The Alpha's Cursed Luna

Osamu Tezuka is frequently hailed as the god of manga, and once you delve into his works, it becomes clear why. "Ode to Kirihito" is one of his lesser-known creations, yet I personally consider it among his finest.

At first glance, the plot might seem forgettable, but it's Osamu Tezuka's masterful writing that makes it so captivating. The story centers around a mysterious spreading illness known as Monmow Disease. This manga excels in crafting a convincing backdrop for this disease and the suffering its victims endure. There's also an impressive subplot that exposes the corrupt politics within the medical field. I won't elaborate further to avoid potential spoilers.

"Ode to Kirihito" features a diverse cast of characters, each with distinct personalities and struggles against the disease—whether they are afflicted by it or working to cure it. Every character plays a pivotal role in advancing the storyline. That said, the development of the characters can be questionable, a recurring issue I've encountered in Osamu Tezuka's other works. No one can dispute his prowess in storytelling, but he does struggle with aligning character progression with the plot. Occasionally, he alters character motivations without sufficient buildup. For instance, there's a scene where two individuals marry and their love for each other is portrayed without much prior development. Similar issues arise in other works like "Apollo’s Song," "Buddha," and "Ayako." Despite these flaws, the characters still possess enough depth to overlook such problems.

The art style of this manga is decent but lacks distinction. To be candid, I'm not particularly fond of Osamu Tezuka's artistic approach. It suits lighter fare like "Astro Boy," but feels out of place in a narrative as dark and mature as this one. However, I did appreciate the art and character design of Doctor Urabe, especially in the latter part of the manga when he experiences significant psychological turmoil.

In summary, "Ode to Kirihito" is an outstanding manga with a compelling plot, intriguing characters, meaningful themes, and a satisfying conclusion. It may be too grim for some due to numerous character deaths and scenes of physical violation, but if you can handle that, I highly recommend giving this manga a chance.<p>

When confronted with a mysterious new illness that appears to transform people into beasts, "Ode to Kirihito" follows the titular character as he endeavors to unravel the enigmas surrounding this disease. In a manner reminiscent of "North by Northwest," Kirihito finds himself ensnared in a sequence of bizarre and extreme predicaments, despite his innocence, lending a new dimension to the phrase "out of the frying pan, into the fire." Although the manga is frequently regarded as a precursor to another of Tezuka's masterpieces, "Black Jack," they share little beyond the presence of doctors within their narratives. Still unmistakably classic Tezuka, "Ode to Kirihito" stands as yet another remarkable manga in his repertoire, capable of holding its own.

For those familiar with Tezuka's other works, the artwork will come as no surprise. The Disney influences remain evident, characterized by cartoony characters often depicted with elongated and exaggerated features. However, there are instances where Tezuka opts for shocking realism, enhancing numerous scenes significantly. Tezuka takes greater risks in this work, adopting a darker, almost film-noir aesthetic with pervasive shadows and innovative lighting techniques. Characters are occasionally rendered in a sketchy style, contributing substantially to the manga's dark and uncertain atmosphere.

It's not just the art; the entire graphic novel ranks among the darkest pieces Tezuka has ever authored. Similar to "The Book of Human Insects," Osamu Tezuka seems to have left humor at the threshold. I observed only two instances of gags throughout the entire work, even though Tezuka is well-known—and sometimes criticized—for his frequent use of jokes, particularly at inappropriate moments. This omission may be advantageous since "Ode to Kirihito" tackles weighty themes such as persecution, rape, isolation, psychological trauma, slavery, and humanity, to name a few.

Characters are intriguing and diverse, most being granted sufficient time to evolve and become fully realized. They can be far more complex than they initially appear, with even the most despicable characters afforded human emotions and opportunities for redemption. Tezuka effectively utilizes the entire cast, blurring the lines between beast and man and ensuring each individual feels integral to the story's overall narrative. Regrettably, with such a robust ensemble, there are occasional missed opportunities concerning Kirihito, who can feel absent for significant portions of the manga. We often witness him leap across various stages of his life without experiencing the transitions themselves. Nonetheless, this is a minor flaw in a category where Tezuka excels.

When Tezuka operates at peak performance, he crafts stories that are engaging, poetic, poignant, significant, and imaginative. In "Ode to Kirihito," Tezuka is undoubtedly at his best. The narrative follows multiple storylines, each taking unexpected turns and all contributing to Tezuka's exploration of what it truly means to be human. Without divulging too much, rest assured that the plot aligns with Tezuka's most celebrated works, like "Phoenix." At times, the scenarios might seem excessively extreme, but that's also part of the allure.

Tezuka's storytelling is highly experimental, featuring panels that spiral inward or burst outward from the page. Some pages mimic a film strip, accentuating the progression of character expressions. When executed successfully, his approach yields substantial rewards, although an overemphasis on specific scenes can occasionally disrupt the pacing. Moreover, while the experimental style is fascinating, it can occasionally detract from the immersion, making readers overly conscious that they are reading a manga, which is generally undesirable. The manga is rich with Christian imagery, feeling meaningful without becoming overwhelming, unlike in "Neon Genesis Evangelion."

