009-1 (Manga)

009-1 (ゼロゼロナイン・ワン) is an illustrated manga series created by Japanese artist Shotaro Ishinomori. The series was originally titled Zero Zero Ku-no-ichi, or 009ノ1, and was serialized in Weekly Manga Action from 1967 to 1970, then returned briefly in 1974. It was a seinen manga targeting an 18-30 year-old male audience. The series was adapted into anime format in 2006, also titled 009-1, and was produced by Ishimori Entertainment and ran for thirteen episodes. The episodes have been collected in DVD format, distributed by ADV Films and FUNimation Entertainment.

The series derives it's name from the Number Nine Group, one of ten such squads of female espionage agents that make up the Zero Zero Organization. In the continuity of 009-1, the Cold War never ended and the agents of the 009 help to preserve the democracy of the Western Bloc, while fighting against their European adversaries in the Eastern Bloc. All of the agents of the 009 group are cyborgs, outfitted with retractable, automated weaponry hidden beneath artificial skin, the most notable of which includes, machine-gun breasts. The main character from the serial is Mirēnu Hofuman, (Mylene Hoffman in English translations), an attractive yet deadly cyborg whose slender body conceals a wide range of weaponry including a WA-P009 plasma gun and twin 9mm machine guns with bio-bullet ammunition.

Notes & Trivia

 * 009-1 bears no relation to the Cyborg 009 manga, also created by Shotaro Ishinomori.