It's quite possible that this man was promised one thing, and given another in terms of salary and/or "script" to follow and/or deadlines. The fact that each one seems to get worse and worse is actually a pretty bold hint that something was seriously wrong with the project.
We're lucky that the voice actors for the 1980's anime series were thrilled to be a part of Astro Boy's history, and even though their working conditions and compensation was horrible, they wanted to make the production as good as it could be. Obvious this fellow didn't feel any connection to the work at all -- he just "beat it out." And part of Osamu Tezuka's precious legacy has been wasted.
I'll bet he might have a real horror story to tell (not that -- as an artist -- I think there's ANY excuse for ruining an icon's image). But he might have thought the series would just vanish in the trash bin, and never see the light of day after he finished it. Which goes to show you how short sighted people can be!
My suggestion would be to avoid razzing him, and ask questions about how the project came to be -- it seems in many ways to stray from other Astro Boy storylines, and the characters styles weren't followed as closely as in other Astro Boy anime and manga. Were they encourage to embellish on original designs, or "make them their own" or maybe "modernize" them? Were they not given proper time/compensation to put more development time into each volume, as the level of intricacy and detail varies so much (some segments almost look like developmental sketches).
Was he familiar with AB prior to this -- and does he have any plans to return to the working AB manga? [let's hope not!]
But honestly, I'd be real interested to see just what the story is behind all this. Of course I wouldn't use your name -- I wonder, I mean, he MUST have seen your site, right? If Tezuka is the God of Manga, then Steacy is the God of Schlock!
And hey -- a LOT of working commercial illustrators have to do less than "glamorous" jobs to keep the work flowing -- my hubby has done postage stamps, and more recently, puzzles and mazes that pay next to nothing -- but it's steady cash flow. Sometimes I wince when I how he's drawn something, but he'll say -- "That's all I can do for the amount they'll pay, and they're happy with it." But it's NOT the same as a famous character, such as Astro -- I would think Steacy would have a enough sense to realize how lucky he was to get such a project -- even if it WAS cheap.
I'm looking forward to seeing what comes of this!! Good work and good luck!
- Steacy makes me look baaaaaaaaaaaaaaad!
- ...
- Hey, how come Steacy never drew ME?
perfect expression! I was laughing my butt-gunless butt off over his list of favorite covers, etc. Oy vey!!
(still the same in the brain though!)
