New Releases by Osamu Tezuka

Fifty years after his creation, Astro Boy continues to lead the manga and anime charge, his adventures still as fresh and exciting as when first crafted by master storyteller/cartoonist/animator Osamu Tezuka. Perhaps the most endearing, and enduring, creation to emerge from Tezuka''s volcanic imagination, Astro Boy is packed with action, laughs, and genuine emotion, interlacing fantastic situations and creatures with timeless themes and wry observances of technology, war, and the human condition. In this volume: "The White Hot Human"; "Uran"; "Hachi, the Devil"; "The Tenma Family''s Fortress"; "Gernica."

The cry of war comes soon from France, while a young boy destined for greatness simply cries in pain from a fateful strike to his head in Bonn, Germany. Ludwig van Beethoven will grow to become one of the most influential composers in a few short years, but in his early days, he was just a commoner trying to survive his days with an alcoholic father and a world that just hasn''t discovered his greatness yet. In this age, he wasn''t an influential composer: he was a young man simply named "Ludwig," which inspires hatred and fear from a certain nobleman, Franz Kreuzstein. Why does Franz have it out for all named "Ludwig," and can Beethoven survive this personal war he''s deaf to?

Osamu Tezuka''s vaunted storytelling genius, consummate skill at visual expression, and warm humanity blossom fully in his eight-volume epic of Siddhartha''s life and times. Tezuka evidences his profound grasp of the subject by contextualizing the Buddha''s ideas; the emphasis is on movement, action, emotion, and conflict as the prince Siddhartha runs away from home, travels across India, and questions Hindu practices such as ascetic self-mutilation and caste oppression. Rather than recommend resignation and impassivity, Tezuka''s Buddha predicates enlightenment upon recognizing the interconnectedness of life, having compassion for the suffering, and ordering one''s life sensibly. Philosophical segments are threaded into interpersonal situations with ground-breaking visual dynamism by an artist who makes sure never to lose his readers'' attention. Tezuka himself was a humanist rather than a Buddhist, and his magnum opus is not an attempt at propaganda. Hermann Hesse''s novel or Bertolucci''s film is comparable in this regard; in fact, Tezuka''s approach is slightly irreverent in that it incorporates something that Western commentators often eschew, namely, humor.

Osamu Tezuka''s vaunted storytelling genius, consummate skill at visual expression, and warm humanity blossom fully in his eight-volume epic of Siddhartha''s life and times. Tezuka evidences his profound grasp of the subject by contextualizing the Buddha''s ideas; the emphasis is on movement, action, emotion, and conflict as the prince Siddhartha runs away from home, travels across India, and questions Hindu practices such as ascetic self-mutilation and caste oppression. Rather than recommend resignation and impassivity, Tezuka''s Buddha predicates enlightenment upon recognizing the interconnectedness of life, having compassion for the suffering, and ordering one''s life sensibly. Philosophical segments are threaded into interpersonal situations with ground-breaking visual dynamism by an artist who makes sure never to lose his readers'' attention. Tezuka himself was a humanist rather than a Buddhist, and his magnum opus is not an attempt at propaganda. Hermann Hesse''s novel or Bertolucci''s film is comparable in this regard; in fact, Tezuka''s approach is slightly irreverent in that it incorporates something that Western commentators often eschew, namely, humor.

Chirurgien sans diplôme opérant dans la clandestinité, personnage ténébreux, génial et hors-la-loi, Black Jack passe sa vie à sauver celle des autres. Tezuka, lui-même médecin, s''exprime à travers son personnage. Chaque nouveau cas est, pour l''auteur, l''occasion de dévoiler un regard acéré, sans concessions sur la nature humaine... et pourtant profondément humaniste, malgré son apparente dureté. Chaque épisode de Black Jack est une fable noire et superbe sur la condition humaine. Here comes the man in black... Considéré comme l''un des chefs-d''oeuvre d''Osamu Tezuka, Black Jack est aussi la série la plus conséquente du fondateur du manga moderne. Depuis sa création, de nombreux auteurs de manga rendent régulièrement hommage à ce personnage mythique : Naoki Urasawa (Monster), Akihito Yoshitomi (Ray) Eiji Ohtsuka et You Kinutani (Leviathan) ou encore Shuho Satô (Say Hello to Black Jack). Un des plus grands classiques du manga, régulièrement adapté en animé (la dernière adaptation en date est une série T.V. diffusée au Japon depuis fin 2004). La lecture de Tezuka rejoint ici ce que les plus grands auteurs ont cherché à atteindre : émouvoir son prochain, le remettre en question et finalement l''inviter à s''élever vers ce qu''il porte en lui de meilleur, de plus juste et de plus haut... De plus humain. Un must à ne pas rater pour tous les amateurs de bandes dessinées et pour les fans de Tezuka !

