What I’ve Been Reading: Tezuka’s Black Jack

The collision between the cartoonish and the grotesque that informs and defines the first volume of Osamu Tezuka’s Black Jack is one of the most…interesting reading experiences I’ve had in some time. It’s obvious that Tezuka was unafraid of making the audience uncomfortable with detailed medical procedures amidst his usual round-faced characters with their exaggerated gestures and screwball physiques and it’s this bravura that helps sell the stories, which are full of dodgy science and slightly-stereotypical situations.

I found myself rooting for the mysterious, superhuman doctor that charges a fortune for his procedures, despite the character only being given the barest framework to exist within, and I’m not sure why. Perhaps it was the gentleness shown when he helped Pinoko find a body or the story of the love of his life and why he’s not with her. The usual Vertical design sensibilities make this an attractive package and your local shop can get you a Previews-exclusive hardcover if you feel like splashing a bit, while Amazon has it for $11.53.