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鉄腕アトム [Tetsuwan Atom] #1
Astro Boy, Vol. 1
Presents the adventures of the robotic Astro Boy, including how he was created and his battles with the Hot Dog Corps.
223 pages, Paperback
First published April 3, 1952
44 people are currently reading
1256 people want to read
About the author
Osamu Tezuka
2,153 books1,291 followersDr. Osamu Tezuka (手塚治虫) was a Japanese manga artist, animator, producer and medical doctor, although he never practiced medicine. Born in Osaka Prefecture, he is best known as the creator of Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion. He is often credited as the "Father of Anime", and is often considered the Japanese equivalent to Walt Disney, who served as a major inspiration during his formative years. His prolific output, pioneering techniques, and innovative redefinitions of genres earned him such titles as "the father of manga" and "the God of Manga."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
June 1, 2022
I was not expecting this kind of depth and science oriented plot on a kid's comic book from the 1950's. The science is flimsy of course (the origin of the moon described on this volume would make astronomers squirm, it's a nice twist though, so it's all worth it), and when the story gets too emotionally heavy Tezuka quickly lights up the mood with some nonsense humor or an action scene, this is a comic book for kids after all. Still this volume has plenty of interesting elements for mature readers: crime, mystery, an international crisis, cyborg dogs, sentient alien plants and the real reason behind moon's craters. The amount of cool and absurd ideas Tezuka throws at the reader is invigorating, both stories on this volume read almost like a pulp science fiction for kids. That and the captivating characterization of Professor Mustachio and Cyborg #44 (weirdly enough, despite his charms and plot moving powers, Astro boy himself is not the main attraction of this book) are the reason why this is such a compelling read, a silly one too, but that's not a bad thing.
February 10, 2023
I think I've have found this delightful even if I wasn't reading it as relief from reading a biography of Goebbels
November 14, 2019
My husband is coming up for a short visit soon and I have ordered three more volumes of Astro Boy for his collectio. And of course I get to read them first!
This is Volume 1, where in The Birth Of Astro Boy we learn how Astro Boy was created, although we don't learn why his eventual 'father' decided to put machine guns in his butt. The searchlight eyes are easier to understand, but those butt guns, those things are just weird.
Anyway, the main story in this book is called The Hot Dog Corps and involves a gang of cyborg dogs that were turned into killer robots that look like people and don't remember they were once dogs. Or do they? How far does Astro Boy have to go to make them heel?
The third and very short tale is called Plant People. Astro Boy and his friends are on a ski holiday when they stumble across a lovely flower growing in the snow and Astro Boy has to keep them from pulling it up out of the ground. What is his story?
The print in this book was pretty tiny, and I imagine the next two books will be just as small but I will struggle along anyway because I have become rather fond of Astro Boy, and I can't wait to see where he aims those butt guns next!
This is Volume 1, where in The Birth Of Astro Boy we learn how Astro Boy was created, although we don't learn why his eventual 'father' decided to put machine guns in his butt. The searchlight eyes are easier to understand, but those butt guns, those things are just weird.
Anyway, the main story in this book is called The Hot Dog Corps and involves a gang of cyborg dogs that were turned into killer robots that look like people and don't remember they were once dogs. Or do they? How far does Astro Boy have to go to make them heel?
The third and very short tale is called Plant People. Astro Boy and his friends are on a ski holiday when they stumble across a lovely flower growing in the snow and Astro Boy has to keep them from pulling it up out of the ground. What is his story?
The print in this book was pretty tiny, and I imagine the next two books will be just as small but I will struggle along anyway because I have become rather fond of Astro Boy, and I can't wait to see where he aims those butt guns next!
June 23, 2019
This should be recognized as a reference to classic sci-fi comics. Simple but if you read between the lines, the book has an intelligent point of view when it comes to politics, economy and socialism.
The art has a very good finish and the best pages are the ones that portray space and spaceships. Japanese comics never seizes to amaze me.
The art has a very good finish and the best pages are the ones that portray space and spaceships. Japanese comics never seizes to amaze me.
April 1, 2019
I can totally see the appeal of Astro Boy, I've read Pluto before, a mature take on this series which I absolutely loved, that left me curious about the source material for a while and I finally decided to pick it up, so glad I did, really entertaining despite being made in the 50's, way more interesting than Mickey Mouse or even Superman, which I never really cared for, there's a certain charm to it much like the sci-fi flicks being produced on Hollywood around that time, its also the birth of modern manga and the shounen magazine, so if you're a fan of any of these things I mentioned, you should give it a try as well, gonna stick around for a few more volumes.
November 17, 2013
The classic Astor Boy, and I had never read it! Better than I thought it would be, as I expected something silly, but it was very entertaining. Fast read, as much manga is, but this in a sense started it off for the west's intro to manga, as these were done in the mid-sixties…Fun stuff, manga for boys… amazing that he started here then also did Buddha, and the Adolph stories for adult readers… such a range!