In the fifth installment of manga-godfather Osamu Tezuka''s Buddha, engagement with death imparts the lesson of life''s sanctity. In a Machiavellian rise to power, Devadatta, a rogue aristocrat, incites war between two kingdoms that will leave thousands dead. King Bimisara of Magadha, fearing death his son''s own hand, withdraws fatherly love. The true measure of the Buddha''s divinity will turn out to be a test of diplomacy - the power of words.

The Eisner and Harvey Winner In this fourth volume of the award-winning graphic novel biography, Buddha slowly discovers that his destiny lies in a path not readily available to him. With fellow ascetics Dhepa who has complete faith in the purifying quality of painful physical ordeals, and Assaji, who can predict everyone''s death to the hour, Buddha travels through the kingdom of Magadha into the Forest of Uruvela, where The Middle Path and Enlightenment wait beyond a series of death-defying trials. Awake under the Pippala tree...

The Eisner and Harvey Winner The third volume of this epic graphic novel send Siddhartha further into a world mired in pain and suffering. The journey to peace and enlightenment looms far but bright. Prince Siddhartha quickly learns that the monk''s path is covered in thorns and self-abuses much more profound than shaving your head. His new companions Dhepa and Assaji accompany him to plague-ridden town, ruled by the ravishing Visakha. On a different path filled with as many vagaries is Devadatta, an orphan who learns only that bad almost always gets worse. To strange cities, and dire prophecies...

Osamu Tezuka''s vaunted storytelling genius, consummate skill at visual expression, and warm humanity blossom fully in his eight-volume epic of Siddhartha''s life and times. Tezuka evidences his profound grasp of the subject by contextualizing the Buddha''s ideas; the emphasis is on movement, action, emotion, and conflict as the prince Siddhartha runs away from home, travels across India, and questions Hindu practices such as ascetic self-mutilation and caste oppression. Rather than recommend resignation and impassivity, Tezuka''s Buddha predicates enlightenment upon recognizing the interconnectedness of life, having compassion for the suffering, and ordering one''s life sensibly. Philosophical segments are threaded into interpersonal situations with ground-breaking visual dynamism by an artist who makes sure never to lose his readers'' attention. Tezuka himself was a humanist rather than a Buddhist, and his magnum opus is not an attempt at propaganda. Hermann Hesse''s novel or Bertolucci''s film is comparable in this regard; in fact, Tezuka''s approach is slightly irreverent in that it incorporates something that Western commentators often eschew, namely, humor.

Osamu Tezuka''s vaunted storytelling genius, consummate skill at visual expression, and warm humanity blossom fully in his eight-volume epic of Siddhartha''s life and times. Tezuka evidences his profound grasp of the subject by contextualizing the Buddha''s ideas; the emphasis is on movement, action, emotion, and conflict as the prince Siddhartha runs away from home, travels across India, and questions Hindu practices such as ascetic self-mutilation and caste oppression. Rather than recommend resignation and impassivity, Tezuka''s Buddha predicates enlightenment upon recognizing the interconnectedness of life, having compassion for the suffering, and ordering one''s life sensibly. Philosophical segments are threaded into interpersonal situations with ground-breaking visual dynamism by an artist who makes sure never to lose his readers'' attention. Tezuka himself was a humanist rather than a Buddhist, and his magnum opus is not an attempt at propaganda. Hermann Hesse''s novel or Bertolucci''s film is comparable in this regard; in fact, Tezuka''s approach is slightly irreverent in that it incorporates something that Western commentators often eschew, namely, humor.

More than sixty years after his birth, Astro Boy is still the robot hero by which all others are measured! In this final volume of Astro''s atomic-powered adventures, Astro must save a human time machine, commands a mission to Mars, and battles a rampaging robot Frankenstein! From Osamu Tezuka, "the Walt Disney of Japan," Astro Boy is all-ages adventure packed with action, laughs, and heart. Astro Boy Omnibus Volume 7 is 712 pages, value priced, and ready to rock the 21st Century!

