Osama Tezuka’s Original Astro Boy volume 9


By Osamu Tezuka, translated by Frederik L. Schodt (Dark Horse Manga)
ISBN: 978-1-56971-792-9 (tank?bon PB/Digital edition)

This book includes Discriminatory Content produced in less enlightened times.

From beginning his professional career in the late 1940s until his death in 1989, Osamu Tezuka generated an incomprehensible volume of quality work which transformed the world of manga and how it was perceived in his own country and, ultimately, across the globe. Devoted to Walt Disney’s creations, he performed similar sterling service with Japan’s fledgling animation industry. The earliest stories were intended for children but right from the start Tezuka’s expansive fairy tale stylisations harboured more mature themes and held hidden pleasures for older readers and the legion of fans growing up with his masterworks…

The “God of Comics” was born in Osaka Prefecture on November 3rd 1928, and suffered from a severe illness as a child. The doctor who cured him inspired the lad to study medicine, and although Osamu began drawing professionally whilst at university in 1946, he persevered with college and qualified as a medical practitioner too. Then, as he faced a career crossroads, his mother advised him to do the thing which made him happiest. He never practiced as a healer but the world was gifted with such masterpieces as Kimba the White Lion, Buddha, Black Jack and so many other graphic narratives. Working ceaselessly over decades, Tezuka and his creations inevitably matured, but he was always able to speak to the hearts and minds of young and old equally. His creations ranged from the childishly charming to the distinctly disturbing such as The Book of Human Insects.

Tezuka died on February 9th 1989, having produced more than 150,000 pages of timeless comics; created the Japanese anime industry and popularised a uniquely Japanese graphic narrative style which became a fixture of global culture.

These monochrome digest volumes (173 x 113 mm in the physical world and any size you like if you read them digitally) present – in non-linear order – revised exploits of his signature character, with the emphasis firmly on fantastic fun and family entertainment…

Tetsuwan Atomu (literally “Mighty Atom” but known universally as Astro Boy due to its dissemination around the world as an animated TV cartoon and one of post-war Japan’s better exports) offers spectacular, riotous, rollicking sci fi action-adventure starring a young boy who also happens to be one of the mightiest robots on Earth.

The series began in 1952 in Shōnen Kobunsha and ran until March 12th 1968 – although in later years Tezuka returned to add to the canon often, both in comics but in also in other media such as the newspaper strips. Over that period, Astro Boy spawned the aforementioned global TV cartoon boom, starred in comic book specials and featured in games, toys, movies, collectibles and the undying devotion of generations of ardent fans.

Tezuka frequently drew himself into his tales as chorus and commentator, and in later revisions and introductions often cited how stifling he found the restrictions of Shōnen comics; specifically, having to periodically pause a plot to placate the demands of his audience by providing a blockbusting fight every episode. That’s his prerogative: most of us avid aficionados have no complaints…

Tezuka and his production team were never as wedded to close continuity as any fan. They constantly modified stories and artwork in later collections, so if you’re a purist you are just plain out of luck. Such tweaking is the reason this series of collections seem to skip up and down the publishing chronology. The intent is to entertain at all times so stories aren’t treated as gospel and order is not immutable or inviolate.

It’s just comics, guys, and in case you came in late, here’s a little background to set you up.

In a world where robots are ubiquitous and have won (limited) human rights, brilliant Dr. Tenma lost his son Tobio in a traffic accident. Grief-stricken, the tormented genius used his position as head of Japan’s Ministry of Science to build a replacement. The android his team created was one of the most groundbreaking constructs in history, and for a while Tenma was content. However, as his mind re-stabilised, Tenma realised the unchanging humanoid was not Tobio and, with cruel clarity, summarily rejected the replacement. Ultimately, the savant removed the insult to his real boy by selling the robot to a shady dealer…

One day, independent researcher Professor Ochanomizu was in the audience at a robot circus and realised diminutive performer “Astro” was unlike the other acts – or indeed, any artificial being he had ever encountered. Convincing the circus owners to part with the little robot, the Prof closely studied the unique creation and realised just what a miracle had come into his hands…

