Monday, August 16, 2004
The Globe and Mail of Toronto reviews Osamu Tezuka's Buddha.
Tezuka's mastery of seemingly incongruous (and sometimes inappropriate) juxtapositions, both stylistic and thematic, are in every aspect of the story. At times, the narrative tone is solemn, as with the opening scene of a hare selflessly throwing itself into the fire to feed an ailing old Brahmin (later, Siddhartha's child disciple Assaji emulates this sacrifice, to feed a litter of starving wolf pups). Elsewhere, it is just plain silly -- while bathing in a spring, the Kosai General Budai is attacked by crocodiles after dismissing his guards, telling the reader vainly, "I can't let them see the pimple on my ass" (in another panel, he bats his eyelashes and giggles bashfully, like a girl).
(Link via Thought Balloons.)
11:40:00 AM
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