Sometimes referred to as Tezuka’s Ancestor Dr. Ryoan, Osamu Tezuka’s series A Tree in the Sun (1981-86) was originally published in Big Comic from April 25, 1981 to December 25, 1986. Based on the life of Tezuka’s real-life ancestors, Ryoan Tezuka, it is one of Osamu Tezuka’s three medical dramas, with the other two being Ode to Kirihito (1970-71) and Black Jack (1973-83).
Originally serialized in Big Comic from April 1970 to December 1971, is part of Tezuka's general shift in the late 1960's/early 1970's towards more mature subject matter. It is also Tezuka's first step into a genre he would later master with Black Jack (1973-83) and A Tree in the Sun (1981-86) - the medical drama.
One of Tezuka's three medical dramas, along with Ode to Kirihito (1970-71) and A Tree in the Sun (1981-86), Black Jack (1973-83) follows the adventures of Dr. Hazama Kuroo, better known by his nickname, Black Jack - an unlicensed and shadowy doctor with inhuman surgical skill.
Types of Tezuka Manga
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.
