The Osamu Tezuka Story (Review!) (Patreon)

In June 2022 I was successful with a Kickstarter campaign.  During that time I read a 900+ page biography of Osamu Tezuka.  IT'S A BEAST!  Here are my thoughts:

Overall: C+

The book would've been much easier in three volumes than the encyclopedia that it is.  The best way to read was in my lap.  I didn't read it in bed so much as I wrestled it!

Japanese nonfiction comics are very straight forward factually dense accounts.  Going into this I was very excited to learn about one of my all-time-favorite artists.  The artwork is a loving homage to the man himself, and even when the writing becomes an ocean of name dropping it's a fun read.

Why C+ and not B+

This tome is narrated by one of Tezuka's characters "Higeoyaji"

The renderings of Higeoyaji are competent, but they lack Tezuka's wide range of expressions and motion, which is somewhat unfortunate. 

Halfway through this book Tezuka's personal story takes a backseat to lengthy summations of his accomplishments and awards.  It's not very informative or compelling.

What was Tezuka thinking?  What did he struggle with?  What kind of parent was he?  These questions go unanswered.  I believe very few people got to know him well.

I also believe Tezuka worked himself to death!

I was shocked when—suddenly—Tezuka drops dead at 63 and the story ends.  There are allusions to health problems, but for a book with so many details the specifics surrounding his passing are strangely missing.  They don't even cover his funeral, and Tezuka's would've been a national event.  Why did they skip it?

I was startled to read an animator working for Tezuka died of exhaustion, and it feels like Tezuka shared the same fate.  The man would stay up for days, eating only to fuel the work.  He was hounded constantly, and ALWAYS producing.  When he had opportunities to rest?  He wouldn't!

Tezuka might've lived well into his 80s with a more relaxed pace.  He pressured himself to tirelessly perfect his work, often re-drawing volumes of already finished books just to better represent himself.  It doesn't seem like there was anyone at Tezuka's side looking out for his well being.

That's an important lesson!

I think many of us are waiting in vain for that person to show up, when actually we must learn to champion our own health.  This is especially tough to accomplish when "money" or "career" drives our sense of purpose.

YES the man was a genius and YES his feats are undeniable, but at what cost?  I'm a big enough Tezuka fan that 63 feels like being robbed.  I can't help but resent his peers and colleagues for not INSISTING he stop to smell the roses!  But some people will refuse even this, so the lesson (for me) here is to not become that person.  

What is art without life?  Is it art?  or only just a job?

C+