Clockwork Apple (Manga)

Also known as 時計仕掛けのりんご (Tokei Jikake no Ringo)

The Clockwork Apple

Clockwork Apple (1968-73) was originally published as an anthology title in February 1983 as part of the Osamu Tezuka Complete Manga Works edition (MT-261).  However, the stories that make up that edition were originally unconnected and independent works that were published in a wide variety of periodicals.

What it’s about

Although the stories featured in this anthology cover a wide range of topics – from military-style drama, to forbidden love, to assassination plot thrillers to space hippies – they share a general similarity in terms of style and tone.  For the most part each of the stories represents a morality play that explores some deeper part of the human psyche.

What you should know

Despite the fact that the short stories presented here have come to be represented by the name Clockwork Apple, to be clear, that title only refers directly to one of the stories in the collection.  As an anthology, the stories have arguably been brought together more as a matter of convenience  – mainly as a way to appease the needs of a publication page count – than for any other particular reason.

In fact, three of the stories: ‘The Execution Ends at 3 O’Clock’ (June 1968), ‘Miraculous Conception’ (January 1970) and ‘Homecoming’ (January 1973) were all originally published in Play Comic, a seinen manga magazine that was home to many of Tezuka’s experimental short stories. Most of his stories that appeared in Play Comic are collected as Under the Air (1968-72), which exists in various editions with slightly varying story selections.

Associated stories

Depending on the edition, some or all of the following short stories may be included.  Please note, not all editions carry the same stories in the same order.

Where you can get it

Luckily for English speakers, DMP successfully funded the anthology title Clockwork Apple through a Kickstarter campaign in 2015.