Series review. Spoiler free! (For Pluto anyway, original Astro Boy spoilers allowed, you've had 50+ years, the spoiler statute of limitations has expired.)As far as I'm concerned, this is Urasawa and Nagasaki's masterpiece. It's a reimagining of 'The Greatest Robot on Earth' (地上最大のロボット) a story arc from the 1952-1968 manga Astro Boy (鉄腕アトム Tetsuwan Atom in Japanese) by legendary manga creator Osamu Tezuka, formally known as a 'god of manga'.

1. The Pluto Files Epublibre Free

Urusawa and Nagasaki's version takes place in the Series review. Spoiler free! (For Pluto anyway, original Astro Boy spoilers allowed, you've had 50+ years, the spoiler statute of limitations has expired.)As far as I'm concerned, this is Urasawa and Nagasaki's masterpiece.

It's a reimagining of 'The Greatest Robot on Earth' (地上最大のロボット) a story arc from the 1952-1968 manga Astro Boy (鉄腕アトム Tetsuwan Atom in Japanese) by legendary manga creator Osamu Tezuka, formally known as a 'god of manga'. Urusawa and Nagasaki's version takes place in the aftermath of an obvious parallel of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It's a mystery, and a war story, and absolutely magnificent.I'm not sure how this might read to someone unfamiliar with Astro Boy. Personally, I can only ever see this story through Astro Boy colored glasses, which I assume is expected. Atom is one of the two children's characters to be more significant to me as an adult than they were as children.

(The other being Winnie-the-Pooh.) So if you'll indulge me I'm going to talk a bit about Astro Boy before moving on to Pluto.I have no memory of watching Astro Boy as a child. I'm honestly not sure if I ever saw any or not. By the late 80s, early 90s when the whole 'anime' thing started to be a thing in the US, the character was familiar, with his cute but sort of creepy child robot body, but I think the stories were considered too dated and childish to be popular with American anime fans, and Tezuka's art style was not particularly appealing to me. But it has always been considered a classic, and I was living in Japan in 2003 when a TV reboot started airing, and the show simply floored me.Astro Boy is very clearly aimed at children. This fact is obvious not only in its characters, but in the sincere, surreal goodness it espouses.

It's comically wholesome. The sort of world where enemies almost invariably become the best of friends once defeated. The sort of naive worldview that I, quite honestly, sneer at. But I wasn't sneering.I don't know if the series managed to thread some invisibly tiny needle, or deployed some classified superweapon, like Inspector Gesicht's Zeronium shells to pierce my cynical armor, but somehow it got through, and I adored it.But while the tone of the series is predominantly one of childishly sincere, pure optimism, it's not entirely free of darkness. There are glimpses of loss, and grief. Slight Astro Boy spoiler Atom's original creator Dr. Tenma, is perhaps the character who most represents the darker view in the series.

Atom was originally created by a deeply grieving Dr. Tenma to replace his biological son Tobio, who died in a car crash. Atom himself was abandoned when Tenma realized Atom could never take Tobio's place.In Volume 4 of Pluto a visitor to Dr. Ochanomizu mentions the word seizensetsu, the idea that mankind is inherently good. I had never heard the Japanese term before, but it fits the 2003 series to a T.

I don't have enough familiarity with Tezuka's original versions to hazard a guess as to whether or not he had that concept in mind when writing Tetsuwan Atom. Urasawa and Nagasaki, however, definitely seem to be toying with the inverse of the concept.Pluto doesn't focus overly much on Atom.

It's an ensemble cast, and at least early on it is played more like a police procedural, with Inspector Gesicht of Europol acting as our main character, though POV moves around. Gesicht is one of the seven 'super robots', one of the five instrumental in defeating the Kingdom of Persia during the war, and incidentally, considered a potential weapon of mass destruction himself. As various connections are made, it soon becomes clear that someone is targeting both the seven super robots and the members of the 'Bora Survey Group', a team of robot scientists who were sent in before the war to investigate rumors that that Kingdom of Persia was building an robot army.As might be expected for a war story, there is grief to go around.I won't say any more about the plot, but it's awesome. Don't let the fact that it's a manga series dissuade you, few novels even dream of being this good.This gets my highest recommendation. WHAT IS IT ABOUT?“Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, Volume 008” by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki is the last book in an eight-book science fiction manga series Pluto. The whole series is based on “The Greatest Robot on Earth,” the most popular story arc in Astro Boy series written by a legendary manga master Osamu Tezuka.Thanks to Gesicht’s memory chip, Atom, a.k.a.

