reason for this is as the Deleux edition description says it is supervised by Shirow Masamune and is considered definitive, he has also been quoted several times on this sub as saying he believed that the sex scenes added nothing to them and were happy for them to be removed, as he seems to have continued this trend here. His reasons of course as all speculation if you read them, I've never read anything by him explaining why he liked them being removed but the usual things would be; wider audience possibilities or separation from his other work (you know what I mean) or the answer of 'taking flak' for it.

In the end, they are all still Ghost in the Shell and you should read it. Most people, however, going from SAC or the movies do not really get the mood of the manga and it is a bit fast paced in its movement between jocularity and philosophy and cop drama alongside its strong explanations of the cyberpunk ideas that Shirow explored. So be ready for something different if you are coming from those angles - I have always heard, and personally found, its best to do all the animated content then go to the manga.