Astro Boy Volume 1

First of all, let me say I love Astro Boy (nee Tetsuwan Atom). The stories are fun, action packed and don't feel "dated" at all considering the material is 30+ years old. If you're looking for a good solid series, a classic manga, or something for your kids you really should give Astro Boy a try...

"Astro Boy Vol. 1" is a great introduction to Tezuka Osamu's famous flying boy robot. Included is the origin story of Mighty Atom/Astro Boy, a longer tale which takes up 2/3's of the book, about cyborg dogs called the Hot Dog Corps, and a third tale about living plants. The stories are in no particular chronological order, and are selected more for feel and quality than anything else. Tezuka has included a few self-introductions featuring himself as a cartoon character.Of good interest also are an introduction to the series, including notes on translation and selection. The translator attempted to preserve the Japanese names as much as possible, including nicknames, keeping only the Americanized Astro Boy instead of the direct translation Mighty Atom, as Astro Boy is the more familiar name.Astro Boy is a lot like the Mickey Mouse of Japan, and his good-natured adventures are as much fun to read as the early Mickey Mouse comics. The difference comes in social issues, as Tezuka clearly uses his character to tackle ethical/political issues that interested him at the times, raising the comic up several notches.

I haven't picked up a comic book in quite a few years, and read the inside cover of one of the later volumes of Astro Boy, which piqued my interest. Astro Boy Vol. 1 is the background story of how Astro Boy was created. However, when Tezuka-san put together these volumes, he mixed and matched different stories, created in different times, to best tell the story. For example, Tezuka-san created the series in 1951, but the first story in the volume was published in 1975. It also has Tezuka-san, interject some of his own personal insights into the book, so the reader better understands the story.There are three stories about AstroBoy, who is the epitome of all that is good. The first, describes how Astro was created. The second, called Hot Dog Corps, is a strange story of how an army of robots, created from dogs, are ruled by a Princess who is ardent about keeping anyone from coming to the moon. The underlying story, is that good prevails. The drawing, which is simple, yet interesting, is no too destracting.I loved this Manga, and can't wait to read all of them. Like candy, they are little treats, that don't take a very long time to digest or consume.

Astro Boy Vol.1 is a compelling read. It was written/drawn by Osamu Tezuka (Creator), and translated by Frederik L. Schodt (who is apparetly German!).There are 3 stories in this book, with the first story taking up the majority of the book. The first story the "Hot Dog Corps" may shock you due to its bizarre storyline. Without giving away too much it has nothing to do with 'hot dogs' the food! Rather its about Mr Mustachio's dog who aparently is hot in some kind of way.My only criticism is that when astro fights another robot he never goes in for the kill. Perhaps the rumours about his queerness are true, perhaps not. Frankly I dont care. But one day astro's nicenessiness will be his downfall.you heard it first here!

I love old anime and manga. When asked what my favorite manga are I readily say Lone Wolf and Cub, Urusei Yatsura, and the like. Now that I have finished reading Astro Boy, Tetsuwan Atom, it must be added to the list also. Astro Boy is a simple story of a robot boy with a heart of gold who wants to bring peace to the world. Simple, but very fun to read. Astro Boy is brought to us by Osamu Tezuka the God of Manga. In his wonderful cartoonish style Dr. Tezuka weaves a world where virtually anything can happen. In this book for instance we see a group of cyborgs with dog brains and nervous systems ruled bt a Russian Duchess who wants to keep anyone from going to the moon. Very odd, but fun to read.Also the supportingcharacters are something else. Dr. Ochanomizu is your typicall caring but lost in the clouds scientist, and there is Mr. Mustachio a great man, with one of my favorite quotes ever. "What do you want with me, anyway? You trying to sell me something, or kill me, or do you just want my autograph?" page 103.Also interesting is that we get manga commentary by Tezuka. Thty really adds something to the strip. Also this book does not start back with the first strip that was produced back in 1951. Instead it starts with a strip from 1975. The first real story arc is from 1961. Mr. Schodt and the Japanese publishers say that this oreder will make the series easier to understand we will see, but anyway: "Here ta meet ya!"