Osamu Tezuka (1928-89) is the godfather of Japanese manga comics. He originally intended to become a doctor and earned his degree before turning to what was then a medium for children. His many early masterpieces include the series known in the U.S. as Astro Boy. With his sweeping vision, deftly intertwined plots, feel for the workings of power, and indefatigable commitment to human dignity, Tezuka elevated manga to an art form. The later Tezuka, when he authored Buddha, often had in mind the mature readership that manga gained in the sixties and that had only grown ever since. The Kurosawa of Japanese pop culture, Osamu Tezuka is a twentieth century classic.
A 2011 Eisner Award Nominee
A 2010 About.com Best Manga of the Year Selection
“Best New Seinen/Josei Manga of 2010—Drama
Ayako depicts horrifying events, but it is beautifully presented.
Connoisseurs of comics craft will find much to admire in Tezuka’s
cinematic approach to paneling, pacing, and illustration. Peter
Mendelsund’s striking design gives this 1970’s story a modern mood
to attract mature readers.”—About.com
“Panel after panel flows effortlessly, composed in such a way that
it draws you in, despite the cartoonish characters that Tezuka is
so well known for. His scenery and backgrounds show a vibrant land
slowly weighed down by filth and corruption… While I have been
dismissive of Tezuka’s work in the past, I am fully convinced by
Ayako… This book is one of Vertical’s finer achievements and a
must-have for any Tezuka or intelligent comics fan. 9.5/10” —Comics
Village
“It is a portrait of humanity’s dark side on par with Dante’s
Inferno… With so many interlocking storylines, all meticulously
charted up to the final page, this drama plays out on a stage so
grand that only Tezuka could have conceived it. Even the artwork
reaches heights that are yet to be surpassed today… For pure story
and visual impact, one of the best ever. A-” —Anime News
Network
“Like some of Vertical’s previous long-form Tezuka releases—MW and
Ode to Kirihito in particular—Ayako isn’t afraid to get dark and
dreary. In fact, Ayako may be one of the bleakest yet. That is, of
course, said as a term of endearment; this nearly 700-page work
sucks you into its twisted narrative from the very first chapter,
and its grip only gets icier as the pages turn… From Peter
Mendelsund’s elegant cover design to Mari Morimoto’s
dialect-infused translation, this is another must for fans of Osamu
Tezuka and comics in general.” —Otaku USA
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