What makes us human?

The Mysterious Underground Men, by Osamu Tezuka, is probably my favorite of our readings so far (sorry my beloved Superman and Wonder Woman). Not only was the manga visually stunning, but the story line contained a richness we haven’t seen yet. The manga is layered and asks questions that are very philosophical in nature. As readers we are not handed answers or force fed morals, but left to grapple with delicate issues. Two of the most pressing questions I found are the questions of what it means to be human and also whether scientific and technological advancements are a means to our salvation or to our damnation. The benevolent desire to create safer transportation, after the death of his father in a plane crash, is what motivates John to design and build the rocket train and yet this new form of transportation that tunnels to the center of the Earth is directly what leads the evolved termites to come to the surface to try to destroy humanity. In this way, the best intentions can pave (or tunnel) the way to our own destruction. To counterbalance this rather bleak look at technology, we get Mimio. Mimio created through scientific experiment (more like torture?!) saves the world. So it seems that technology and science are neither inherently good nor bad, but can raise the stakes of success and failure. Also, through the creation of Mimio we are presented with the enigma of what makes us human. On the outside, Mimio appears like a bunny, but Mimio contains a high level of intelligence and level of speech as well as emotional complexity that we typically associate with humanity. So we must ask ourselves if being human is limited to our DNA and appearances or whether it can be achieved through other less conventional means. When it comes down to it, is it enough for Mimio to believe he (or she) is human for Mimio to be human or must others accept Mimio as human for he (or she) to be a human. Of course, there are also the evolved termites or who are referred to as the “mysterious underground men,” emphasis on the men, in the title. With a very humanoid shape and an evolved level of intelligence there is little that separates them from being human besides their home where they reside, so they too walk the line of what constitutes a human. Overall, I found this manga compelling for its beautiful panels and for its ability to grapple with large problems.