Black Jack, Vol. 3 Paperback – Illustrated, January 20, 2009

A staple in any classic manga collection.

Osamu Tezuka’s artwork and storytelling amazes me again in the Third Volume of Blackjack.In summary: Each of the 15 chapters always brings an element of engagement. Whether it be through tragedy, tension, or the fantastic artwork.In particular the stories “Shrinking”, “Your Mistake”, and “Baby Blues” will have you thinking about your personal outlook on humanity.

This series is not like any other series today, it does not need allot to be an entertaining read. In short this series is a gem, if you love medical dramas that are not all just about the flash and has real substance.

Excellent binding with the hard cover. I wish all the other volumes were like this instead of just the first 3. Took about an hour to read. still worth it.

Tezuka is the founder of manga, and this volume is just more of the greatest! buy it now guys, really!

Gooooooood

This volume of Black Jack is the most satisfying yet. Tezuka had me in tears at points and laughing at others. Yes, it is possible to be moved to tears by the stories written by the "God of Manga." Some of the stories are straightforward "morality tales" and others are more opaque. Sometimes he ties his stories up nicely with a little bow at the end. Other times, he leaves us to just think. In this volume, we get to know Pinoko, his adorable sidekick a little better. After all the stories, we still don't understand why Black Jack is so demanding of money. Where does it all go?Osamu Tezuka is known as the "God of Manga" in Japan. He single-handedly made Manga respectable after WWII and pioneered the use of cinematic techniques. He not only entertained the public with characters like "Astro Boy" but he tackled more weighty subjects such as nuclear danger, Buddhism, and care for the environment. He created a "studio" of star characters, like a "Disney for Japan."Tezuka's most autobiographical character is "Black Jack." Before becoming an artist full-time, Tezuka graduated from medical school. Black Jack is a "super doctor," an un-licensed maverick who is a fantastic surgeon. His exploits are so over-the-top, he must be Tezuka's dream of what a doctor could be. The actual medical terminology used, based on Tezuka's actual knowledge, add a level of realism and interest to the stories.With fast-paced writing and kinetic artwork, once you start reading Black Jack, you won't be able to put it down.

Great set of stories, beautifully bound hardcover manga. A true masterpiece, any comic book fan should give the series a shot. The Hardcover edition contains an extra story that was too morbid or grotesque for the paperback edition.