December 8, 2025
Holy Mackerel, Osamu Tezuka Is A Genius!
https://youtu.be/nN3b99rE77k
https://youtu.be/pWMi-maaTx0
https://youtu.be/nN3b99rE77k
https://youtu.be/pWMi-maaTx0
October 7, 2022
A manga classic that really helped to set the stage.
November 15, 2025
I love it
April 3, 2013
So, how are you suppose to give an opinion on the Micky Mouse of Japan?
Truthfully, and very surprisingly, I really enjoyed it.
The artwork threw me off at first. The large eyes and over-dramatic expressions made this look like it came out of the Sunday Funnies. But behind the wacky action and cutsey look of everything, Astro Boy holds a strange sense of dark peril. Terribly unfortunate, and even violent, things happen to characters who do nothing but good, and just when you think things couldn't get any worse, they do.
A lot of the characters aren't very impressive but I found I somewhat cared about where they would end up in the story. The focus characters are the pinpoint of this book (and I'm not talking about Astro). One of the stories tell us of a helpless android called #44. He's forced to do things he doesn't know if he should be doing and begins to question his feelings on the matter, even though there's nothing he can visibly do about it. I haven't seen such a complex character in a LONG TIME...! #44 is, all around, three-dimensional. When you think you know the guy, he does a 180 and surprises you senseless. Every interaction with him is an emotional roller coaster ride. One moment he's a heartless android doing his duty, the next he's the saddest person in the world, then the angriest, then a maniacal villain, then a poor soul who you just want to hug and tell him everything will be alright, and then push him away for being spooky! And that's just a taste.
Astro himself is a pretty good character. Heroic, honest, and willing to throw himself in any sort of danger, even if it means perishing in the process. All of these things are a common trait in the hero factor, but what makes this infinitely more interesting is the fact that astro is a child. To see a child (even a robot one) do the things Astro does because he's the only one who can is kind of mind-blowing. Astro takes on insane responsibilities, not just because he's the only one who can do it, but because he likes helping those who can't help themselves. You could argue that he's just a robot doing his job, but Dr. Tenma made Astro for one reason, to replicate his son. Although it isn't stressed hardly at all in the manga, when Astro isn't out saving the world he's doing normal things a kid would: playing with friends and having fun.
It isn't the best work I've seen in Tezuka, but it's highly enjoyable and worth reading more than once.
Truthfully, and very surprisingly, I really enjoyed it.
The artwork threw me off at first. The large eyes and over-dramatic expressions made this look like it came out of the Sunday Funnies. But behind the wacky action and cutsey look of everything, Astro Boy holds a strange sense of dark peril. Terribly unfortunate, and even violent, things happen to characters who do nothing but good, and just when you think things couldn't get any worse, they do.
A lot of the characters aren't very impressive but I found I somewhat cared about where they would end up in the story. The focus characters are the pinpoint of this book (and I'm not talking about Astro). One of the stories tell us of a helpless android called #44. He's forced to do things he doesn't know if he should be doing and begins to question his feelings on the matter, even though there's nothing he can visibly do about it. I haven't seen such a complex character in a LONG TIME...! #44 is, all around, three-dimensional. When you think you know the guy, he does a 180 and surprises you senseless. Every interaction with him is an emotional roller coaster ride. One moment he's a heartless android doing his duty, the next he's the saddest person in the world, then the angriest, then a maniacal villain, then a poor soul who you just want to hug and tell him everything will be alright, and then push him away for being spooky! And that's just a taste.
Astro himself is a pretty good character. Heroic, honest, and willing to throw himself in any sort of danger, even if it means perishing in the process. All of these things are a common trait in the hero factor, but what makes this infinitely more interesting is the fact that astro is a child. To see a child (even a robot one) do the things Astro does because he's the only one who can is kind of mind-blowing. Astro takes on insane responsibilities, not just because he's the only one who can do it, but because he likes helping those who can't help themselves. You could argue that he's just a robot doing his job, but Dr. Tenma made Astro for one reason, to replicate his son. Although it isn't stressed hardly at all in the manga, when Astro isn't out saving the world he's doing normal things a kid would: playing with friends and having fun.
It isn't the best work I've seen in Tezuka, but it's highly enjoyable and worth reading more than once.
July 18, 2025
I can honestly say that I have no idea how the heck this book was the manga that ‘started’ the shounen manga or inspired manga artists with their successful shounen series such as Dragon Ball. This manga is just kind of out there that I have absolutely no idea how I was going to rate this.
First off, this manga was made in the50’s so the art and the story really has an old fashion type story structure that we’ve seen in old comics before. Especially in the sci-fi and the action genre. The hero lives life normally (or sometimes discovers new powers about himself). A villain appears and causes chaos.