Taking his second century by storm, Astro Boy remains the robot of choice for legions of readers worldwide. In this volume, Astro must stop the completion of a deadly robot built from alien blueprints, explosive Astro Boy balloons terrorize Tokyo, the very first appearance of Astro Boy from 1952, and more! From Osamu Tezuka, "the Walt Disney of Japan," Astro Boy is all-ages adventure packed with action, laughs, and heart. Astro Boy Omnibus Volume 5 is 688 pages, value priced and ready to rock the 21st Century! Collects all of Astro Boy Vol. 14, Vol. 15, and Vol. 16, and the story "The Frozen Human" from Vol. 17.

In this second and concluding part, the comics master''s late masterpiece takes the tale of the three Adolfs beyond the Axis defeat—for the war''s damage does not end with it—to the Middle East.

It is 1936 in Berlin, Nazi Germany. A Japanese reporter named Sohei Tohge is covering the Berlin Olympic Games for the Japanese press. As he sits in the Japanese press box watching the many track and field events of the day, he receives a call from his younger brother Isao, who has been studying in Germany as an international student. The two make plans to meet as Isao mentions he has something of importance to share with his sibling. While Sohei initially thinks his little brother may have found a young frau, Isao''s tone is clearly that of one who is troubled by topics much heavier than romance. When Sohei arrives at Berlin University, he finds his brother''s room has been through some sort of violent ordeal. A mysterious message was left on a note pad and a window was left wide open. And tangled in the branches of a tree directly below Isao''s window rested his dead body. Isao was murdered. Sohei would immediately launch an investigation to the murder, but almost instantly all traces of information regarding his younger brother''s study in Germany has vanished. The police were of no help. Isao''s room was also cleared and rented out to another person. Even his building manager feigned ignorance. It was as if he had never existed. Investigating the matter, it is later learned that this murder is connected to a document he mailed to Japan with information regarding Adolf Hitler. As events progress, the lives of three Adolfs, each from distinct origins, intertwine and become more and more tangled as Sohei Toge searches for his brother''s murderer.

Osama Tezuka''s Astro Boy is the all-time, 100,000 horsepower champion of classic all-ages robot action! Available for the first time in America, these tales are as exciting, touching, and hilarious as when Tezuka crafted them almost half a century ago! In this volume: Astro Boy tries to foil a mad scientist''s plot to use a robotic Cleopatra to recreate the ancient kingdom of Egypt; Astro tries to solve the mystery of a young ghost appearing on 3D TVs; and Astro joins with the robot Cobalt in a race against time to stop a lost H-Bomb from devastating Japan!

With the rapidly expanding explosion of manga and anime, the vast creative and spiritual influence of the late, great Osamu Tezuka is being recognized worldwide, the skill, depth, and humanity of his storytelling placing him among the giants of the comics medium. Astro Boy is the action/adventure archetype for the 21st century, an action-packed roller-coaster ride for all ages imbued with humor, warmth, and wry commentary on humanity in the technological age. In this volume: "Roboid"; "The Eues of Christ"; "Rejuvenating Gas"; and "Space Broadcast."

Fifty years after his creation, Astro Boy continues to lead the manga and anime charge, his adventures still as fresh and exciting as when first crafted by master storyteller/cartoonist/animator Osamu Tezuka. In this volume: Astro Boy must help a robot bomb escape his creators and prevent earth from being destroyed; Astro battles a deadly underground tank controlled by an evil general bent on world conquest; a famous police detective enlists Astro to help him solve a murder - with the detective''s father as the prime suspect!

The works of Osamu Tezuka are being enthusiastically discovered and re-discovered by American audiences. Tezuka is the unquestioned creative wellspring for the modern anime and manga industries, the influence of his genius now pervading popular culture around the globe, and Astro Boy is the quintessential Tezuka work -- innovative, exciting, hilarious, and even heartbreaking. Few works of graphic fiction -- or any fiction, for that matter -- offer so much fun and humanity that appeals to so many different ages. In this volume: Astro battles the mighty (and really BIG!) Garon; Astro must solve "The 100 Million Year Old Crime;" and Astro is stolen!

