Black Jack 209: Falling Object (Manga)

Black Jack 209, “Falling Object”

Black Jack (1973-83), Chapter 209 ‘Falling Object’ (落下物), was originally published on April  3, 1978 in Weekly Shonen Champion.  Please note: this chapter is sealed.

What it’s about

After Doctor Kuma’s death, Black Jack performs surgery on the infected villagers, but fails to save all seventeen of them.  Rumba, Kuma’s daughter, gives Black Jack her ancestoral sword that kills demons, so that he will destroy the malady.  Even though the sword is inappropriate for surgery, it is used as she assists Black Jack in the search for a cure.  After some detective work, Black Jack sends samples of local yams to the University of Cairo for a detailed analysis.  When the results come back, and Black Jack is surprised to find that some of the yams have been subject to radiation contamination.

Black Jack and Rumba investigate the yam fields, and discover the remains of a nuclear reactor in a satellite that had crash-landed. A secret agent from an unknown government shows up and tries to kill Black Jack and Rumba to cover up the secret, but Rumba sacrifices her life and kills the agent with her ancestral sword.

Why it’s sealed

Tezuka reportedly added this sequel to Chapter 208, “Black Jack Syndrome” because he thought that the solution to the malady wasn’t “romantic” enough.

Only semi-sealed, “Falling Object” was reprinted in a rare special issue published in 2005 by Akita Shoten, Black Jack – Doctor’s Mission (ブラック・ジャック　医者の使命編).  It is included in the Special Limited Edition of Black Jack, Vol.22, “A Doctor’s Duty”, as well as the Black Jack Treasure Book.