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Black Jack in 17 volumes #1
Black Jack - Bác Sĩ Quái Dị
Black Jack is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Osamu Tezuka in the 1970s, dealing with the medical adventures of the title character, doctor Black Jack.
198 pages, ebook
First published May 28, 1974
64 people are currently reading
2157 people want to read
About the author
Osamu Tezuka
2,150 books1,286 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 218 reviews
August 31, 2023
Never had the words amputation and trepanation been used so often, and so casually, in a comic book before. Osamu Tezuka was truly a visionary. I don't know what he was thinking when he decided to blend mystery, medical melodrama, body horror and a few silly gags to create Black Jack, but I'm glad he did it. Before dedicating himself completely to his art Tezuka attended medical school and, unlike his unlicensed Black Jack protagonist, he was a licensed physician. The scientific knowledge he acquired during that time was essential for the creation of this series.
Black Jack is basically a collection of bizarre medical dramas, the stories are loosely based on possible(ish) medical situations with several psychedelic and absurd plot maneuvers. Supernatural wounds, robot surgery, serial-killer chasing, a sentient tumor turned secondary character and a bunch of whimsical transplants. Every story is just uniquely weird and amusing. Some of them with serious overtones, commenting on the traumatizing experience of radiation poisoning and raising awareness on polio disease.
You can tell Tezuka really cared about this series, the medical illustrations are gorgeous and, despite their predictability, most of these stories are emotionally packed. This is kind of an all over the place book so I know it won't be for everyone, but weird and heart-warming is just my cup of tea so Black Jack is already one of my favorite discoveries this year.
Black Jack is basically a collection of bizarre medical dramas, the stories are loosely based on possible(ish) medical situations with several psychedelic and absurd plot maneuvers. Supernatural wounds, robot surgery, serial-killer chasing, a sentient tumor turned secondary character and a bunch of whimsical transplants. Every story is just uniquely weird and amusing. Some of them with serious overtones, commenting on the traumatizing experience of radiation poisoning and raising awareness on polio disease.
You can tell Tezuka really cared about this series, the medical illustrations are gorgeous and, despite their predictability, most of these stories are emotionally packed. This is kind of an all over the place book so I know it won't be for everyone, but weird and heart-warming is just my cup of tea so Black Jack is already one of my favorite discoveries this year.
September 6, 2016
5 sao
Trên cả tuyệt vời!
Truyện mang tính nhân văn rất cao, nhưng không hề nhàm chán mà thậm chí còn tạo sự háo hức nơi mình mỗi khi bắt đầu một câu chuyện mới.
Những tình huống lạ thường, những kiến thức y học thú vị mà chuẩn xác, nét vẽ đơn giản nhưng sống động. Bộ manga này đối với mình không thua kém gì những quyển tiểu thuyết lớn khác cả.
Trên cả tuyệt vời!
Truyện mang tính nhân văn rất cao, nhưng không hề nhàm chán mà thậm chí còn tạo sự háo hức nơi mình mỗi khi bắt đầu một câu chuyện mới.
Những tình huống lạ thường, những kiến thức y học thú vị mà chuẩn xác, nét vẽ đơn giản nhưng sống động. Bộ manga này đối với mình không thua kém gì những quyển tiểu thuyết lớn khác cả.
January 18, 2018
If House was a little more fun, if he could do stuff like full body transplants, you'd have Black Jack.
I'm always game for a Tezuka book. Astro Boy might've been the first Japanese comic I read a lot of, and it was great fun, not to mention the layouts and art were groundbreaking. Also, any robot who has an ass full of machine guns is my kinda wacky.
It's another book off the shelf of stuff I wanted to read and then divest myself of before moving.
This one is tough. It's a really good book. I don't think I'll read it again just because there's SO MUCH left on the shelf, and this is how I got there in the first place. But it's one of those books you'd like to see go to the right reader, someone who would appreciate it.
But it'll probably end up in the Little Free Library up the street, which has got to be the awesome-est LFL ever. I've been putting some great shit in there, some weird shit, and some good reads, and you should be so lucky as to live close to that Little Free Library. List me the titles in any other LFL you find, I got 'em beat.
I'm always game for a Tezuka book. Astro Boy might've been the first Japanese comic I read a lot of, and it was great fun, not to mention the layouts and art were groundbreaking. Also, any robot who has an ass full of machine guns is my kinda wacky.
It's another book off the shelf of stuff I wanted to read and then divest myself of before moving.
This one is tough. It's a really good book. I don't think I'll read it again just because there's SO MUCH left on the shelf, and this is how I got there in the first place. But it's one of those books you'd like to see go to the right reader, someone who would appreciate it.
But it'll probably end up in the Little Free Library up the street, which has got to be the awesome-est LFL ever. I've been putting some great shit in there, some weird shit, and some good reads, and you should be so lucky as to live close to that Little Free Library. List me the titles in any other LFL you find, I got 'em beat.
September 5, 2015
I used to own ALL the books of this series (the original comics in Japanese), so I am pleasantly surprised to find that they are translated into English.
The author was a *licensed* medical doctor, although he never practiced because his career as a manga author took off. His background supports this medical drama, providing interesting details, while I understand that, because Black Jack series was written in 1970s to early 80s, the medical understanding and procedures might have changed since then.
So Black Jack charges outrageous amount of money for his surgeries. He is not apologetic about this, because he believes life is invaluable. And he lives up to his price. Will you hire him if you or your loved one is dying? How can we possibly determine what price is appropriate?
Tezuka dares to ask such fundamental questions about life, money, and medical/professional ethics.
By the way, I grew up watching his animes like Astro Boy and Ribon no Kishi, singing their theme songs. For grown-up readers, I also highly recommend Phoenix, Vol. 1: Dawn series. (my review)
The author was a *licensed* medical doctor, although he never practiced because his career as a manga author took off. His background supports this medical drama, providing interesting details, while I understand that, because Black Jack series was written in 1970s to early 80s, the medical understanding and procedures might have changed since then.
