I Finally Get It

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I admit that I’d never “got” Tezuka. Sure, I’d perused my local library’s graphic novel section often enough, reading Metropolis, Ode to Kirihito, and Phoenix: A Tale of the Future. Still, I couldn’t fully comprehend what all the fuss was about. Then I read Apollo’s Song.

First published in 1970, Apollo’s Song is the story of Shogo Chikaishi, a sadistic, love hating teenager whose psychological issues stem from an estranged childhood. Brought into the mental ward of a hospital, Shogo begins a series of visions (that soon become reality) in which he is forced to love one woman eternally, “but before the two are united in love, one shall perish.”

The only gripe I had with this manga is the misogyny that is not uncommon among Tezuka’s works. I understand that the Japanese have a very different stance on gender roles, but the feminist in me found the situations involving rape nearly intolerable.

Feminist rant aside, I truly did enjoy this manga. Epic, generation spanning, and heart wrenching, Apollo’s Song is everything modern comics should be.

9/10

Comments

chibiyusa

Posted : 5 months, 1 week ago at Mar 28 18:08

If the only Phoenix book you have read is the second one (A Tale of the Future), mebbe you ought to check out the other ones too. Volume 6, (Nostalgia) has a very strong female character if you are into that. @_@ Also if you like those semi tragic love story things of his I might also recommend Volume 5 (Resurrection) which is also epic in it's generation spanning. Lots of forbidden love and angst. Many consider Volume 4 (Karma) to be the most epic of them all and I agree but it's not my favorite of the series. Oh and Sun was good too, those would be Volumes 10 and 11 methinks... Something about dog men (but not quite Ode to Kirihito) and cults.

If you want check out his more popular stuff though give Black Jack a whirl. He's kinda like House only cooler I suppose. As much as I like Astro Boy the pseudo medical science in Black Jack is soo much more fun.

If you want something by Tezuka that's totally out there though might I suggest MW? The feminist in you would probably hate it though.

But then again I'm no Tezuka expert so do take what I say with a grain of salt. Although you can read The Astro Boy Essays and pretend to be one.

Added by spiegalr 5 months ago on 27 March 2008 10:05