With "Ode to Kirihito," Tezuka masterfully weaves together a captivating drama that is extraordinary in nearly every aspect. His medical background often makes it challenging to distinguish fact from fiction, rendering the manga one of Tezuka's most realistic works, both in narrative and style. Tezuka is among the few artists who can seamlessly merge art and entertainment, creating one of his finest tales with "Ode to Kirihito."

Two physicians, Osanai—a youthful, enthusiastic, and admired doctor—and Tatsugaura, an experienced yet ambitious veteran, are both delving into the enigmatic 'Monmow' disease. This ailment, confined to a secluded village, induces strange bone deformities that transform its sufferers into beast-like figures before claiming their lives.  

Osanai is dispatched to the village by Tatsugaura to uncover the cause of the disease while providing care to the afflicted as best as he can. However, unbeknownst to Osanai, Tatsugaura harbors ulterior motives. He plans to infect Osanai with the disease, aiming to eliminate any competition and pave the way for presenting his own findings, thereby securing renown and elevated status in the medical community.  

<p>

For someone hailed as the godfather of manga, with numerous classic works to his name, you'd anticipate Osamu Tezuka to be a more refined writer. That was certainly my expectation when I set out to delve deeper into his creations. However, it's become clear that Tezuka wasn't shy about weaving all sorts of depravity into his more mature narratives.

Incorporating taboo elements into a story doesn't inherently make it poor, but it's important to note that any writer should adhere to high standards when delving into such themes. Unfortunately, Ode to Kirihito can only be described as clumsy in its execution. Sometimes, a rape scene can serve a genuine purpose, especially when examining the twisted psychology of deeply flawed characters, enhanced by innovative artwork and page layouts designed to be read in a distorted manner. Other times, though, a rape scene might abruptly appear from behind a bush, seemingly serving no other purpose than to shock.

What Ode to Kirihito deserves credit for is its exploration of themes concerning appearances and the value we assign to them. The protagonist, a respected doctor, finds himself distrusted due to a transformation that changes his appearance from human to canine. The antagonists are fixated on appearing intelligent and dignified, going so far as to abuse their power to conceal the truth. Several scenes highlight blatant racism, illustrating how judging others by appearance fosters ignorance. Yet, this praise is offset by plot twists that feel forced, an overwhelming number of tragic events that seem unnatural, and hospital politics that are downright tedious to read.

In conclusion, Ode to Kirihito is a mixed bag. Every well-executed element is counterbalanced by an equally perplexing one. I might still recommend it to ardent fans of Tezuka who wish to observe his development as an author, as this work was created around the midpoint of his career. For casual readers, however, this one could easily be skipped, particularly when there are plenty of other mangas by Tezuka worth exploring instead.

A lot of peculiar diseases exist in this world, with scientists tirelessly seeking cures but often coming up short. In "Ode to Kirihito," a strange disease transforms people into dog-like creatures while they retain their human consciousness, and it's discovered within an isolated village. Doctor Osanai is dispatched to the village for investigation, but things are not as straightforward as they seem—get ready to delve into the unknown and also navigate the bureaucratic realm of doctors.

At first glance, the premise of "Ode to Kirihito" might not appear extraordinary, yet it shines through its execution; by introducing the Monmow disease suddenly, much like most illnesses do, it establishes a credible setting while maintaining a well-paced narrative. It goes without saying that Monmow progressively degrades people's lives, worsening until it leads to the death of those affected. The struggles endured by the characters are effectively portrayed through interactions and events that unfold.

Another strong point of the manga is its portrayal of the scientific/medical world, including the elucidation of medical jargon, via character dialogues and narrations during various events such as medical conferences or patient afflictions.

However, there is a downside to the story; in an attempt to make it darker and more grim, the author includes incidents like unnecessary rape scenes and deaths. While these elements aren't inherently bad, they are poorly executed, leaving no significant impact on the story and having almost no consequences, rendering them redundant to the plot.

The characters in "Ode to Kirihito" are diverse, each possessing distinct personalities. Tatsugara, the ambitious doctor who refuses to entertain theories opposing his own, contrasts with the less talented Urabe. Given its length of merely 800 pages, character development is limited, with Kirihito being the exception. He undergoes profound changes, transforming so drastically due to the numerous events he experiences, from humiliation to enslavement, that he seems like an entirely different person. The supporting cast is also well-crafted, though forming attachments to them is challenging due to the manga's brevity.

The art style of "Ode to Kirihito" initially appears simple and unappealing, yet the character designs align well with their personalities, making it easy to convey their beliefs and behaviors. The panel layout is skillfully done, lending a "cinematic" quality to the manga. Moreover, the backgrounds are beautifully drawn, perfectly matching the intended atmosphere. However, the character design can be immersion-breaking and doesn't suit the story, which is unfortunate as it could have elevated the manga.

Overall, "Ode to Kirihito" was an enjoyable read, but the "edgy" elements combined with the character design detracted from the story's realism and enjoyment potential. Nonetheless, its presentation, narrative, and characters made it a compelling read that kept me eager to know what would happen next. I recommend it to anyone interested in the psychological genre.

Thank you for reading.<p>

I just started this and i like it but a quick question is he still connected to his family like they suddenly go buddy buddy in later chapter?

Ohhh man how can i forget this godly novel i have read it years ago thanks for making me remember my beautiful memories of this masterpiece fkkk it i am going to re-read it again. This is a must read to all new readers you can thanks me later 🙏🤝

Please updateplease🥺💔