NINGEN KONCHUUKI |
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Des alternatives:
人間昆虫記; Human Metamorphosis; La Femme insecte (French); Ningen Konchūki; The Book of Human Insects
Auteur:
Tezuka Osamu
Artiste:
Tezuka Osamu
Taper:
Manga
Statut:
YES
Publier:
1970-01-01 to ?
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4.0
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Des alternatives:
人間昆虫記; Human Metamorphosis; La Femme insecte (French); Ningen Konchūki; The Book of Human Insects
Auteur:
Tezuka Osamu
Artiste:
Tezuka Osamu
Taper:
Manga
Statut:
YES
Publier:
1970-01-01 to ?
But
4.0
2 Votes
|
0.00%
100.00%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
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0 En train de lire
0 Veux lire
0 Lis
Sommaire
Still in her early twenties, beautiful Toshiko Tomura has won the Akutagawa Prize for her story "The Book of Human Insects." The great honor is not her first: she has previously won the New York Design Academy Award, before which she was the lead actress of an established theatrical troupe. Yet, while the media go abuzz, the woman in the limelight slips away from the metropolis; what the sole paparazzo who manages to trail her to an abandoned country house witnesses is an immobile figure of an old woman and the star herself, naked, in a reverie as bizarre as it is erotic...
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NINGEN KONCHUUKI review
Osamu Tezuka is widely considered the 'God of Manga' due to high output of work and inescapable influence on the medium. However, due his Disney-esque art style and the fact that his most popular works were primarily marketed to younger audiences, a newcomer could easily be forgiven for thinking his works are largely kiddie fluff. The Book of Human Insects blows any perceptions that Tezuka couldn't handle the heavy stuff to bits, with a story that could stand up to any number of hard-nosed 1970's Hollywood thrillers.
STORY Japan. 1970. The first generation born with no memory of Japan's shattering defeat in the Second World War and raised during the postwar economic boom has reached adulthood and is entering the workplace in droves. And ironically, these Baby Boomers are remarkably similar to their American counterparts, remaking the social norms in ways unthinkable to the older generations. 'Kids these days' indeed. But one particular kid is enigmatic even by the standards of the time: Toshiko Tomura. A woman of seemingly inexhaustable talent, she is far more- and in some ways far less- than meets the eye. To tell more would get deep into spoiler territory, but rest assured this woman will pull the reader in as inexorably as she does to the men (and even a few women) in her life. Now on to the actual craft of the story. If you ever had the impression that Tezuka's content was strictly lightweight, rest assured this manga will dissuade you of that misconception. Tense, creepy, mysterious, and definitely not designed for kids, Human Insects will keep you thinking and reading all the way to the end. Go in looking for something along the lines of the American movie "Chinatown" and you'll be satisfied. ART The artwork remains in Tezuka's signature Disney style despite the adult nature of the story, but you'll quickly learn to overlook that. There's a high level of detail put into the backgrounds and costumes and soon you'll be so engrossed in the images you'll think you're reading an episode of 'Mad Men' as you get sucked into the early 70's. The art is excellent, hands down. CHARACTERS The plot centers around Toshiko Tomura, a woman who deserves wider recognition as an original manga bad girl. She's hardly sympathetic, but endlessly fascinating as she sheds her skin time and time again to adapt to whatever the situation demands. And if she happens to leave a trail of human wreckage in her wake, what of it? The good, the bad, and the sorry find themselves trapped by her against their will, even when they think they know what they're getting into. The supporting cast is solid as well, and their story arcs play out in surprising ways as they come under the spell (or perhaps curse) of Toshiko Tomura. Not every character or secondary arc was flawless, but still more than enough to make the story interesting. OVERALL A taut mystery thriller and unintentional period piece with more than a little commentary on the nature of fame and success in a mass-media world. Tezuka shows he can play hardball in a manga most definitely meant for adults. If you have a friend who's a fan of 70's movies that you want to get into manga, this just might be the perfect gateway drug starting point. |