There’s nothing much to say about this book except for the fact that some of the scenes in this manga don’t make any sense and just pop out of nowhere. For example, in the beginning of the manga there is this young boy driving a car. Mind you that this kid is no older than 12 years old and yet he recklessly drives the car and ends up getting into an accident. There’s also the police cars that are shaped like dog heads and there are some sort of diamonds on the moon (or some sort of crystals with an abandoned city, I can’t remember).
The plot is just series of events that happen to our protagonist, Astro Boy and they are kind of boring and lame. They’re predictable and the villains are not really that interesting and can sometimes be kind of stupid. Astro Boy is the only thing about this manga I actually enjoyed. He’s nice, wants to do the right thing, stands up for his friends and is basically your typical superhero. He’s not that interesting or complex but they do give him a good backstory that makes you feel sympathy for him.
If you like the story of robots coexisting with human then this’ll be a cute manga to check out. Just keep in mind that it was made in the 50’s so the plot and the characters are kind of old fashioned and not that complex.
First off, this manga was made in the
There’s nothing much to say about this book except for the fact that some of the scenes in this manga don’t make any sense and just pop out of nowhere. For example, in the beginning of the manga there is this young boy driving a car. Mind you that this kid is no older than 12 years old and yet he recklessly drives the car and ends up getting into an accident. There’s also the police cars that are shaped like dog heads and there are some sort of diamonds on the moon (or some sort of crystals with an abandoned city, I can’t remember).
The plot is just series of events that happen to our protagonist, Astro Boy and they are kind of boring and lame. They’re predictable and the villains are not really that interesting and can sometimes be kind of stupid. Astro Boy is the only thing about this manga I actually enjoyed. He’s nice, wants to do the right thing, stands up for his friends and is basically your typical superhero. He’s not that interesting or complex but they do give him a good backstory that makes you feel sympathy for him.
If you like the story of robots coexisting with human then this’ll be a cute manga to check out. Just keep in mind that it was made in the 50’s so the plot and the characters are kind of old fashioned and not that complex.
November 13, 2017
Por detrás do aparente simplismo deste mangá clássico podemos encontrar tendências curiosas. Há um forte transhumanismo proto-cyberpunk nestas histórias onde o herói é um robot que, construído como réplica mecânica do filho de um cientista, amargurado pela sua morte acidental, é por este abandonado porque a sua perfeição cibernética não simula por completo a criança humana em que se baseia. Recolhido por outro cientista, Astroboy tornar-se-á um herói, num futuro onde a humanidade coexiste com robots, entre o mecanismo e o humanóide, onde robots vão à escola com crianças humanas, e são, de facto, cidadão, nalguns casos muito de segunda. Temas que hoje discutimos e sobre os quais especulamos, sustentam um mangá juvenil dos anos 60.
Neste primeiro volume editado pela Asa, ficamos a conhecer a origem do personagem em O Nascimento de Astroboy; lidamos com robots criados a partir de cães, numa conspiração para defender a lua de exploradores em O Regimento Hotdog, e assistimos a uma curiosa invasão da Terra por robots alienígenas vindos de um planeta extinto que, fiéis à sua programação, querem roubar metade da água do nosso planeta, em O Rapaz Planta.
A simplicidade das histórias é sublinhada pelo traço, também simples e fugindo do realismo em direção ao cartoon. Apesar disso, Tezuka surpreende com uma sólida estética futurista, retro aos nossos olhos, que dá vida e elegância à tecnologia.
Neste primeiro volume editado pela Asa, ficamos a conhecer a origem do personagem em O Nascimento de Astroboy; lidamos com robots criados a partir de cães, numa conspiração para defender a lua de exploradores em O Regimento Hotdog, e assistimos a uma curiosa invasão da Terra por robots alienígenas vindos de um planeta extinto que, fiéis à sua programação, querem roubar metade da água do nosso planeta, em O Rapaz Planta.
A simplicidade das histórias é sublinhada pelo traço, também simples e fugindo do realismo em direção ao cartoon. Apesar disso, Tezuka surpreende com uma sólida estética futurista, retro aos nossos olhos, que dá vida e elegância à tecnologia.
March 15, 2014
I really love "Astro-Boy", it's one of the greatest (if not the greatest) comic book/graphic novels ever created. It's sad really, the fact that such a great comic cant seem to get a good and faithful adaption of itself on the big screen... but at least we have the original comic series, which is By far among my most beloved comics ever... strike that, "Astro-Boy Vol.1" is my most beloved comic. Bar none.
May 13, 2022
»»» A compra:
Estando a gostar bastante da onda manga que anda por aí decidi que o preço acessível deste manga merecia que o conhecesse, mesmo já conhecendo o personagem do filme.