Astro Boy, wakes up. However, he is different: provided with the memories and emotions of the other six great robots of the world, Atom WHAT IS IT ABOUT?“Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, Volume 008” by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki is the last book in an eight-book science fiction manga series Pluto. The whole series is based on “The Greatest Robot on Earth,” the most popular story arc in Astro Boy series written by a legendary manga master Osamu Tezuka.Thanks to Gesicht’s memory chip, Atom, a.k.a.

Astro Boy, wakes up. However, he is different: provided with the memories and emotions of the other six great robots of the world, Atom has learned to hate. Bu will his hatred and anger be enough to finally stop Pluto, the murderous robot controlled by his villainous creator, and to save the Earth from the impending apocalypse?THUMBS UP:1) Great ending to a great story.The last volume, just like the whole series, is action-packed, thrilling and suspenseful but at the same time extremely thought-provoking and touching with complex and relatable characters. As before, the illustrations are very detailed, realistic and simply gorgeous. However, “Pluto, Volume 006” still remains my absolute favorite with the fifth book as a close runner-up (check out my previous reviews to see why).

Moreover, detective Gesicht is BY FAR my favorite character. I still cannot believe that, after reading the very first volume, I dared to call this robot passive and boring. Ha!2) Important takeaway.Although every single volume is thought-provoking and touching in its own way, the main message - “nothing comes of hatred” - and its gravity become clear just at the very end.

As a bonus feature, in the eight volume’s postscript, co-author Takashi Nagasaki beautifully summarizes the takeaway of Pluto series and also builds a very convincing case speculating on what Osamu Tezuka meant by his famous story’s title “The Greatest Robot on Earth.”COULD BE BETTER:1) Rushed wrap-up.Comparing to the excellent story building in the earlier volumes, the last two volumes seem a little bit rushed as some revelations are way too convenient, not very logical and thus less realistic. Also, it feels like the authors were just too eager to wrap things up and did’t bother to tie some loose ends. For example, I might be missing something, but how exactly is the evil teddy bear involved in the assassinations of the seven great robots of the world?2) Lack of color.Throughout the whole series, my only constant complaint is the black and white illustrations.

Don’t get me wrong, they don’t look bad at all, but at the beginning of every single volume there are six to ten colorful pages which just look SO MUCH better. I understand that it might be too expensive to color the whole book, but even the black and white illustrations with additional shades (like the first eight pages in Act 63) are so much more appealing than the rest of the artwork.VERDICT: 3.5 out of 5Although a little bit rushed, “Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, Volume 008” by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki is a great ending to a great story with a powerful takeaway.

However, just as I predicted in the very beginning, you really need to read ALL eight volumes to truly understand and appreciate Pluto series.POST SCRIPTUM:Check out my reviews of the previous seven volumes:1)2)3)4)5)6)7). Pluto ends as strong as it started.Atom is back, that much we knew.

However, what is his answer to the growing danger that is Pluto? Will he strike out in anger?

He now has emotions that he has never felt before after being reborn. However, if he goes after Pluto can he win? The two dish it out while something under the earth is rumbling and every human is worried that the end of days is here.This hits some great emotional bits.

Saying goodbye to various characters and seeing their secrets and Pluto ends as strong as it started.Atom is back, that much we knew. However, what is his answer to the growing danger that is Pluto? Will he strike out in anger? He now has emotions that he has never felt before after being reborn.

However, if he goes after Pluto can he win? The two dish it out while something under the earth is rumbling and every human is worried that the end of days is here.This hits some great emotional bits. Saying goodbye to various characters and seeing their secrets and last moments is super sad but very effective. The art is great as always and some epic action shots really elevate this volume.

The ending is touching yet meaningful and the only way it could end really. The villain and some side plots seem to get lost a bit or rushed though.Overall, fantastic.