So Black Jack charges outrageous amount of money for his surgeries. He is not apologetic about this, because he believes life is invaluable. And he lives up to his price. Will you hire him if you or your loved one is dying? How can we possibly determine what price is appropriate?
Tezuka dares to ask such fundamental questions about life, money, and medical/professional ethics.
By the way, I grew up watching his animes like Astro Boy and Ribon no Kishi, singing their theme songs. For grown-up readers, I also highly recommend Phoenix, Vol. 1: Dawn series. (my review)
September 4, 2017
I see no angels here thou it's all about "doctors" who tend to contort the proper meanings of saving people's lives.
May 11, 2017
The hypercompetent lone professional is a manga staple - it seems like there's an example for everything from wine critics to insurance claims investigators, though the level of naturalism varies a great deal. Tezuka being Tezuka, Black Jack, a 70s manga about the world's greatest surgeon, is at the bizarro end. Maybe the best way I can describe Black Jack is that it's like Doctor Who reimagined as a medical drama. Black Jack, an unlicensed but brilliant surgeon who dresses like a Victorian gentleman and appears in the nick of time to solve the weirdest medical cases, is a great mercurial protagonist. His 'companion' is - well, that would be a large (and grotesque) spoiler of one of the early stories. Piece by piece Black Jack's baroque backstory is revealed, but there's always an element of mystery, and the emphasis is on the situations he resolves via his medically impossible skills, from a sick super-computer to a sushi chef who loses his arms.
Tezuka, the "God of Manga", knows a bit about hypercompetence himself, of course. The art is in his typically fluid, Disney-esque style, which can feel dissonant to Western readers expecting laughs (though there are plenty) rather than melodrama or philosophy. As usual, it's a gorgeous, flowing read - Tezuka is as at home drawing the grand vista of a sci-fi hospital as he is handling a knockabout brawl between Black Jack and some thugs. Each short story is tightly constructed and satisfying, though for me Black Jack is a little short of Tezuka's best work, just because he's so great at grander and more pitiless narratives in longer form. But it's still a splendidly strange and often visceral comic.
Tezuka, the "God of Manga", knows a bit about hypercompetence himself, of course. The art is in his typically fluid, Disney-esque style, which can feel dissonant to Western readers expecting laughs (though there are plenty) rather than melodrama or philosophy. As usual, it's a gorgeous, flowing read - Tezuka is as at home drawing the grand vista of a sci-fi hospital as he is handling a knockabout brawl between Black Jack and some thugs. Each short story is tightly constructed and satisfying, though for me Black Jack is a little short of Tezuka's best work, just because he's so great at grander and more pitiless narratives in longer form. But it's still a splendidly strange and often visceral comic.
August 4, 2024
3.0 - I really enjoyed the art style that was used in this manga, it felt reminiscent of The Adventures of TinTin, and I really enjoyed how each individual character had their own unique physical characteristics. I feel that sometimes in graphica formats, background characters run into the danger of just being a circle with some dots for eyes, but every character, no matter how small, had something that set them apart.
In terms of the actual story, I did think the idea of Black Jack being an unlicensed but incredibly talented surgeon was a really interesting premise. I suppose I just felt somewhat that his character was a cliché (dark and brooding, but actually kind on the inside) and wish his personality had been just a bit different. I also was a bit thrown off by the genre at times, since there were operations performed that would be possible in the realistic world as long as you were skilled, but there were also sci-fi elements that do not or could not exist in the current modern world. Part of this was nice, as it kept me on my toes in not knowing what the laws of the world were, but also if the rules aren’t defined, at least to me it made Black Jack’s feats feel not as impactful since there’s proof that this is an “other” and more advanced society.
I also did not like Pinoko. I thought it was weird that she was basically a child and in love with Black Jack (to the point of calling herself his wife), and he never really said “bestie don’t do that.” I’m also just not typically a fan of characters like that though, so keep that in mind.
In terms of the actual story, I did think the idea of Black Jack being an unlicensed but incredibly talented surgeon was a really interesting premise. I suppose I just felt somewhat that his character was a cliché (dark and brooding, but actually kind on the inside) and wish his personality had been just a bit different. I also was a bit thrown off by the genre at times, since there were operations performed that would be possible in the realistic world as long as you were skilled, but there were also sci-fi elements that do not or could not exist in the current modern world. Part of this was nice, as it kept me on my toes in not knowing what the laws of the world were, but also if the rules aren’t defined, at least to me it made Black Jack’s feats feel not as impactful since there’s proof that this is an “other” and more advanced society.
I also did not like Pinoko. I thought it was weird that she was basically a child and in love with Black Jack (to the point of calling herself his wife), and he never really said “bestie don’t do that.” I’m also just not typically a fan of characters like that though, so keep that in mind.
October 20, 2017
Um. I couldn't quite get past the fact that this series is seriously sexist and fairly racist.
May 24, 2012
These new Vertical editions of Tezuka's Black Jack are really nice — thick cream-colored paper, great reproduction fo the drawings, and fantastic covers. In fact, the cover of volume one features an embossed indentation that highlights the image of a set of hook retractors opening a surgical incision to reveal the guts inside. Clever as a cleaver.
If you're only familiar with Tezuka's Astro Boy, then you may not be prepared for the glorious blood-and-guts grotesquerie of the Black Jack series, a series that flaunts its polymorphous perversity at the level of the medical. The usual synopsis of the Black Jack saga goes something like this: "Black Jack, the world's greatest surgeon, roams the world without a license curing those who deserve it and applying his own sense of moral justice to the unjust and hypocritical." That's my own summary, but you can see summaries like this everywhere. Here's from Wikipedia: "Most of the episodes involve Black Jack doing some good deed, for which he rarely gets recognition—often curing the poor and destitute for free, or teaching a capitalist fat cat and his pompous colleagues a lesson in humility." And here's from the back flap of the Vertical publication: "Black Jack chronicles the travails of an enigmatic surgeon-for-hire who is more good than he pretends to be." Basically Black Jack is generally cast in the role of the benevolent outlaw, the individualist who carries within himself an ethical and moral sense that always turns out to be far superior to the world of corruption that surrounds him.
