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Reviewed by Charles Webb It's been a couple of weeks since I reviewed Vol. 11 of Black Jack, the book serving as my introduction to the character. In that time, I've actively sought out the earlier volumes, building up a nice little collection on my bookshelf. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised to find this recently-released volume waiting for me given that I'm more or less (and unabashedly) in the tank for this series. Which, in turn, creates a challenge in reviewing this volume. I've spent quite a few words talking about what I appreciated in the last book, and this collection simply succeeds in bringing me more of what I like. The art is still as sharp as ever, the title character remains a fascinating engine for a variety of story types, and Vertical has collected the works in a way that continues to create a bit of continuity to Black Jack, giving shape to his past and context to his actions and behaviors in the present. Speaking of this last point, it's gratifying to see that Tezuka wasn't about to let the character stagnate. With stories like "The Second One" and "Prone to Laughter" the author gets beneath and around the icy veneer of the world's greatest unlicensed surgeon. Both stories provide opportunities to see the doctor's responses to tragedies from his past, and humanize him in interesting and complex ways. Looking back at the previous volumes alongside this one, it's clear that Vertical has put a great deal of care into the reproduction of Tezuka's work. A special acknowledgment should be given to the production team, whose editorial decisions of which works to include from volume to volume provide ample variety and freshness to each collection. Additionally, the many asides and translations notes included at the bottom of the relevant pages provide much-needed insight into the history of the work, the creator, and the manga industry as a whole. And I would be remiss is commenting on just how pretty the whole thing is, continuing the die-cut cover motif on the outside, with large, clean reproductions of the artwork on the inside. This will, of course make it tougher still to review any future volumes given that I feel I've heaped superlatives on the book and don't want to come off as fawning in later reviews. But having a book that's consistently excellent - well, that's a great problem to have. A copy of this book was provided by the publisher, Vertical, Inc. You can read more of this writer's work on his blog, Monster In Your Veins. Interested in writing for MangaLife? We're always looking for talented reviewers and columnists, so drop us a line!
Charles Webb
Editor-in-Chief, MangaLife.com
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19 August 2010 17 August 2010
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