»»» A aventura:
Num mundo onde humanos coexistem com máquinas, algumas delas com forma humana mas algo rudimentares nas suas capacidades, um génio da robótica dá o passo seguinte na evolução dos robots quando o seu filho Tobio morre atropelado.
Ele cria um robot à imagem de Tobio, mas com circuitos avançados, nomeadamente com capacidade de raciocínio, e educa-o como um humano.
Porém, passado algum tempo o “pai” do robot Tobio assume que, como robot, ele não crescerá e deixa de conseguir ver nele o filho, acabando por o vender.
De venda em venda, o robot Tobio acaba no circo, onde um espectador, o Dr. Ochanomizu, se apercebe que ele não é um robot normal e leva-o para casa, passando a cuidar dele como um qualquer rapaz. Ele passa a ser Astro Boy, o robot reencarnação de Tobio.
Quando o cão do Dr. Ochanomizu é raptado Astro Boy cruza-se com o regimento hotdog, um estranho exército cyborg criado pelo maléfico Dr. Ponkotsu e comandando pela Grã-Duquesa auto-intitulada Rainha da Lua.
Este grupo de malfeitores habita uma fortaleza no Pólo Norte e destrói todas as naves que tentam alcançar a lua, onde em tempos a mãe da Grã-Duquesa, uma astronauta, misteriosamente desapareceu.
As capacidades de Astro Boy, como voar, disparar balas ou sobreviver ao frio, serão imprescindíveis no combate a este grupo, no desvendar do triste, mas surpreendente, destino do cão do Dr. Ochanomizu e na revelação fascinante do segredo das crateras lunares.
»»» Sentimento final:
Muito bom.
A imaginação está à solta neste manga, dos locais aos protagonistas, tudo de prender a atenção, especialmente quanto ao segredo do exército cyborg e ao que se encontra escondido na lua.
Claro que Astro Boy é adorável e cativante só por si, sempre dando tudo para o bem dos que o rodeiam e do mundo.
O segundo volume passou a estar na minha lista de compras.
»»» Nota final (Capa e outras considerações):
--- [Capa] – Não é a capa mais interessante, mas é das melhores das várias edições internacionais.
--- [Ilustrações] – O tipo de ilustração que serve o livro é de um desenho mais arredondado do que o de mangas mais recentes, certamente um traço típico da altura em que foi criado, mas mostra o enorme talento do autor e chega a ser mais minucioso e menos confuso que muitas obras mais modernas.
--- [Tamanho das vinheta] – As tiras de desenho estão divididas em vinhetas muito pequenas, o que em alguns casos torna mais difícil a leitura, porque tudo o que nelas é desenhado acaba por ser muito pequeno (talvez também fosse o estilo em 1952?).
--- [Branco das folhas] – Tenho lido alguns mangas mais recentes e notei que o papel usado neste do Astro Boy é mesmo branco, em vez do branco “sujo” a que me vinha habituando – tenho a dizer que prefiro o branco “sujo” porque o contraste entre o preto do desenho e o branco da folha é menos intenso.
--- [Aviso a pais de pequenotes] – Alguns aspetos aconselham que os pais dêem uma vista de olhos antes de deixar filhos pequenos lerem - não sendo violento como outros mangas, longe disso, tem aspetos, como o abandono de “crianças”, “crianças” com armas ou a morte de animais, que devem ser tidos em conta.
Estando a gostar bastante da onda manga que anda por aí decidi que o preço acessível deste manga merecia que o conhecesse, mesmo já conhecendo o personagem do filme.
»»» A aventura:
Num mundo onde humanos coexistem com máquinas, algumas delas com forma humana mas algo rudimentares nas suas capacidades, um génio da robótica dá o passo seguinte na evolução dos robots quando o seu filho Tobio morre atropelado.
Ele cria um robot à imagem de Tobio, mas com circuitos avançados, nomeadamente com capacidade de raciocínio, e educa-o como um humano.
Porém, passado algum tempo o “pai” do robot Tobio assume que, como robot, ele não crescerá e deixa de conseguir ver nele o filho, acabando por o vender.
De venda em venda, o robot Tobio acaba no circo, onde um espectador, o Dr. Ochanomizu, se apercebe que ele não é um robot normal e leva-o para casa, passando a cuidar dele como um qualquer rapaz. Ele passa a ser Astro Boy, o robot reencarnação de Tobio.
Quando o cão do Dr. Ochanomizu é raptado Astro Boy cruza-se com o regimento hotdog, um estranho exército cyborg criado pelo maléfico Dr. Ponkotsu e comandando pela Grã-Duquesa auto-intitulada Rainha da Lua.
Este grupo de malfeitores habita uma fortaleza no Pólo Norte e destrói todas as naves que tentam alcançar a lua, onde em tempos a mãe da Grã-Duquesa, uma astronauta, misteriosamente desapareceu.
