Customer Reviews

MW

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the story of the two survivors of an "accident." In the early `60s, the United States stashed away on a tiny Japanese island, with Japanese cooperation, of course, some deadly gas (Tezuka calls it "MW,"--hence the title)--we really did---but in Tezuka's manga some leaks out, killing all 800 inhabitants of the island. The survivors, Iwao Garai, 15, and Michio Yuki, 9, are protected from the gas because they are sheltered in a cave. When they come out the next morning, it is to an island of the dead: men, women, children, birds and beasts--every sentient being. The gekiga (a manga for adults, which MW is, in spades) tells us about the rest of their lives, (almost...) beginning 15 years later. We find out about the events on the island in flashbacks.

What happened to the rest of the gas? (The cover-up has of course been enormous.) And what will Garai and Yuki (now, respectively, a Catholic priest and a loan executive at a Tokyo bank) do about it? Garai is haunted by his memory of the dead, and Yuki is simply a madman: he inhaled some of the gas, which gives him occasional attacks of bad health, but worse, it warped his brain, robbing him of every speck o conscience, so that he takes great joy in using, kidnapping, torturing and killing people. We find out his reason--just as insane as the acts themselves--in the second third of the manga. Yuki always confesses his crimes to Father Garai, who--and we don't understand why, at first-- never tells on him.

Yuki and Garai have (since when?) an uneasy homosexual relationship (Yuki is Tezuka's only true homosexual main character). It's very hard to hate our arch-villain Yuki: he's cute as a button , very smart, has a great sense of humor, and really loves Garai (although he loves nobody else on earth). Garai--until the second part of the manga, when he begins to develop a backbone--is a rather poor creature, although he's a big, handsome fellow, not being able to honestly follow any part of his heart. But it must be difficult to be in love with God and a sociopath at the same time. He lies to his father confessor, the police, Yuki, and himself. Of course Yuki lies to evrybody.

There are many fascinating characters in this manga: the reporter to whom Garai finally tells the story of the island, the public prosecuto0r, who has a face like a misshapen dinner plate, but whose brain is in fine order, Yuki's brother, an onnagata (a man who plays women's parts in Kabuki theater), who looks as much like Yuki as the second pea in a pod. Mistaken identity is common in Kabuki; it occurs here too. Some of Tezuka's best drawing is here--the faces of the dead in the reporter's article, Yuki's disquisition on...Garai's day. There is all you could wish for of political corruption, self-sacrifice, ugly violence, sadness, humor, anger, and occasional very kinky sex (which I have not mentioned). The ending is worthy of the darkest Hitchcock.

The translation (from the French I read) is occasionally disappointing, The French is softer in tone, but--is the French, or the English closer to the original Japanese? I don't know. Sometimes the drawing is too stark. (It'a 30 years since the serialization....what are we looking at?) Perhaps ....an "18+"would be more appropriate than a "l6+" as a rating. The sex is not explicit, nor is the plot just an excuse for it, but a few scenes would be shocking to some, and there is the occasional use of the right word in the wrong place at the wrong time (being used to American films, this really surprised me). I wouldn't want to keep anyone from reading it, but more conservative human beings might see the equivalent of an "X"-----and think, "I think I'll sit this one out."

First off, the previous two reviews do an excellent job of retelling the events of the story and apply the appropriate warnings (this is an adult manga). In addition to those reviews, it is important to note that while this work does have political underpinnings it isn't to the point that it dominates the work. Yes, the history of the Catholic priest is obviously a hippy-esque/radical life style - the character art proves it. Yes, the work refers back to the Vietnam war and the overriding plot is to uncover a military cover-up.

That said the whole of the work is really focused on Yuki's madness. I've read many, many books on psychopathic killers both in fiction and non-fiction, but Yuki truely strikes a cord. He kills without remorse and then feigns remorse. He is completely self-centered and makes no issue with that. He uses people in such a masterful way that a real Yuki is chilling. His homosexual relationship (by the way no male nudity just naked upper torsos together or blanked out male forms) with the Catholic priest is extremely interesting in terms of dynamics.