What a great series. One good volume and 7 great-fantastic volumes. You don't see that every day. A 4.5 out of 5. This volume, and the entire series, ended in a slightly ambiguous way (and I was wanting to learn more about the teddy bear robot). And I like that. Overall, I really enjoyed this series.

It was a solid story that wasn't drawn out longer than it should have been, and with a discernible narrative trajectory. I do feel, though, that I would have appreciated it more had I been more knowledgeable regarding the Astro Boy world. That's one of the things that is clearly apparent in about all of the This volume, and the entire series, ended in a slightly ambiguous way (and I was wanting to learn more about the teddy bear robot). And I like that. Overall, I really enjoyed this series.

It was a solid story that wasn't drawn out longer than it should have been, and with a discernible narrative trajectory. I do feel, though, that I would have appreciated it more had I been more knowledgeable regarding the Astro Boy world. That's one of the things that is clearly apparent in about all of the essays that conclude each volume, Urasawa's referencing of Tezuka's seminal figure. However, one of the strengths of Pluto is that it can stand on its own without the larger context of Tezuka. At the same time, a familiarity with Astro Boy would add additional levels of narrative appreciation. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,So in the end Pluto was a great series, but it didn't run as deep as Monster or 20th Century Boys did unfortunately.

I really enjoyed the books but felt that after Gesicht made his exit that the series started rolling down the hill rather than racing towards a climactic ending. Speaking of which, I also felt that the ending was wrapped up entirely too swift and neatly.The artwork was strong throughout the series. I really enjoy Urasawa's character designs and I definitely saw several that were So in the end Pluto was a great series, but it didn't run as deep as Monster or 20th Century Boys did unfortunately.

I really enjoyed the books but felt that after Gesicht made his exit that the series started rolling down the hill rather than racing towards a climactic ending. Speaking of which, I also felt that the ending was wrapped up entirely too swift and neatly.The artwork was strong throughout the series.

I really enjoy Urasawa's character designs and I definitely saw several that were reminiscent of his previous works. I would definitely recommend the series for a swift read if you're not feeling like getting into something incredibly complicated and involved. Urasawa's Pluto (the 21st Century adaptaion of Osamu Tezuka's 'Astro Boy') has become my favorite manga series to date. A masterful story of suspense and mystery with a thought-provoking foundation of philosophical questions - such as the connection between humans and robots.

When the separation between humans and robots become smaller and smaller to the point where it's hard to tell the difference between the two, what is the effect on society? I think it's fascinating to think about ethics in Urasawa's Pluto (the 21st Century adaptaion of Osamu Tezuka's 'Astro Boy') has become my favorite manga series to date. A masterful story of suspense and mystery with a thought-provoking foundation of philosophical questions - such as the connection between humans and robots. When the separation between humans and robots become smaller and smaller to the point where it's hard to tell the difference between the two, what is the effect on society? I think it's fascinating to think about ethics in artificial intelligence. Should humans feel a moral obligation toward our creations, especially when the creations evolve to attain powerful emotions?Now I really want to read 'Astro Boy'.

I love the works of Tezuka that I've read so far. This story just confirms my utmost appreciation of the God of Manga, Osamu Tezuka. I have to admit that I was losing interesting in Pluto in the last two volumes. The stories took a turn towards the predictable with Epsilon (a character I did really like but could see where the story was going well before it happened) and then the villain's evil plans that feel like too many other movies and TV shows out there. However, the ending really nailed the landing. I found the message of Pluto to be really moving. Good endings are not easy to pull off, especially in a longer form of I have to admit that I was losing interesting in Pluto in the last two volumes.

The stories took a turn towards the predictable with Epsilon (a character I did really like but could see where the story was going well before it happened) and then the villain's evil plans that feel like too many other movies and TV shows out there. However, the ending really nailed the landing. I found the message of Pluto to be really moving. Good endings are not easy to pull off, especially in a longer form of storytelling like this, so I was really happy to see that a very good series ended well. While there is no other Manga I know that I want to read right now, I'm sure that I will be on the lookout for other series that sound good because Pluto proved to be a fresh and entertaining read.

The Pluto saga finally comes to an end, and what a journey it's been! It was a pity that Gesicht had to die in Volume 6, indeed the sudden appearance of the flower robot from Persia was a bit contrived, but somehow Urasawa didn't disappoint by making the last two robots the central characters of the final two volumes: Epsilon and Astro.

