Lost World

by Osamu Tezuka

From the creator of Astro Boy and Metropolis, comes Lost World, the first of Osamu Tezuka's cycle of original science-fiction graphic novels-including Metropolis and Future World-published in the late 1940s and early 1950s. When a rogue planet approaches Earth, a team of scientists voyage to the world and discover a land out of the ancient past-a planet populated by dinosaurs! But a group of crooks has stowed away aboard the spacecraft, and the scientists must fight for their survival against both crooks and hungry monsters! A dazzling work of imagination-and guest-starring some friends you may recognize from Astro Boy - Lost World is timeless graphic fiction from one of the medium's true masters, available for the first time in an English-language edition.

Genres: Manga, Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Fiction

248 pages, Paperback

First published February 20, 1982

About the author

Dr. Osamu Tezuka (手塚治虫) was a Japanese manga artist, animator, producer and medical doctor, although he never practiced medicine. Born in Osaka Prefecture, he is best known as the creator of Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion. He is often credited as the "Father of Anime", and is often considered the Japanese equivalent to Walt Disney, who served as a major inspiration during his formative years. His prolific output, pioneering techniques, and innovative redefinitions of genres earned him such titles as "the father of manga" and "the God of Manga."

Reviews

[Diz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of Osamu Tezuka's earliest works, and it seems that his skill as a storyteller had not developed to its full potential yet. This is basically a string of gags with a very loose plot. The characters are not developed well and the ending of the story is not satisfying. However, this may be of interest if you would like to see where Tezuka started out.

[Jim Reddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mysterious planet approaches Earth so a group of scientists, a detective, and a talking rabbit journey there to investigate. They have to deal with crooks and a secret society as well as new dangers on the planet.

The Lost World is one of Tezuka’s earliest works. While most of the art isn’t as detailed or as polished as it would be later in his career, there are still some innovative and detailed panels spread throughout.

The first half of the book deals with the discovery of the planet while the second half deals with the journey to the planet and what happens once they land.

The story includes slapstick humor, disguises, messages dropped on the ground, and scientists with guns. There’s also lots of awkward exposition. Understandable considering Tezuka was only 20 when this was published.

Tezuka’s love of American comics and animation is apparent throughout. The design of one of the characters is based on Popeye. Also on one double page spread there’s a crowd scene which includes Popeye, Blondie, Dagwood, Betty Boop, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, the Little King, Henry, and Jiggs and Maggie. Japanese characters such as Fuku-chan and Norakura also appear.

Even though this was created very early in Tezuka’s career his talent still shines though.

[Caleb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is by far the worst Tezuka book I've ever read, but then, he wrote and drew it while he was still in high school, the insanely talented bastard. There's a real randomness to the first few quarters of the book, but Tezuka's character designs are always fun (he has some mad scientists and animals-with-human-brains in a Dr. Moreau-like set-up, and instead of monsters the hybrids all resemble cute Disney characters) and it was a real pleasure to see him just go crazy with dinosaurs for a (too) few pages near the climax.

[Noran Miss Pumkin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not my cup of tea, especially after the last 2 series I have read by him. This must be an early work of his, so also might me why it just did not suit me.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parlando di un opera scritta nel 48 si fa sempre un po' di difficoltà, per quanto di provi a contestualizzare il tutto.

Fra pietre misteriose, pianeti da scoprire, e varie associazione segrete che voglio la loro fetta di gloria, questo primo tezuka non ci fa mancare proprio niente, ci sono tanti tradimenti e doppi giochi che quello che dovrebbe essere la vera sorpresa, il colpo di scena, viene un po' persa in mezzo al mucchio .

La storia non è niente di che vista ai giorni nostri, ma lo sviluppo con un finale davvero lontano dai classici, anche ad oggi abusati, fa si che 3 stelle non gliele levi nessuno .

[ComicNerdSam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very simple, pretty crude, and really weird. This is way too slapdash and rushed for my tastes, but even this early on Tezuka kept things extremally enjoyable. But it is more entertaining as a foreshadow of certain themes and plot points he'd use multiple times later in his career, although nothing ever gets explored deeper than a whatever panel it happens on. Fun, but not too good.

[Coke Fernández · Rating 2 out of 5]

4/10.
Entiendo que en su momento la obra tuviese cierto impacto, pero creo que los años no le han sentado bien.

[cody]

Tezuka had a charming hobby of picking popular works and creating his own adventures with just what he could interpret from title or cover. this is a wild tale of dinosaurs, twin planets, and... the garden of eden? childish in the most enjoyable way

[Eddie Arafat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have enjoyed Tezuka's other works immensely and also enjoy the idea of a lost continent. However, this story, which I later found out is one of the authors earlier works is not so great.

