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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It is easy to see why so many have been eagerly awaiting the translation of this book into English, November 23, 2009
This review is from: Swallowing The Earth (Paperback)
During World War II, stories begin circulating in the South Pacific about a bewitchingly lovely woman with the power to enthrall, then destroy, every man who sees her. Twenty years pass and the rumors resurface, this time saying that Zephyrus has come to Japan, once again using her wiles to control men. A former soldier, now a successful businessman, is determined to find Zephyrus and he hires dockworker Gohanmatsu to find and follow the mysterious woman. Gohanmatsu is strong and simple and has only one love: alcohol. Like Popeye had his spinach, Gohanmatsu has his booze, gaining strength and endurance with each bottle consumed. So strong is his focus on finding his next drink that he is the only man alive who has ever resisted the lure of Zephyrus. His indifference to her beauty enables him to see past the glamour to her real goal, to destroy man by destroying his economy and his laws and morality. Tezuka wrote Swallowing the Earth as a parody, poking fun at the panic that might arise if the world's dependence on the gold standard were to backfire. And while this is a fun story to read, complete with slapstick humor and cartoony guffaws, it's the quiet, solemn bits of social commentary that remain with the reader. Mixed in with the larger story, Tezuka also discusses modern sexuality, social issues, and even the racial and political climate of the time, as seen through the filter of the Japanese media. He tells the story of a group of anonymous strangers who bond as a family; of a man whose fortune disappeared after the economic collapse and is forced to sell his daughter to get out of debt; of women so desperate to be beautiful that they'll wear artificial faces. Many of these issues from the mid-20th century still echo loudly today, and Tezuka's deft touch holds true. According to the foreword written by manga expert Frederik L. Schodt, this one-volume story written in 1968 is very much a product of its time. He explains clearly about the Japan of the late 1960s, the influences on Tezuka's art, and the seeming political incorrectness of some of the images in the book. Once the reader understands Swallowing the Earth's place in history, and where Tezuka was in his career when the book was written, it is easy to see why so many have been eagerly awaiting the translation of this book into English. This volume, published by DMP, reads from right to left and, due to some nudity, sexual situations, and the sensitivity some readers may have to a few of the images, this book is best reserved for older teens and adults. -- Eva Volin
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Old School Anti-Hero Hijinks, May 31, 2010
This review is from: Swallowing The Earth (Paperback)
WW 2 Guadalcanal. An American soldier is being hunted by two Japanese soldiers from the POW camp. His last actions and words of desperation are all about a mysterious beauty named Zephyrus, for whom he is willing to die. Just who is this goddess like woman? Fast forward twenty years in the future and change the scenery to Japan. One of the two soldiers is a wash out of man , living in slumlike conditions, his only achievement in life a son from a wife who left him. The other heads a large company with international business ties and is riding the waves of capitalism that is currently riding at an all time high. That is when Zephyrus makes her appearance again, and things begin to go wrong not only for this company, but business partners across the globe as they fall thrall to the mysteriously still young and bewitchingly beautiful woman known only as Zephyrus. Just what is she plotting and for what reason? With only the drunkard son of the down and out Army buddy on hand to discover her secrets, will the world be safe? One of the forefathers of modern manga, Osamu Tezuka , brings a story of revenge, lust, and greed set in lush tropical paradises and playgrounds of the rich. Written back in 1968, the style of writing and the accompanying art clearly demonstrate the Japanese manga's early roots with its cross pollination from western comics and animated films. Tezuka has said that he was heavily influenced by the works of Walt Disney, and his earlier work for children, Astro Boy Volumes 1 & 2, clearly display this influence (with a taste of Terrytoon's Mighty Mouse on the side). This work however, is not aimed at children, but at an older audience, but the artwork retains its signature innocent style. With LSD, booze aplenty, scantily clad women, and blow up sex dolls combined with characters and text that are almost, but not quite, like the Archies and TinTin on acid, this is one heck of a romp. Our hero, one young bottomless boozer named Gohonmatsu Seki, is a huge Jughead like character both in personality as well as brains. In fact, his singular redeeming feature (!) is that the ONLY thing he cares about is booze, so when Zephyrus sets out to seduce him, he is the only man in the world who shows ZERO interest. The only thing this man wants to wrap his lips and body around is liquor, and anything else is a bother. This doesn't stop both sides trying to alternatively make use of him or get rid of him, while he obliviously bumbles along knocking back the drinks and dodging aggressive opposition. The fate of the world rests in his dimwitted hands, and unfortunately he not only fails to appreciate it, but he doesn't give a damn as long as no one shuts off his liquid supply. The simple nature of the drawings and retro feel of the prose and plot with its adventure comic book overtones make this a read that is easy to sink into, providing lots of laughs along the way. This sort of adult humour was perhaps ahead of its time, with gags that would not seem out of place today in animated shows such as Family Guy. Due to its drug references, heavy drinking, and sexual references this does carry a Mature label on it for ages 16+. Truthfully, anyone younger than this may not get what is going on in full. The short preface has an interesting introduction explaining how this work came to be and the historical significance of the time period it was created, so should not be skipped; it has several pieces of culturally significant information that adds to the appreciation of the piece and the motivations of characters, greatly enhancing the reading pleasure. With its free-wheeling humour and often zany situations, this is pure crack and possibly just as addictive. ***I would like to thank Digital Manga Publishing for providing the review copy***
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Tezuka Story, September 27, 2009
This review is from: Swallowing The Earth (Paperback)
In the beginning I was kind of weary of this book but I decided to give it a chance any ways. It was Tezuka's first gekiga work and I was pleasantly surprise at the depth of this story. Sometimes it drags a little bit but it is still a great read. I found it for less than 20 dollars and you can't beat the amount for pages for that price.
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