Tezuka In English
Currently browsing category

Manga

Ambassador Magma (Shonen Illustrated)


Shonen Illustrated (少年画報), published by Shonen Gahosha, was home to several of Osamu Teukza’s serialized works. Although relatively popular in the 1950s – featuring such works as The Cactus Kid (1951-54), Cyrano the Hero (1953), and Super Taiheiki (1958-59) – by the early 1960s circulation had become a bit sluggish due to competition from other adventure manga magazines aimed at young boys. However, with the publication of Ambassador Magma (1965-67) circulation began to pick up.

Ambassador Magma (1965-67) began its run in the May 1965 issue and concluded in the August 1967. However, because Osamu Tezuka had spread himself so thin – working on other series including Wonder 3 (1965-66), Big X (1963-66), and Princess Knight [Nakayoshi] (1963-64) – the second half of the “Cyclops Arc” was drawn by two other manga artists, Satoshi Inoue and Kazuyoshi Fukumoto.… Read the rest

Kibando (Weekly Shonen Champion)

Following on the heels of Prime Rose (1982-83), Kibando (1984) - was Osamu Tezuka's next series to appear in Akita Shoten's popular Weekly Shonen Champion, however, instead of another sci-fi action series, Tezuka chose to provide his take on the ever popular boy-raised-by-wild-animals theme.

Kibando (Manga)

Originally published on April 13, May 18, and November 16, 1984, Osamu Tezuka's Kibando (1984) appeared sporadically in Weekly Shonen Champion. Although certainly off pace compared to the other great Tezuka series, such as The Rainbow Parakeet (1981-82) and Black Jack (1973-83) that appeared in the publication, Kibando (1984) remains a fun, if unfinished, little adventure story.

The Rainbow Parakeet (Weekly Shonen Champion)


After Don Dracula (1979) came to the end of its run in December 1979 in Akita Shoten’s popular Weekly Shonen Champion, it was a little over a year before Osamu Tezuka unveiled his new series.

As a life-long aficionado of the theatre, Tezuka decided to introduce his readers to the world of the stage in a series that would provide him a vehicle to focus on the great literary works from around the world that he loved.

And so, The Rainbow Parakeet (1981-82) began its weekly run on March 20, 1981 and concluded on June 4, 1982.

Of the 46 chapters in total, 38 were published as weekly stand-alone serials, with 8 multi-part chapters spanning several weeks.… Read the rest

Say Hello to Bookila! (Manga)

Originally published from April 26 to July 26, 1985, Osamu Tezuka's Say Hello to Bookila! (1985) was a follow up to Prime Rose (1982-83) and Kibando (1984) in Weekly Shonen Champion. Following the tradition set by other great Tezuka series The Rainbow Parakeet (1981-82) and Black Jack (1973-83) that were featured in that same popular publication.