Lastly, secondary characters like the prosecutor (actually detective/investigator) are highly entertaining. To use an extremely American reference, this character plays Hannibal's Clarice.

It has been said that this is the only Tezuka work without anything "real" to say such as Buddha. It couldn't be more wrong. However, unlike Tezuka's other works the point isn't as obvious. To find it examine Yuki not the political aspects.

Overall, this is a wonderful criminal read with political underpinnings. If politics make you cringe don't worry - this is still a good read. The art is older but refreshing considering the similar looking characters in more modern mangas. The backgrounds are rendered in amazing detail showing extremely deft work with a pen. Manga lovers of horror, suspense, crime, or an excellent thoughtful read pick this up!

Tezuka is too often referenced as Walt Disney's Japanese counterpart. For those who've read the last few re-releases ("Apollo's Song" and this), they know that this title isn't really appropriate; Tezuka created many things -- childhood humor, science fiction, crude drama. I guess "MW" would fall into that last category (though categorizing Tezuka on premise is probably faulted) being an epic war/crime drama.

Michio Yuki is probably Tezuka's most vile character. One that is left scarred by his past (something out of his control); this is a theme that Tezuka comes back to again and again and he knows it well. On the opposite side of the spectrum is Father Garai, Catholic priest and, fifteen years before the books' current events, Yuki's childhood companion. These two are "bound by fate," Yuki says, and it's all because of a deadly, secretive gas labeled "MW".

I won't bother giving away any plot points or points of interest - they're all there for you to enjoy. Though it is worth saying that this is an adult novel (it has infantile death, genital mutilation, and multiple rape scenes) - it even probably deserves more than its (16+) rating. (Some of this stuff is sadistic enough to remind one of Junji Ito (or maybe Mizuno, since there's a "cute" factor here)).

Props have to be given to Vertical for putting out such a fine work. In a hardcover, this is almost too perfect. My only fault with "Apollo's Song" was its flimsy attitude when being held - at over 500 pages you just NEED hardcover, and with "MW", the end product feels much more satisfying. (But who designed this dust jacket? The actual cover and spine are much more aesthetically pleasing!)

This is manga at its best, and shows Tezuka at one of the high points of his career. Truly frightening and deeply psychological work from one of the masters of the genre.

I can't believe that MW is 30+ years old. It hasn't aged a day! The story is just as relevant today as it likely was 30 years ago (maybe more so). If you're a Tezuka fan like me then you should quit wasting your time with my review and go buy it! MW is wonderful.

Be warned! This book is a shocker! Japanese Disney this is not! Its a serious book covering very grown up topics - like murder, gay clergy, pedophilia and... love. For behind the betrayal, murder, lies and intrigue is a very subtle love story.

I disagree with many of the other reviewers. This isn't a story about evil. Its a story that shows us that our concept of good and evil is flawed. It shows us that humanity is flawed. We love without hope and believe without faith. The characters in this story stand up for what they believe in - even when they know that failure is the only possible outcome.

MW is a story about faith. Its a long, rich and complex story full of all-too-human characters. If you can survive without men in tights, cheesy storylines and gratuitous art then this is a must buy.

Osamu Tezuka is often referred to as "the godfather of manga", and his prolific career lasted decades and includes some very familiar titles, such as Astro Boy, Metropolis, and Black Jack. For the most part, his stories feature friendly and somewhat goofy characters, but MW is very different. The story is dark and disturbing, with no real hero to be found. But Tezuka manages to make even the psychotic and sadistic Yuki seem tragic and wronged, as if none of his crimes are his fault but are instead the result of events outside his control. At one point, I even found myself rooting for Yuki, as he struggled to find out who was responsible for covering up the MW leak.

Tezuka weaves many themes through his story and tackles difficult subjects: the involvement of the United States in Japan, the acceptability of homosexuality, and the pressures of the business world. For those unfamiliar with manga, MW is a great place to start as it tells a compelling story through Tezuka's amazing artwork, deep character development, and even a delightful yet sinister twist at the end. Overall, it's a great read!

