Episode #193, "greatest adventure on earth"

[Tetsuwan Penguin]

There is more to that story arc than was translated and printed in Dark Horse.
I've seen bits and pieces of it posted here and elsewhere (in Japanese).
He probably got close to finishing it.

[Little Brown Fox]

I saw how it ended; it was definitely not the way it was supposed to. I'm not sure if he was ever "close" to finishing it, as I haven't seen most of the rest of it, nor does anyone know how he planned the story to pan out.

Yeah, I've seen bits and pieces of what didn't get published by Dark Horse, as well as what was. I also saw the First Grader edition of the story: juice nipples. >.<; Nope, no thank you...

[Earthshine]

I have not read that arc yet, but I'm getting there. I wish I could discuss it more.

[Dragonrider1227]

There is more to that story arc than was translated and printed in Dark Horse.
I've seen bits and pieces of it posted here and elsewhere (in Japanese).
He probably got close to finishing it.

If I recall, I believe what they translated was a compilation of mangas that was released in Japan in the 70s. Sort of a "best of" collection. So, as curious as I am about the stuff that didn't get translated, I can't help but think there are reasons the Japanese (and possibly Tezuka himself) left those stories out and we're probably better off

[jeffbert]

Yeah I remember how 'loaded' the Once Upon a Time arc was. It was very obvious that it was something Tezuka felt strongly about and couldn't help expressing his opinions about the war. No this is not intended to start a conversation about Vietnam.

I think I stated before, that story arc was really really hard to read for me. To me when I was reading it it just seemed like Tezuka was 'bullying' Atom to the extreme. Every possible bad thing that could have happened to him happened in that story arc. click for spoilerAnd he did actually 'die' in the arc at the end when his body ran out of power and he was left to decay in the fields with Sclara(?) It was a very depressing comic, and this is coming from someone who stomachs the Batman series.

Actually, that was Tezuka's rewrite/simplification; Atom flew into an electric field to destroy himself so that the Atom Tenma had just built would come to life. There is at least one other difference to the Chronicles, not counting the omission of the TOM OF DROPPY arc. I still have not taken the time to compare the original with what is in the DH, but expect to do so soon.

[Little Brown Fox]

The rewrite is ultimately more depressing, then... not that the original wasn't very bad, in its own right. :T

[Earthshine]

The rewrite is ultimately more depressing, then... not that the original wasn't very bad, in its own right. :T

Precisely my opinion as well.