Manga

Astro Boy (1952-68), Chapter 001 ‘Astro's Parents’ (アトムの両親), was originally serialized in April 1952 in Shonen.

Fuhrer ZZZ, the leader of a terrorist society, sprays world leaders and prominent scientists with a gas that renders them incurably insane. Although Astro Boy is able to save Robert, the son of President Lyon, during a visit to Japan, Robert becomes suspicious of his father's behaviour. When he stows aboard his father's plane, he's almost instantly caught, but he discovers that his father is en route to Fuhrer ZZZ's secret base. Astro Boy then sneaks into the hideout to investigate the situation, and the surprising relationship between President Lyon and Fuhrer ZZZ is revealed.

At his request, Dr. Ochanomizu reluctantly agrees to temporarily modify Astro Boy so he can feel fear as a human being. Of course, as soon as Astro is modified, he receives a request from a former sea captain to investigate the appearance of a phantom ship. The ship, which had been near a hydrogen bomb testing site, had crossed paths with his ship and its radiation had either killed, or made his crew very sick. He asks Astro to stop the spread of contamination. Although he's suddenly extremely nervous, Astro's dad encourages him to help and Astro soon finds the ship and sets it down on a nearby coral reef. Terrified of the "ghosts" he encounters, he eventually realizes they are simply animals disfigured by radiation. In the end, Astro regains his confidence and decides he's had enough of feeling human fear.

When a jet plane loaded with a hydrogen bomb crashes off the coast of Japan, everyone looks to Astro Boy to save the day. However, the weight of the public's expectations proves to be too much for the little robot and he disappears. To avoid panic, Dr. Ochanomizu decides to build Cobolt, a robot based on Astro Boy's specs. Although similar, Cobolt simply doesn't measure up to Astro's standards. However, since Cobolt's radar energy identical to Astro's, he can track Astro down no matter where he is. Following Cobalt’s progress on the computer, they realize that all the time they have been worrying, Astro has already been trying to find the bomb. Cobalt and Astro work together to find the bomb but Astro suddenly break's down and Cobalt heroically uses himself for spare parts. With that, Astro is able to disarm the bomb just in the nick of time and Japan is saved.

By special request of Dr. Manmos, Astro Boy is appointed Commander of an American exploration mission to the planet Mars. Although much of the human crew is against the appointment, human error disrupted the first mission and so it is decided that a robot should lead the second, rescue mission instead. Shortly before take off, Cabet, the younger sister of Capt. Hars Lencon, the leader of the first mission, is discovered aboard, but it is too late to turn back. As the ship rockets through space towards Mars, it encounters a strange alien ship that attaches itself to the earthlings' vessel. Although Astro goes out to investigate, he finds no signs of life and they continue on. Shortly after arriving on Mars, the group is met by the missing Capt. Lencon and an army of robots. When Astro decides not to arrest Lencon, his second-in-command mutinies and Astro is knocked out of commission. As the two human forces square off, a long-awaited alien attack begins. Luckily Astro is revived in time to join the fight, just as Capt. Ketchup learns the errors of his anti-robot ways and sacrifices himself to save the humans. With the threat nullified, the team sets off for home.

Astro Boy (1952-68), Chapter 005 ‘Sea-Serpent Island’ (海蛇島) – originally titled ‘Astro Boy Goes Along the Equator’ – was originally published as a a summer vacation supplement in Shonen in August 1953.

What it’s about?

Astro Boy discovers heaps of bottles while diving in the sea, they all contain a letter from a girl on an island called Pochom-Pochom. In every letter she begs for help saying that she and her father are prisoners, and he is being worked to death.… Read the rest