Gunslinger Girl Series by Yu Aida, Hiroshi Aida, Kiyohiko Azuma, あずま きよひこ

Innocence Lost.... Henrietta barely survived a brutal attack that killed her family. "Rescued" by the Social Welfare Agency, her injuries were repaired with robotic components and she was brainwashed - lost with the memory of her family's death was almost every trace of her own humanity. Today she is an extraordinarily lethal cyborg assassin, obediently working with her handler Giuseppe to carry out her deadly tasks... moreInnocence Lost.... Henrietta barely survived a brutal attack that killed her family. "Rescued" by the Social Welfare Agency, her injuries were repaired with robotic components and she was brainwashed - lost with the memory of her family's death was almost every trace of her own humanity. Today she is an extraordinarily lethal cyborg assassin, obediently working with her handler Giuseppe to carry out her deadly tasks. Despite her conditioning and programming, Henrietta still has the heart of a young girl; she has not completely forgotten how to love. Yet the very emotion is contrary to her training and programming. Can the Gunslinger Girl survive? Can she find peace in a struggle against her very nature? less

The Social Welfare Agency in Italy is not what it seems. Yes, it rescues young girls who have been brutalized -- but brainwashes them and transforms them into ruthless killers for an elite and secret counter-terrorism unit for the Italian government. Enter Henrietta, a young girl who witnessed the savage murder of her family and barely survived... moreThe Social Welfare Agency in Italy is not what it seems. Yes, it rescues young girls who have been brutalized -- but brainwashes them and transforms them into ruthless killers for an elite and secret counter-terrorism unit for the Italian government. Enter Henrietta, a young girl who witnessed the savage murder of her family and barely survived. The Agency takes her in and repairs her injuries using the latest in cybernetic technology, wiping her mind of all traces of her past and turning her into one of the Agency's most lethal assassins. Yet despite her programming, Henrietta is troubled by fragmented memories. It is her handler's job, Jose, to keep her feelings in check and ensure that she stays on mission. This task is made all the more difficult because Henrietta bears an uncanny resemblance to Jose's younger sister who died in a car bombing years earlier. less

When the Social Welfare Agency starts looking into one of their missing agents, their investigation leads to a rival agency, the Republica Federale Padana. Triela infiltrates Padana, but a more personal battle rages inside of Henrietta, as the final fragments of her humanity break the surface of her mostly mechanical body.

The Social Welfare Agency in Italy is not what it seems. Yes, it rescues young girls who have been brutalized--but brainwashes them and transforms them into ruthless killers for an elite and secret counter-terrorism unite for the Italian government. Enter Henrietta, a young girl who witnessed the savage murder of her family and barely survived... moreThe Social Welfare Agency in Italy is not what it seems. Yes, it rescues young girls who have been brutalized--but brainwashes them and transforms them into ruthless killers for an elite and secret counter-terrorism unite for the Italian government. Enter Henrietta, a young girl who witnessed the savage murder of her family and barely survived. The Agency takes her in and repairs her injuries using the latest cybernetic technology, wiping her mind of all traces of her past and turning her into one of the Agency's most lethal assassins. Yet despite her programming, Henrietta is troubled by fragmented memories. It is her handler's job, Jose, to keep her feelings in check and ensure that she stays on mission. This task is made all the more difficult because Henrietta bears an uncanny resemblance to Jose's younger sister who died in a car bombing years earlier. less

Though brainwashed to be cold-blooded killers, the child assassins of Section Two continue to grow beyond the range of their "conditioning." Triela struggles with tears that never come, while Henrietta must deal with her growing feelings for her handler Giuseppe. But there is still hope in Triela, who is slowly coming to terms with her defeat at the hands of Pinocchio... and remembering the girl she once was.

The conflict between Padania and the Social Welfare Agency reaches new heights as Padania agents target the ex-fiancee of Marco, Angelica's handler. The Agency retaliates with an all-out strike against the elusive Christiano, a move that once again pits Triela against the deadly, knife-wielding Pinocchio... in a battle that only one of them will survive.

The Social Welfare Agency's cyborg program moves into the next phase with the introduction of Petrushka, the most capable assassin it has ever produced. Paired with her handler Alessandro, Petrushka will be called upon to foil a Padania bombing on her very first outing - if she doesn't get herself killed first.

There is a secret counterterrorism unit for the Italian government known only as "The Social Welfare Agency." Its mission: to rescue troubled girls and turn them into heartless cyborg assassins using the latest advances in cyber-technology. The newest inductee into the Agency is a second generation cyborg called Petrushka, who may just be the Agency's most powerful operative yet... moreThere is a secret counterterrorism unit for the Italian government known only as "The Social Welfare Agency." Its mission: to rescue troubled girls and turn them into heartless cyborg assassins using the latest advances in cyber-technology. The newest inductee into the Agency is a second generation cyborg called Petrushka, who may just be the Agency's most powerful operative yet. Petrushka is given an impossible trial-by-fire mission, together with her handler Alessandro, to foil an assassination attempt. Can she prove she's got what it takes in an impossible mission she may not even survive? less

