Phoenix, Vol. 2: A Tale of the Future (Phoenix (Viz)) [Paperback]

Osamu Tezuka (Author, Illustrator)

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (December 14, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159116608X
• ISBN-13: 978-1591166085
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #365,451 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

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars With just a peek it will steal your heart, November 22, 2008

By 

I. Mohr "ridiculous dreamer" ("A Nice Place to Live") - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Phoenix, Vol. 2: A Tale of the Future (Phoenix (Viz)) (Paperback)

When I was thirteen my brother and I checked this veritable tome of a manga from our library, and to this day it is the only manga I can look back on, pick up and read, and never grow tired or embarrassed of. Even if you don't read the other books in the Phoenix series or others by osamu tezuka, you will fall in love with this book.
The artwork is incredible. It can be glanced over as you fervently read through the engrossing story or you can pour over it, looking at each and ever detail: the faces of each man, beast and machine, the apocalyptic earth, the dazzling sight of the phoenix in all its glory.
I suppose people can say "It's been done" when it comes to the story, but bah to them! The eternal cycle, the bond of love, the danger of freedom, the folly of creation, of power, of ideals and control. Give it to someone young and they can touch on these themes, give it to someone old and they can marvel at the detailed creation of such a frightening world.
It ain't the highest-caliber medium to present these grand ideas, but if any doubt that a graphic novel/comic book/manga can only cover an eensy-weensy niche of cliches and dribble...then I suppose this is one of many that can prove otherwise.
I know so little Japanese that I cannot vouch for its translation (so I suppose I cannot defend it well) but it does not insult the English language or the reader flipping through.
Now enough doom and gloom - whether you wish to be taught some overwhelming moral or not, this manga is definitely enjoyable and should be read just for the story. So run, or click quickly or something, and get this book and immerse yourself in the perennial tale of the Phoenix.

5.0 out of 5 stars To the Future!, August 19, 2011

By 

The Komik Khan (Ottawa, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Phoenix, Vol. 2: A Tale of the Future (Phoenix (Viz)) (Paperback)

The second volume in Osamu Tezuka's revered life long project/work catapults us into the year 3404 A.D. as he flip-flops through past and present. Unfortunatly Tezuka never had the chance to finish the Pheonix saga, (as you may have heard from other review's, he past away before he could finish), while on his death bed all he requested was to finish his work. While we never get a solidified ending (which was so close to completion), in the end we do get 11 volumes of pure goldness and a bonus volume n*12.

From this review I hope to influence the mainsteam-north-american-comic-book-readers to delve into this masterpiece, as it is pretty much the one and the only manga I pick up, and since then I pick up everything that Tezuka comes out with because he's just that fantasitic. Don't second guess picking up this work, in fact snag anything that says Tezuka on the back cover. Again, I'm not into manga whatsoever, but Tezuka's work on this series is a must have for any serious TPB or Graphic Novel collector, as we label them today.

5.0 out of 5 stars Monumental Manga, June 25, 2011

By 

Paige Turner "Paige" (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Phoenix, Vol. 2: A Tale of the Future (Phoenix (Viz)) (Paperback)

Phoenix is a set of 12 self-contained, yet interlinked stories which bounce back and forth between ancient Japanese history and the distant future. Tezuka, the "god of Manga" who liberated Manga from obscurity during post-WWII Japan wrote this series over several DECADES. All twelve stories are linked by the presence of the mythical Phoenix bird, which has slightly different connotations in Eastern and Western cultures. The common theme, however, is that of death and re-birth.

In this volume, Tezuka uses his signature cinematic style which is now so often copied that it seems commonplace to the modern reader. Compare anything he draws to the best American comics drawn during the same era, and the difference is staggering- it's like comparing a 3D HDTV set to an old black and white cathode ray tube.

This is the second volume of the lengthy series. It takes place in the distant future, as man destroys himself through world war. The eventual rebirth and the hero Masato underscore themes of pacifism, environmentalism, and buddhist thought for which Tezuka is famous. This is a must read for serious and casual graphic novel fans alike. Even if you've never been a fan of manga before, you are likely to enjoy this serious, thought-provoking, and entertaining work.