As capacidades de Astro Boy, como voar, disparar balas ou sobreviver ao frio, serão imprescindíveis no combate a este grupo, no desvendar do triste, mas surpreendente, destino do cão do Dr. Ochanomizu e na revelação fascinante do segredo das crateras lunares.
»»» Sentimento final:
Muito bom.
A imaginação está à solta neste manga, dos locais aos protagonistas, tudo de prender a atenção, especialmente quanto ao segredo do exército cyborg e ao que se encontra escondido na lua.
Claro que Astro Boy é adorável e cativante só por si, sempre dando tudo para o bem dos que o rodeiam e do mundo.
O segundo volume passou a estar na minha lista de compras.
»»» Nota final (Capa e outras considerações):
--- [Capa] – Não é a capa mais interessante, mas é das melhores das várias edições internacionais.
--- [Ilustrações] – O tipo de ilustração que serve o livro é de um desenho mais arredondado do que o de mangas mais recentes, certamente um traço típico da altura em que foi criado, mas mostra o enorme talento do autor e chega a ser mais minucioso e menos confuso que muitas obras mais modernas.
--- [Tamanho das vinheta] – As tiras de desenho estão divididas em vinhetas muito pequenas, o que em alguns casos torna mais difícil a leitura, porque tudo o que nelas é desenhado acaba por ser muito pequeno (talvez também fosse o estilo em 1952?).
--- [Branco das folhas] – Tenho lido alguns mangas mais recentes e notei que o papel usado neste do Astro Boy é mesmo branco, em vez do branco “sujo” a que me vinha habituando – tenho a dizer que prefiro o branco “sujo” porque o contraste entre o preto do desenho e o branco da folha é menos intenso.
--- [Aviso a pais de pequenotes] – Alguns aspetos aconselham que os pais dêem uma vista de olhos antes de deixar filhos pequenos lerem - não sendo violento como outros mangas, longe disso, tem aspetos, como o abandono de “crianças”, “crianças” com armas ou a morte de animais, que devem ser tidos em conta.
June 19, 2023
The main story in this volume revolves around cyborgs who, because they are made from dog rather than human brains, therefore retain some of their dog-like persona. In another's hands this could be a bit naff, but Tezuka manages to cross sci-fi adventure and comedy to great effect here and, as ever with tezuka the story does wander into directions you don't quite see it going into.
Alongside this are shorter stories "The Birth of Astro Boy" which is fine but very much designed to fill in a hole (these stories weren't written as a chronological saga, they are just stories) and "Plant People" which is a very short but quite sweet tale about an alien that turns out to be a plant.
Alongside this are shorter stories "The Birth of Astro Boy" which is fine but very much designed to fill in a hole (these stories weren't written as a chronological saga, they are just stories) and "Plant People" which is a very short but quite sweet tale about an alien that turns out to be a plant.
Read
July 16, 2019Recommended by a student in my comic book/graphic novel course, this was an interesting juvenile manga that asks what happens when a scientist creates a "child" robot with a heart?
April 8, 2021
Sebbene datato, presenta una profondità maggiore di tutti i fumetti per bambini creati in occidente. Il bambino non viene trattato da scemo, ma affronta tematiche fondamentali della prorpia crescita come la morte e il conflitto, anche violento. Unica pecca, lo scarso trasporto per un adulto.
October 11, 2017
This is an English translation of a Japanese collection of 1975 stories of Astro Boy (or rather Tetsuwan Atom). The entire series includes short added prologues by creator Osamu Tezuka, featuring a fictional version of the creator talking to the audience giving context, commentary and behind the scenes information about some of the stories. This volume includes a three page written introduction by the translator giving some explanation and background to this set of volumes that is not found in other volumes. The volumes reproduce whole stories (which might be across multiple issues of a comic magazine in original form), but the stories are presented in no particular chronological order (this is true of all volumes in this Dark Horse collection series).
The first story is a 1975 retelling of the origin of Astroboy for that 1975 collection apparently the actual first comic story from 1951 is contained in volume 15 (assuming that the translation kept to the same format as the Japanese collection).
The second story and the bulk of this volume is the story of the Hot Dog Corps from 1961. It is a fun and sometimes touching if simple silly story involving dog cyborgs and the Moon. Technically it follows up an earlier 1959 story about the Moon, that is in volume 4 of this series (demonstrating the odd chronology of this collection series). This has one of the short prologues from 1975 with Tezuka's thoughts on animal cruelty.
The last story is "plant people" a very short tale From New Year's 1961 about aliens who come to take our water with a poignant twist ending. Again motivations and so on of characters are very simple, but surprisingly effective. This story includes a one page prologue with Tezuka's thoughts on plant consciousness and a quick trivia quiz.
The first story is a 1975 retelling of the origin of Astroboy for that 1975 collection apparently the actual first comic story from 1951 is contained in volume 15 (assuming that the translation kept to the same format as the Japanese collection).
