Pluto (v 1), by Naoki Urasawa (inspired by Osamu Tezuka)

Pluto (v 1), by Naoki Urasawa (inspired by Osamu Tezuka), 192 pages

First of all, let me say that I totally thought this book was a work of Tezuka that I had just never heard about-- and I was slightly disappointed when I realized that it is, in fact, inspired by Tezuka's Astro Boy series.  But that's ok- it's still a fascinating read.  This world is full of robots- some more human-like than others, but all are integrated into human society.  When indestructible robots are found destroyed, it takes a robot detective with a secret past to save the world's other robots.  This had a very Philip K Dick-ensian feel to it.

The Book of Human Insects, by Osamu Tezuka

The Book of Human Insects, by Osamu Tezuka, 304 pages

This is a fairly dark and gritty graphic novel from a manga master, Osamu Tezuka.  The story revolves around a woman named Toshiko Tomura, who is a master of mimicry and deception.  She becomes an acclaimed author, designer, actress and wife- but through trickery and theft, and with a string of bodies in her wake.  Personally, it's refreshing to see a strong female character in a book by Tezuka- even if she is the villain. Definitely for adults.

Princess Knight, Part 2, by Osamu Tezuka

Princess Knight Part 2, by Osamu Tezuka, 382 pages

Is Tezuka the godfather of Japanese manga, and creator of several of the best books around, including Buddha, Kimba the White Lion, and BlackJack? Yes. Was this book still painful to slog through and about 300 pages longer than it needed to be? Unfortunately, yes.  Sapphire, the prince/princess born with a boy and a girl heart, is still being pursued by Captain Blood the Pirate (who is in love with her), Prince Franz Charming (who is in love with her when she wears a wig and hates her when she is not in disguise) and alternately Madame Hell (who still wants her girl heart for her daughter) and the goddess Venus (who wants Franz and hates Sapphire's beauty.)  This book is kind of a mess- younger readers might like it and appreciate it if read in serial form, but there is still occasional language that parents might object to.  

Princess Knight, part one, by Osamu Tezuka

Princess Knight, part one, by Osamu Tezuka, 382 pages

Before babies are born, they are given a girl or a boy heart. When a playful angel named Tink tricks a baby into taking a girl and a boy heart, he is sent to Earth in order to make sure that the baby grows up to be a girl.  The baby turns out to be the child of the king and queen, and to protect the family line, the world is told that the baby is a boy.  Raised in the public eye as Prince Sapphire, but raised at home as a girl, Sapphire must discover which identity is the real one, protect the throne, find true love, and battle an evil duke and an unrelenting witch.  As long as you don't analyze the gender roles and depictions too hard, it is a light fun read.  And if you do look at the gender depictions, you can at least try to laugh at how outmoded they are.

Ayako, by Osamu Tezuka

Ayako, by Osamu Tezuka, 704 pages

Every now and then, I read a book that has been translated into English, and while the words make perfect sense, I get the feeling that something has been lost in translation.  Ayako is considered to be a thinly veiled recounting of post-war Japanese politics, which doesn’t always put the Japanese government in a positive light.  To me, though, the story was about a sleazy family that locks a young girl in their basement in order to prevent her from telling anyone that she witnessed the murder of her best friend. Ayako grows up knowing only the confined space of the basement and the subverted love of her brother.  Like most Tezuka works, this is definitely for adults, and adults who aren't squeamish about sexuality and violence.   Not my favorite.