MW is the third single-volume "adult" Tezuka manga to be published in the US by Vertical Inc. Fans of those previous volumes-- Ode to Kirohito and Apollo's Song-- will definitely enjoy MW. It's a lurid thriller with serious undertones, sex and violence in Tezuka's cartoony style and the same astounding command of the comics medium that Tezuka makes seem effortless.

The harder question is whether general readers-- readers of novels who enjoy the intelligent graphic novel here and there (like Persepolis, Watchmen, MAUS, etc)-- should check out MW. I remember reading Tezuka's Adolf back in the early 90s when it was released by Viz and was seriously taken aback by Tezuka's odd combination of a cartoony style and casual sex and violence, his weird blend of serious subject matter and slap-dash storytelling. It's something you just have to accept with Tezuka, but once you get used to it, you can appreciate the many wonders in Tezuka's serious works: their originality, their commitment to entertainment, even titillation, and, as mentioned already, his superhuman command of the comic book form.

Just like an old Disney film, there's a suspension of disbelief, an acceptance of the rules he plays by, but once you get past those, each of Tezuka's serious works is as jam-packed with originality, action, characters, and ideas as the greatest Disney classic.

MW is actually the first Tezuka work I've read cover to cover. This is at both turns, twisted yet quaint - compelling reading with cute Tintin-esque artwork but lots of "shock value" ideas - from forbidden love, lust to serial killing all wrapped up. Tezuka really throws everything into this no-holds-barred tale. Everything does and can seem to happen.

What makes it work is the drama serial aspect of it - it's like a thriller meets soap opera meets kinky pulp fiction...I thought the only failing is that the lead antagonist Yuki was almost a supernatural being on so many levels but turns out to be mortal in an ordinary way. He is probably one of the most vile characters ever created, but still dimensional and contradictory enough, which ends up being the book's strength and weakness.

This is definitely for adults only. Don't be mistaken by Tezuka's Astro Boy reputation.

This is an adult graphic novel, it should be rated 18+.

Before this I had only read Tezuka's Ode To Kirihito and Swallowing The Earth; I think it might be a better idea to read Buddha, Phoenix and Black Jack before MW...
The main story is about a psychopath called Yuki, on the background there's criticism on political corruption, the use of chemical weapons, the controversy on US Bases in Japan, etc.

A few sexual deviations are shown in the book; you'll find part of it disturbing (a least I did).

I wanted to rate the book with 3 stars but I really liked the artwork which makes it deserve 4 stars instead.

This is my favorite Osamu Tezuka's work. I think the only reason some may give it a low rating is to distance themselves from the lure of the main character who is a sociopath, child killer, rapist, mass murderer, etc... And yet by the end you are hooked in, seduced by his charms. It's a chilling effect that is hard to deal if one forgets that this is just a work of fiction. Read it and give yourself license to root for the monster.

I feel conflicted about Osamu Tezuka's MW. On one hand I enjoyed the intriguing plot and the way he was able to use the comic medium to display such horrific crimes. These acts would have been very difficult to display in any other medium. The story is also an interesting statement on the conventional expectation that in the end crime does not go unpunished. I think a lot of my negative reaction to the work was an agitation that the main character would get away with his many crimes which included rape and child murder. The story also acts as a critique of the US military presence in Japan and anxiety about chemical, nuclear weapons.

These qualities made the story very slow going to read. The main active agent in the story is so repugnant that following his evil exploits becomes tiring rather quickly. Tezuka walks a fine line in the story between turning off a reader and keeping them interested in the plot. Ode to Kirihito had a more conventional plot and could be said to have a tied up in a more expected way but I enjoyed the story and although it had violence it wasn't near the level of MW. So I feel torn with the vote because I admire Tezuka for making such a strong statement with the piece but my enjoyment of it was not on the level of some of his other works. I would give it a 5 for the artwork and a 3 for plot so 4 is the average.