While these descriptions definitely describe one of the moods of this series, they completely miss the mark when it comes to what makes this series distinct, disturbing, and wonderful. Let's examine some patients:
1) "The First Storm of Spring." A schoolgirl falls in love with a man that she keeps having visions of after she's gotten a cornea transplant. But the man turns out to be a murderer and the cornea is from his last victim. Luckily Black Jack shows up at the right moment to scalpel the guy in the side.
2) "Teratoid Cystoma." (Look that one up!) A woman is dying from a tumor but no doctor can come close because of the psychic force that the tumor unleashes whenever anyone gets near. It turns out that the tumor is actually a (mostly) unformed twin who has been living within the woman's body. Although the twin has no body proper it has enough organs to have developed a life and consciousness of its own. Black Jack convinces the twin to allow the operation and he builds a doll body for her and carefully installs all the organs after removal, in effect creating his living doll/daughter sidekick, Pinoko. Pinoko, who talks with a coy lisp that is more annoying than it is cute, is referred to by Black Jack as his 'assistant' even though she calls herself "the Wife" and insists that she's 18 even though she's stuck in the artificial body of a child. If only Papa Freud had lived long enough to see this case study.
3)"Confluence." Black Jack meets up with a young colleague of his who works alone as a ship's surgeon. Later it turns out that Black Jack was at medical school with this doctor and that the doctor was once a woman, but now presents as a man. Black Jack saved her life in medical school by removing her uterus and ovaries to save her from cancer. She has always been in love with him and just before the surgery Black Jack reveals his love for her and kisses her. Then Megumi begins Kei (different readings of the same Chinese character) and signs on as a ship's doctor and now Kei and Black Jack can only meet from time to time and dream about what could have been.
And I haven't even mentioned the sores that appear on a person's body in the shape of a face, the scalpel covered with calcium like a pearl, the painter who is the victim of an atomic test much like the one that took place at Bikini Atoll and demands that he be kept alive long enough to finish his masterpiece, as well as severed limbs galore, at least two full body transplants, and a hand transplant so that a sushi chef can continue to make the most delicious sushi in all of Japan. Not to mention the building-sized computerized surgeon-bot that develops a mental illness.
These. These are the joys.
If you're only familiar with Tezuka's Astro Boy, then you may not be prepared for the glorious blood-and-guts grotesquerie of the Black Jack series, a series that flaunts its polymorphous perversity at the level of the medical. The usual synopsis of the Black Jack saga goes something like this: "Black Jack, the world's greatest surgeon, roams the world without a license curing those who deserve it and applying his own sense of moral justice to the unjust and hypocritical." That's my own summary, but you can see summaries like this everywhere. Here's from Wikipedia: "Most of the episodes involve Black Jack doing some good deed, for which he rarely gets recognition—often curing the poor and destitute for free, or teaching a capitalist fat cat and his pompous colleagues a lesson in humility." And here's from the back flap of the Vertical publication: "Black Jack chronicles the travails of an enigmatic surgeon-for-hire who is more good than he pretends to be." Basically Black Jack is generally cast in the role of the benevolent outlaw, the individualist who carries within himself an ethical and moral sense that always turns out to be far superior to the world of corruption that surrounds him.
While these descriptions definitely describe one of the moods of this series, they completely miss the mark when it comes to what makes this series distinct, disturbing, and wonderful. Let's examine some patients:
1) "The First Storm of Spring." A schoolgirl falls in love with a man that she keeps having visions of after she's gotten a cornea transplant. But the man turns out to be a murderer and the cornea is from his last victim. Luckily Black Jack shows up at the right moment to scalpel the guy in the side.
2) "Teratoid Cystoma." (Look that one up!) A woman is dying from a tumor but no doctor can come close because of the psychic force that the tumor unleashes whenever anyone gets near. It turns out that the tumor is actually a (mostly) unformed twin who has been living within the woman's body. Although the twin has no body proper it has enough organs to have developed a life and consciousness of its own. Black Jack convinces the twin to allow the operation and he builds a doll body for her and carefully installs all the organs after removal, in effect creating his living doll/daughter sidekick, Pinoko. Pinoko, who talks with a coy lisp that is more annoying than it is cute, is referred to by Black Jack as his 'assistant' even though she calls herself "the Wife" and insists that she's 18 even though she's stuck in the artificial body of a child. If only Papa Freud had lived long enough to see this case study.
3)"Confluence." Black Jack meets up with a young colleague of his who works alone as a ship's surgeon. Later it turns out that Black Jack was at medical school with this doctor and that the doctor was once a woman, but now presents as a man. Black Jack saved her life in medical school by removing her uterus and ovaries to save her from cancer. She has always been in love with him and just before the surgery Black Jack reveals his love for her and kisses her. Then Megumi begins Kei (different readings of the same Chinese character) and signs on as a ship's doctor and now Kei and Black Jack can only meet from time to time and dream about what could have been.
And I haven't even mentioned the sores that appear on a person's body in the shape of a face, the scalpel covered with calcium like a pearl, the painter who is the victim of an atomic test much like the one that took place at Bikini Atoll and demands that he be kept alive long enough to finish his masterpiece, as well as severed limbs galore, at least two full body transplants, and a hand transplant so that a sushi chef can continue to make the most delicious sushi in all of Japan. Not to mention the building-sized computerized surgeon-bot that develops a mental illness.
These. These are the joys.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2013
Wow. This was a lot of fun!
Again, don't be fooled by the artwork. Behind the bouncy imagery is a dark and bloody world, full of surgical tools, strange diseases, and a mysterious companion called fate.
