Dororo, Vol. 1

I only know of Tezuka through his massively popular manga Astro Boy. The animated version was my favourite ‘cartoon' as a kid, and I read the manga as an adult and still enjoyed it thoroughly. I was surprised to find that Tezuka had written another darker and supernatural manga as well and I had to check it out when I heard about it. I wasn't disappointed at all! Dororo is actually quite good. Tezuka's signature style (which may not be everyone's taste) is present, as well as familiar themes that are also very prevalent in Astro Boy, but in this story is much darker and more violent. Although Tezuka also manages to put in moments of humour as well and a lot more heart than I was expecting (although I don't know why- Astro Boy was all heart). It may seem ‘typical' by today's manga standards, but there is something unique about Tezuka's storytelling that manages to worm its way past the ordinary and becomes something just a little bit more special. I really enjoyed the mix of fantastical/supernatural, sword fights, journey/adventure and the growing comradeship between Dororo and Hyakkimaru. I think it's well worth a read especially if any of the above is your thing.

There is a scene where a giant shark possessed by a demon breathes demon poisonous sake-gas-breath on the hero, Hyakkimaru, drunkening him in combat.

Hyakkimaru is missing 48 body parts, bartered away by his Faustian, butthead dad to 48 demons. He now has, and I am not making any of this up, bamboo-prosthetic arms and legs that house shiny swords which he uses to kill evil-doers with. He also has glass eyes, a fake nose, and no voice box: so his ‘voice' is his ability to speak telepathically. Oh, I forgot to mention: he's also telepathic.

So basically this manga is amazing. It's also titled after Hyakkimaru's sidekick, Dororo, which is tender and sweet, because their companionship is tender and sweet. In classic Tezuka style, cartoonish people are juxtaposed against hyper-realistic backgrounds and grotesque plot turns. Horror and comedy intermingle, always with a sort of Buddhisty, dharma-ish vibe of “life is suffering”.

Not as good as Tezuka's Buddha series, but a very fun romp through ghouls, monsters, medieval Japan, and sake-gas-breath demon-sharks.