Part of Ochanomizu’s socialization process for Astro included placing him in a family environment and having him attend school just like a real boy. As well as providing friends and admirers the familiar environment turned up another foil and occasional assistant in the bellicose and highly skilled form of Elementary School teacher Higeoyaji (AKA Mr. Mustachio)…

The wiry wonder’s astonishing exploits resume after the now traditional ‘A Note to Readers’ – explaining in prose why one thing that hasn’t been altered is the depictions of various racial types in the stories. The author was also keen on combining all aspects of his creation into one overarching continuity delivered as a cartoon prelude, so these ruminations promptly give way to an epic action adventure doused with humour and social satire as our plucky android Pinocchio stumbles into a vast global conspiracy and becomes an unwitting pawn and courier of a robot doomsday device in ‘The Secret of the Egyptian Conspirators’ (originally seen between April and August 1969 in Shōnen Magazine). With an abundance of contemporary spy fiction tropes and themes in play Astro is trapped in a deadly war when the nation of Egypt falls under the spell of a robotic Cleopatra and her creator and sets about restoring their ancient empire. Bizarrely, behind the scheme is fiendish inventor Baribari – an old acquaintance and enemy of someone extremely close to Astro Boy, but that unknown connection does not impede the cosmic kid’s attempts to redeem Cleopatra whilst battling a battalion of giant robot beast and monuments, as well as the rival’s vile opportunistic human forces, leading to more tragedy and loss for the lonely manmade boy…

Follow-up fable ‘The Invisible Giant’  ran in Shōnen Magazine from May to July 1961, and by Tezuka’s own admission was heavily inspired by George Langelaan’s short story The Fly as first published in Playboy (June 1957) before becoming a sci fi classic and motion picture franchise from 1958 onwards. Here however the teleportation device maguffin results from an intense rivalry between scientists: venerable, irascible Dr. Woods and glory-seeking upstart B.S. Hanabusa. When the latter’s creation malfunctions, failing to rematerialize assorted animals and manifesting a ghastly ethereal poltergeist, Astro and his human pal Shibukagi are caught up in the duel of wills, embroiled with hitman Killer 0000 and targeted by corrupt 3D TV exec Nada and his murderous thugs.

However, when Astro uncovers the true story of the amalgamated horror stalking the city and what Woods and Nada are planning, he finds the path to justice a lot clearer than anticipated… especially with Mr. Mustachio lending his martial art muscle to the gang war erupting in the streets. Even when Nada kidnaps Ochanomizu, the robot boy and his eerie ally have a plan to save the day and produce a notional win for the good guys…

After that frenetic globe girdling and otherworldly outing, moodier adventure ‘Cobalt’ (Shōnen Magazine, June-September 1954) reintroduces a duplicate Astro Boy, built in the midst of an atomic crisis after the original robot hero of Japan goes missing on a mission. Forced to speed up his creation of Astro Boy’s successor, Professor Ochanomizu cuts some corners, but with a nuclear deadline fast approaching, realises that all Cobalt needs to do is find Astro and let the real hero save everyone…

With incredible and deadly locales, fantastic beasts and an unsuspected villain behind the crisis, that proves to be easier said than done, but in the bitter end the substitute proves he’s more than the sum of his parts…

To Be Continued…

Breathtaking pace, outrageous invention, slapstick comedy, heart-wrenching sentiment and frenetic action are hallmarks of these captivating comics constructions: perfect examples of Tezuka’s uncanny storytelling gifts, which still deliver a potent punch and instil wide-eyed wonder on a variety of intellectual levels. The melange of marvels is further enhanced here by an older, more sophisticated tone and the introduction of political and social commentary, proving Astro Boy to be a genuine delight for all ages.
Tetsuwan Atom by Osama Tezuka © 2002 by Tezuka Productions. All rights reserved. Astro Boy is a registered trademark of Tezuka Productions Co., Ltd., Tokyo Japan. Unedited translation © 2002 Frederik L. Schodt.
This book is printed in the traditional western ‘read-from-front-to-back’ format.