hi ihe | OSAMU TEZUKA “eat.Phoenix: Dawn Vol. 1 VIZ Signature Edition STORY AND ART BY OSAMU TEZUKA ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY DADAKAI Jared Cook, Shinji Sakamoto and Frederik L. Schodt Touch-Up Art & Letering/Susan Daige-Leach Design/umi Evers Editor/ Alvin Lu PHOENIX by Osamu Tezuka Copyright © 2008 by Tezuka Productions Translation Copyright © 2003 by Viz Media, LLC All rights reserved. Fist published in Japan in 1954, English translation rights arranged by Tezuka Productions ‘Armessage to our readership: ‘Some ofthe phrasing and expressions in the work you are about to read reflect the time and contet in which it was originally created and thus might not be in accordance with present standards. The author had an unflinching dedication to conveying several themes through the art of manga, such as the importance of nature, love and peace; ‘a. waming against the idolization of science, and the preciousness of lf. It is clear that a the root of his work there is a strong belief inthe power of human love overall We believe that publishing a fithfl translation is essential to accurately conveying the message within the work itself a intended by the author, as well as protecting its integrity as a part of Japan's cultural heritage and preserving it for future generations, We therefore appreciate your understanding as you enjoy this work of at. VIZ Media, LLC: Tezuka Productions, Co. Ltd. Published by VIZ Media, LLC P.0. Box 77010 San Francisco, CA 94107 PARENTAL ADVISORY. PHOENIX s rated T for Teen and is Fecommended forages 1d and up. This ‘volume eomains realise and Tania ‘olonce and nudity. a005 PHOENIX: DAWN 341 About This Edition 342 Overview 344 About the ArtistAlso by Osamu Tezuka available from Viz Adolf: A Tale of the Twentieth Century Adolf: An Exile in Japan re AMAL) Adolf: Days of Infamy RS EAL IIS iT wee (Oca PETA wee eee E20 a RTSVOLCANO...ERUPTION OF THE EARTH, THE LAND COWVULSES, WRITHES IN AGONY AND TRIES TO LIVE...us Wie? i " () i i tna—( ns » 2 IN GREEKSEETHING FILTH ENVELOPES THE SURROUNDING AREA IN THICKENING ee ENTOMBING EVERYTHING LIVING AND NON- LIVING. = \oglinlid += THROUG:...THERE BRAVELY WINGED S\ A SINGLE LIFE. 4 @ (ETIMES, AND SOMETIMES, THE IMMORTAL BIRD. JwTHE WISE OLD HAG WAS RIGHT AFTER ALL! THE PHOENIX APPEARS ON THE DAY THAT THE FIRE MOUNTAIN BECOMES I's Salo THAT THE ONE WHO DRINKS THE LIFEBLOOD OF THIS BIRD WILL NEVER DIE. AND WILL LIVE ON JUST AS SHE HAS A, LIVED. -HERE ON THE FIRE MOUNTAIN FOR JUST AS THE OLD HAG SAID!I GOT HER! 1 SHOT HER DOWN! IT'S THE PHOENIX! IMS USELESS. SHE DOESN'T DIE! WITH AN ORDINARY BOW AND ARROW ‘SHE HARDLY FLINCHES. WELL, T'LL JUST HAVE TO TAKE YOU WITH MY ’\” Bare HANDS!LOOK YONDER. “T= IT'S THE SEA IRE.THEY SAY THAT NAGI, IT WOULD THE GLOW IS A BE BEST IF YOU SIGN OF A PER- GAVE UP HOPE. SON'S SOUL IT's T00 LATE. CROSSING THE OCEAN FOR A PHOENIX. TO HELP You... EH? CATCH THE X MY BROTHER'S BOW PHOENIX, YOU SAY? Is THE BEST AROUND! IF YOU DRINK THE PHOENIK’S BLOOD, YOU'LL BE ALL RIGHT, SO HANG (ON UNTIL HE COMES BACK! IF IT WAS SOME- THING