Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, Vol. 6 [Paperback]

Naoki Urasawa (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Pluto: Urasawa X Tezuka | Publication Date: November 17, 2009

A new vision based on Astro Boy - "The Greatest Robot On Earth" R to L (Japanese Style). Pluto… Sahad… Goji… Abullah… Mysterious figures somehow involved with the serial murders of the great robots of the world. Europol's top robot detective Gesicht has been put on the case, and he's mere steps away from discovering the horrifying truth behind the killer and his motives… Little does he realize that he's also steps away from discovering a horrifying truth of his own… Masterfully crafted science fiction and suspense at its best! In an ideal world where man and robots coexist, someone or something has destroyed the powerful Swiss robot Mont Blanc. Elsewhere a key figure in a robot rights group is murdered. The two incidents appear to be unrelated...except for one very conspicuous clue - the bodies of both victims have been fashioned into some sort of bizarre collage complete with makeshift horns placed by the victims' heads. Interpol assigns robot detective Gesicht to this most strange and complex case - and he eventually discovers that he too, as one of the seven great robots of the world, is one of the targets.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Born in Tokyo in 1960, Naoki Urasawa's career as a manga artist spans three decades and has firmly established him as one of the true manga masters of his generation. A graduate of Meisei University, Urasawa debuted with Return! in 1981 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 romantic comedies (Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl), gritty urban dramas (Pineapple ARMY), swashbuckling detective stories (Master Keaton), captivating psychological thrillers (Monster and 20th Century Boys) and modern reinterpretations of the work of the God of Manga, Osamu Tezuka (Pluto: Urasawa × Tezuka). Many of his books have spawned equally popular animated series, 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 has received the Kodansha Manga Award, and is a three-time recipient of the prestigious Shogakukan Manga Award and a two-time recipient of the Osamu Tezuka Cultural Prize.Similarly, Monster has been nominated twice 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. Combining a breathtaking cinematic visual style with stories known for their penetrating psychological depth and maturity, Naoki Urasawa remains one of the most exciting creators working in the medium of comics today.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (November 17, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1421527219
• ISBN-13: 978-1421527215
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #354,569 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Major revelations are in store with this sixth volume of "PLUTO: Urasawa x Tezuka"., March 10, 2010

By 

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

This review is from: Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, Vol. 6 (Paperback)

In the first five 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 seven great robots and possibly murdering those who protect the rights for robots.

We eventually learn that there are anti-robot hate groups who will do what they can to stop robots (including committing murder). And despite robots not having emotions, we are starting to see a few of them develop certain emotion(s) that they don't understand why they are feeling it. And for the primary character, the great robot Gesicht, will the greatest detective be able to stop the murders of robots and humans and find out who is behind Pluto or will he discover something that can change the course of his investigation?

This is the basis of the story "PLUTO", a reimagining of "Astro Boy - The Greatest Robot on Earth" written by manga great Naoki Urasawa ("Yawara", "Monster", "20th Century Boys" and many more titles) and co-authored by Takashi Nagasaki. The Astro Boy or Tetsuwan Atom stories are based on the popular works of Osamu Tezuka and with cooperation from Tezuka Productions, this manga project is managed by Makoto Tezuka.

The manga series revolves around the great robot Gesicht, who is a detective. He is investigating the murders of professors who have supported the cause of the robots but has been taken aback by the elimination of other great robots and the numbers of those still alive are starting to dwindle.

And things do not look so great for the great robots as now the majority of them have been eliminated. Gesicht, who is among the few that still survives is deep into his case but this time around, as he looks deeper into the investigation, what he discovers can literally shake the foundation of the not only the investigation but him as a robot.

Here is a brief summary of each chapter in vol. 6 (short summaries, no spoilers):

ACT 40 - SAGE OF THE SANDS - Gesicht goes to Samarkand, Republic of Persia to investigate on a lead of who may be responsible for the murders.

ACT 41 - SAHAD - Gesicht heads to the Netherlands to look into this man named Sahad and about a special kind of tulip which he was working on.

ACT 42 - A HOME IN HADES - Gesicht has figured out the person that is responsible.

ACT 43 - ENCOUNTER WITH DEATH - An attempt is made on Professor Hoffman's life.

ACT 44 - I AM PLUTO - Gesicht takes on Pluto.

ACT 45 - NEGOTIATION AND PREPARATION - Gesicht learns about the true identity of Pluto.

ACT 46 - END OF THE DREAM - Gesicht goes against his superiors and the police force go to destroy Pluto.

ACT 47 - REAL TEARS - Another great robot has been murdered.

JUDGMENT CALL:

"PLUTO: Urasawa x Tezuka" vol. 006 features major revelations into the storyline of who is behind the murders against the scientists and the destruction of the great robots. Also, Gesicht learns more about the truth of his superiors and uncovering a major secret that has affected his life.

Although, most robots do not have emotions, Gesicht has started to show a side of himself that is quite human. Sadness, compassion and even some anger. But the final chapter of volume 6 was unexpected, the murder of a great robot that could only make me wonder what Naoki Urasawa has planned (especially since nearly all great robots have been destroyed).

Needless to say, this build up from the first six issues has definitely have me anticipating the next two volumes and in some way, we are quite lucky that we don't have to wait nearly a year for each volume to come out (in Japan, the first volume was released in 2004 and the eighth/final volume came out in 2009). The suspense is building and you can only wonder how the next volume which I'm guessing will feature Epsilon will be.

The artwork is solid and Naoki Urasawa knows how to bring together wonderful artwork and a well-written story. He has excelled in doing so with "20th Century Boys", "Monster" and previous other series and "PLUTO: Urasawa x Tezuka" is no exception. Again, another captivating, suspenseful and addictive volume of "PLUTO: Urasawa x Tezuka"!

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.