Shunsaku Ban is, without a doubt, one of Tezuka's most important Stars. He takes the prize in practically every category, earliest appearances, longest serving, most appearances, etc. However, despite all those appearances, he is, almost without exception, true to his core. Most often cast in the role of a spirited, if not particularly sophisticated, middle-aged man, who is also warm-hearted with a burning sense of justice.
Although she is physically a human girl, due to Tink's interference when Sapphire was still an unborn spirit in heaven, she is mistakenly given both a male and female heart. However this dual-nature serves her well as she is both a chivalrous knight, ready to leap into action at a moment's notice, as well as a beautiful and demure princess.
Inspired by the music of Stravinsky, in particular of course by "Firebird," the Phoenix is the title character of Tezuka's life work, in which she represents the embodiment of life and all its cycles. She is not always either a protagonist or an antagonist, but is always an important figure, even if the concepts of life, death, and reincarnation appear more strongly in the themes of the chapter than in the action of the story.
Leo (also well-known as Kimba), is the central character of Tezuka’s most overtly environmentalist series. Leo is a white lion, and the son of Panja, the "King of the Jungle".
With his distinctive look, with a large scar across his face and a streak of white running through his jet black hair, Black Jack has a rather ominous appearance. However, this gruff and heartless exterior conceals a heart of gold.
In a future where robot technology is rapidly transforming the economic and social face of the earth, the 100,000 horsepower Astro Boy is the most powerful robot in the world, and the first robot with a true human-like artificial brain.
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.
