ASTRO BOY RETURNS (1st & 4th GRADER EDITIONS)

[ASTROBUDDY]

Here are two more pages from "Astro Boy--First Grader" (in color no less),
without those annoying beverage dispensing nipples.
Maybe now we can have a better understanding of the story, eventhough this version of Astro Boy did not catch on!

I

[jeffbert]

This robot likes to smash things, so Ochanomizu turns him into a bowling ball.

[ASTROBUDDY]

Thank you Jeffbert for the information. I have added more images from these serials. The top row images are obviously from "First Grader". I am not so sure about the second row of images. Maybe you recognize them and can tell from which version they are from?

I

[jeffbert]

Thank you Jeffbert for the information. I have added more images from these serials. The top row images are obviously from "First Grader". I am not so sure about the second row of images. Maybe you recognize them and can tell from which version they are from?

I

Yes, the top row is the first few panels, the bottom row comes a few pages later, from the 2nd or 3rd arc, in which Atom saves the kids from being crushed by a truck, & then tells of Tobio's demise & his own origin.

[ASTROBUDDY]

Thank you, Jeffbert! I had surmised such, so thank you for your information.

So to sum it up. The Fourth Grader story is much different from the First Grader story, even though they both seem to start from the same point. While the 4th Grader story "Astro Boy Returns" seems to be more serious in tone, as Astro Boy with a bit of memory loss tries to make his way back home, the tone seems to be lighter in 1st Grader, as would be expected given the age of the intended audience. It seems Tezuka wanted to test this new version of Astro Boy with at least two separate "audiences"!

Hope you can supply synopses for some of the other adventures Astro Boy goes thru, especially in "Astro Boy Returns" where we left off after the adventure of the sphinx. Also some of the funnier (and not too weird) adventures in 1st Grader!

I

[jeffbert]

I will, but my pc is sick, any key press causes crash/reboot. I need to reinstall Xp, but have been busy.

[ASTROBUDDY]

I will, but my pc is sick, any key press causes crash/reboot. I need to reinstall Xp, but have been busy.

Okay! Understood! But in the meanwhile, I"d like to throw this out there--
AprilSeven posited that Astro Boy's look in "Astro Boy Returns" could be an inspiration for Jetter Mars' look. I think she has something there!

I

[jeffbert]

I reinstalled Xp, & it was nowhere as unpleasant as I thought it would be, except that my attempt to download SP3. That was not only awful, but unnecessary, because I had it in my DOWNLOADS folder, but had forgotten about it. I still have many apps to install, but now am watching DRRR! #18 VIA CRUNCHYROLL. Tomorrow I will continue with the apps, & should get around to posting some translated panels. Yet, I really do not want to incur the wrath of TEZUKA PRO., so the panels will be very few.

[ASTROBUDDY]

I reinstalled Xp, & it was nowhere as unpleasant as I thought it would be, except that my attempt to download SP3. That was not only awful, but unnecessary, because I had it in my DOWNLOADS folder, but had forgotten about it. I still have many apps to install, but now am watching DRRR! #18 VIA CRUNCHYROLL. Tomorrow I will continue with the apps, & should get around to posting some translated panels. Yet, I really do not want to incur the wrath of TEZUKA PRO., so the panels will be very few.

I think a disclaimer will suffice. After all this is all part of an historical, educational and critical review.

I

[Toshio]

I don't know if you guys noticed, but the new body which Dr. Tenma planned for Atom in the 2003 version was a redesign of his attire of Astro Boy returns.
And I'm happy that he rejected the new body.