I'll admit it was odd Bora would kidnap one specific kid when Epsilon would've certainly come for any one of them, but it's a minor complaint in an otherwise The Pluto saga finally comes to an end, and what a journey it's been! It was a pity that Gesicht had to die in Volume 6, indeed the sudden appearance of the flower robot from Persia was a bit contrived, but somehow Urasawa didn't disappoint by making the last two robots the central characters of the final two volumes: Epsilon and Astro. I'll admit it was odd Bora would kidnap one specific kid when Epsilon would've certainly come for any one of them, but it's a minor complaint in an otherwise great, yet tragic, story, as the pacifist robot also meets an untimely end protecting those he loves. In fact, Epsilon is the only robot so far who tried to reach out to Pluto, perhaps setting in motion events in Volume 8.Volume 8 sees Astro return from the grave, thanks to Gesicht's memory chip, to put an end to Bora's schemes.

I liked the idea of Astro having a part of Gesicht inside of him, as if he were the son he and his wife, Helena, could never have. There is a poignant scene where the two meet, one final goodbye from Gesicht. Astro also meets another of Gesicht's 'friends,' Brau 1589, and is surprisingly greeted as an old friend by him.

Has perhaps Brau realized Astro carries Gesicht inside of him? Indeed, does Astro meet him as himself or as Gesicht? Astro has a request to make of the murder robot, one that certainly took me by surprise when it finally paid off.Naturally, Astro faces off against Pluto and it is a sight to behold. Astro carries within him an equal or even greater hatred than Pluto that is downright scary (just look at his eyes when he's fighting Pluto).

This time around, there's no doubt as to who the winner will be, but at what cost? Does Astro have what it takes to murder another robot? Or will he realize the truth before it's too late?A few other things I enjoyed:- Some visual call backs to Volume 1.- We finally unlock Gesicht's lost memory.- Subtle references to Asimov's Robot Laws.Volume 8 also tries to wrap up the teddy bear storyline, to mixed results. Even after the supercomputer tells us what he did, we're never really sure as to why he did it, nor am I clear as to Urasawa's message here.

Even something like the movie I, Robot's VIKI had a more rational explanation behind her actions, but perhaps Urasawa's point is precisely that robots in this world aren't always rational, that they act on their emotions more often than not, just like human begins. That is certainly a message that pervades the length of this saga. In any case, it's a good excuse to give it a second read, isn't it?I haven't read a lot of manga, true, but I feel that Urasawa's Pluto stands in a league of its own. Its entire run has been consistently good, if not great, delivering a gripping murder mystery story with likable characters and beautiful artwork. I can understand people referring to Pluto as Urasawa's 'masterpiece.'

And if it's not, then, by god, tell me what else has he written that's even better than this. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,This ending was absolutely brilliant, even though an open ending always leaves the reader wanting to know how it really ended. Brau 1589 playing such an important role toward the (maybe, but probably not) death of the teddy AI was unexpected, but really cool to read about. Brau has sort of just been there as the failed super robot with all the information and in many cases the truth, it was interesting to see what he really was capable of.

Then there was the scene where Atom described all the This ending was absolutely brilliant, even though an open ending always leaves the reader wanting to know how it really ended. Brau 1589 playing such an important role toward the (maybe, but probably not) death of the teddy AI was unexpected, but really cool to read about. Brau has sort of just been there as the failed super robot with all the information and in many cases the truth, it was interesting to see what he really was capable of.

Then there was the scene where Atom described all the other super robots that had fallen, how kind they were and how they all wanted peace. It was so pure and heartbreaking and I loved it.

And the weather robot that found the bomb in the volcano was also awesome. I don't know why I like him so much, but there was something about his design and the way he connected everything to the crack in the building (and the way he partially saved humanity) that was amazing.

Honestly I've loved this entire series. It has been compelling and interesting from the beginning to the end, it has never had a slow volume, and the characters were some of the best I've read about. It has been wonderful following Gesicht and I wish there was more of this series, but also very happy with what I've gotten to read.