Aside from reading a tad bit of A Message From Adolf this is the only, more mature, work I've seen of Tezuka's. I've read the first five volumes in this series, and the most mature thing about them was the mention/attempt of molestation and, of course, the gore. Disturbing and bizarre diseases come with their fare share of blood, and gruesomeness--in a very toon-like manner. Not to mention the many horrible ways selected characters die. Accounts of stabbing, shooting, deterioration, hit and run, and even burning alive is a factor of death in these mangas. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think that's one reason this series is so fun, it provides the shock factor. And not just for the content. Many of Osamu Tezuka's published material is segmented into short stories due to the fact that they were released in magazines first. Despite this Tezuka does a pretty good job with kickers (surprises) at the end of his stories; some are great and some are just okay, but there all worth reading through.
And don't get me started on mister Black Jack...! (Swoon!) Very debonair. On the outside he comes across as greedy and cold, but actions speak louder than words, and I've found myself calling him "...the good Doctor." Underneath his devious manner is a true hero; a man who uses his powers for good, not evil.
All around, this whole series is fantastic. Every time I finish a volume, I can't wait to read the next one, AND read them all over again!
So, House/Samurai Jack/Eleventh Hour in Japan. Yeah, it's that fun.
Again, don't be fooled by the artwork. Behind the bouncy imagery is a dark and bloody world, full of surgical tools, strange diseases, and a mysterious companion called fate.
Aside from reading a tad bit of A Message From Adolf this is the only, more mature, work I've seen of Tezuka's. I've read the first five volumes in this series, and the most mature thing about them was the mention/attempt of molestation and, of course, the gore. Disturbing and bizarre diseases come with their fare share of blood, and gruesomeness--in a very toon-like manner. Not to mention the many horrible ways selected characters die. Accounts of stabbing, shooting, deterioration, hit and run, and even burning alive is a factor of death in these mangas. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think that's one reason this series is so fun, it provides the shock factor. And not just for the content. Many of Osamu Tezuka's published material is segmented into short stories due to the fact that they were released in magazines first. Despite this Tezuka does a pretty good job with kickers (surprises) at the end of his stories; some are great and some are just okay, but there all worth reading through.
And don't get me started on mister Black Jack...! (Swoon!) Very debonair. On the outside he comes across as greedy and cold, but actions speak louder than words, and I've found myself calling him "...the good Doctor." Underneath his devious manner is a true hero; a man who uses his powers for good, not evil.
All around, this whole series is fantastic. Every time I finish a volume, I can't wait to read the next one, AND read them all over again!
So, House/Samurai Jack/Eleventh Hour in Japan. Yeah, it's that fun.
March 21, 2021
El comic compila historias cortas (de unas 30-50 páginas) dibujadas por Tezuka durante diez años. He disfrutado de sus mas de 6000 páginas, que narran las aventuras de Black Jack. El autor dosifica muy bien la información sobre el pasado de nuestro maestro cirujano, y poco a poco vamos comprendiendo su personalidad e intenciones
La calidad general del comic es alta y está a la altura de otras de sus obras magnas como Fenix, Buda y Adolf. Lo que menos me ha gustado es el personaje de Pinoko, y creo que el propio Osama lo reconoce al reducirle progresivamente su trascendencia en la historia.
Este tio es muy grande!
La calidad general del comic es alta y está a la altura de otras de sus obras magnas como Fenix, Buda y Adolf. Lo que menos me ha gustado es el personaje de Pinoko, y creo que el propio Osama lo reconoce al reducirle progresivamente su trascendencia en la historia.
Este tio es muy grande!
December 15, 2016
Brilliant.
Childish, predictable, insane, funny, stupid, weird, crazy. I can see why Tezuka Osamu is the godfather of manga. So much fun to read.
Childish, predictable, insane, funny, stupid, weird, crazy. I can see why Tezuka Osamu is the godfather of manga. So much fun to read.
December 19, 2017
Not a big fan. It was ok, but that's all I can say.
October 7, 2025
It's been at least a decade since I picked up a volume of Black Jack and I had to start from the beginning. It's just as nostalgic and dated as I remember but it still retains all the charm it had. So many stories are parables and I like how Tezuka presents his hero as not completely infallible. He doesn't always completely succeed, but he is always humble, always trying to do good.
There are some things that have aged...rather poorly. If I'm not mistaken, there's a pretty horrific caricature of a black American in here. Also, the hysterectomy cancer patient (and love interest) immediately deciding to transition and live as a man is also a bit odd to me. I can't imagine that's really how that all works. It's also fascinating to me that Tezuka considers it impossible for their love to transcend gender, but this manga was serialized between 1973 and 1983, so I'm not surprised he was seriously old fashioned.
Something about this is still so compelling though. It's not often you see a surgeon and medical drama take center stage in the narrative of manga, but maybe I just have to look further.
There are some things that have aged...rather poorly. If I'm not mistaken, there's a pretty horrific caricature of a black American in here. Also, the hysterectomy cancer patient (and love interest) immediately deciding to transition and live as a man is also a bit odd to me. I can't imagine that's really how that all works. It's also fascinating to me that Tezuka considers it impossible for their love to transcend gender, but this manga was serialized between 1973 and 1983, so I'm not surprised he was seriously old fashioned.
Something about this is still so compelling though. It's not often you see a surgeon and medical drama take center stage in the narrative of manga, but maybe I just have to look further.
May 3, 2021
While I was really excited to try this manga out because people are always mentioning this series when it comes to suggesting manga, I wasn’t that keen on the art and I didn’t find that entertaining. Yes I know I’m gonna get pitchforks by it’s fans but look, I tried my best with liking it but it just didn’t work for me..
March 10, 2020
Für mich bis jetzt der beste Erwachsenen-Manga von Tezuka (Bei den Kids bleibt «Astro Boy» natürlich unangefochten). «Kirihito» und «MW» waren mir eine Spur zu pessimistisch und trostlos, hier schafft er es genügend Menschlichkeit in die Geschichten zu bringen. Die «Black Jack» Geschichten sind nur lose verbunden, es sind kleine Gedankenexperimente zu den Themen Körper, Medizin und Wissenschaft. Tezuka besass einen Doktor in Medizin und war einer der besten Manga-Künstler Japans – mit «Black Jack» gelingt es ihm beide Welten zu vereinen.
