Blackjack Manga

Genre: Comedy
Parental Guidance Recommended
1973. Ozamu Tezuka. Weekly Shonen Champion. Akita Shonen Publishing Company Limited.

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Tezuka's Blackjack Manga

Cover Description:
In his highly acclaimed medical drama, world-renowned manga artist Osamu Tezuka plumbs the depths of the human pysche.

Although able to work miracles, due to mysterious circumstances, Doctor Black Jack is unlicensed to practice. Thus, his clientele often harbor some unsavory secrets of their own...

(9 released tankubon)

NOTE: This description was written sometime in 2001 and was recorded in the classic Otaku Fridge as ??.??.2001. Unfortunately the database would not accept non-numerical values, so this review is now dated January 01, 2001 by default.

Maybe you would enjoy this. >>> by lovesenshi (09.01.2001)
Only people with a strong stomach, a morbid hilarity, an extraordinarily weird sense of humor, and a life deprived of drama would enjoy this; I know, trust me, I'm one of them. Hehe! What can I say? I mean, you don't have to think deep in order for you to understand and enjoy everything, even if it may involve a real genius of, take note, an UNLICENSED surgeon (a cute one, may I add). The stories are equally fun to read as it is a mixture of adventure (yeeha!), some romance (for those who love it, I guess), suspense (you have to read it for yourself for you to know), comedy (as is said before, the kind of comedy that comes with a strong stomach), and even... drama! Not the kind of drama that will make you puke, but some stories that may actually make you, eherm, cry. (Gasp!) Hehe!

I wouldn't know how to otherwise tell you why I did enjoy this manga because, to tell you frankly, I wouldn't know either. All I know is, you have to read it yourself so that you'll know what the heck I am talking about; this kind of manga is undescribable! Although I would say that Ozamu Tezuka, creator of AstroBoy, did a cute job of this (yup, yup)! If this doesn't spill your guts from laughing, then, don't worry, Black Jack is there to the rescue!

Individual Rating: Art 7; Story 7; Characters 8

I find it a bit weird. >>> by firesenshi (??.??.2001)
I am a fan of Ozamu Tezuka, Japan's premiere manga artist, since I was kid but really... this one of an unlicensed surgeon with a cute sidekick Pinoco baffles me a bit. I like Blackjack. Ozamu Tezuka created a character so dark and mysterious. However, if one is a doctor, specifically an unlicensed surgeon at that, I wonder how those great characteristics I once admired fit. Well, it does fit the character actually. A character that engages in unrecognized surgical practices such as joining two hearts together or even operating on himself. How that is medically possible is totally unknown. Tezuka-san of course, though not a medical expert, probably just based it on the fact that his character is a great surgeon enough to do those things. Well, okay. That is still weird to me.

But somehow, I can't put my finger on why these all work. And there are indeed some stories that are endearing. I especially remember those chapters. I must admit this is something new. It's weird but it's good. Expect Tezuka-san to create something totally unique.

There is a Blackjack OAV and Movie. The art there actually made Blackjack look more handsome to me although the art does not have the Tezuka trademark. It's because the animation was built only recently.

Individual Rating: Art 7; Story 7; Characters 8