Phoenix, Vol. 8: Civil War, Part 2/Robe of Feathers

火の鳥 [Hi no Tori] #8

by Osamu Tezuka

Considered by many the peak of Osamu Tezuka's artistic achievement and called his "life work" by the author, PHOENIX is made up 12 complex stories linked by the presence of the mythical bird, an immortal guarden of the universal life force. Read in order, the separate stories jump across time, alternating between a distant future and a distant past, converging on the present, with characters from one story being reincarnated in another. The 12 stories over 3000 pages.

Genres: Manga, Comics, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Fiction, Japanese Literature

338 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

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

[Drew Canole · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second part of Civil War makes up the majority of this book. The second short story Robe of Feathers is about a time-travelling woman who gets manipulated into a marriage in the 1100s. The comic is all told with a single repeated comic frame, sort of like a stage play with just the characters and dialogue changing.

[Met · Rating 2 out of 5]

Non ci siamo proprio.
Inutilmente pesante, lunga, complessa...
Salvo l’inizio e la fine... tutto il resto è pura noia.

[Quí Hiển · Rating 5 out of 5]

This revealed the logic in Hi no tori's reincarnation. It showed how people may reincarnate to pay in "the past" for what they've done in "the future" - the concept introduced in Vol 3 for Saruta's case (Space chapter).

[Anita Boeira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series, in which Civil War Part One and Two shine above all. A terrific read if you love or don't love comic books. The story is just amazing.

[Carlos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another sad ending for this series.
Another reflection on life, death, and the paths we take, what possibly happens after we pass away, and, according to the author, how we are destined to keep the same cycles of errors over and over.

In this chapter, Osamu brings a short story at the end, which is told as in a typical Japanese play. The static camera and sound effects mimic those of Japanese theatre.
It was really interesting, and it rhymed with the melodrama.

[Ilib4kids · Rating 3 out of 5]

ILL

[Dylan Benedict · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when I'm starting to think this series is losing a bit of its power it manages to surprise me again.

[二六 侯 · Rating 4 out of 5]

手塚讓平清聖和源義經業力輪迴、畫弁太被上司逼到忍無可忍的觀點很有意思，但還不如他的分鏡有趣，尤其羽衣篇「固定鏡位」的畫法真是相當實驗性。

[Blue Guy · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. 长久的秘诀是顺势而为，顺应天道，顺应四季更迭的规律。
2. 犯下的罪行一定会在某个时刻被意料之外的人跟你清算。

[Dylan · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Power is ultimately meaningless, those in power are destined to lose it." Such the sentiments of the old tengu with the bulbous nose up in the mountains. I wasn't as impressed by civil war as i was by sun later in the series. The phoenix actually doesn't really show up anywhere in the narrative, just a fake phoenix. There were some cruel moments in one and two that stung Benta for sure. War did really seem useless and futile.

[Emilia P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Delightfully meh -- retold much of the first story, nothing earthshatteringly cool. Robe of Feathers was great though, nice and new format, whose name I wish I knew, for Tezuka. Ready for some future stories!