The second story and the bulk of this volume is the story of the Hot Dog Corps from 1961. It is a fun and sometimes touching if simple silly story involving dog cyborgs and the Moon. Technically it follows up an earlier 1959 story about the Moon, that is in volume 4 of this series (demonstrating the odd chronology of this collection series). This has one of the short prologues from 1975 with Tezuka's thoughts on animal cruelty.
The last story is "plant people" a very short tale From New Year's 1961 about aliens who come to take our water with a poignant twist ending. Again motivations and so on of characters are very simple, but surprisingly effective. This story includes a one page prologue with Tezuka's thoughts on plant consciousness and a quick trivia quiz.
May 17, 2017
I don't consider myself a manga fan, so I was genuinely surprised how much I enjoyed reading this book. Yes, the format/translation leads to simpler text than one finds in a novel, but the story's simplicity enhances rather than diminishes its appeal. It doesn't hurt that Tezuka incorporates many of the SF ideas (robots, cyborgs, etc.) I enjoyed reading about growing up, either.
I plan on tracking down his other Astro Boy volumes to see how his story telling/artistic style evolved over time, as well as his other titles.
I plan on tracking down his other Astro Boy volumes to see how his story telling/artistic style evolved over time, as well as his other titles.
March 16, 2022
One of the earliest Mangas out there and even though it doesn't really feel like a Japanese manga and more like an oldschool American cartoon, it's really impressive. It feels like Japan's answer to Aldus Huxley with real thoughtful ideas and worries about the future. The story is surprisingly serious in some parts for the way it looks, but the 50s/60s were a different time. I also like the additional comments from years later from the mangaka.
January 4, 2012
I thought it was a really good book!
March 2, 2023
The plots in Astro Boy are ridiculous, filled with random events. There is a lack of foreshadowing to set up threats. The characters fly from one event to the next in manic fashion, with little time devoted to emotional reactions or logical decision making.
The longest story here, “hot dog corps,” begins when the dog of Astro Boy’s mentor is kidnapped. Now, you would think that Astro Boy would decide to rescue the dog and the plot would proceed from there, but that doesn’t happen. Instead, after a perfunctory chase, Astro Boy gives up and everyone just forgets about the dog for a year. We then get convoluted developments from multiple viewpoints involving cyborgs, rockets, the moon, etc. Astro Boy is passive for most of the story and the plot lacks a strong through-line.
The dialogue is unnatural. Characters routinely state the obvious. When the snow on a mountain suddenly melts, multiple characters point it out. “All the snow’s suddenly disappeared,” “the mountain looks naked,” “the whole mountain’s dry as a bone,” “it almost looks like something sucked it off.” A modern manga would show the snow melting over several panels, intercut with spectator reactions showing facial expressions. Little or no dialogue would be used. The redundant narration in Astro Boy quickly becomes tiresome.
Dialogue is also used to convey large chunks of exposition. Villains recite monologues for no reason, detailing backstory and motivation. On the moon, a recording explains the setting’s history at length. These things should have developed organically over time.
The characters are little more than playing pieces for the author to shove around. Emotions are stilted or absent. When hundreds of innocent soldiers die, Astro boy’s only reaction is a glassy eyed grin.
The book is also weird in a bad way. Such as the casual manner in which it handles skinning dogs, with various characters carrying around the fur.
Astro Boy has a charming, distinctive cartoon style that reminds me of Mega Man. However, it’s been better executed by other people, such as in the Metropolis anime. Tezuka always seems in a rush and the art here is sloppy. There’s something dead about it as well, with expressions that don’t convey genuine emotion.
The page layout is more cramped than in Tezuka’s later works and it doesn’t read as smoothly. Framing tends to be repetitive.
Astro Boy is a foundational work of manga, but it doesn’t hold up today.
The longest story here, “hot dog corps,” begins when the dog of Astro Boy’s mentor is kidnapped. Now, you would think that Astro Boy would decide to rescue the dog and the plot would proceed from there, but that doesn’t happen. Instead, after a perfunctory chase, Astro Boy gives up and everyone just forgets about the dog for a year. We then get convoluted developments from multiple viewpoints involving cyborgs, rockets, the moon, etc. Astro Boy is passive for most of the story and the plot lacks a strong through-line.
The dialogue is unnatural. Characters routinely state the obvious. When the snow on a mountain suddenly melts, multiple characters point it out. “All the snow’s suddenly disappeared,” “the mountain looks naked,” “the whole mountain’s dry as a bone,” “it almost looks like something sucked it off.” A modern manga would show the snow melting over several panels, intercut with spectator reactions showing facial expressions. Little or no dialogue would be used. The redundant narration in Astro Boy quickly becomes tiresome.
Dialogue is also used to convey large chunks of exposition. Villains recite monologues for no reason, detailing backstory and motivation. On the moon, a recording explains the setting’s history at length. These things should have developed organically over time.
