MW (Vertical Inc.)

Ongoing Serial: a series of episodes, published over a span of weeks/months/years where the story plot is connected from chapter to chapter and must be read in chronological order for it to be understood properly.
Chapter Serial: a series of episodes, published over a span of weeks/months/years where the story plot is self-contained to a single chapter. There may be an overarching plot, but the stories can generally be read in any order and be understood
Book: an all-in-one self contained story published as a one-off.
Supplement: an an all-in-one self contained story published as a stand-alone supplement to a regular weekly/monthly periodical.
Short Story: an all-in-one, self contained story that was published in a regular weekly/monthly periodical
Anthology: a collection of all-in-one, self contained stories that were published in a regular weekly/monthly periodical but are generally grouped together.

English Title: MW
Japanese Title: MW
Publication Date: 2007 (2010)
Publisher: Vertical, Inc.
No. of Volumes: 1
In Print: ✔
Digital: ✘

From the Publisher

Comics god Osamu Tezuka’s darkest work, MW is a chilling picaresque of evil. Steering clear of the supernatural as well as the cuddly designs and slapstick humor that enliven many of Tezuka’s better-known works, MW explores a stark modern reality where neither divine nor secular justice seems to prevail. This willfully “anti-Tezuka” achievement from the master’s own pen nevertheless pulsates with his unique genius.

Embrace me, Father, for I have sinned

What you should know

An extremely dark series from late in Tezuka’s exploration of the psychology of evil, MW describes the twisted homosexual romantic relationship between a young, handsome multiple murderer and a Catholic priest. Not for younger readers, this is one of Tezuka’s most “mature readers” series.

Like many of releases, MW was released with “flipped” artwork in order to make the reading order (left to right) more palatable for the average English-speaking fan. Originally published in a 6″ x 8″ format hardcover, 584 pages in length, in 2010 MW was also released in a softcover trade paperback format.