Phoenix; Early Works Vol 12 by Osamu Tezuka

Phoenix Vol 12 by Osamu Tezuka

Rated: 13+

Price: $14.99

Viz - Historical Fiction

Review May Contain Spoilers

I’ve been reading Tezuka’s Phoenix for a Comic Foundry magazine review of the final volume in the series, which is actually a prequel. My review was limited to 250 words, but it brought up an interesting discussion which I’ve decided to include here.

Volume 12 Early Works is kind of a test run for the actual Phoenix series. Published in the 1950’s it’s a lot more kid-friendly, with talking animals, a baby phoenix bird coming of age, a story about a prince and a princess, and a light-hearted look at the Trojan War, among some other historical adventure tales. The first chapter is a lot like the first chapter of Princess Knight, which ran in July’s issue of Shojo Beat magazine. Both of the chapters feature a cutesy version of god in heaven, distributing souls to people about to be born.

Laura Hudson asked of my review, “Who would/wouldn’t like it? Is it for Tezuka fans only, or younger readers etc?”

I really struggled with this question. As an adult reader I didn’t really like the talking animals in volume 12, so I suggested that this is a kid-friendly volume (the epic battle scenes are softened with humor, for example). However, most of the people reading the Phoenix series are adults. Volumes 1-11 are deep dark and interesting, covering concepts like the human condition and the meaning of life. It’s not like kids wouldn’t like Phoenix, or that it is inappropriate for children, but it might be kind of disturbing if you were under 13.

Most volumes of Phoenix are self-contained, so you could theoretically read it in any order. However, I wouldn’t loan an adult reader Volume 12, because they’d probably return it to me saying “Well, that sucked, guess I won’t read the rest of Phoenix! I hated the talking animals…” It’s my nightmare that someone would give up on Phoenix after reading just his one volume.

Is it for Tezuka fans only?

This question is a moot point for me… I can’t say I’m a Tezuka fan. I’m a manga fan and Tezuka is the god of manga - does that make me a Tezuka fan through logic? I haven’t read much of Tezuka’s work outside of Phoenix and Ode to Kirihito, but I am delving into his catalog because it is my duty as a manga fan to do so. I’m reading out of a sense of duty to my fandom, so technically I guess I’m reading it because I’m a fan…?! So far I’ve enjoyed the Tezuka I’ve read, but I wouldn’t call myself a Tezuka fan specifically just yet. I’m reading it because I have to, but I also want to. I’ve been borrowing Phoenix out of duty, and when I buy the series, it will be because I’m a fan of it, and not because it’s my duty to buy Tezuka books.

I’m not just reading Tezuka out of a sense of duty or a vague hope to gain more journalistic integrity or fannish credibility, and I’m not reading it “because it’s good for me” as if Tezuka were a nutritious vegetable - I also have a strong desire to reach the source. I want to read the origin point of all manga. I’m sure other manga fans share this desire.

I asked Laura: “Would you recommend The Odyssey only to fans of Homer?”

For most people The Odyssey is their first exposure to Homer. Some high school kids who read it might go on to become Classics majors and fans of Homer, but The Odyssey is recommended reading because it’s important historically, not because OMG SQUEEE HOMER!!11

Tezuka considered Phoenix his life’s work. He worked on it from the 1950’s to the time of his death, spanning his entire artistic career. I figure that if someone is only going to read one Tezuka title, it might as well be the work Tezuka considered his very best.