Black Jack 028: Finger (Manga)
Black Jack 028, “The Finger”
Black Jack (1973-83), Chapter 028 ‘Finger’ (指), was originally published on June 24, 1974 in Weekly Shonen Champion. Please note: this chapter is sealed.
What it’s about
In this chapter, Black Jack meets his old childhood friend, Makube Rokuro. Makube, born with an extra sixth finger (which he explains is where the “Roku” in his name comes from – a Japanese pun on the word for “six”, even though a different kanji is used) meets the young Kuroo (later known as Black Jack) who is still in a wheelchair after an accident, and the two ostracized boys, taking comfort in each other’s presence, study hard in school. As a result, Kuroo enters medical school and Makube gets the opportunity to study in America.
Eventually Makube asks Kuroo to remove his sixth finger, and the surgery is successful. However, seven years later, Makube, now a mob boss on the run, asks Black Jack to switch his fingers with those of one of his henchmen so that the police won’t recognize his fingerprints. After Black Jack successfully performs the transplant operation and starts to leave, Makube, in an effort to wipe out all the witnesses, tries to kill him with a bomb. He also kills off the man with whom he had switched fingers. The police capture Makube, but they cannot prove that he really is Makube because of the different fingerprints. Just then, a parcel sent by Black Jack arrives – in it is the sixth finger that he had amputated from Makube seven years ago. The finger matches Makube‘s prints and he is sentenced to death.
Why it’s sealed
Although it has never been reprinted, it was not sealed due to controversy. Instead it was sealed because this story was later reworked as Chapter 227, ‘Print Proof’ – this time with a drastically different take on the friendship. Critics and fans often refer to this change as a reflection of Tezuka’s personal life. It is well known that by the time Tezuka had begun Black Jack (1973-83), Mushi Productions was bankrupt and Tezuka himself was suffering from a great deal of personal distrust as a result. Perhaps it is not so surprising that Chapter 028, ‘Finger’, an early Black Jack (1973-83) chapter, was about a friendship that becomes twisted and shattered over the years. On the other hand, Chapter 227, ‘Print Proof’ depicts a friendship that remains unchanged, no matter what happens. This is seen as a sign that Tezuka had overcome his earlier bitterness, and came to trust humanity once more.
