Dive into the extraordinary world created by Osamu Tezuka, author of world-renowned titles Astro Boy and Dororo.
The 'God of Manga' Tezuka weaves an innovative narrative, as the peculiar powers of transformation propel characters into a myriad of thrilling missions.
Embark on a mesmerizing journey with I.L as Osamu Tezuka, the world-renowned 'God of Manga', navigates the divide between his early manga experiments and later, more intricate narratives, while delving into the eternal struggle between fantasy and science.
Readers are thrown into the life of Imari Daisaku, a filmmaker whose fanciful creations have fallen of favor in a society dominated by scientific triumphs. However, his life changes forever when he encounters a peculiar group led by Count Alucard, and he receives an extraordinary gift; I.L, a mysterious mannequin with the power of shapeshifting.
Together, Daisaku and I.L utilize the transformative abilities to help those in need, and they are propelled into an array of thrilling and haphazard adventures.
Each new client seeks I.L's unique services, as the protagonists find themselves in an array of scenarios ranging from domestic strife to political unrest. Not only does the reader accompany the duo on these action-packed missions, but they are given an insight into Daisaku's internal conflict, caused by walking the tightrope between reality and fantasy.
This is a treasure for fans of Tezuka's works, including the widely successful Astro Boy, Dororo and Princess Knight, as well as the seminal and titles. I.L is now being published in English for the first time, meaning fans can journey through Tezuka's innovative and contemporary themes within a classic by the pioneer of Manga.
Whether an enthusiast of Tezuka and Manga, or not, the nuanced exploration of thought-provoking themes and characters, and a compelling storyline coupled with captivating illustrations, is a reading experience that will linger in the minds of readers.
Über den Autor Tezuka Osamu
Osamu Tezuka was born in the city of Toyonaka, in Osaka, Japan, in November 3, 1928, and raised in Takarazuka, in Hyogo perfecture. He graduated from the Medical Department of Osaka University and was later awarded a Doctorate of Medicine. In 1946 Tezuka made his debut as a manga artist with the work Ma-Chan's Diary, and in 1947 he had his first big hit with New Treasure Island. In over forty years as a cartoonist, Tezuka produced in excess of an astounding 150,000 pages of manga, including the creation of Metropolis, Mighty Atom (A.K.A Astro Boy), Jungle Emperor (A.K.A Kimba the White Lion), Black Jack, Pheonix, Buddha, and many more. Tezuka's fascination with Disney cartoons led him to begin his own animation studio, creating the first serialized Japenese cartoon series, which was later exported to America as Astro Boy in 1963. Tezuka Productions went on to create animated versions of Kimba the White Lion (Jungle Emperor) and Phoenix, among others. He recieved numerous awards during his life, including the Bungei Shunju Manga Award, the Kodansha Manga Award, the Shogakukan Manga Award, and the Japan Cartoonists' Association Special Award for Excellence. He also served a varierty of organizations. He was director of the Japan Cartoonists' Association, the chairman of the Japan Animation Association, and a member of the Manga Group Japan Pen Club, and the Japan SF Authors' Club, among others. Tezuka became Japan's "comics ambassador" taking Japan's comics culture to the world in 1980, he toured and lectured in America, including a speech at the United Nations. Regarded as a national treasure, osamu Tezuka died on February 9 1989 at the age of 60. In April 1994, the Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum opened in the city of Takruzaka where he was raised. His creations remain hugely popular in Japan and are printed in Many languages throught the world, where he is acclaimed as one of the true giants of comics and anaimation, his work as vital and influential today as it was half a century ago. "Comicas are an international language," Tezuka said. "They can cross boundaries and generations. Comics are a bridge between all cultures."