The story is deliciously mysterious, with great ploting, taking us from one twist to the next, and one turn to another; it never gives the reader whiplash, though, since the pacing stays consistent (and good) throughout. The themes are nicely explored, with sometimes heavy happenings, always grave but never melodramatic. This heaviness can get somewhat overbearing, though, as there isn't any moment of respite: no humor, no lightness, no narrative glimmer of hope.
The characters are great. I have never read or watched Tetsuwan Atom, yet I feel like I've know them all my life; they're deep and well rounded. I do regret that we never got to see any side of them outside of the series' conflict, I wish we could've had a few "slice of lice" moments interspersed with the plot, just so these great characters would've felt like real people.
The art is very good. The character designs are beautiful, with a lifelike quality, very different from their iconic, disney-esque predecessors. The action scenes are nicely done, although they're nothing to write home about; the contemplative tableaux are much more entrancing.
In summation, I'd recommend Pluto to just about anyone, if nothing else, because it is one of the most beloved mangas of the 21st century.
