Black Jack, Volume 5

Black Jack in 17 volumes #5

by Osamu Tezuka

Black Jack is a mysterious and charismatic young genius surgeon who travels the world performing amazing and impossible medical feats. Though a trained physician, he refuses to accept a medical license due to his hatred and mistrust of the medical community's hypocrisy and corruption. This leads Black Jack to occasional run-ins with the authorities, as well as from gangsters and criminals who approach him for illegal operations. Black Jack charges exorbitant fees for his services, the proceeds from which he uses to fund environmental projects and to aid victims of crime and corrupt capitalists. But because Black Jack keeps his true motives secret, his ethics are perceived as questionable and he is considered a selfish, uncaring devil. The Black Jack series is told in short stories. Each volume will contain 16-20 stories, each running approximately 20-24 pages in length. Black Jack is recognized as Osamu Tezuka's third most famous series, after Astro Boy and Kimba, the White Lion.

Genres: Manga, Comics, Graphic Novels, Drama, Japan, Fiction, Science Fiction

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 12, 1981

About the author

Dr. 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."

Reviews

[4 · Rating 5 out of 5]

sigh... i miss rock

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several stories in this collection feature the return of characters from Black Jack's past, including two stories with arch-nemesis Kiriko, the doctor who's as enthusiastic about euthanizing patients as Black Jack is about saving them, and one featuring Konomi, the so-called "Black Queen." There's also some stories that push the envelope for sentimentality, even within the extreme context of "Black Jack," like the one about the thalidomide-afflicted child who gets a new set of arms from Black Jack but can't count on them to help him win an abacus tournament, a few that are just plain weird, like the ghost story, and the genuinely creepy "Pinoko's Mystery"--a story that not only acknowledges the more perverse aspects of Black Jack's relationship with his young sidekick, but finds comfort in them.

But there's hardly anybody who can rival Tezuka at laying out a story in comics form, and even when the stories are silly, he's able to hold your attention with his powerful, dynamic imagery.

[#ReadAllTheBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you haven't been following along in the series then you can rest assured that you won't miss too much if you haven't read anything previously. That's not to say that you shouldn't run out & pick up the previous volumes- they're excellent- but the series' setup of one-off chapters makes it easy for new readers to jump in at almost any point.

This volume collects all sort of different stories, from trying to save Kiriko's father to working on a celebrity. The stories are as varied as you could get without getting off the subject at hand.

Like I said in a previous review- some of the feats in this series are pretty unbelievable & just as many are almost impossible. Even so, the excellent Tezuka story telling will entrance even the most reluctant reader.

[Lissibith · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the truly great things about Black Jack to me is that while you can just read the stories as quick one-offs and enjoy them that way, there's a lot of subtle story stuff going on as well - you can read one of the tales and be left feeling uncomfortable, disturbed, even worried, and there's no conclusion to those feelings. They're just a part of the world Black Jack has chosen to live in, and he himself contributes to.

This book also included the first unabashedly supernatural tale I believe (at least in the order this particular set is printed) which felt like an odd departure but not a terrible one.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

More ticker-tape, more awesomeness. I will never not love these books. This volume was additionally smart, and also had an excerpt from Dodoro, which was reckoned to be the prequel to Black Jack. Naturally, I got weepy. Please read these books for clever subvesion of traditional Japanese ethics, great anatomical/surgical/medical knowledge, great sketches, and Pinoko, of course.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best features of this series is the changes one sees in the Black Jack character. He is becoming more and more humane, developing more of a conscience. It is amazing how Tezuka can fit such incredible stories into each 'chapter'. He is indeed the king of manga.

[Mary Goodnight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personnages aux âmes et au corps rapiécés se succèdent dans ce magnifique plaidoyer pour la différence. Blackjack montre avec quel brio la BD japonaise a su négocier son virage vers la BD adulte, bien avant les Occidentaux. Sublime.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying this series and to be honest I'm not big on manga so much any more but Tezuka is a legend. He's a really great storyteller and I just feel like each story is enjoyable and heartfelt.

[Hillingdon Libraries]

Find this book at Hillingdon Libraries

[Lecta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same as my review for Black Jack, Vol. 4, although some of the stories in this one were even more outrageous in a fun way.

[Toby Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

More of the same. A little stale at this point, but still fun.

[Rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume was exceedingly dark, even compared to previous volumes. There was really only one comedy relief type story in this volume as compared to others, and even that is pretty hefty.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love it whenever they break the fourth wall, and they do it a lot.

[Aurelio Ippandoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining comic from the "God of Manga".

[Cherish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly awesome! I found myself reading some of the stories again.

[Ilib4kids · Rating 3 out of 5]

741.5952 TEZ V.5

[Christopher Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic

[Peter Barr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 5th volume of Black Jack. He is an unlicensed surgeon who perform surgeries. The graphic novel is divided into moral tales of a sort. The book is a surprisingly good read.