Dororo, Volume 3 (v. 3) [Paperback]

Osamu Tezuka (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 26, 2008 | Series: Dororo (Book 3)

Dororo is Tezuka's classic thriller manga featuring a youth who has been robbed of 48 body parts by devils, and his epic struggle against a host of demons to get them back.

Daigo Kagemitsu, who works for a samurai general in Japan's Warring States period, promises to offer body parts of his unborn baby to 48 devils in exchange for complete domination of the country. Knowing the child to be deficient, Kagemitsu orders the newborn thrown into the river.

The baby survives. Callling himself Hyakkimaru, ge searches the world for the 48 demons. Each time he eliminates one, he retrieves one of his missing parts. Hyakkimaru meets a boy thief named Dororo, and together they travel the countryside, confronting mosters and ghosts again and again. This the last in a 3 - volume series.

Tezuka's manga and animated films had a tremendous impact on the shaping of the psychology of Japan's postwar youth. His work changed the concept of Japanese comics, transforming it into an art form and incorporating a variety of new styles in creating "story comics."

Editorial Reviews

Review

“It's the pioneer of the manga tradition wading neck deep into the mire of freakish swordsmen, ghouls and historical messiness: Kurosawa and Leone meets Romero... Dororo stands as a classic that showcases Osamu Tezuka's unique approach to manga and to the world.”
—Ain't It Cool News

“Platinum Award. Tezuka blends high-adventure plotting with deep and thoughtful themes in his inimitable style... It seems a shame it's only all been in Japanese until now.”
—Advanced Media Network

“Sleek in design and swift in pacing, the story's blend of mayhem and laffs and depression creates a uniquely chaotic world… The monster designs are excellent, ranging from detailed etchings to gargantuan masses of doomy scribbles.”
—Jog-The Blog

“Simply put, Vertical’s English translation of Osamu Tezuka’s late '60s swords-and-goblins saga is a work of such genius that one must term it not only inspired but also inspiring—it's a reminder of why one reads manga in the first place. Exquisitely rendered and mind-bogglingly creative.”
—Firefox News

“By far Tezuka’s edgiest work at that point in his career, this series is riveting and, frankly, creepy as hell, with Tezuka’s signature ‘cute’ style offering a welcome counterpoint to the visceral horrors depicted.
Highly recommended.”
—Publishers Weekly

“The premise and Tezuka's eerie renditions of larval Hyakkimaru and the monsters that come after him is unusually effective and chilling.”
—The Onion A.V. Club

About the Author

Osamu Tezuka (1928-89) is the godfather of Japanese manga comics. He originally intended to become a doctor and earned his degree before turning to what was then a medium for children. His many early masterpieces include the series known in the U.S. as Astro Boy. With his sweeping vision, deftly interwined plots, feel for the workings of power, and indefatigable commitment to human dignity, Tezuka elevated manga to an art form. The later Tezuka, who authored Buddha, often had in mind the mature readership that manga gained in the sixties and that had only grown ever since. The Kurosawa of Japanese pop culture, Osamu Tezuka is a twentieth century classic.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Vertical (August 26, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934287180
• ISBN-13: 978-1934287187
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #359,946 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Osamu Tezuka (1928-89) is the godfather of Japanese manga comics. He originally intended to become a doctor and earned his degree before turning to what was then a medium for children. His many early masterpieces include the series known in the U.S. as Astro Boy. With his sweeping vision, deftly interwined plots, feel for the workings of power, and indefatigable commitment to human dignity, Tezuka elevated manga to an art form. The later Tezuka, who authored Buddha, often had in mind the mature readership that manga gained in the sixties and that had only grown ever since. The Kurosawa of Japanese pop culture, Osamu Tezuka is a twentieth century classic.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great but a little disappointing, February 11, 2009

By 

Chihiro (Boston Ma) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dororo, Volume 3 (v. 3) (Paperback)

Volume three finishes the story, but then the story isn't really finished. Hyakkimaru is still cursed and his family issues are unresolved. He sends Dororo off and they go their separate ways for the same reasons they always split up in the comic(the path ahead is too dangerous and he wants Dororo to live and grow to adulthood), only to be reunited again.
If you really want a satisfying ending to the story, a Dororo movie was released in 2007 (2007 Japanese Drama Movie - Dororo - w/ English Subtitle)and is subtitled in English and released over here. I would reccommend buying or renting that as well.

3.0 out of 5 stars not much for closure..., July 29, 2011

By 

Eternal-song - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dororo, Volume 3 (v. 3) (Paperback)

now, i understand that Tezuka wanted to hurry up and finish this so he could go work on his next manga, but this last volume feels really rushed. the treasure arc wraps up strangely, it stops specifying which body parts hyakkimaru regains, and it's just... unsatifying. now, there are some good parts about it, and dororo's secret is an interesting surprise (assuming you haven't seen the movie). however, the ending is depressing and lacks closure, so i'd have to reccommend that you go watch the movie instead.
to be honest this entire series is to manga what LOTR is to fantasy. it did a great job helping to pioneer the genre, but there are flaws that you can't get away with nowadays...