Tetsuwan Atom
Astro Boy

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Manga history! This should really be read by everyone.

The manga doesn't really have an overarching story, but rather just a collection of stand-alone chapters. However, these chapters can be really long, like half a volume long. I would recommend reading all of them but it can be a bit of a drag sometimes since not all stories are especially interesting. One of the real essentials is one of the few real arcs, "Once Upon a Time" spanning volume 6-8. The arc is also a good example of the darker side of the manga. The stories are often about the nature of humanity, violence and ... war. There's usually a lesson to be learned at the end.

The art style is childish, but it really is excellent. Tezuka has a really cinematic style and is great with shadows. The characters are also great but unfortunately most of the main characters just don't get enough development or relevant screen time. My favourite characters were Astro Boy himself, and his creator Dr. Tenma. Dr. Tenma is not a good guy but he's not fully evil either, he's a very morally grey character. Dr. Tenma doesn't appear that often, but whenever he does, it's a highlight. The one-off characters are also really great, and all have their own back story, motivation och development.

Unfortunately the manga overall is very up and down. I think for younger children it doesn't really matter, but for an adult some chapters don't really leave an impact.

Even though Tetsuwan Atom/Astro Boy is a cultural icon, I feel like the story is not talked about enough. People might say "it appeals to kids" "its for kids" which is true mostly for the anime, but the manga tackles some very tough material. Let me set the picture for you, in the 1950's an artist whom his mother's family had a long history with the military. Naturally you would want to speak about war issues if you are in the middle of World War II so years later you make Tetsuwan Atom, it garners massive attention and easily becomes your most popular work. It's ... popular because of kid's audiences and is kinda forgotten for its dark story. Would you really like that? Honestly Atom is one of the best manga I've ever read which is a good example of old doesn't mean bad. Early early manga usually connect to World War II like Cyborg 009, Most Go Nagai works, etc which makes a interesting connection between WWII and the rise of anime. Give it a shot, the art will grow on you and if your not into it, probably try Pluto by Urasawa (Monster author) which is a lot more adult appealing then Tetsuwan Atom.

Astro boy Review.

Strengths:

Historical significance: Astro Boy is considered one of the most important works in the history of manga and anime. It was one of the first popular Japanese comic books to feature a robot protagonist and is credited with popularizing the genre of science fiction in Japan.
Creative storytelling: Osamu Tezuka was known for his innovative storytelling techniques, and Astro Boy is no exception. The series explores themes of humanity, identity, and social justice through its characters and storylines.
Enduring popularity: Even decades after its original publication, Astro Boy remains a beloved and influential series in Japan and around the world. Its characters and concepts have ... been adapted into countless TV shows, movies, and other media.
Weaknesses:

Dated art style: While Astro Boy's artwork was groundbreaking when it was first published, some readers may find it outdated compared to modern manga and anime styles.
Pacing issues: The series can be slow-paced at times, with long stretches of dialogue and exposition.
Repetitive storylines: Because the series was originally published as a weekly comic strip, some of the storylines can feel formulaic or repetitive.
Overall, Astro Boy is a classic manga series that has had a significant impact on the medium of Japanese comics and animation. While it may not be perfect, its creative storytelling and enduring popularity make it a must-read for fans of science fiction and manga.

Astro boy story take place in a futuristic world whereby mankind and robots all lived together.
Astro boy manga for the most parts consist of episodic stories, in which our protagonist fights evil robots and aliens. As the story progress, Astro realized that robots are discriminated and abused by humans. One of the recurrent themes of the manga is robot rights. Should robots have rights, should they be equal to humans, what should they be able to do and what aren’t they allowed to do. And throughout the manga we going to see how the relationship between human and robot progress.
As for the art style it ... was a bit cartoonish, highly inspired by western cartoon. Astro boy put in perspective Osamu Tezuka visual concept of the future in the 80s and 90s.
Astro boy was an enjoyable manga to read,
7/10.