May 24, 2012
Perhaps the single most enchanting thing about Osamu Tezuka's stories are his characters, clearly, who never seem to lose sight of the fact that they are in comics. No matter the tragedy, nor the extent to which they suffer, does the story ever become mired in such unspeakable sadness that the “comic” element of manga becomes paradoxical. This is quite evident in Black Jack, Vol. 1.
Take, for instance, the sudden forest fire which threatens the life of a young crippled polio sufferer. Through the smoke comes a man shouting warnings for those who would trek onwards. The man, as it turns out, is Osamu Tezuka's manga alter-ego, appearing in the scene for no other reason than to lighten the situation.
Another instance, after hearing the news that his protégé was struck and killed by a truck, a sushi chef runs from his place of employ, alongside Astro Boy (Tezuka's most famous creation). Always a grim smile at the ready, Tezuka not only knows how to create melodrama, but how to diffuse it so that it never becomes hokey or trite. In life, there is tragedy. In comics, unexpected humour. Tezuka mixes them both together, and manages to achieve what so very few could without risking self-mockery.
Black Jack is the famed unlicensed surgeon of manga. Working, often times, under inhospitable circumstances, the scarred doctor is able to clear his head of all external thoughts and focus on performing the miracles that everybody says cannot be done. Everybody, that is, except for the very desperate who solicit his help to begin with.
Of course, the premises under which each short story unfolds is quite impossible to attain in the real world, that outside of manga. Tezuka does not spend a lot of time trying to convince readers that such feats could be achieved otherwise, and treats the surgical material as lightly as he can. It never becomes an outright joke, but it is accepted that the task Black Jack sets out on will be successfully completed – and therefore the focus is removed from the surgery to the characters and their dire situations. Black Jack is a medical drama where medicine takes a back seat to the real reason behind the circumstances... the comic/human element.
That said, Black Jack is a very appealing manga, but not universally so. Adult circumstances (“adult” only in comparison to something such as, say, Astro Boy) discourages younger readership, while the airy atmosphere may deter some die-hard adult readership who do not expect to see such a humorous treatment of the given circumstances. Black Jack is a boon to those who love to read comics, but wished that the stories and characters were a little more “grown up” than typical comics fare.
On occasion, a story seems to breeze past, with very little by means of character development. This is due to the limited space in which Tezuka had to operate, if you will. Having been serialized in the 1970s, a set number of pages was given to Black Jack, and with each story being more-or-less self-sustaining, that leaves little room for involved development. With the primary characters recurring (Black Jack himself, of course, and his live-in companion 18-year-old Pinoko – who turns out to be aptly named, for reasons not explicitly stated in one particular story line), this is not so much an issue, but with the one-shot characters, one must quickly get a feel for the personage before the end of that tale.
Filled with humour, pathos, and surprise cameos (Doctor Oliphant as Sushi restaurateur?), Black Jack lays the foundation of what has become part of Osamu Tezuka's high relevance and mythos even today. Not to be missed by anyone who has ever admired the man's work.
Take, for instance, the sudden forest fire which threatens the life of a young crippled polio sufferer. Through the smoke comes a man shouting warnings for those who would trek onwards. The man, as it turns out, is Osamu Tezuka's manga alter-ego, appearing in the scene for no other reason than to lighten the situation.
Another instance, after hearing the news that his protégé was struck and killed by a truck, a sushi chef runs from his place of employ, alongside Astro Boy (Tezuka's most famous creation). Always a grim smile at the ready, Tezuka not only knows how to create melodrama, but how to diffuse it so that it never becomes hokey or trite. In life, there is tragedy. In comics, unexpected humour. Tezuka mixes them both together, and manages to achieve what so very few could without risking self-mockery.
Black Jack is the famed unlicensed surgeon of manga. Working, often times, under inhospitable circumstances, the scarred doctor is able to clear his head of all external thoughts and focus on performing the miracles that everybody says cannot be done. Everybody, that is, except for the very desperate who solicit his help to begin with.
Of course, the premises under which each short story unfolds is quite impossible to attain in the real world, that outside of manga. Tezuka does not spend a lot of time trying to convince readers that such feats could be achieved otherwise, and treats the surgical material as lightly as he can. It never becomes an outright joke, but it is accepted that the task Black Jack sets out on will be successfully completed – and therefore the focus is removed from the surgery to the characters and their dire situations. Black Jack is a medical drama where medicine takes a back seat to the real reason behind the circumstances... the comic/human element.
That said, Black Jack is a very appealing manga, but not universally so. Adult circumstances (“adult” only in comparison to something such as, say, Astro Boy) discourages younger readership, while the airy atmosphere may deter some die-hard adult readership who do not expect to see such a humorous treatment of the given circumstances. Black Jack is a boon to those who love to read comics, but wished that the stories and characters were a little more “grown up” than typical comics fare.
On occasion, a story seems to breeze past, with very little by means of character development. This is due to the limited space in which Tezuka had to operate, if you will. Having been serialized in the 1970s, a set number of pages was given to Black Jack, and with each story being more-or-less self-sustaining, that leaves little room for involved development. With the primary characters recurring (Black Jack himself, of course, and his live-in companion 18-year-old Pinoko – who turns out to be aptly named, for reasons not explicitly stated in one particular story line), this is not so much an issue, but with the one-shot characters, one must quickly get a feel for the personage before the end of that tale.
Filled with humour, pathos, and surprise cameos (Doctor Oliphant as Sushi restaurateur?), Black Jack lays the foundation of what has become part of Osamu Tezuka's high relevance and mythos even today. Not to be missed by anyone who has ever admired the man's work.
August 27, 2021
I initially picked up Black Jack because I liked the art and I thought the concept was interesting. I've also never read an "adult manga" before, so I was really interested to see how it would differ from regular manga. For the first five stories, I was kind of enjoying it, but when I got to the sixth story, "Confluence," I began to have some issues with this book.
