Volume 5 of Phoenix now available

[O2Destroyer]

Wow, it's really been a big Tezuka holiday for me. The Astroboy box showed up AND volume 5 of Phoenix (Resurrection) came out. Of course there have been rumors that this is the last volume will see of Phoenix in English--especially since this is whether the original team that was translating it stopped. I really can't figure out what Viz's plan is for the publication of Phoenix since They went to the trouble of reprinting volume 2 is an edition that matches all the others, but they seem to be operating at about the same pace as George Lucas as far as getting the books published; yet they are also listed as 'editor's choice' and seemingly being given the red-carpet treatment. In short, Viz seems to be handling them with kid gloves, uncertain of what they are going to do.

Anyway, as to Resurrection, it is pretty fantastic, though not my favorite so far (Future and Karma easily excel it and stand as some of the best comic I've ever read, period). Astro fans will immediately relate since it deals with many of the same robot / human issues. In this case, the story starts with a boy who is killed in a car accident, but is saved by a miraculous medical technique where many of his body parts are replaced by robotic ones--most significantly, most of his brain. Because of this, he begins to see the world the way robots do--and this is good material for a good story that ultimately becomes VERY Tezuka-ish with BIG questions about what makes humans human (sort of a P.K. Dick question). It also continues to explore themes of discrimination and misunderstanding of anything that is 'different'. There's of course connections to the Phoenix herself and to some aspects of the story 'Future' (almost all the phoenix stories have interconnecting plot lines).

Anyway, a fantastic read with Tezuka at the top of his form. Highly recommended to anyone who hasn't checked out the Phoenix books yet.