Who will stand against invaders from space, robot slave masters, and a dictator producing human clones? Astro Boy, that''s who! The most popular and influential creation of Osamu Tezuka, "the Walt Disney of Japan," Astro Boy is all-ages adventure packed with action, laughs, and a few tugs at the heartstrings. Astro Boy Omnibus Volume 2 is 680 pages of Tezuka''s classic manga, value priced and ready to rock the 21st Century! Osamu Tezuka is renowned internationally as a master cartoonist, animator, and storyteller. "Tezuka is widely considered the most important and influential figure in post-World War II Japanese animation." -The New York Times "Comics are a bridge between all cultures." -Osamu Tezuka "The Astro Boy stories always end with peace and human supremacy restored, but usually not before both sides, human and robot, have committed great wrongs." -ANIMERICA

Can a robot have a soul? Built by a brilliant scientist to replace his lost son, but with powers beyond imagination, Astro Boy fights for the oppressed and helpless, whether they be human, alien, or robot. Exciting, whimsical, and touching, Astro Boy brings back the classic era of comics and animation, featuring tales that readers young and old will enjoy. Creator Osamu Tezuka was considered the Walt Disney of Japan, and Astro Boy is his most popular and influential creation. Astro Boy Omnibus Volume 1 features nearly seven hundred pages of Astro’s jet-powered, super-strong, evil-bashing adventures!

Set in a medieval fairy-tale backdrop, Princess Knight is the tale of a young princess named Sapphire who must pretend to be a male prince so she can inherit the throne. Women have long been prevented from taking the throne, but Sapphire is not discouraged and instead she fully accepts the role, becoming a dashing hero(ine) that the populous is proud of. The playful cartooning style of Princess Knight is comparable to that of Disney, à la Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Considered by many as one of the first major shojo works, inspiring comics for girls such as Revolutionary Girl Utena, Cardcaptor Sakura and Sailor Moon for generations to follow. A rare shojo property from the godfather of manga, Princess Knight has been long considered one of Tezuka''s most popular works worldwide.

A gem from the fifties when the legendary master was most deeply involved in girls'' comics, Twin Knights is more than just a sequel to the shojo manga milestone Princess Knight. More close addressing issue of station as well as gender, this one-volume tale has all the antic innocence of the early Tezuka even as it revises the more famous works'' premise, doing away with the conceit of "boy and girl hearts" and invoking the vagaries of chance and power in their place.

Volume 15 contains fourteen of Black Jack''s many worldly adventures... A Life to Live: Black Jack is called in to treat a young flower arrangement master. The talented artisan is suffering from acute porphyria which is impacting her digestive and nervous system. Given her current condition she cannot even stand to be in sunlight; as it often induces fainting spells, hallucinations and seizures. For an artist who focuses on light and life, to not be able to use sunlight to bring life to her art the ikebana master almost believes she has no life to lead. However with every new piece that she creates there is no doubt to her mentors that life itself is worth living. And if she survives she might have a life-changing decision to make about her career. A Star is Born: In a rare chapter where Black Jack does not perform an operation, the good doctor must treat a previous patient''s heart and soul. Award-winning actress Igusa Suginami says she owes all her success to the treatment she received from BJ years ago. Since she had her operation she feels she has been blessed by a god of luck and is now ready to embark on the biggest performance of her life...She wants to confess her feelings to Dr. Black Jack. Sadly the doctor does not recognize Igusa the superstar. He says he treated Chika the young singing talent with ambitions of making it big with her skills. Their reunion does not appear to be destined as the next big romance; instead it might end up becoming a tragedy for the ages.

Black Jack is a mysterious and charismatic genius surgeon who travels the world performing amazing and impossible medical feats. Through highly trained, he freelances without a license because he distains the medical establishment. This leads to run-ins with the authorities and unscrupulous, sometimes criminal, individuals. Because Black Jack keeps his true motives secret, his ethics are perceived as questionable and he is considered a selfish, uncaring devil. An Animator Suffering from Cancer: In a chapter devoted to Pinoko, we follow her to the pool where she is starting to take swimming lessons. The nineteen-year-old in a tween''s body is struggling with her slow development and is anxious to learn to do what most everyone else her age takes for granted. So after finding herself in a bit of a verbal bind, she decides to take the plunge only to quickly sink like a rock. Her body made of prosthetics, she had little chance of floating let alone swimming very far. But a proud teen came to her aide. The boy is a genius. A budding animator he is working on the animated adaptation of Osamu Tezuka''s Jungle Emperor Leo but there is something lurking within him that might take his dreams away...cancer. Pinoko knows too much about the disease, and she knows that there is someone in her life that can treat it like no one else ever. Death of an Actress: Marilyn Swanson, the top female actor of the 40''s, is suddenly seeing a revival among the cinema intelligentsia. Her films are being broadcast on TV through almost every channel in prime time and every major film festival is devoting screenings to her performances. She was a rare beauty that captivated a generation on and off the screen. But age has caught up to her. Because of her pride she cannot make any appearances at these events, and worst of all she cannot perform again without regret. So she asks a medic with god-like skills to reverse time, if only briefly so she can dazzle audiences one last time.