In the "Confluence" chapter, Black Jack goes to see an old friend. He tells his assistant, Pinoko, that he needs to bring his friend an old photo album, which holds pictures of Black Jack and a mysterious woman. The jealous Pinoko gets Black Jack to confess that he used to be in love with this woman (though Black Jack implies she is as good as dead on page 118) and that she is "the sister of the man [Black Jack is] going to see" (page 117). Pinoko eventually gets this man, Kisaragi, to tell her what happened to his sister, and the story goes something like this. Kisaragi's sister, Megumi, and Black Jack went to medical school together, and fell in love. Then Megumi found out she had uterine cancer. Black Jack insisted on operating on her to remove her reproductive system and hopefully save her life. This is when it starts to get problematic. Here are a few quotes from Black Jack in this scene:
"To have [the uterus and ovaries] removed is to quit being a woman. You won't be able to bear children, of course, and you'll become unfeminine." (page 129)
"I'll say this while you're still a woman. Megumi. I love you." (page 131)
This one is from Megumi herself: "When the surgery's over, this feeling must be gone, too . . ." (page 131).
At the end of the story, it is revealed that Black Jack's old friend, Kisaragi, is actually the woman Black Jack fell in love with, Megumi.
This story is incredibly transphobic and also completely inaccurate. Just because Megumi no longer has a uterus or ovaries - which are just organs - it doesn't mean she is no longer a woman. By that reasoning, trans women aren't "real women" because they are born without a womb. Being a woman, or not, is determined by how you feel inside. And even if, somehow, she "turned into a man," why wouldn't Black Jack still love her? If he truly loved her then he shouldn't care what gender she was presenting as. The real Megumi was still unchanged. But no, just because she is now "a man," it's impossible for either of them to have feelings for each other. What would that make them? Gay? Oh no. Additionally, Megumi's feelings wouldn't disappear just because her womb was being removed.
This book was originally published in 1987, so I suppose this level of transphobia is not too surprising. The edition I am reading was published in 2008, and I'd like to argue that the publishers could have left this chapter out or at least changed it to be a little more politically correct. After all, when Sailor Moon was first published in the U.S., editors got rid of the same-sex relationship. Couldn't that censorship go the other way as well? Anyway, I won't be finishing this book, and I won't continue reading this series. There are plenty of other books to read that are not ignorant and so pitifully incorrect. I'll give this book two stars, just because the other stories were okay and the artwork is good. But I would not recommend this book, especially if you think such blatant transphobia would upset you.
In the "Confluence" chapter, Black Jack goes to see an old friend. He tells his assistant, Pinoko, that he needs to bring his friend an old photo album, which holds pictures of Black Jack and a mysterious woman. The jealous Pinoko gets Black Jack to confess that he used to be in love with this woman (though Black Jack implies she is as good as dead on page 118) and that she is "the sister of the man [Black Jack is] going to see" (page 117). Pinoko eventually gets this man, Kisaragi, to tell her what happened to his sister, and the story goes something like this. Kisaragi's sister, Megumi, and Black Jack went to medical school together, and fell in love. Then Megumi found out she had uterine cancer. Black Jack insisted on operating on her to remove her reproductive system and hopefully save her life. This is when it starts to get problematic. Here are a few quotes from Black Jack in this scene:
"To have [the uterus and ovaries] removed is to quit being a woman. You won't be able to bear children, of course, and you'll become unfeminine." (page 129)
"I'll say this while you're still a woman. Megumi. I love you." (page 131)
This one is from Megumi herself: "When the surgery's over, this feeling must be gone, too . . ." (page 131).
At the end of the story, it is revealed that Black Jack's old friend, Kisaragi, is actually the woman Black Jack fell in love with, Megumi.
This story is incredibly transphobic and also completely inaccurate. Just because Megumi no longer has a uterus or ovaries - which are just organs - it doesn't mean she is no longer a woman. By that reasoning, trans women aren't "real women" because they are born without a womb. Being a woman, or not, is determined by how you feel inside. And even if, somehow, she "turned into a man," why wouldn't Black Jack still love her? If he truly loved her then he shouldn't care what gender she was presenting as. The real Megumi was still unchanged. But no, just because she is now "a man," it's impossible for either of them to have feelings for each other. What would that make them? Gay? Oh no. Additionally, Megumi's feelings wouldn't disappear just because her womb was being removed.
This book was originally published in 1987, so I suppose this level of transphobia is not too surprising. The edition I am reading was published in 2008, and I'd like to argue that the publishers could have left this chapter out or at least changed it to be a little more politically correct. After all, when Sailor Moon was first published in the U.S., editors got rid of the same-sex relationship. Couldn't that censorship go the other way as well? Anyway, I won't be finishing this book, and I won't continue reading this series. There are plenty of other books to read that are not ignorant and so pitifully incorrect. I'll give this book two stars, just because the other stories were okay and the artwork is good. But I would not recommend this book, especially if you think such blatant transphobia would upset you.
September 15, 2015
This volume of Black Jack tells a series of standalone tales based on cases taken by the fantastically talented freelance surgeon, Black Jack.
Good things to know about the book are:
- There is (or seems to me to be) a strange dichotomy to Tezuka's presentation style with Black Jack that it takes a little while to get comfortable with, but once you are then it fine. The author often deals with some very adult subjects: after all we are following a surgeon who deals with some pretty gruesome cases, that often also have philosophical overtones. However, Tezuka interjects little pockets of zany humour into his scripts which can initially leave you blinking, wondering why a character would be making a wise-crack if he'd just seen someone get hurt, or if another character is hanging onto life by a thread. But as I said, once you get used to the style, it just becomes part of the reading experience ^_^
- Black Jack really is 'fantastically' talented - he can perform operations based on scientific principles but not yet achievable even today (and this series was originally published in the mid-70s). For example, he can transplant a brain from one body into another and re-attach the nerves successfully etc.
- Chapters in this volume are generally written as standalone stories with little to link them together apart from the main character and certain other people in his life. However, the book is still very easy to read all the way through and doesn't feel like a collection of short stories as there are still enough threads to tie things together a bit.