The characters are little more than playing pieces for the author to shove around. Emotions are stilted or absent. When hundreds of innocent soldiers die, Astro boy’s only reaction is a glassy eyed grin.
The book is also weird in a bad way. Such as the casual manner in which it handles skinning dogs, with various characters carrying around the fur.
Astro Boy has a charming, distinctive cartoon style that reminds me of Mega Man. However, it’s been better executed by other people, such as in the Metropolis anime. Tezuka always seems in a rush and the art here is sloppy. There’s something dead about it as well, with expressions that don’t convey genuine emotion.
The page layout is more cramped than in Tezuka’s later works and it doesn’t read as smoothly. Framing tends to be repetitive.
Astro Boy is a foundational work of manga, but it doesn’t hold up today.
May 28, 2019
Osamu Tezuka's novel, "Astro Boy" is one of the best manga's I have ever read with its multiple stories in just one book. "Astro Boy" is about this young robot who has human emotions and lives a normal human life while achieving many adventures throughout many places and planets. Some characters in "Astro Boy" include Pluto, Professor Ochanomizu, Tenma, Pero, Deadcross, Magician Kino, Noh Uno, Inspector Tawashi, Mr.Mustachio, Koichi, Mitsuko, Mount Blanc, North #2, Brando, and Gerhardt. The author sets his work during many settings like Earth ,The Moon,Switzerland, Altantic Ocean, Russia, Greece, and many more other places.The themes of "Astro Boy" that the author emphasis is the courage in Astro to save the world from crime without using violence at all,like Astro is Superman,justifies to save the society.Another them i notice Tezuka uses is individuals and society, how there's a world where robots and humans live together where robots were created as like how humans acted. Overall in my opinion this book satisfied me when reading it.It's unique yet simple art style that Osamu Tezuka uses is magnificent.At one point you're reading a conflict part and the background turns black and the characters are in a shaded grey color then when resolved or done it goes back to its normal black and white comic art style.To me, it seems that "Astro Boy" gives me a mickey mouse back in the 1900's vibe and a superman vibe with saving the world.Lastly I like on how this book comes with many chapters all being different stories having different plots,climax's and endings.To conclude I highly recommend this manga,especially If its your first time reading one you will not be disappointed.
January 29, 2024
Sebelum baca manga klasik 'Astro Boy', sebelumnya saya nonton versi anime-nya sekitar 20 tahun lalu di RCTI. Dari volume pertama yang saya baca ini, saya jadi tahu tentang latar belakang terciptanya Astro Boy. Awalnya, ia adalah anak remaja laki-laki biasa bernama Tobio. Namun, suatu hari ketika ia sedang mengendarai mobil, ia ditabrak truk dan langsung tewas. Ayahnya, Dr. Tenma, adalah seorang ahli robot. Dr. Tenma masih belum bisa menerima bahwa Tobio telah tiada. Lantas, ia pun ingin "membangkitkan" anak laki-lakinya itu dengan tubuh robot. Ketika Tobio versi robot sudah diciptakan sebaik mungkin, Dr. Tenma malah tidak puas karena Tobio tidak terlihat seperti manusia pada umumnya. Ia pun akhirnya mencampakkan Tobio dengan menjualnya sebagai anggota sirkus.
Di pertunjukkan sirkus, ia ditonton Prof. Ochanomizu yang akhirnya memutuskan untuk menebus Tobio dari pihak sirkus. Sejak saat itu, ia memanggilnya 'Astro' dan dianggap sebagai anak sendiri. Astro pun hidup selayaknya anak-anak seumurannya.
Untuk konflik di volume pertama ini adalah tentang perusahaan robot yang suka menculik para anjing. Mereka menjadikan anjing-anjing tersebut sebagai cyborg yang nanti bertugas untuk menghalangi siapa saja yang ingin pergi ke Bulan. Karena salah satu anjing yang diculik adalah milik Mr. Mustachio, yang adalah gurunya Astro, maka Astro pun membantu menyelidiki masalah tersebut.
Di pertunjukkan sirkus, ia ditonton Prof. Ochanomizu yang akhirnya memutuskan untuk menebus Tobio dari pihak sirkus. Sejak saat itu, ia memanggilnya 'Astro' dan dianggap sebagai anak sendiri. Astro pun hidup selayaknya anak-anak seumurannya.
Untuk konflik di volume pertama ini adalah tentang perusahaan robot yang suka menculik para anjing. Mereka menjadikan anjing-anjing tersebut sebagai cyborg yang nanti bertugas untuk menghalangi siapa saja yang ingin pergi ke Bulan. Karena salah satu anjing yang diculik adalah milik Mr. Mustachio, yang adalah gurunya Astro, maka Astro pun membantu menyelidiki masalah tersebut.
