Comparing Ash Lynx From Banana Fish And Alex Benedetto From Gangsta

In the realms of animation, character tropes often serve as lenses through which larger social and cultural discourses are refracted. In the case of Ash Lynx from Banana Fish and Alex Benedetto from Gangsta, both characters embody the trope of sex workers. Banana Fish, a crime/action Japanese manga written and illustrated by Akimi Yoshida turned anime series by MAPPA studios in 2018 set in 1980s New York City, introduces Ash Lynx, a seventeen-year-old gang leader with a traumatic past. The premise of the show revolves around him seeking to unravel the mystery behind a mind-controlling drug called "Banana Fish" while protecting his loved ones from the dark underworld of crime and corruption in New York City. Gangsta, an action/drama Japanese

While Banana Fish unfolds in the gritty urban landscape of 1980s New York City, Gangsta is set in the fictional city of Ergastulum, widely known for its crime and corruption. Both series aim to delve into the darker aspects of society, with sex work serving as a thematic element to explore complex characters like Ash and Alex. For a deeper understanding and comparative analysis, the past of the characters must be explored for how they got into this line of work. When Ash was seven years old, he was raped by his Little League coach, and this continues until he kills the coach himself at age eight. While found not guilty, he runs away from home after his father tries to send him away. Unfortunately, he is captured by traffickers for prostitution and ends up working at a child sex trafficking establishment owned by Mafia Don Dino Golzine. He ends up capturing the eye of said owner and not only becomes his “pet” but also his adoptive guardian. Eventually, over the years, Ash commands many gangs, becoming a feared and admired leader in Manhattan. Meanwhile, Alex was also a victim of sexual assault as a young child. After her mother is murdered and father passes away for unknown reasons, Alex had to take on the responsibility of raising herself and her younger brother. Due to desperate circumstances, she leaves with a man named Barry who promises her a way to make money but that