Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, Vol. 4

Peak

Urasawa is one of the best storytellers and artists around. With PLUTO, he is retelling the Osamu Tezuka Astro Boy Story, "The Strongest Robot in the World." It's a mature story about a cop tracking down a serial killer, but there's more to the story than that. His character designs change how you feel about the original characters. Who's on the cover of this issue here? That's Dr. Tenma, Astro Boy/Mighty Atom's creator. I can't say enough good things about Pluto and 20th Century Boys. If you get a chance to read them, do not hesitate to do so.

Urasawa is too talented

The item was as described. Quick delivery!

This series is 8 parts (I bought them all) - it tells the story of "astroboy" before he was "Astroboy". If you love illustration and you love Manga - buy all 8 of these now! If you are new to the medium.. test out book one.. remember they are read right to left - read slowly - and enjoy!

Dr. Ochanomizu discovers a discarded dog robot and decides to repair it, since it reminds him of a dog he and his wife once had. He is being pressured to send more robot troops to the Persian kingdom, which he doesn’t wish to do. His grandson Takashi messages him to talk about the strange tornado he and his mother saw. The dog’s owner shows up as they are talking, having tracked the dog through his GPS. All seems well, until he reveals his name and demands that the Professor summon Atom so he can fight someone! The Professor refuses to give in to Goji’s demands, but Goji tells him he can control tornados… even where they go and who they target! Atom appears unexpectedly and tells the Professor that Uran is responding to a call! Atom goes to her rescue, but tragedy ensues. Gesicht continues to have bad dreams, unaware that he has been targeted by a man who thinks he killed his brother. Adolf is unaware that his bosses don’t wish him to succeed in his mission as they have other plans for Gesicht, and he is very necessary to these plans. Gesicht goes to see Dr Hoffman, unaware that the doctor knows someone has been fiddling with Gesicht’s AI. Meanwhile, Adolf makes a detour to his brother’s grave, and narrowly avoids being killed! Gesicht’s vacation is put on hol, after the untimely death of Atom, and his new assignment is to protect Adolf Haas. How ironic is that? Haas’s son is totally smitten with the detective and is excited to meet him. Gesicht accompanies Haas to work, where they learn of the death of another robot creator, this time the creator of Epsilon. Haas gives Gesicht some info he ran across in a Persian prison his company installed systems for. Gesicht finds some disturbing information. Someone is after Professor Hoffman! After Gesicht saves Adolf’s life, he starts to reveal everything about the anti-robot group he is in. So much going on, so many bad people with bad agendas. Another good robot gone! It’s heartbreaking. I find it satisfying that Adolf has to put up with Gesicht protecting him. Maybe now he’ll realize that Gesicht didn’t kill his brother… if he doesn’t manage to kill Gesicht first. Another great volume, looking forward to the next one!

In the first three volumes of "PLUTO", we learned about a world where robots and humans work together alongside with each other. In this world, robots are treated (by most) like sentient beings comes a world where the planet has robotic heroes and even police squadrons of human and robot partners. Of course, it's not an all perfect world as there are humans who rather not co-exist with the robots. And someone makes their agenda known when someone has decided to disrupt that peaceful coexistence by destroying the great robots and possibly murdering those who protect the rights for robots. With the release of the exciting fourth volume, whoever has killed the scientists and the great robots now have Atom and Professor Ochanomizu, the head of the Ministry of Science as their target. Here is a brief summary of each chapter in vol. 4 (short summaries, no spoilers): ACT 24 - THE PROFESSOR'S DAY OFF - The person(s) responsible for the deaths of the scientists and great robots is revealed. ACT 25 - A FINE DAY FOR A TORNADO - It was once thought that robots are incapable of emotions or hatred but how is it possible that a robot has the ability to contemplate revenge? ACT 26 - THE CONFRONTATION - Pluto goes after Uran and Bobby, will Atom save them in time? ACT 27 - A DIFFERENT DREAM - For some reason, Gesicht is having nightmares. Meanwhile, someone is sent to to kill Gesicht. ACT 28 - EMERGENCY CALL - Another great robot has fallen. ACT 29 - WHISPERING SHADOWS - Gesicht is ordered to protect Adolf who may have information on the identities and purpose of those who killed the scientist or the great robots. ACT 30 - THREE SCIENTISTS AT KIMBERLY - The next scientist targeted is Professor Hoffman. Will the police be able to save him in time? ACT 31 - THE GREATEST ROBOT ON EARTH - Professor Hoffman reveals of a secret meeting between him, Professor Ronald Newton-Howard and Professor Tenma in talks to create a super robot if need, in order to save the world. And what happened during that meeting between the greatest minds in the planet. JUDGMENT CALL: "PLUTO: Urasawa x Tezuka" vol. 004 is a volume that features major revelations and simply is an important volume as we learn of the agenda of a group who are anti-robots but also who may have orchestrated the murders of the world's top robotic scientists and the great robots. The volume is probably the most serious and also for the fact that compared to past volumes, much less story is focused on the great robots themselves but more of the dramatic, suspenseful storyline of showing motives for murder but also how sinister the people behind the murders really are. Needless to say, although there is less story focused on great robot battles, the storyline for this volume definitely ramps up because of several major revelations that are quite shocking. In fact, it's difficult to even talk about what happens in volume 4 because of how many plot twists are revealed. And along with that, the surprising shocker of the latest great robot who falls in battle. If you have invested your time in reading the first three volumes, volume four is simply a no-brainer because Urasawa's storyline just continues to get better and better. One thing that Urasawa is quite successful in this series (and also his "20th Century Boys" manga series) is effectively create a story that is well-written but also artwork that shows detail in emotion. May it be the fear, anguish, happiness or even the lust of killing, he manages to capture the emotion quite well with his character designs. If you have not read any of the volumes of "PLUTO: Urasawa x Tezuka" but are curious, this is one manga series that is worth owning, worth reading and trust me you won't be disappointed. Another highly recommended volume of "PLUTO"!

