Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, Vol. 4 [Paperback]

Naoki Urasawa (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Pluto: Urasawa X Tezuka | Publication Date: July 28, 2009

R to L (Japanese Style). A powerful, destructive force in the form of a tornado is killing the great robots of the world one by one. Who or what could be behind this whirlwind? Be it man or robot, it now has its sights set on Atom, the most advanced robot ever created--and Atom is ready to dive right into the eye of the storm.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Naoki Urasawa's career as a manga artist spans more than twenty years and has firmly established him as one of the true manga masters of Japan. Born in Tokyo in 1960, Urasawa debuted with BETA! in 1983 and hasn't stopped his impressive output since. Well-versed in a variety of genres, Urasawa's oeuvre encompasses a multitude of different subjects, such as a romantic comedy (Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl), a suspenseful human drama about a former mercenary Pineapple ARMY; story by Kazuya Kudo), a captivating psychological suspense story (Monster), a sci-fi adventure manga (20th Century Boys), and a modern reinterpretation of the work of the God of Manga, Osamu Tezuka (Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka; co-authored with Takashi Nagasaki, supervised by Macoto Tezka, and with the cooperation of Tezuka Productions). Many of his books have spawned popular animated and live-action TV programs and films, and 2008 saw the theatrical release of the first of three live-action Japanese films based on 20th Century Boys. No stranger to accolades and awards, Urasawa is a three-time recipient of the prestigious Shogakukan Manga Award, a two-time recipient of the Osamu Tezuka Cultural Prize, and has received the Kodansha Manga Award. Similarly, Monster has been nominated three times for the Eisner Award in America. Urasawa has also become involved in the world of academia, and in 2008 accepted a guest teaching post at Nagoya Zokei University, where he teaches courses in, of course, manga.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (July 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1421519216
• ISBN-13: 978-1421519210
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #513,510 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The fourth volume of "Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka" is much deeper than the previous three volumes and more revelations!, August 17, 2009

By 

Dennis A. Amith (kndy) (California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, Vol. 4 (Paperback)

In the first three volumes of "PLUTO", we learned about a world where robots and humans work together alongside with each other. In this world, robots are treated (by most) like sentient beings comes a world where the planet has robotic heroes and even police squadrons of human and robot partners. Of course, it's not an all perfect world as there are humans who rather not co-exist with the robots. And someone makes their agenda known when someone has decided to disrupt that peaceful coexistence by destroying the great robots and possibly murdering those who protect the rights for robots.

With the release of the exciting fourth volume, whoever has killed the scientists and the great robots now have Atom and Professor Ochanomizu, the head of the Ministry of Science as their target.

Here is a brief summary of each chapter in vol. 4 (short summaries, no spoilers):

ACT 24 - THE PROFESSOR'S DAY OFF - The person(s) responsible for the deaths of the scientists and great robots is revealed.

ACT 25 - A FINE DAY FOR A TORNADO - It was once thought that robots are incapable of emotions or hatred but how is it possible that a robot has the ability to contemplate revenge?

ACT 26 - THE CONFRONTATION - Pluto goes after Uran and Bobby, will Atom save them in time?

ACT 27 - A DIFFERENT DREAM - For some reason, Gesicht is having nightmares. Meanwhile, someone is sent to to kill Gesicht.

ACT 28 - EMERGENCY CALL - Another great robot has fallen.

ACT 29 - WHISPERING SHADOWS - Gesicht is ordered to protect Adolf who may have information on the identities and purpose of those who killed the scientist or the great robots.

ACT 30 - THREE SCIENTISTS AT KIMBERLY - The next scientist targeted is Professor Hoffman. Will the police be able to save him in time?

ACT 31 - THE GREATEST ROBOT ON EARTH - Professor Hoffman reveals of a secret meeting between him, Professor Ronald Newton-Howard and Professor Tenma in talks to create a super robot if need, in order to save the world. And what happened during that meeting between the greatest minds in the planet.

JUDGMENT CALL:

"PLUTO: Urasawa x Tezuka" vol. 004 is a volume that features major revelations and simply is an important volume as we learn of the agenda of a group who are anti-robots but also who may have orchestrated the murders of the world's top robotic scientists and the great robots.

The volume is probably the most serious and also for the fact that compared to past volumes, much less story is focused on the great robots themselves but more of the dramatic, suspenseful storyline of showing motives for murder but also how sinister the people behind the murders really are.

Needless to say, although there is less story focused on great robot battles, the storyline for this volume definitely ramps up because of several major revelations that are quite shocking. In fact, it's difficult to even talk about what happens in volume 4 because of how many plot twists are revealed. And along with that, the surprising shocker of the latest great robot who falls in battle.

If you have invested your time in reading the first three volumes, volume four is simply a no-brainer because Urasawa's storyline just continues to get better and better. One thing that Urasawa is quite successful in this series (and also his "20th Century Boys" manga series) is effectively create a story that is well-written but also artwork that shows detail in emotion. May it be the fear, anguish, happiness or even the lust of killing, he manages to capture the emotion quite well with his character designs.

If you have not read any of the volumes of "PLUTO: Urasawa x Tezuka" but are curious, this is one manga series that is worth owning, worth reading and trust me you won't be disappointed. Another highly recommended volume of "PLUTO"!

5.0 out of 5 stars Manga Gold, November 17, 2009

By 

Chihiro (Boston Ma) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, Vol. 4 (Paperback)

Urasawa is one of the best storytellers and artists around. With PLUTO, he is retelling the Osamu Tezuka Astro Boy Story, "The Strongest Robot in the World." It's a mature story about a cop tracking down a serial killer, but there's more to the story than that. His character designs change how you feel about the original characters. Who's on the cover of this issue here? That's Dr. Tenma, Astro Boy/Mighty Atom's creator.

I can't say enough good things about Pluto and 20th Century Boys. If you get a chance to read them, do not hesitate to do so.