Black Jack is a mysterious and charismatic genius surgeon who travels the world performing amazing and impossible medical feats. Through highly trained, he freelances without a license because he distains the medical establishment. This leads to run-ins with the authorities and unscrupulous, sometimes criminal, individuals. Because Black Jack keeps his true motives secret, his ethics are perceived as questionable and he is considered a selfish, uncaring devil. The Third Call: A man who''s mother recently passed away calls Black Jack''s home office. As soon as the surgeon picks up the phone, the stranger on the other line goes into a long tirade about hospital conditions and the lack of care his mother''s doctors were able to provide. He quickly turns to attack Black Jack''s practices and his high fees, calling the rogue medic out for ignoring his medical roots to alienate the poor and challenged. And before he hangs up he informs BJ, that he has kidnapped Pinoko. He demands Black Jack lower his fees or else after three calls he will not only kill Pinoko he will kill everyone BJ saves. Transient Love: A young woman is dying from what has long been considered a terminal illness. With only about a month or so to live she shares her dying wish with her parents. Despite being bed-ridden she wishes to someday marry. She wants to be a happy bride, and realize the joy of having someone love her eternally. Her father struck with grief, promises to marry his daughter to the first man who walks into her hospital room. That man is Black Jack, and his medical fees do not normally include fake marriage fees. This is going to be one costly marriage, however he cannot deny the fact her wish is essentially what is keeping her alive right now. If taking her hand will give her the strength to survive this procedure, it will have to considered part of the treatment.

The Black Jack series is told in short stories. Volume 12 will contain 14 stories, each running approximately 20 pages in length. This eleventh volume includes the following stories: Wildcat Boy: Black Jack is called out to the jungles of Indonesia to help an old friend with some unique research. Renowned Paris based Professor Dr. Triufeaux has stumbled upon a rare case of a modern day wolf-boy. However, in this case the boy believes he is a wildcat. White Lion: Whille preparing to have a nice homecooked meal, Black Jack and his assistant Pinoko are interrupted by a wrapping on their front door. Awaiting to enter and speak with the doctor are two men, an odd couple of sorts, with a request for the doc''s services. The director of the local zoo and a representative from Angola are desperate to have a recently transplanted animal treated immediately.

The Black Jack series is told in short stories. Volume 11 will contain 15 stories, each running approximately 20 pages in length. This eleventh volume includes the following stories: Spasms: Black Jack is ill. After hundreds of operations Black Jack''s health and career hangs in the balance. The good doctor has come down with a condition that might force him into retirement and the medical world is now on baited breath as they wait to hear whether Black Jack will ever return to the operating table again. The Only Means of Living: While in Paris Black Jack is witness to a horrible jet accident. A passenger jet burst aflame upon landing at Paris'' Orly International Airport and the doctor is called to the scene to treat the wife of a passenger he was to meet. The Dog Whispers: Young love meets a tragic ending, when a young woman while rushing on her way to work is struck dead by a commuter train. Her boyfriend Tadaaki is so distraught by the thought of being left alone he wishes he could only hear his darling Sayori''s voice once again.

The Black Jack series is told in short stories. Volume 10 will contain 14 stories, each running approximately 20 pages in length. This tenth volume includes the following stories: The Most Beautiful Woman in the World: Given Black Jack''s profession it is not unusual for the unlicensed surgeon to get requests for house calls at least opportune times of night. While his prices are negotiable he is always on-call, ready to provide services twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week. But on this particular night, it is not Black Jack who is called for his services. This time the person on the phone is calling for someone named Kuroo, and instead of calling in a panic, this caller wants to have some chit-chat before detailing where Kuroo''s services will be needed. Blood Relations: After his last trip to Macau Black Jack was not looking forward to returning to the Portuguese colony. Unfortunately he receives another call from the peninsula, but this time from his step-mother.

The Black Jack series is told in short stories. Volume 9 will contain 14 stories, each running approximately 20 pages in length. This ninth volume includes the following stories: Pinoko is Alive: Black Jack''s walking teratoma turned medical technician Pinoko loses consciousness while doing chores around the doctor''s compound. Once tests are performed Black Jack is confronted with the horrible fact that his little assistant is suffering from leukemia. Eyewitness: Disaster strikes in the heart of Tokyo when a bomb was detonated in the metropolis'' eternally busy Tokyo Station. Scores of innocent travelers waiting to board a bullet train to Osaka are injured or killed in the blast and a suspect is nowhere to be found.