In a smog-choked future, the only way to keep peace is through heavy armor
In short: In the fictional city of Newport, Japan, air pollution is so severe that residents must wear gas masks to survive. To combat rising crime, a specialized police squadron relies on military-style tanks to patrol the streets, navigating a world where technology and environmental decay collide.
Written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow, the Dominion manga series explores a gritty future where extreme pollution forces citizens to wear oxygen masks outdoors. The narrative follows a police squadron equipped with military-grade tanks, such as the Bonaparte, a vehicle so vital to officer Leona Ozaki that she is obsessively protective of it. Leona's partner and co-pilot is Al Southwell, a skilled computer hacker who serves as her calm counterpart. The squad is led by Charles Brenten, a macho commander who prefers a large revolver over standard automatic weapons. His unit's effectiveness is often hampered by the collateral damage they cause during operations.
The series has seen several adaptations, including the 1988 original video animation (OVA) produced by Agent 21, a 1993 follow-up by J.C.Staff, and a 2006 single-episode release by DOGA Productions. The stories often feature the antagonist Buaku, a criminal whose origins vary between the manga and the OVA. In one version, he is a former test subject for the Greenpeace Crolis project, while the manga suggests his criminal career began over 80 years ago in Argentina. The criminal Buaku is frequently aided by the Puma Sisters, a pair of powerful android catgirls. These inseparable sisters possess the unique ability to shrink their physical size by expelling water.
The complexity of the series is further expanded in the 'Dominion Conflict One: No More Noise' timeline. Set in November 202X, this iteration presents a different Newport, where the smog has cleared and the Tank Police have evolved into a much larger, more structured organization. Unlike the original series, where the Bonaparte was a unique vehicle, the Conflict timeline features the Bonaparte Mark 9 as a modular combat vehicle used across all police platoons. In this alternative continuity, the city's atmosphere has significantly improved, allowing for much more frequent aircraft activity. The police department has also expanded to include specialized divisions like forensics and internal affairs.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Dominion (manga)
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