Swallowing the Earth (DMP)

Swallowing the Earth (DMP)

English Title: Swallowing the Earth
Japanese Title: 地球を呑む
Publication Date: 2009
Publisher: DMP
No. of Volumes: 1
In Print?: ✘
Digital?: ✔

From the Publisher

Amidst the chaos of World War II, two Japanese soldiers hear of Zephyrus, an utterly captivating woman rumored to exist on an island in the South Pacific. The tales of this bold enchantress seducing men to their dooms are both chilling and fascinating. Over twenty years pass, and Zephyrus resurfaces in Japan, seemingly unchanged, to wield her mysterious power over men once more. The one man immune to Zephyrus’ charms is simple drunkard, Gohonmatsu Seki, son of one of the wartime soldiers. Employed to spy on Zephyrus, what will Gohonmatsu uncover about her ultimate plot to create international discord and consume the world of men? What brought this woman to conspire for decades against patriarchal society – against an entire gender – and can anything be done to stop her plans?

What you should know

Originally published in 2009, Swallowing the Earth was Digital Manga Publishing’s first release of Tezuka material. Despite usually being released as two volumes, DMP decided to release Swallowing the Earth “unflipped” (reading right-to-left) as a one-volume softcover edition with over 500 pages. It also features an introduction by Tezuka’s closest American friend, Frederik L. Schodt, the author of The Astro Boy Essays.  The introduction by Schodt is extremely helpful in reminding the reader that certain elements of the story reflect the realities of life in Japan in 1968 (when it was originally published), and that many of Tezuka’s unintentional racial stereotypes have not aged well.  As a “transitional” chapter of his work, Swallowing the Earth represents a time when Osamu Tezuka was experimenting with new ideas, themes and art styles.  As such, it is an important landmark in understanding the development of Tezuka’s work over the course of his career – and an entertaining read, all at the same time!