Astro Boy Volume 5

Rating:
Summary: Science and Society
Review: "Astro Boy Volume 5" continues Dark Horses excellent collection of Tezuka Osamu's, Japan's "God of Manga," seminal series. Each volume has Tezuka's trademark blend of serious adult issues and child-friendly storytelling. Almost like "A Child's Guide to Racism, Politics, and Other Bad Things" each Astro Boy story contains a moral on political ambition, greed and prejudiceness.

Volume 5 has three story arcs; "Crucifix Island" is the tale of the bitter and unfriendly Pook, a transforming robot left unfinished by his "father," a criminal named Dr. Tozawa. Tozawa bands together with some other criminals to storm Crucifix Island, a rich treasure depot of gems and uranium, using Pook as their main weapon. However, his love for his "child" leads to Tozawa's undoing. "Space Snow Leopard" is a science lesson on colony creatures, like ocean coral and sponges, as Astro Boy battles the mysterious Space Snow Leopard. "The Artificial Sun" talks of prejudice, as robot-hater and world famous detective Sherlock Holmspun teams up with Astro Boy against gangster Kim Sankaku and a stolen artificial sun. In order to defeat Sankaku, Astro Boy must overcome Holmspun's attitudes about robots, as well as his dark secret.

While very cartoony in nature, and definitely aimed at a young audience, the "Astro Boy" series can be enjoyed by a wide spectrum of ages, as Tezuka's stories are universal in themes. However, if you have a child of young reading age, Astro Boy would make a great gift.

Rating:
Summary: Exceptional 3rd -story; fon & light reading
Review: I've read this book. It comprises of three-stories. For the general summary, pls. refer to the amazon.com review.Still overall, this is afun, entertaining and enjoyable to read.

I especially like the third story. It's about about a detetive named Detective Holmes who need to work in tandem with astro boy in a case. The detective hate astro boy because he is a robot, and also the detective has a exceptional high degree of opinions about himself rhat he quickly dismisses astro boy as his partner, or in that case, he felt he do not need a partner! In the end, somehow the detective redeem his belief on Astro because of a misfortune event.

This last, 3rd story is exceptional. It has a terrific redeeming value, as well as it is susepenseful and emotional story. The other stories are not bad either, esp. the 2nd story which I think is quite fun and inventive.

Buy it if you are looking for Gn for fun, light reading to past time.