• News
    • TV
    • Comics
    • Films
    • Gaming
  • Reviews
    • Films
    • TV
    • Videogames
    • Comics
    • Books
  • Asia Zone
    • Anime
    • Manga
    • Music
  • Extras
    • Competitions
    • Interviews
    • Videos
    • Weird Stuff
  • MCM Cons
    • Announcements
    • Highlights
    • Buy Tickets
  • Cosplay
    • Cosplay Interviews
    • Cosplay Photos
  • Contact
    • Meet The Team
    • Contact MyMBuzz.com

Under the Air REVIEW

March 24, 2018 mymbuzz
  • Tweet

Under the Air manga review

This collection of short stories, which were penned by Osamu Tezuka between 1968 and 1970, was crowdfunded by Digital Manga Publishing. Twice. The campaign didn’t raise enough cash first time around, but thankfully the publishers gave it another shot and succeeded.

The resulting volume, Under the Air, sports a mix of stories – from period pieces to science fiction. These include Joe’s Visitor, which follows a racist Vietnam vet who is horrified to learn that his donated organs come from a black soldier; The Duel at Grand Mesa, a western about a man seeking revenge for the murder of his father; Chameleon, a tale of industrial espionage and drug addiction; and Illicit Love, whose protagonist is in an incestuous relationship with his own sister.

Two of the stories feature Tezuka himself as the central character: Cape Uroko, which sees him travel to a remote island, where a boy falls down a hole that is linked to a mythical past; and Rovanna, where he meets up with an old acquaintance who has, shall we say, a peculiar relationship with a donkey.

As you might expect from such a collection, the quality of the stories is variable, but most prove enjoyable. As you also might gather from a manga whose cover is dominated by a topless lady, many of the themes dealt with in Under the Air are controversial, but as always Osamu Tezuka can be counted on to make them engaging. Well worth a read. Reviewed by Ian Wolf

INFO
Credits: Osamu Tezuka
Publisher: Digital Manga Publishing
Release Date: Out Now
Price: $15.96 (£11.80, print) $9.95 (£7.35, digital)
Rating: 16+

© 2017 Tezuka Productions

Share this:

  • Tweet
Tagged with: Cape Uroko Chameleon donkey Illicit Love Joe’s Visitor Manga Osamu Tezuka review Rovanna short stories The Duel at Grand Mesa Under the Air
Recent Posts
  • Last Kingdom warriors Mark Rowley & Arnas Fedaravicius to raid MCM Birmingham
  • Catherine: Full Body gets a US and European release date
  • Oninaki is the next game from Tokyo RPG Factory
  • Live life on the edge in new Fantasy Flight board game Star Wars: Outer Rim
  • Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night set for release this summer
  • Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening remaster announced for Nintendo Switch
  • Good Omens: Release date for book-to-TV adaptation as Amazon shows off title trailer
  • First teaser for Disney’s Frozen II
  • Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee demo available on the Switch eShop
  • MVM announces summer releases for Kizumonogatari and Hanasaku Iroha

Quote Of The Week:

♬ So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu
Adieu, adieu, to yieu and yieu and yieu ♫

USEFUL LINKS

Birmingham Comic Con Manchester Comic Con London Comic Con Scotland Comic Con

Ireland Comic Con

GENERAL INFORMATION

Editor-in-chief: Matt Chapman
Contact Us

Meet The Team

Corporate Website
MCM Portal
Privacy policy