A Frenchman known as Monsieur Ampere asks Astro Boy for help in the excavation of an ancient Mayan tomb. However, the entrance of the tomb is guarded by a sphinx-like robot and some robots in the shape of giant crabs. With Astro's help, the expedition is able to enter the tomb but a cave-in soon blocks the way. After the debris is cleared, the team discovers the reason for the guards - the tomb is in fact a hidden laboratory where Dr. Don Peres Prado has put himself into a frozen hibernation in the hopes of awakening a few centuries in the future. Although Astro battles the sphinx, he soon learns that it is simply keeping the sleeping scientist from harm. Meanwhile, Ampere's true motive is revealed - he intends to steal the uranium that is powering the complex...
Given Japan's limited resources, and in order to find solutions to a possible food crisis, a scientist creates giant snails, which he names Gernica. However, the snails turn on their creator, draining his body of all water, and escape into the mountainside. Although the fearsome giant snails go on a destructive rampage, Astro has the perfect solution to stop them - just like all snails, they are susceptible to sodium. So, using a large bag, Astro Boy flies back and forth and sprinkles them with salt. The Gernica all dissolve into sludge and Japan is saved from certain doom once again.
The gangster Skunk Kusai steals a newly designed transparent robot called Electro and uses him to commit robberies. Although the police attempt a sting operation to recover Electro, a well-meaning Astro gets caught in the middle and Skunk and Electro escape. Later, Electro seeks out Astro, and it becomes apparent that Electro doesn't understand what a robot is. Although Astro tries to teach Electro right from wrong, the invisible robot remains loyal to Skunk. After Astro succeeds in rendering Electro visible, at least from the legs down, Skunk sends Electro on a mission to blow up Dr. Ochanomizu. Astro Once again pleads with Electro, he won't listen, and the police have no choice but to destroy him with mag-guns to neutralize the bomb threat. Finally, Moustachio apprehends Skunk, and it's off to prison once more.
Fuhrer ZZZ, the leader of a terrorist society, sprays world leaders and prominent scientists with a gas that renders them incurably insane. Although Astro Boy is able to save Robert, the son of President Lyon, during a visit to Japan, Robert becomes suspicious of his father's behaviour. When he stows aboard his father's plane, he's almost instantly caught, but he discovers that his father is en route to Fuhrer ZZZ's secret base. Astro Boy then sneaks into the hideout to investigate the situation, and the surprising relationship between President Lyon and Fuhrer ZZZ is revealed.
At his request, Dr. Ochanomizu reluctantly agrees to temporarily modify Astro Boy so he can feel fear as a human being. Of course, as soon as Astro is modified, he receives a request from a former sea captain to investigate the appearance of a phantom ship. The ship, which had been near a hydrogen bomb testing site, had crossed paths with his ship and its radiation had either killed, or made his crew very sick. He asks Astro to stop the spread of contamination. Although he's suddenly extremely nervous, Astro's dad encourages him to help and Astro soon finds the ship and sets it down on a nearby coral reef. Terrified of the "ghosts" he encounters, he eventually realizes they are simply animals disfigured by radiation. In the end, Astro regains his confidence and decides he's had enough of feeling human fear.
When a jet plane loaded with a hydrogen bomb crashes off the coast of Japan, everyone looks to Astro Boy to save the day. However, the weight of the public's expectations proves to be too much for the little robot and he disappears. To avoid panic, Dr. Ochanomizu decides to build Cobolt, a robot based on Astro Boy's specs. Although similar, Cobolt simply doesn't measure up to Astro's standards. However, since Cobolt's radar energy identical to Astro's, he can track Astro down no matter where he is. Following Cobalt’s progress on the computer, they realize that all the time they have been worrying, Astro has already been trying to find the bomb. Cobalt and Astro work together to find the bomb but Astro suddenly break's down and Cobalt heroically uses himself for spare parts. With that, Astro is able to disarm the bomb just in the nick of time and Japan is saved.
By special request of Dr. Manmos, Astro Boy is appointed Commander of an American exploration mission to the planet Mars. Although much of the human crew is against the appointment, human error disrupted the first mission and so it is decided that a robot should lead the second, rescue mission instead. Shortly before take off, Cabet, the younger sister of Capt. Hars Lencon, the leader of the first mission, is discovered aboard, but it is too late to turn back. As the ship rockets through space towards Mars, it encounters a strange alien ship that attaches itself to the earthlings' vessel. Although Astro goes out to investigate, he finds no signs of life and they continue on. Shortly after arriving on Mars, the group is met by the missing Capt. Lencon and an army of robots. When Astro decides not to arrest Lencon, his second-in-command mutinies and Astro is knocked out of commission. As the two human forces square off, a long-awaited alien attack begins. Luckily Astro is revived in time to join the fight, just as Capt. Ketchup learns the errors of his anti-robot ways and sacrifices himself to save the humans. With the threat nullified, the team sets off for home.
Sea Serpent Island
Original title: Astro Boy goes along the Equator
Japanese Title:
海蛇島 Umihebi Shima
原題:アトム赤道をゆく Atomu sekido o yuku
Original run:
1953/08
Published in:
Shonen 少年
Type:
Supplement
Astro Boy (1952-68), Chapter 005 ‘Sea-Serpent Island’ (海蛇島) – originally titled ‘Astro Boy Goes Along the Equator’ – was originally published as a a summer vacation supplement in Shonen in August 1953.
What it’s about?
Astro Boy discovers heaps of bottles while diving in the sea, they all contain a letter from a girl on an island called Pochom-Pochom. In every letter she begs for help saying that she and her father are prisoners, and he is being worked to death.… Read the rest
Tezuka's Faust (1950) was originally published as a stand-alone book by Fuji Shobo on Januauary 15, 1950. An adaptation of Goethe's Faust, it is Tezuka's first foray into re-imagining classic literature as manga.
Tezuka's sci-fi tale about a race of alien cat-people, Shammy 1000 (1968) was originally serialized over the course of six months in High School Course 1 from April to September, 1968.
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.