I would recommend this series to everyone. Pluto is over. I do not know how I can compose my thoughts in a coherent way that allows me to critique it and still let the reader know that this is definitely one of all-time favorite mangas I have ever encountered in the 24 years that I have been alive but I will try! The end on a thematic scale was beautiful and impactful that I can comprehend why Naoki Urasawa took that route especially since this manga is based on the Astroboy manga.

But in all honesty this manga felt a bit Pluto is over. I do not know how I can compose my thoughts in a coherent way that allows me to critique it and still let the reader know that this is definitely one of all-time favorite mangas I have ever encountered in the 24 years that I have been alive but I will try! The end on a thematic scale was beautiful and impactful that I can comprehend why Naoki Urasawa took that route especially since this manga is based on the Astroboy manga. But in all honesty this manga felt a bit too happily ever after with a bow on top and extremely extremely rushed. If that was the case I would have been fine with another volume to digest all the revelations and action-packed sequences.So if you haven't realize it Atom (Astroboy) was resurrected from computer limbo except this time around he has Gesicht's memory inputted into his A.I. Memory frame therefore he is not the peace-seeking boy that everyone loves and cherish.

The Pluto Files Epublibre Free

Atom has hatred in his heart and seeks revenge for the monster that destroyed his friends. Another plot twist which everyone should have seen it coming a million miles away and yet it will get you every time is Pluto is the most advanced A.I. Robot trying to emulate humans. If it is trying to succeed at that task then it leaves room for the robot to lie and deceive itself.

What we learn is Abullah is the mastermind behind these killings and did I forget to mention he is a Robot? His plan is to detonate his ultimate form under a volcano that will wipe away all of mankind.Destroying the world seems horrifying for everyone and those who support a world without Robots are actually quite a lot of people in this manga but the reality is that if organic life dies with this eruption then it is the robots who will remain and become the ultimate superior race of species.

Atom seeks revenge and almost kills the robot that destroyed all the super robots but then makes the connection from Gesicht's memories that hate does not solve our problems. Hate causes it more and it is only through love that we can find peace within ourselves and others.Atom is willing to sacrifice himself in order to save the planet but Pluto becomes the greatest hero when he sacrifices himself to stop the bomb from exploding. I really love that concept and do not have issues with it if it weren't for the fact that the execution was rushed and left a sour taste in my mouth by the time I reached the end. I do not know if I would have had the same reaction if I paced myself evenly instead of binge reading the last three volumes but we will never know that answer. What I can say is if you are looking for a new manga to read or want to enter this medium then I highly suggest picking up this series!I am shocked that this manga is not praised by the masses and the fact we have not gotten a film or anime series leaves me perplexed as to why it has not come to a reality.

I am sad to part with this series but I am grateful that I took the chance and invested myself in this original and retelling of Pluto/Astroboy! This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,3.5 - three things:. the consistent use of aliases (goji/abullah/bora, pluto/sahad) became increasingly annoying and occasionally confusing; pluto deserved more unique characterization (i.e. His human arc w/ uran) than the time squandered detailing abullah's escapades. tenma is terribly insufferable when it comes to his pretentious, forlorn musings about robotics and humanity.

for the hatred motif to be so prominent, urasawa could have written a more thorough exploration of gesicht's hatred 3.5 - three things:. the consistent use of aliases (goji/abullah/bora, pluto/sahad) became increasingly annoying and occasionally confusing; pluto deserved more unique characterization (i.e. His human arc w/ uran) than the time squandered detailing abullah's escapades. tenma is terribly insufferable when it comes to his pretentious, forlorn musings about robotics and humanity.

for the hatred motif to be so prominent, urasawa could have written a more thorough exploration of gesicht's hatred (presumably for humanity). For the series to abruptly pivot to the significantly less intresting character that is Atom, is unfortunate.final battle was ok, every other advanced robot was more interesting than atom, still appreciate the journey, brau 1589 is underrated. 'Pluto' by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki is a quality manga series based on Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy universe, particularly his story 'The Greatest Robot in the World'. The series comprises of 8 volumes and is much more serious in tone than Tezuaka's original. It's told in the vein of a sci-fi/crime/thriller. I'll be reviewing the English translation.TRANSLATION:The English translation is well done and includes minimal spelling and grammatical errors. I absolutely believe it would've been 'Pluto' by Naoki Urasawa and Takashi Nagasaki is a quality manga series based on Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy universe, particularly his story 'The Greatest Robot in the World'.