April 25, 2025
This publication of Astro Boy is fascinating for a few reasons. It's a direct adaptation of a Japanese edition that chopped up Astro's more than 16-year publication history and sorted it into volumes at Tezuka's direction, which feels almost random at times. This first volume opens with a soft retconned origin story from 1975, then a long, winding adventure story from 1961, then another brief single-chapter 1961 story to close it out. Tezuka drew new intro pages for the stories in this edition which serve to contextualize them in the larger Astro Boy story, share some of the creator's thoughts about his past work, or just poke fun at himself.
I think the Hot Dog Corps is a very weird choice for for the majority of volume 1. It's a great story, but Astro really isn't the main character! That said it's not a bad example of the type of Astro Boy stories you can expect in the following 22 volumes. It's exciting, charming, funny, and has a surprisingly touching moral message.
I love Osamu Tezuka and I love Astro Boy ♥️
I think the Hot Dog Corps is a very weird choice for for the majority of volume 1. It's a great story, but Astro really isn't the main character! That said it's not a bad example of the type of Astro Boy stories you can expect in the following 22 volumes. It's exciting, charming, funny, and has a surprisingly touching moral message.
I love Osamu Tezuka and I love Astro Boy ♥️
October 26, 2024
4.5 stars (rounded up)
I’m counting this as my rating and review for the whole series, it doesn’t make sense to count them all separately.
Reading Astro Boy in my sophomore year of high school was a very unique experience. I read it either on my school laptop or kindle fire, shocked at how much I was enjoying my time with it! Tezuka is likely the greatest mangaka ever- his use of themes, narrative, and characters show so much emotion in such a unique format. He wasn’t afraid to be controversial or push buttons, and broke the 4th wall more than a couple times. While not at all perfect, Astro Boy is in my eyes his best work (of what I’ve read). Astro Boy himself is charming and unique, while always maintaining an emotionally distant status from the reader, leading to Tezuka being able to explore all sorts of themes through his character, for better or for worse.
I’m counting this as my rating and review for the whole series, it doesn’t make sense to count them all separately.
Reading Astro Boy in my sophomore year of high school was a very unique experience. I read it either on my school laptop or kindle fire, shocked at how much I was enjoying my time with it! Tezuka is likely the greatest mangaka ever- his use of themes, narrative, and characters show so much emotion in such a unique format. He wasn’t afraid to be controversial or push buttons, and broke the 4th wall more than a couple times. While not at all perfect, Astro Boy is in my eyes his best work (of what I’ve read). Astro Boy himself is charming and unique, while always maintaining an emotionally distant status from the reader, leading to Tezuka being able to explore all sorts of themes through his character, for better or for worse.
March 17, 2024
For my first time reading Japanese manga I picked Astro Boy by Osamu Tezuka. The Dark Horse Comics blurb calls this author the Walt Disney of Japanese comics making Astro Boy the Mickey Mouse of Japanese culture. It doesn't live up to that kind of hype, but it was an enjoyable place to start as I expand my literary breadth to authentic Japanese comics. My favorite story from this volume was "The Third Magician" (Shonen Magazine October 1961-January 1962) which I loved for its stage magic theme that played out like a whimsical cartoon version of Lionsgate's film Now you See Me. Stream the movie Astro Boy on hulu: https://www.hulu.com/movie/7915f1c5-0...
December 8, 2020
This book was a very interesting read is not typically something I would read. Astro Boy is about a robot boy who was created when the creates son died. He was to take place of the fallen son but he eventually ended up in a circus but was saved. After Astro Boy was saved, a scientist helped Astro Boy by creating a robot family for him. This book would be great for students who love comics and robots. I would not recommend this book to kids who do not like science fiction novels. The book is diverse because it takes place in Japan and shows their culture in it.
September 14, 2022
From the “Father of Manga” these are mainly early 1960’s Manga (at least their Japanese published dates) though they didn’t make it to the USA til decades later. I am not a big comic reader so this is new to me, but I like the Astro Boy stories and what the author’s thoughts toward robots and about human beings in general are. If he were alive I would like to ask him if some of the ideas were in response to worldwide events at the time, including US civil rights unrest. Pleasant diversion from the usual stuff.
November 15, 2025
The Astro Boy series is something I've wanted to read for a little while, especially because of how famous it is. Honestly, despite how old the comics are and simple the art style is, I found myself enjoying it a lot. Many of the jokes still land, even if they're simple, and the comics have a lot of heart which I felt shined through when the stories were very simple.
I would probably suggest to check out one or two of the Astro Boy comics, especially because you can see how so many other comics/mangas in general have been inspired or otherwise followed in the steps of Astro Boy.
I would probably suggest to check out one or two of the Astro Boy comics, especially because you can see how so many other comics/mangas in general have been inspired or otherwise followed in the steps of Astro Boy.
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