Customer Reviews

Buddha, Volume 8: Jetavana

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This is the final volume of legendary Japanese cartoonist Osama Tezuka's masterful tale of the life of Buddha. He is the artist and author of numerous wonderful manga tales, but I think he pours his heart into this series more than any other. His detailed black and white drawings are moving, vivid and cinematic. He narrates with great wisdom, depth and comedy.

Despite the seriousness of this story, which is the end of the life of Buddha, he never fails to spice it up with "inside" manga jokes and anachronisms, adding some needed comic relief.

As Tezuka builds the climax of the story, he subtly explores Buddhist precepts. While Vol. 7 at points was sad, as it appeared humanity would never leave the cycle of never-ending violence and suffering, Vol. 8 is hopeful and positive.

What is remarkable is he is able to do this while entertaining; as readers, we become spellbound by his picture-perfect drawings. This series is a tour de force, deceptively simple at first, but much deeper as you wade into it. He succeeds in creating true art; by changing the way his readers view the world.

i was ill prepared to read buddha because it was sooooo in depth and had many plot points. at times the story can become confusing to the amount of characters and all the jumping around it does. that's why i say you'll have to re read this. my only real complaint is some of the translations. at times they use terms that couldn't be used, to my knowledge there was no internet back in 1989. i do like the cameos that are made (black jack, astro's prof) but unless you have a working knowledge of tezuka's other works these could confuse you even more. i'm glad i picked these up and recommend it to any comic fan.

This is the last of the 8-volume "Buddha" series. This graphical biography of a religious leader is great and understandable in the Japanese manga style. There is also scenes of non-sequitar humor injected by the artist as "comic relief". Readers of all ages will love all 8 volumes.