A comiXologist recommends
Crime & Punshiment by Osamu Tezuka
World literature has seldom seen adaptations into other mediums like those in manga by legendary creator Osamu Tezuka. A creator by no small measure, Tezuka gave us a body of work many have glimpsed through one or two stories and few will ever see the entirety of. It really is an immense collection, and at times extremely eclectic. Even still by today’s standards when we can watch cartoons with a boy hanging out with people made of pastry and a raccoon’s best friend is a blue jay, Tezuka can still seem outlandish and wild. I know I referenced two separate shows in that last comparison. Please, let us stay focused.
Tezuka made Astro Boy at one point in his career and Message to Adolf in another, but both feel uniquely him. These are two of numerous epics that litter his entire career. He also made Black Jack, Ode to Kirihito, MW, Ayako, Alabaster, Rainbow Parakeet, and perhaps one of the most beautiful adaptations of a religious story in history: Buddha. And a lot of people don’t know he also created many adaptations of literary works, which is more the point of my geek-out. His trademark style of cute cartooning, most recognizable in his early career, makes it easy for us to relate to some of the darkest stories in world literature.
The above images are taken from Crime and Punishment. Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment. Osamu Tezuka has lovingly adapted a book that carries themes of alienation, poverty, nihilism, and the psychology of criminality for us to enjoy. I can’t ignore how very funny that is. Some of the darkest depths of the human condition in literature adapted with fun and bubbly characterizations creating an overall successful composition works surprisingly well.
It makes the protagonist, Razkolnikov, committing a murder much easier to see than the original. It is also much easier to get to in reading the manga. I don’t know if anyone reading this knows, but Dostoevsky didn’t write short books. This is much easier to read and it carries much of the most important themes, so nothing of the utmost importance is lost. Not to mention Tezuka adds some moments of levity and that could not make me happier. Dostoevsky and levity are like oil and water, but here it is a welcome addition.
This isn’t the only literary adaptation either. Tezuka gave us quite a few others that are available through ComiXology. The favorite amongst members of the production team here is Treasure Island! To be perfectly clear though, you can’t go wrong picking up any Tezuka. I can guarantee there is always a pleasant surprise or a shocking twist to any book he had his hands in.
