Cyborg 009 is a name that should ring familiar to many manga/anime fans across the country. A long time ago, when I was considerably younger, I was enthralled by the anime for Cyborg 009 when it was aired on television. I was of course new to anime in general so many of the things that caught my eye were the standard anime styling and fluid action. But there was something to the story and the characters in this cartoon were surprisingly tragic for, you know, a cartoon.
There was a gravity to the story. Twists and turns that were either too subtle for me to completely grasp or too deep in the story for me to completely decipher. So it should not come as a surprise that I chose to delve right on back into the manga as soon as I had the chance. Created by Shotaro Ishinomori, the artwork for the manga is highly reminiscent of Osamu Tezuka's work. Which greatly increases the value of the manga for me. The artwork is definitely dated and a few readers might take issue with the cartoonish features but that actually enhances the art to me. Providing the manga with a mythical disney-esque quality to the comic that is absent in many of the popular manga of today.
There was a gravity to the story. Twists and turns that were either too subtle for me to completely grasp or too deep in the story for me to completely decipher. So it should not come as a surprise that I chose to delve right on back into the manga as soon as I had the chance. Created by Shotaro Ishinomori, the artwork for the manga is highly reminiscent of Osamu Tezuka's work. Which greatly increases the value of the manga for me. The artwork is definitely dated and a few readers might take issue with the cartoonish features but that actually enhances the art to me. Providing the manga with a mythical disney-esque quality to the comic that is absent in many of the popular manga of today.
The story might feel downright ridiculous to the reader of the new millennium. A weapons race over the past decades has resulted in the creation of the ultimate weapon. Cyborgs. Now living in 2012 we can see how distant a possibility this is in reality. However the author's time must be taken into context. Cyborg 009's original run was in 1964, it was not too long ago that the creator would have witnessed the power of the atomic bomb on his nation. It would not be hard then to imagine a future where weapons of death would continue to evolve at a frightening pace and the the idea of devastating cyborgs would become a reality.
At its core however Cybrog 009 is classic Sci-fi tragedy. It has numerous elements of the genre in it and the adventures undertaken by each of the Cyborgs are a pleasure to read. There are heartbreaks hidden in these pages, and tales of love that will remain unrequited. I do not know if you will laugh or cry, but I know for sure that you will feel, and feel for a cyborg at that.
I would recommend Cyborg 009 to all Sci-fi aficionados looking for something to read. And for any self respecting otaku, this is a must read.
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