Phoenix: Future -Volume 2 by Osamu Tezuka

In Future, Osamu Tezuka goes to the most distant future of Earth in his universe. We begin by following a fugitive and former Class II Space Patrolman Masato, as he tries to flee the city of Yamato with his alien shapeshifting girlfriend. Her name is Tamami, and her species is  called, get this: a moopie. Hysterical. In their natural form, Moopies kind of look like Tribels, those fuzzy little disc shaped creatures on the original Star Trek series.

Masato eventually stumbles on Dr. Saruta who has been working on a way to replicate life that may survive on the surface of the earth which is wrought with radiation. He is a hermit who dwells in a dome structure on the surface of the Earth, a feat which was not very common since all of humanity had retreated underground centuries ago.

It was the Phoenix that led Masato and his moopie gal to the dome.The Phoenix gives Masato his quest: rebuild humanity in the wake of nuclear war. Masato is granted immortality. It's a curse rather than the blessing it is perceived as in the preceding book. The book becomes almost existential at that point. 

There are a lot of things about the story that I really enjoy. Tezuka pokes fun at a future in a rush, not unlike the 21st Century. People start dressing practically in costume, rather than fashion. Nostalgia. Also I love the idea of cities being controlled by super computer who's ideas defy one another.  Another little point: You'll recognize Roc. He's a character in Tezuka's Metropolis.

So much I love about this so far, but sadly I can't get my hands on a copy of volume 3. It's all sold out on indigo and well, Amazon doesn't do the whole debit online thing. The library doesn't carry anything past volume 2. Sigh. God knows how long before I can get my hands on the next volume.

Phoenix Volume 1 by Osamu Tezuka

Judging from the cover art, one would figure this book would be a children's manga. It's far too violent for that in my opinion. However, it's not full of blood so I suppose it COULD be suitable for children. The dismembered parts of wounded soldiers are drawn as near cardboard cut-outs, completely devoid of blood or entrails. I suppose that is somewhat disappointing for a gore fan like me, but it did not ruin the experience. Tezuka’s stories are always heart wrenching regardless of the gore. Sometimes I find myself turning away from the brutality. Phoenix has those moments. Dawn happens somewhere near the dawn of time in feudal Japan. Tezuka based his story around early accounts of Japan and Korea. The information is largely myth and speculation which Tezuka explains as the story goes. First, maybe I should back up. Allow me to give you a little background on the Phoenix series:


Osamu Tezuka considered the Phoenix series his life’s work and masterpiece. (Although I could argue that all of his work is masterful, I won’t do it here.) The series spans 12 volumes and each is a story from the past then future, and back and forth through time. I am currently reading volume 2 which takes place in the distant future. Already I have noticed 2 recycled characters which I always like about Tezuka. He has this universe where certain characters walk in and out of one series to another.


Tezuka started the series in the 1960's and left it unfinished when he passed away in 1989. Seeing as how each volume is a separate story, I doubt that I'll find a huge hole when I've reached the twelfth book. Twelve is a great number to leave off on don't you think!? At any rate, there has only been speculation regarding how Tezuka wanted to end the series.


There is plenty of heart ache in Dawn. Men, Women and Children alike all fall victim to various human indecencies. People may wonder why bad things happen to children in these books, well that is because bad things happen to children in real life. I think Tezuka, first and foremost excels at portraying the human condition. Suffering is something he tells well, not to mention the enduring spirit of the person who can move on towards the better even after enduring horrible events.

If I can, at some point in my student life, I want to write a paper on the work of Osamu Tezuka. Think someone will let me??