Overall this book was an interesting and enjoyable read - a good combination of solid drama, humour, characterisation and stories with a real meaning to them at the end of the day.
Good things to know about the book are:
- There is (or seems to me to be) a strange dichotomy to Tezuka's presentation style with Black Jack that it takes a little while to get comfortable with, but once you are then it fine. The author often deals with some very adult subjects: after all we are following a surgeon who deals with some pretty gruesome cases, that often also have philosophical overtones. However, Tezuka interjects little pockets of zany humour into his scripts which can initially leave you blinking, wondering why a character would be making a wise-crack if he'd just seen someone get hurt, or if another character is hanging onto life by a thread. But as I said, once you get used to the style, it just becomes part of the reading experience ^_^
- Black Jack really is 'fantastically' talented - he can perform operations based on scientific principles but not yet achievable even today (and this series was originally published in the mid-70s). For example, he can transplant a brain from one body into another and re-attach the nerves successfully etc.
- Chapters in this volume are generally written as standalone stories with little to link them together apart from the main character and certain other people in his life. However, the book is still very easy to read all the way through and doesn't feel like a collection of short stories as there are still enough threads to tie things together a bit.
Overall this book was an interesting and enjoyable read - a good combination of solid drama, humour, characterisation and stories with a real meaning to them at the end of the day.
May 24, 2012
Volume 1 is a collection of stories with no real arc providing connective tissue, so like many short story collections, some succeed while others fall short of the mark. I could've given this four stars just for the idea of a rogue, unlicensed doctor roving around like a mercenary (think of a one-man A-Team, with scrubs); it's ballsy, supernatural, medical fun--a combination I've never seen before.
But there were alienating themes that were a turn-off, like the portrayal of the black doctor in the AI intelligence story (it's insulting in the artwork, but not in the text, but that's enough), and the one with Black Jack's true love, Megumi, wherein he must remove her uterus and ovaries to try and save her from Uterine cancer. Apparently this will remove all that is womanly about her, making her into a thing outside the boundaries of love, even if the operation succeeds.
"I'll say this while you're still a woman," Black Jack says, declaring his feelings for the first time while she's lying on his operating table. "Megumi, I love you with all my heart!"
"Kiss me doctor," Megumi says. "When the surgery's over, this feeling must be gone too." But their first kiss is ... eternal. Yuk.
The stories about the boy with polio who determines to walk from Hiroshima to Osaka is lovely, and the teratoid cystoma story, where a celebrity has a twin growing in her belly with nearly a full set of organs, including a brain, is cool and wrong in all the right ways.
Sort of a mixed bag here, but entertaining in the end. The stories that fail are like a traffic accident you can't look away from, so yeah, I'll read the next volume for the cool horror and fun storytelling elements, and hope some of the themes improve.
But there were alienating themes that were a turn-off, like the portrayal of the black doctor in the AI intelligence story (it's insulting in the artwork, but not in the text, but that's enough), and the one with Black Jack's true love, Megumi, wherein he must remove her uterus and ovaries to try and save her from Uterine cancer. Apparently this will remove all that is womanly about her, making her into a thing outside the boundaries of love, even if the operation succeeds.
"I'll say this while you're still a woman," Black Jack says, declaring his feelings for the first time while she's lying on his operating table. "Megumi, I love you with all my heart!"
"Kiss me doctor," Megumi says. "When the surgery's over, this feeling must be gone too." But their first kiss is ... eternal. Yuk.
The stories about the boy with polio who determines to walk from Hiroshima to Osaka is lovely, and the teratoid cystoma story, where a celebrity has a twin growing in her belly with nearly a full set of organs, including a brain, is cool and wrong in all the right ways.
Sort of a mixed bag here, but entertaining in the end. The stories that fail are like a traffic accident you can't look away from, so yeah, I'll read the next volume for the cool horror and fun storytelling elements, and hope some of the themes improve.
May 20, 2018
I'm surprised by how little I enjoyed this book. I did not grow up reading Osamu Tezuka, though I have read many works of authors that have followed him.
I found out following this book that Tezuka had received a medical degree from Osaka University which surprised me quite a bit. The level of medical understanding demonstrated in these books is remarkably limited, and not something I would expect from someone who graduated with a degree in medicine (albeit in Japan in the 1950s).
There is something jarring between the simplified caricature of the protagonist and most of the characters in this work, the hyper-cute-to-the-point-of-being-out-of-place Pinoko, and the realistically depicted grotesque surgeries. I am at a loss to link the wide range of visuals in this work with its subject matter - a very trope heavy protagonist, the anti-hero with a heart of gold.
Maybe as a work this was something that was novel in the 1970s when it first was published, but it does not age well. There are other, more captivating works of manga for adults to read and more appropriate works for children to read.
I found out following this book that Tezuka had received a medical degree from Osaka University which surprised me quite a bit. The level of medical understanding demonstrated in these books is remarkably limited, and not something I would expect from someone who graduated with a degree in medicine (albeit in Japan in the 1950s).
There is something jarring between the simplified caricature of the protagonist and most of the characters in this work, the hyper-cute-to-the-point-of-being-out-of-place Pinoko, and the realistically depicted grotesque surgeries. I am at a loss to link the wide range of visuals in this work with its subject matter - a very trope heavy protagonist, the anti-hero with a heart of gold.
Maybe as a work this was something that was novel in the 1970s when it first was published, but it does not age well. There are other, more captivating works of manga for adults to read and more appropriate works for children to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2013
A gritty adult medical series with characters fashioned in Tezuka's characteristic quirkiness. Not the easiest material for everyone to absorb; but if you can manage to swallow the bitter medicine this manga tends to offer at first glance, you may find yourself warming up to the sharp wit of the medical mercenary, along with the harsh lessons he has to offer to humanity(at a price).
Tezuka doesn't sugar-coat human nature, war, nor the gruesomeness of surgery and the medical field overall, which is what drew me to the series. And yet the morbid themes are balanced with an exaggerated comical side, complete with gags, sexual innuendos, pop references and toilet humor.