WHAT IS IT ABOUT? “Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, Volume 004” by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki is the fourth book in an eight-book science fiction manga series Pluto. The whole series is based on “The Greatest Robot on Earth,” the most popular story arc in Astro Boy series by a legendary manga master Osamu Tezuka. A mysterious force disguised as a tornado is after the four remaining great robots of the world, while the former members of Bora Survey Group are being killed one after another… And it seems that both Atom, a.k.a. Astro Boy, and Professor Ochanomizu are next on the list. Meanwhile, detective Gesicht is searching for clues about the killer’s identity and the motive, but he himself is in danger, and not only because he is one of the seven great robots of the world. THUMBS UP: 1) Perfectly paced and surprising. As I mentioned in my previous review, the story building in Pluto series is excellent. The plot is full of twists and turns, but despite the fact that A LOT of thing are happening all at once, it is surprisingly easy to keep all the storylines straight. I admit though that “Pluto, Volume 004” didn’t provide all the answers I really hoped for at the end of the third book, but I cannot really complain - I still have four volumes to go. By the way, I am still in denial over a couple of events in this volume: I really didn’t see it coming and still can’t believe it really happened! 2) Depth. In addition to being thrilling and suspenseful, Pluto series is also moving and thought-provoking. For example, the first act in this volume is very simple yet very powerful emotionally. Although “Pluto, Volume 004” does not offer nearly as much social commentary as the previous volume, it still raises a couple of interesting questions, such as what makes a robot perfect. 3) Beautiful artwork. It’s time for me to finally acknowledge how gorgeous Urasawa’s artwork is. Although I previously complained that the adult characters most of the time are drawn with their mouths shut while talking and have a limited range of facial expressions, it doesn’t really bother me anymore (or maybe the illustrations DID get a little bit more dynamic). In either case, the artwork is very realistic and simply stunning. COULD BE BETTER: 1) Ruined surprise. Towards the end of the book the authors introduce a new character and put some effort into hiding his face up until the last page. Such a maneuver is supposed to build tension but it clearly fails to do so because a) we’ve never seen this character before, so finally seeing his face doesn’t have much of an effect, and, more importantly, b) his face is plastered on the cover of the volume and you can easily recognize him just by seeing his hair, beard or glasses. FAIL! 2) Lack of color. Yet again only the six first pages are colored and the remainder of the book is black and white. Why the teasing, I ask? VERDICT: 3.5 out of 5 “Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, Volume 004” by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki is perfectly paced, surprising, moving and thought provoking. It is as good as the previous two volumes, so if you liked the story so far, don’t stop. POST SCRIPTUM: Check out my reviews of the previous three volumes: 1) “Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, Volume 001”: http://www.amazon.com/review/R39D2RIEIAPZRO/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm 2) “Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, Volume 002”: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3PJZDE2SFGRI6/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm 3) “Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, Volume 003”: http://www.amazon.com/review/R39D7281G5TKZQ/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm