Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
From the boundless imagination of Osamu Tezuka, arguably history's most important and inarguably its most prolific creator of graphic fiction, comes Astro Boy, the singular archetype for the exploding anime and manga industries.

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

12 people are currently reading
104 people want to read

About the author

Osamu Tezuka

2,135 books1,303 followers
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."

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
57 (41%)
4 stars
40 (28%)
3 stars
34 (24%)
2 stars
7 (5%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Debbie Zapata.
1,996 reviews61 followers
February 27, 2020
Astro Boy is in the middle of a three part set here in Volume Seven. When I was ordering these titles for my husband, I tried to get Volume 6 too, but they only had one in acceptable condition so I passed. But while reading this last night I thought I would try again to get Volume 6 so I went to the site and sure enough they had one in good condition and it is now on its way here. Before Marco gets them in April I will get to see the beginning of the story that I already know the middle and ending..

I think the author must have done these time travel flashback stories so that he could explain a bit of background for Astro Boy's world. Here we see in great detail exactly how and why Astro Boy was created, and what society was like before his own time. Other volumes touched on that, but this one gives the reader all the details they might have been wondering about.

Once Upon A Time Astro Boy Tales Part 2 which this book contains, was first serialized in a Japanese newspaper from December 1967 to September 1968. I don't know when the character of Astro Boy reached Mexico but he was Marco's hero long ago, and I think he will enjoy this trip down memory lane. He has certainly had fun with the other books in the series.

I had to laugh at the cover of Volume 7. One of the goofiest features that Astro Boy has, besides the spotlights in his eyes (when he wants to use them) and the jet bursts from his legs to help him fly... Come to think of it, I wonder what happens to his feet when he flies around by his flaming legs They seem to disappear but then when he is done zipping around his feet return. Hmmm. Another mystery for the ages, I guess.

Anyway, like I said, one of the goofiest features are Astro Boy's butt machine guns which are on stunning display in the cover art here. I cannot decide whether they are creepy or clever, but they certainly are a serious weapon. Just look at the face he is making!
Profile Image for Alex .
679 reviews112 followers
July 26, 2023
The narrative flow to this (I think 3 volume) extended arc is extraordinary.
Profile Image for Natalie.
421 reviews46 followers
not-gonna-read
August 5, 2025
I can honestly say that I have no idea how the heck this book was the manga that ‘started’ the shounen manga or inspired manga artists with their successful shounen series such as Dragon Ball. This manga is just kind of out there that I have absolutely no idea how I was going to rate this.

First off, this manga was made in the 50’s so the art and the story really has an old fashion type story structure that we’ve seen in old comics before. Especially in the sci-fi and the action genre. The hero lives life normally (or sometimes discovers new powers about himself). A villain appears and causes chaos.

There’s nothing much to say about this book except for the fact that some of the scenes in this manga don’t make any sense and just pop out of nowhere. For example, in the beginning of the manga there is this young boy driving a car. Mind you that this kid is no older than 12 years old and yet he recklessly drives the car and ends up getting into an accident. There’s also the police cars that are shaped like dog heads and there are some sort of diamonds on the moon (or some sort of crystals with an abandoned city, I can’t remember).

The plot is just series of events that happen to our protagonist, Astro Boy and they are kind of boring and lame. They’re predictable and the villains are not really that interesting and can sometimes be kind of stupid. Astro Boy is the only thing about this manga I actually enjoyed. He’s nice, wants to do the right thing, stands up for his friends and is basically your typical superhero. He’s not that interesting or complex but they do give him a good backstory that makes you feel sympathy for him.

If you like the story of robots coexisting with human then this’ll be a cute manga to check out. Just keep in mind that it was made in the 50’s so the plot and the characters are kind of old fashioned and not that complex.
Profile Image for Anthony Wendel.
Author 3 books20 followers
October 24, 2025
This volume starts a bit slow with continuing the story of Astro being lost in the past. Later though we are treated to an incredible story as Astro's origin is re-explored with much more drama. Some moments get heavy and address issues like civil rights and slavery. It grabs the readers heart and tugs it.
Profile Image for Michael.
60 reviews8 followers
September 28, 2025
Not sure where else this could go after the last amazing volume. We’re kind of just redoing the origin story here?
Profile Image for Allan Olley.
310 reviews17 followers
November 9, 2017
This story continues the republication of the Sankai newspaper strips. Astro has been unconscious following his involvement in the Korean war for decades with no atomic power, but he is uncovered in 1993 and he is reunited with his friend from the 1960s who has gone from a beggar boy to the CEO of an important company who obtains an atomic battery to recharge Astro but only enough for a day. Astro spends this day with his friend's flighty daughter which shows off the decadence of the 1990s where fun zones that include artificial dreams on LPs and the murder game (a zone where people murder kill and reproduce wars and so on). Eventually Astro gets involved in a plot involving one of Dr. Ochanmizu's robot butler being framed for a crime and sent to be destroyed. Astro manages to catch the real criminals but the robot butler is still scrapped by an uncaring bureaucracy. Astro goes to the nature reserve where he left Scara to deactivate. The story then retells Astro's origin as a replacement for Dr. Tenma's son Tobio who died in a car accident. Due to wonky temporal mechanics two Astros can not exist at the same time and the rusted body of the time traveling Astro is destroyed by Scara so that the original Astro may live. The story of Astro's visit to America with a robot sympathizer and his being sold to the robot circus rounds out the tale.

As usual the story mixes the ridiculous, fun and the poignant. The morality tales of the story are simple and earnestly told but very heavy handed, in particular the call for robot rights and its parallel to the oppression of human groups.

I got this ebook from Kobo and it is viewable only via phone apps, but this includes Windows phone apps that work on some Windows desktops and laptops (but that app is distinct form the Windows desktop program). Despite these logistical limitations the ebook looks fine though.
Profile Image for Marchel.
538 reviews13 followers
April 14, 2011
1. Tank Bawah Tanah
Upaya seseorang mencegah orang lain untuk menguasai dunia...

2. Matahari Buatan
Detektif Homespun (ceritanya sih kakeknya adalah Sherlock Holmes) sangat merendahkan robot. Tapi berkat Atom, dia pun jadi menyukai robot. Memang apa sih yang dilakukan Atom???

3. Macan Tutul dari Luar Angkasa

4. Raksasa Tembus Pandang
Kisah tentang guru yang iri pada keberhasilan muridnya.
Profile Image for Aaron.
Author 4 books20 followers
July 6, 2013
Brilliant work. One of the impressive things about Tezuka's work for children is that he doesn't shrink from depicting tragic and disturbing events -- e.g. in the second story, Astro proves that a robot about to be executed is innocent, but the robot is executed anyway. This sort of thing makes Tezuka's stories more than just saccharine Disney entertainment.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.