Provides interesting diagrams of anatomy and explanations of ailments featured in various chapters. Not recommended for everyone, but it is definitely a unique read, especially for fans interested in Tezuka's more mature works.
Tezuka doesn't sugar-coat human nature, war, nor the gruesomeness of surgery and the medical field overall, which is what drew me to the series. And yet the morbid themes are balanced with an exaggerated comical side, complete with gags, sexual innuendos, pop references and toilet humor.
Provides interesting diagrams of anatomy and explanations of ailments featured in various chapters. Not recommended for everyone, but it is definitely a unique read, especially for fans interested in Tezuka's more mature works.
December 28, 2019
Getting back to manga thanks to sis dearest. Osamu's artwork is on fleek and Dr. Black Jack is a very interesting character. Grounded on medical realities (of the 80s), the cases he gets are outrightly bizarre. He's like the Doctor Who of medical world. The volume 1 contains a number of unrelated stories making for brisk reading but Osamu really pushes the lateral thinking with the variety of cases and back stories he comes up with. The thing that struck me really odd was the story on a cis woman and its incorrectness which I wouldn't really expect from someone proficient in the medical field. That reduces the credibility of the other medical solutions but still kudos on the imagination of those scenarios. Also I am assuming a lot of the witty jokes might be funnier in Japanese than the translation.
May 24, 2012
Odd, but compelling read.
This series, featuring mysterious rogue surgeon Blackjack is a truly odd mix. The art is cartoony, yet the medical details are shown in an almost stomach turningly real detail. Most of the surgeries are so weird or extreme that it has a sci-fi feel, yet, Tezuka does his research, so all the details make you think that you think maybe they could be done.
The humor is broad and uneven.
Each story has some kind of moral or message and those range from very subtle and moving to hit you over the head blatant.
and Blackjack's sidekick/adopted daughter is annoyingly over the top cute, yet her origin story was one of the grossest in the whole volume.
Not always a fun read, but weirdly fascinating and keeps you turning the page.
This series, featuring mysterious rogue surgeon Blackjack is a truly odd mix. The art is cartoony, yet the medical details are shown in an almost stomach turningly real detail. Most of the surgeries are so weird or extreme that it has a sci-fi feel, yet, Tezuka does his research, so all the details make you think that you think maybe they could be done.
The humor is broad and uneven.
Each story has some kind of moral or message and those range from very subtle and moving to hit you over the head blatant.
and Blackjack's sidekick/adopted daughter is annoyingly over the top cute, yet her origin story was one of the grossest in the whole volume.
Not always a fun read, but weirdly fascinating and keeps you turning the page.
December 8, 2017
I'm no expert on graphic novels. I dabble at best, but for me this was more of a curiosity than a great read. Written in the '70s; translated into English in 2008. So I'm intrigued by Black Jack, a mysterious, scarred Doctor who shows up and performs medical miracles in each of a dozen stories. But please! In one his girl friend has uterine cancer. Black Jack performs a complete hysterectomy and saves her life. Unfortunately, because she no longer has her female organs she's no longer a "woman," and they go their separate ways. Really?!!?!!?. Also one of the stories has a black character who is drawn in a disturbingly racist way. Still, I could see reading more in the series. Like I said, intriguing.
May 11, 2020
I don't even know where to start. The story is crisp, the characters are rich and detailed, the visuals are an excellent and dynamic blend of realism and iconic cartoons, the surgeries look real even at their most unrealistic. This book is simply stunning.Osamu Tezuka shines in this book as he tells a series of small stories about the doctor Black Jack who seems to all the world a self-absorbed egomaniac working only for the highest bidder, when in fact he's a doctor dedicated for the betterment of mankind.
This book appears deceptively simple, but if the reader looks closer they are sure to discover how beautiful this book and these stories are. Whether it's the content or the form Black Jack is simply incredible.
This book appears deceptively simple, but if the reader looks closer they are sure to discover how beautiful this book and these stories are. Whether it's the content or the form Black Jack is simply incredible.
July 3, 2013
Ahh, Black Jack. We used to have a running joke in the apartment. Got a cold? Surgery! Headache? Surgery! Stomach bug? Surgery!
Black Jack can fix anything with surgery. Its a little like magic, except that I understand the greater part of the treatments, at least for the real diseases, are at least grounded in reality. But I'll be honest, I'm not there for the medical stuff, realistic or not. I'm there for Black Jack and the series of short stories in which we see him interacting with the world and visiting upon it his own brand of genius - and his own brand of empathy.
Black Jack can fix anything with surgery. Its a little like magic, except that I understand the greater part of the treatments, at least for the real diseases, are at least grounded in reality. But I'll be honest, I'm not there for the medical stuff, realistic or not. I'm there for Black Jack and the series of short stories in which we see him interacting with the world and visiting upon it his own brand of genius - and his own brand of empathy.
April 6, 2018
The world's greatest surgeon is unlicensed and charges a lot of money. But he also performs miraculous surgeries. This book collects seven or eight essentially unrelated tales of Black Jack's medicinal triumphs. Each story's engaging and well drawn. A pleasure to read, but not something that I'm interested in reading indefinitely, and Vertical seems to have an endless supply to Black Jack books to translate.
January 14, 2018
I was so excited to get back into Manga and I enjoyed so much about the story even though it's pretty weird but this is SO sexist. Like having a hysterectomy means you're no longer a woman? What?! I read the whole thing just to see if maybe he was going to come to his senses. Also, the one depiction of a black person seemed pretty racist to me. I will, obviously, not be continuing this series.
August 16, 2019
I decided to read my first manga novel after hearing that Black Jack is a mixture of Sherlock and house. and OMG whoever said it was 110% right.
i adored the illustrations, the stories, everything! i teared up a few times, giggled and down right gasped. It touched on nuclear issues, politics and my favourite, Japanese mythology.
please read it, you will not regret it.
i adored the illustrations, the stories, everything! i teared up a few times, giggled and down right gasped. It touched on nuclear issues, politics and my favourite, Japanese mythology.
please read it, you will not regret it.
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