Swallowing the Earth

First book of this year (my goal’s 52 books this year…24 of which will be Bond and Parker books, 12 graphic novels, and 12 books that other, less refined people read and call “literature”)

A good read. I picked up bits and pieces of it in the past but this is my first time reading the whole, massive, 500+ page work. It’s kind of interesting in that it bridges the gap between Astro Boy-Tezuka and Message to Adolf-Tezuka, that is to say his more kid-friendly output and his more “We Will All Kill Ourselves” work. The book starts off as lighter manga fair with a bit of late-60s sex and violence and sex and sex with lots of comedy but slowly deteriorates into vitriol and nihilism. The ending feels a bit rushed and, judging by Tezuka’s work that follows this book, almost feels as if he experiences a mental shift and decides that he wants to do commentaries on humanity now but in a framework that isn’t supported by jokey characters. 

Having said that, every time Gohonmatsu Seki pines for a drink (which is every time we see Gohonmatsu Seki), I laugh and it kind of reminds me of…well…me, and maybe that I drink a lot but, like Gohonmatsu, it makes me happy and I’m still super productive. 

Four of five stars - recommended, especially if you’re going deep Tezuka catalog. Check it.