Like all great artists with careers that span decades, Tezuka Osamu's work can be divided into different periods. Most of us have seen or read episodes of Astro Boy or watched Metropolis, both from his early career (late 1940s-early 50s).
Apollo's Song is one of Tezuka's mid-career works, from the manga artist's transitional period. It was completed in 1970, and it's about a boy who has never known love. He was born to a slutty mom, and as a result, every time he sees public displays of affection, it triggers an uncontrollable rage in him. After killing several animals mid-mating, he is checked into a hospital where the doctors put him through an intense and unusual reconfiguration regime. What follows is an amazingly creative and introspective adventure into hallucinations, hypnotic states, and glimpses of the past and future including Nazi soldiers, cyborg queens, and zoo animals on an abandoned island. And at the center of it all, a boy who needs to learn to love in order to be left alone. Pretty amazing.
Vertical Inc—the Japanese publishing house that puts out beautiful reproductions of Japanese manga and other great Japanese lit with awesome covers designed by Chip Kidd—just came out with the English version of Apollo's Song this June. It's a really quick fun read with all original drawings by Tezuka.
Get your copy here.
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