The series comprises of 8 volumes and is much more serious in tone than Tezuaka's original. It's told in the vein of a sci-fi/crime/thriller. I'll be reviewing the English translation.TRANSLATION:The English translation is well done and includes minimal spelling and grammatical errors.

I absolutely believe it would've been better for the translators to leave the main sound effects untranslated, as the English equivalents don't make much sense, are silly and regularly intrude on Urasawa's art. Here, Astro Boy is called 'Atom' (his original name).ART:There's not much to say much about the art. The style is similar to that found in Urasawa's other 'recent' manga - realistic with a focus on emotional expressions. I don't appreciate the retro-character designs of several robots but perhaps they're true to the Tezuka's Astro Boy series.CHARACTERS:Characters include humans and robots and robots that look like humans and robots that look like robots. The seven most advanced robots in the world play a large part in the story.

Gesicht, the German robot detective is the main character, not Atom.STORY:The series is set in the future, where humans and robots co-exist. The story begins with the murder of Mont Blanc, a beloved robot in Switzerland. Elsewhere, a key member of a robot rights group is murdered. Interpol assigns Gesicht to investigate the seemingly unrelated murders.

He discovers that someone is targeting the seven most advanced robots of the world (Mont Blanc of Switzerland - now dead, North No. 2 of Scotland, Brando of Turkey, Atom of Tokyo, Hercules of Greece, Epilson of Australia and himself!). The race is on for Gesicht to stop the madness before they're all killed. Part of the story is set in Canberra, Australia but Urasawa clearly didn't do his research - we don't have 'squirrels' here. Themes covered in the series include human identity and everything it encompasses. The series questions whether a robot can ever achieve true 'humanity' and the accompanying costs (not monetary).FINAL THOUGHTS:From a technical perspective, 'Pluto' is very good, Urasawa has done a phenomenal job with Tezuka's creations.

It's well-written, and the art is well, worthy of Urasawa. Yet, despite all that, I never fully engaged with the story or the characters. A large part of that has to do with the nature of the story. Urasawa's done a great job humanising robots but to me they remain robots. As a Christian, I believe that people are made in the image of God. I find robots interesting but believe that they're just man-made machines.

Some of the characters in 'Pluto' are fascinating, but they're few and far between. While 'Pluto' makes for an interesting story, I just can't get past that worldview and properly invest in machines (which isn't the case with some other human/robot stories).

There are flashes of brilliance - at times I felt for the robot characters but it's not just the same as when humans relate their own kind. This was a huge blockade to my enjoyment of the story. If you can get past these things, more power to you. I understand that it's not fair to expect Urasawa to follow up such brilliant works as 'Monster' and '20th Century Boys' with something equally complex and original, but I did expect more from 'Pluto'.

That said, I found the ending interesting and well done. I particularly enjoyed the final volume of the series and the revelations therein. All in all, 'Pluto' is an enjoyable series but my least favourite of the three Urasawa works I've read.Not for children. 'Pluto' contains some mature themes.7.5/10. Stuff I Read - Pluto Vol 8 ReviewWell, the mystery is over. After taking a bit of break between volumes six and seven I breezed my way to the ending and it was quite a ride.

I picked up this series not really knowing anything about Astro Boy except that it was an old cartoon that I never really wanted to watch. Since starting the series (and it has been some time since I started this series) I have learned a bit more, but mostly I decided that you don't need to love or even know all that much Stuff I Read - Pluto Vol 8 ReviewWell, the mystery is over. After taking a bit of break between volumes six and seven I breezed my way to the ending and it was quite a ride. I picked up this series not really knowing anything about Astro Boy except that it was an old cartoon that I never really wanted to watch.

