Tezuka's Fresh Perspective

The Mysterious Underground Men was probably one of my most enjoyable reads, due to its stark contrast in plot, quality of art and movement compared to our previous, more archetypal readings. The art is beautiful and the panels satisfyingly varied. I am reminded of Little Nemo in Slumberland and feel like I’ve entered a surreal dream sequence.  The opening panels are full, dynamic splash pages that catch the reader’s eye from the very beginning. However, contextually, I am at a loss. This plot and idea seems to be so removed from reality that I have no choice but to critique it with an outside view. No longer are heroes above us, but enemies are in the Earth, as a young boy attempts to create a train path through the middle of the Earth’s core. This time, I don’t see the 60’s influence of superheroes obeying police, beating up thugs and leaping through cities. Instead, the main character is a small boy, an older man, and a genetically engineered rabbit who travel to the underworld. In storytelling, it is a rich narrative. It is fantastical and pleasing to the eye with its aesthetic. It is iconic and unique, similar to how Superman stunned audiences as the first American hero.

The more I began to read it, the more I saw it fitting as a hero and the quest. Similar to what I saw in The Adventures of Tintin. I began comparing its likeness and continuity to that of Tintin, where a baby-faced teenager travels with his companion across the world and saves the day in the end of each issue. However, some elements were starkly different from the way Americans or Europeans convey elements of storytelling or pictorial information. Icons appear to be different and contextual references are lost. This perhaps, is the secret of the manga. It is a different style of storytelling. I wondered if the rabbit had a special significance to Japanese culture, or why a grandfather was chosen as the guardian figure for little John. The name choices such as Ham Egg seemed a bit confusing, but probably a result of Japanese to English translations. Mimio, the animal 'companion' becomes a dynamic and essential character to the story. Reading the very beginning of Tezuka's work, the development of manga had me relieved at the refreshing twists.