[Valerio Pastore · Rating 5 out of 5]

SECONDO manga dell'immenso "Dio dei Manga", classe 1948, Lost World se inevitabilmente rivela limiti culturali e scientifici dell'epoca, il lettore del 2025 può sospirare un beneamato "Ecchissenefrega!" nel leggere una storia di purissima avventura, che inizia come un mystery e subito vola verso l'isola del Dott. Moreau e poi virata di fantascienza e zac!, avventura nel giurassico più incasinato! Il tutto con un cast che introduce per la prima volta il concetto di 'Star System', la formula del Maestro per riutilizzare come veri e propri attori i suoi personaggi, con i propri nomi, in tutte le sue opere, a partire dal supericonico Higeoyakij o "Baffone".
il comparto grafico è essenziale, al limite del grezzo, ma è compensato da quella splendida azione cinematica che fece la sua fortuna fin dall'esordio con "La nuova isola del tesoro", ma soprattutto è una storia matura, che non risparmia i colpi bassi al lettore, in cui succede quel che deve succedere come se la mano del fato fosse una sorta di karmica Provvidenza carogna.
Unico neo, ma è una cosa mia: per quanto sia importante rispettare l'opera nella sua integrità, la traslitterazione delle onomatopee, invece di osare con la traduzione delle stesse, è un po' straniante, toglie effetto alla situazione.

[Adrián · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mi primer manga de Tezuka y su vez una de sus obras más tempranas. Una aventura loquísima de 238 páginas que mezcla dinosaurios, viajes espaciales y tiroteos.

Las influencias del estilo occidental son evidentes. Se nota que Tezuka consumía mucho cine de animación, entre ellos americano. Algunos personajes parecen sacados tal cual de Popeye o de Félix el Gato.

En definitiva, un primer título muy divertido de la que es conocida como su Trilogía de la Ciencia Ficción. Seguiremos con Metrópolis.

[Gabriel Benitez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Se trata de una especie de Thriller de ciencia ficción que mezcla muchas ideas, en especial de La isla del Dr. Moreau, con animales y vegetales humanizados. Un grupo de científicos encuentran unas piedras de energía que provienen de un planeta con el que nos encontramos cada 5,000 años: Mamango. Pero el planeta esta infestado de dinosaurios y la nave espacial que vuela hacia allá también guarda espías y amenazas. La verdad si es una historia muy de corte infantil.

[JaredIsCool · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Index Purga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edición española, tomo unitario de la Colección Tezuka.

ÍNDICE

Saga terrestre
Una noche de tragedia……………………4
La mansión de cristal………………………13
El planeta Mamango………………………27
El impostor……………………………………36
Papeles invertidos…………………………46
El tramposo cae en la trampa…………69
Un conejo atrapado…………………………83
El cesto de dinamita………………………96
Vegetales con alma…………………………110
Despegue………………………………………124

Saga espacial
El primer polizonte………………………133
Perdidos en el espacio……………………142
Milagro…………………………………………148
El secreto del doctor Butamo…………155
Parte el grupo de exploración…………162
Un disparo en la lejanía…………………184
El tiranosaurio………………………………200
La tormenta del destino…………………216
Agonía en el espacio………………………224
Epílogo…………………………………………280

Además, también se incluye una página con notas del traductor (13, para ser exactos) y una con datos sobre la publicación original:
Lost World (Saga terrestre) Publicado el 20 de diciembre de 1948 por Fuji Shobo
Lost World (Saga espacial) Publiado el 20 de diciembre de 1948 por Fuji Shobo

[Tosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tezuka is one of the greats of the Manga world, or maybe he is Manga period. My mind reels that he wrote/draw young adult stories to works like "MW," which is totally mess-up and insane look at a serial killer.

Nevertheless "Lost World" is an adventure story that is charming, extremely well-written, and a work that really moves on the page. I often said that Tezuka is the Disney of Japan, but that's not true - he is even a larger figure than that. What is needed is a critical study on him and his work - because his output is extremely huge and mind-bogging. Fantastic talent, which means genius.

[Pauli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting structure! It's kind of haphazardly put together--the first half of the book focuses on Shunsaku Ban's struggle against a group of thieves, and the second half is a pretty abrupt shift into outer space--but it's got some fabulous sequences in it. Seeing Acetylene Lamp make his debut as a reporter is great, too, and the change in his role over the course of the story is pretty fascinating. It's hard to reread, but worth reading at least once.

[Marcus Woodman · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's definitely one of Tezuka's early SF works, so a lot of it is pretty formulaic. The art suffers from it not strictly being made by Tezuka's hand--essentially, in order for it to be mass printed when it was first published, someone had to trace his art. And boy, does it show. Even with the warts, you can tell that Tezuka was having some fun writing it, and I liked that Dark Horse included his retrospective afterward in their edition.

[Mjhancock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A team of scientists discovers a new planet edging towards Earth, and voyage to it. Hijinx with crooks, dinosaurs, and plant people ensue. It's Tezuka in his more cartoonish mode, and yet still manages some interesting sci-fi ideas and a fairly high level of death and violence. There are other works of his that are probably better to start with, but this one has its own sense of fun.

[dejah_thoris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would be my top pick for a kid getting into manga. There is fighting, espionage, science fiction, a talking rabbit and dinosaurs! There also isn't any sex because it was written for children. That's also why it isn't as dark as some of Tezuka's later works, like MW, more like Looney Toons violence.

[Wallace · Rating 2 out of 5]

good clean fun

[Dony Grayman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tomo de la Colección TEzuka con la "nueva" versión de Lost World.