Since starting the series (and it has been some time since I started this series) I have learned a bit more, but mostly I decided that you don't need to love or even know all that much about Astro Boy to really enjoy Pluto. With a strong central mystery and a compelling set of characters, with a tragedy that continues on through this volume and a philosophy that blends robotics with the vagaries of good and evil, the series shines as a strong story with some amazing visuals and a consistent message: that the ability to hate might be what makes a person human, but it is the capacity for love that fulfills the potential of humanity.The series has finally moved things to a head, to a rematch between Atom and Pluto. It also reveals the role that Atom's 'father ' had in creating Pluto and holds enough mystery back for there to a few nice twists this volume. Perhaps most surprising is that the United States of Thracia makes much more of an appearance, answering the question of what that little Teddy Bear is and how it plays into the unfolding tragedy. Things go deep indeed as humans teach robots who control humans to make robots to destroy robots to create a robo-utopia. It'swell, it's a bit odd I will admit but it had me guessing and it's certainly a conspiracy so vast that it can't even effectively measure or check on itself.And through all that it's also about the strength of hate and hope, love and loathing. Atom wakes because of the power to hate, the rage that is required to kill, to be fully human.

And yet it is also the power to love. Gesicht shows that he's not utterly gone in the final lessons he gives to Atom, the final gifts, the knowledge of good and evil, the apple that destroys the garden. Only here the garden is already lost, perverted by those seeking power and dominion. Atom has to embrace his hate, but also learns how to forgive and how to heal as well. After all the death the series has witnessed, it comes down to a few more, and there is a sense of inevitability.

When surrounded by so much hurt and sorrow, is love even possible? The series gives its answer, and it is powerful and satisfying, full of hope and promise that maybe, just maybe, people will learn from what happens when hate rules.

That people will find a better way.It's a bit of a cheesy message, yes, but it's paired nicely and complicated by giant robots fighting and a tapestry of sadness and death that threatens to culminate with an eruption that would wipe out most of human life on the planet. And artwork that does an amazing job capturing just how human these characters are.

The love and the hate are at the surface as Atom fights, as Gesicht finds his child, as the world stands on the brink of ruin. Even Pluto is complicated nicely and beautifully rendered. It's been a long time coming, but even so Pluto has been a rather intimate series, a detective story to the end, with Gesicht living on a bit in Atom. It's a bittersweet moment when it's all said and done, but a fantastic series. The final volume shines with as an 8.5/10 for me. The dramatic conclusion to Urasawa x Tezuka’s Pluto.By the seventh volume of Pluto, it looks like the bad guys have won and the Reader is left reeling from one incredible loss after another.

There are also some unanswered questions, like: What is up with that cuddly-looking yet creepy teddy bear?What that United States of Thracia related teddy bear is is confirmed in volume 8, and the “weapons of mass destruction” investigation/fall-out is completely revealed. Yes, the political Finally! The dramatic conclusion to Urasawa x Tezuka’s Pluto.By the seventh volume of Pluto, it looks like the bad guys have won and the Reader is left reeling from one incredible loss after another. There are also some unanswered questions, like: What is up with that cuddly-looking yet creepy teddy bear?What that United States of Thracia related teddy bear is is confirmed in volume 8, and the “weapons of mass destruction” investigation/fall-out is completely revealed. Yes, the political maneuvering had consequences no one could anticipate—or maybe they could.

And for what? Fear and hatred are not best responded to with a flexing of power and more hatred. “Nothing comes of hatred” is a message Pluto will drive home in the final book, and not in a childish way, but with nail-biting and tears and complex illustrations of empathic response. The exploration of robotics having feelings continues to indict the human characters’ abilities or inabilities to possess let alone express empathy. Similarly is the idea of not only having an affection for the future and future generations, but being invested in the future, in not only creating but parenting, i.e. Caring and protecting.Atom appears to be the only one left who could prevent the destruction of the earth, and he is armed with another’s memory and an unhealthy dose of rage.

But he reveals himself to be more than most would expect, redefining power and suggesting a new and better response to threat (on any scale). Not that Atom really is alone, there are others who play a part along the way, both on the good side and the bad.Pluto is a must series for sci-fi fans, manga readers or no. The artwork and story-structure are a pleasure. It is violent, so I wouldn’t recommend this to the too young a reader set, even if they do excel on the levels of comprehension the series requires. Urasawa has given us an intelligent and beautiful addition to Tezuka’s Astro Boy universe.L (omphaloskepsis)a link to my review of volumes 1-7 are on the site, at the start of the review there.