There is a secret counterterrorism unit for the Italian government known only as "The Social Welfare Agency." Its mission: to rescue troubled girls and turn them into heartless cyborg assassins using the latest advances in cyber-technology. The newest inductee into the Agency is a second generation cyborg called Petrushka, who may just be the Agency's most powerful operative yet... moreThere is a secret counterterrorism unit for the Italian government known only as "The Social Welfare Agency." Its mission: to rescue troubled girls and turn them into heartless cyborg assassins using the latest advances in cyber-technology. The newest inductee into the Agency is a second generation cyborg called Petrushka, who may just be the Agency's most powerful operative yet. Petrushka is given an impossible trial-by-fire mission, together with her handler Alessandro, to foil an assassination attempt. Can she prove she's got what it takes in an impossible mission she may not even survive? less

New storyline released in North America for the first timeThis omnibus edition contains the long-awaited continuation, volumes seven through eight, of the hit Gunslinger Girl manga series, never before released in North America!There is a secret counterterrorism unit for the Italian government known only as "The Social Welfare Agency." Its mission: to rescue troubled girls and turn them into heartless cyborg assassins using the latest advances in cyber-technology... moreNew storyline released in North America for the first timeThis omnibus edition contains the long-awaited continuation, volumes seven through eight, of the hit Gunslinger Girl manga series, never before released in North America!There is a secret counterterrorism unit for the Italian government known only as "The Social Welfare Agency." Its mission: to rescue troubled girls and turn them into heartless cyborg assassins using the latest advances in cyber-technology.The newest inductee into the Agency is a second generation cyborg called Petrushka, who may just be the Agency's most powerful operative yet. Petrushka is given an impossible trial-by-fire mission, together with her handler Alessandro, to prevent an assassination attempt. How can she prove she's got what it takes when she may not even survive her very first mission? less

When new children are brought into the Social Welfare Agency, their minds are wiped and their bodies enhanced with the latest in cutting edge cybernetics. They are blank slates ready to be molded and conditioned as their handlers see fit. Yet for Angelica, the first of the Agency's cyborg assassins, memories of the life she once knew have started to return. Dreams of her childhood fill her sleep, and visions of her old dog, Perro, haunt her by day... moreWhen new children are brought into the Social Welfare Agency, their minds are wiped and their bodies enhanced with the latest in cutting edge cybernetics. They are blank slates ready to be molded and conditioned as their handlers see fit. Yet for Angelica, the first of the Agency's cyborg assassins, memories of the life she once knew have started to return. Dreams of her childhood fill her sleep, and visions of her old dog, Perro, haunt her by day. Worst of all, remembering her past seems to be making her forget who she is now. less

After years in exile, Giacomo Dante, the infamous mastermind of the "The Croce Incident," has returned to take his rightful place as leader of the Five Republics. His first act as new leader is to seize control of Venice's landmark St. Mark's Campanile and demand the release of fellow terrorist Aaron Cicero, along with fifty of their comrades-in-arms who are being held as political prisoners... moreAfter years in exile, Giacomo Dante, the infamous mastermind of the "The Croce Incident," has returned to take his rightful place as leader of the Five Republics. His first act as new leader is to seize control of Venice's landmark St. Mark's Campanile and demand the release of fellow terrorist Aaron Cicero, along with fifty of their comrades-in-arms who are being held as political prisoners. Unable to bow to Dante's demands, the Italian government has no choice but to meet force with force, in a battle that will have dire consequences. Gunslinger Girl's explosive endgame starts here! less

After years in exile, Giacomo Dante, the infamous mastermind of the "The Croce Incident," has returned to take his rightful place as leader of the Five Republics. His first act as new leader is to seize control of Venice's landmark St. Mark's Campanile and demand the release of fellow terrorist Aaron Cicero, along with fifty of their comrades-in-arms who are being held as political prisoners... moreAfter years in exile, Giacomo Dante, the infamous mastermind of the "The Croce Incident," has returned to take his rightful place as leader of the Five Republics. His first act as new leader is to seize control of Venice's landmark St. Mark's Campanile and demand the release of fellow terrorist Aaron Cicero, along with fifty of their comrades-in-arms who are being held as political prisoners. Unable to bow to Dante's demands, the Italian government has no choice but to meet force with force, in a battle that will have dire consequences. Gunslinger Girl's explosive endgame starts here! less

The thrilling New York Times best selling series reaches a heart-pounding conclusionThe Gunslinger Girl saga comes to a stunning conclusion as the scattered factions of the Five Republics movement have united together under the leadership of the terrorist Dante. Utilizing a cache of stolen cruise missles, the Padanian terrorists unleash a series of devistating attacks across the Italian Peninsula and seize control of the New Turin Nuclear Plant... moreThe thrilling New York Times best selling series reaches a heart-pounding conclusionThe Gunslinger Girl saga comes to a stunning conclusion as the scattered factions of the Five Republics movement have united together under the leadership of the terrorist Dante. Utilizing a cache of stolen cruise missles, the Padanian terrorists unleash a series of devistating attacks across the Italian Peninsula and seize control of the New Turin Nuclear Plant. Their demands are simple: shut down the Social Welfare Agency or die.A must-have for fans of Gunsmith Cats and Battle Royale, the Gunslinger Girl manga series has spawned two highly successful anime series and a direct-to-video follow-up special. All of these anime have been released in North America on both DVD and Blu-ray by FUNimation. less