Buddha vol.3: Devadatta by Osamu Tezuka

Posted: November 16, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Books, Comic | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

By the time I moved into Buddha volume 3 territory, I already got quite used to the story – it seemed just like watching, I dunno, the Walking Dead, Friends or, as some strange people do, House M.D. on the telly. A chewing gum of sorts, of mixed Hindu and Japanese flavors.

The book is divided into two, really – a half is devoted to Siddhartha’s travel to Magadha kingdom, whose king for the first time calls the young monk “Buddha” – and the second half is devoted to Devadatta, an child exiled by people and raised by the wolves – not that much of that story gets confirmed by wiki, but still, this Rudyard Kipling bit is quite amusing.

Oh well, it was for me.

Buddha vol.2: The Four Encounters by Osamu Tezuka

Posted: November 11, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Comic | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

I keep on slowly reading the Buddha books, however, I more and more realize I definitely like it his less than Tezuka’s ultra gripping Adolf series, or MW (gas attacks do remind of Aum Shinrikyo – published 10 year ahead of the attacks) or my favorite Ode to Kirihito.

Why? Don’t really like this gag element Tezuka adds to drawings and text sometimes, in an attempt to appeal to younger audience – I would prefer Buddha’s life story to develop with all possible seriousness.

Overall – more dead rabbits and dead people, brutality to lower classes (the rising 99% movement, huh?) and finally – Siddhartha becomes a monk. Oh well.

Buddha vol.1: Kapilavastu by Osamu Tezuka

Posted: November 6, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Comic | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

Embarked on a long journey – Osamu Tezuka’s Buddha series is 8 volumes long – over 3000 pages in total – and thicker than Nakazawa’s 10-book-long Barefoot Gen, so I will break my record.

Three main events in this book – suicide bunny, Siddhartha is born, Chapra dies. Oh well.

Btw, one guy made a video for the bunny sacrifice piece. Hm.

PS: Praise for Buddha in Time mag.