From the creator of Astro Boy, this graphic novel (manga) series features an old-fashioned exaggerated cartoony style of drawing. It is super-cute and gruesome at the same time. It was originally published as a serial in a manga mag in the late sixties and features some of Tezuka's innovations such as different sized panels, cinematic views, drawing out of frame, and a character directly addressing the reader. There is a good monster/demon story in this volume that I especially enjoyed. ( )

Daigo Kagemitsu es un temible samurái que entregó su futuro hijo a cuarenta y ocho demonios, a cambio de ver cumplido su sueño de conquistar el país. Al cabo del tiempo, nació un niño deforme, al que faltaban cuarenta y ocho partes de su cuerpo. Su ambicioso padre lo arrojó al río, pero el pequeño logró sobrevivir y, con el tiempo, convertirse en un diestro espadachín llamado Hyakkimaru, «pequeño monstruo».

Años después, con la ayuda del joven y avispado Dororo, quien afirma ser el mejor ladrón de Japón, Hyakkimaru emprenderá un viaje a lo largo del cual se enfrentará a los demonios que no solo le arrebataron partes del cuerpo, sino también de su ser.

This manga felt very different from Tezuka's other works. I felt like there was less character development and so much focus on action that you don't get really interested in the characters. But I have really liked most of Tezuka's series and I find the premise of Hyakkimaru defeating demons to regain body parts interesting. But again I felt like there was a lot of focus on the action and not as much on the actual story. Sometimes I didn't even realize that the demon he was fighting was one of the 48 until he got the body part out. It's a very dark book. Every time they help a town, the town decides they don't like them. ( )

This manga felt very different from Tezuka's other works. I felt like there was less character development and so much focus on action that you don't get really interested in the characters. But I have really liked most of Tezuka's series and I find the premise of Hyakkimaru defeating demons to regain body parts interesting. But again I felt like there was a lot of focus on the action and not as much on the actual story. Sometimes I didn't even realize that the demon he was fighting was one of the 48 until he got the body part out. It's a very dark book. Every time they help a town, the town decides they don't like them. ( )

This manga felt very different from Tezuka's other works. I felt like there was less character development and so much focus on action that you don't get really interested in the characters. But I have really liked most of Tezuka's series and I find the premise of Hyakkimaru defeating demons to regain body parts interesting. But again I felt like there was a lot of focus on the action and not as much on the actual story. Sometimes I didn't even realize that the demon he was fighting was one of the 48 until he got the body part out. It's a very dark book. Every time they help a town, the town decides they don't like them. ( )