AGP#028b – The Greatest Podcast on Earth, Part II

Hosts: Evan “Vampt Vo” Minto, Frederik L.
Schodt, Ed Sizemore
Topic: Second half of our comparison of all
versions of the Astro Boy story “The Greatest Robot on Earth”
(original manga, 60s anime, 1980 anime, 2003 anime, and Pluto
manga)


This is the second half of episode #028, featuring a continuation
of our discussion of Astro Boy and its many adaptations. If
you’re confused about this show, I’d suggest you listen to the
first half, which you can find right here. Additionally, listen
till the end of the show for contest information, primarily that
the Black Jack “suggest-a-topic” contest will be ending next
Sunday, April 25 at 11:59pm.


Show notes and links after the break.


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(Runtime: 47 minutes)

[00:00] Introduction for people confused about the
episode.[00:31] Opening Song: “Tetsuwan Atom” by Atoms
(Astro Boy [1980] OP)

[01:03] We begin with talking about the character of Pluto and
his relationship with Astro’s sister Uran. We kind of meander
off into a discussion of Uran specifically and Urasawa’s
interesting take on her character in Pluto.


[07:49] Some more focused discussion here of Urasawa’s art in
Pluto and his plans (or lack thereof) for future Osamu Tezuka
adaptations.


[12:25] We talk about Pluto’s depiction in Urasawa’s Pluto
manga, which gives him less of a “human” personality and makes
him much more mysterious than his original character.


[17:28] Ed gets us talking about specific moments, themes, and
visual cues from Tezuka’s original manga that Urasawa includes
in Pluto. This later expands into some talk about Tezuka’s
greater ideas about humanity in his manga. Evan mentions an
“internal focus” to Urasawa’s version as opposed to an
“external focus” in Tezuka’s original.


[22:40] Then some references to older Astro Boy stories and
other Tezuka manga series and the themes therein. Ed calls
Astro a “circular” character. We talk about how to introduce
people to the Astro Boy canon.


[27:57] We talk about the end of the story and the reasons
provided by each story for why Pluto destroyed so many beloved
robots. Ed describes Tezuka’s understanding of what Evan calls
“second-degree responsibility” and brings up an idea he calls
“temporal arrogance.”


[39:35] Evan wraps it up by asking about each person’s favorite
adaptation. We provide some final thoughts on what order to
read/watch the versions of this story.


[43:24] That’s the end of the show! Check out Ed’s reviews at
MangaWorthReading.com and Fred’s books and other information at
jai2.com. Follow all three hosts on Twitter Ed is “edsizemore”,
Fred is “fschodt”, and Evan is “VamptVo”.


[46:44] Ending Song: “WORLD END Instrumental” by FLOW (Code
Geass R2 2nd OP)


[46:59] Evan throws in some information about the Black Jack
contest, which ends on Sunday, April 25 at 11:59pm.