Sunday Story Ratings #62: Excel Saga Mission 5: Those That Burn, Those That Get Burned
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
PG
(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.