THAT COULD EASILY BE KILLED, ANYONE WHO MAKES FUN OF MY BROTHERTHAT, YOU SENILE OLD FOOL! FaHE FELL IN A BOILING POOL ON THE FIRE MOUNTAIN.x 1 WAS JUST 1 CHECKING THE BEACH J( (i Dh FOR THE FUNERAL, OF AND THERE WAS v3 THIS MAN WASHED UP BY THE SEA. vom T NEVER SAW ANYONE WHAT TRIBE LIKE HIM! His FACE! IS HE FROM? HIS CLOTHES! NOTHING ABOUT HIM LOOKS: ANYTHING LIKE US!LOOKS SUSPICIOUS TO ME... q s es 7 patel I'VE COME FROM ACROSS THE OCEAN. MY BOAT ES@y, WAS WRECKED AND T DRIFTED HERE. I DON'T KNOW WHERE I AM OR WHAT'S GOING ON. DON'T KILL ME, PLEASE!BUT...HE'S ALREADY DEAD. EVEN I CAN'T CURE THE DEAD. THIS WOMAN WALKED. BAREFOOT ACROSS AN OPEN FIELD. SHE MUST HAVE CLIT HER FOOT AND THE EVIL SPIRITS ENTERED HER BODY AND CALISED HER TO ROT. PEOPLE USUALLY DIE BY THE SEVENTH NIGHT. WHAT KIND OF TREATMENT HAVE YOU FOOLS BEEN GIVING HER? WHAT ALL RIGHT, ‘SHOW Hil HINA} HMM... THE ROTTING SICKNESS... CAN YOU SAVE HER? IF YOU CAN, T'LL SPARE YOUR LIFE. BUT IF NOT, YOU DIE. DON'T YOU KNOW ANYTHING? CATS! AND CROWS! HEADS...YOU PUT ONE ON THE OTHER ANDYOu Pur FISH BONES ON HER FOREHEAD, HEAT HER BACK... [7_f0r! are you ver BROTHER? IF YOU WANT TO HELP HER, RUN AND BRING ME SOME WHAT TH-!? THAT'LL ONLY MAKE HER DIE SOONER! [THAT's RIGHT, MOLD! AND IT's BETTER IF IT'S BLUE. LOOK FOR IT AND YOU'LL FIND IT é LNEED MORE! GET ENOUGH TO FILL THAT MIND YOUR WORDS, THIS may Be THE \ WAY PEOPLE HEAL IN HIS AND THEN Ol. MADE: FROM BEANS![make Her oRINK Y MOLD?! ITLL GROW ALL DON'T JUST ‘STAND THERE! HELP HIM! AS 1S COMMONLY KNOWN, BLUE MOLD CONTAINS A DRUG CALLED PENICILLIN, WHICH IS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE IN TREATING CONTAGIOUS DISEASES AND FESTERING WOLINDS, THE SICKNESS HINAKU IS SUFFERING FROM APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN CALISED BY BACTERIA ENTERING A CUT MADE BY DRIED GRASS, AND IS: PROBABLY TETANUS, WHICH PENICILLIN 1S VERY EFFECTIVE IN CLIRING. ALTHOUGH TODAY IT 1S USUALLY GIVEN AS AN INJECTION, IN THIS AGE THERE WAS NO SUCH THING ASA HYPODERMIC, LEAVING NO ALTERNATIVE BLT TO HAVE THE PATIENT DRINK IT. IN DOING SO, FIVE TIMES THE AMOLINT REQUIRED FOR AN INJECTION WAS NECESSARY.SISTER! THANK Gop! THANKwhy ARE YOU STARING AT THE SEA LIKE THAT? oo C BECAUSE MY HUSBAND 1S BURIED AT THE BOTTOM.YOU'RE REALLY WE USUALLY KILL OR MAKE SLAVES OF FOREIGNERS HERE, BLIT SINCE T OWE MY LIFE TO YOU T'LL MAKE ‘SURE YOU'RE TREATED WELL, He's A GOOD BOY, BUT A LITTLE SHORT- I MAY BE SHORT- ‘TEMPERED, BUT TM NOT DUMB! Nu yo WE DON'T HAVE ANY COFFEE SHOPS OR MOVIE THEATERS AROUND HERE, $0 THOUGHT YOUR DATE WOULD BE A LITTLE DULL.YOU KNOW, EM DEE, T THINK OF YOU AS SOMEONE: T CAN REALLY LOOK UP TO. BET YOU FEEL REALLY WASHED UP IN THE BOONDOCKS HERE IN KUMASO. 7 NAGI, YOUR SISTER'S STILL \ RECOVERING, / so yourp { BeTrer Not MAKE HER TILL BET YOUR COUNTRY IS FANTASTIC, ISN'T IT?WHAT?? WELL THERE'S NO WAY T'M TURNING BACK TO DIRT! I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE T NEVER DIE! YOU DON'T GROW OLDER AND YOU WILL NEVER DIE. RIGHT! IE YOU DRINK HER BLOOD... THAT BIRD, IS IT SOMEWHERE ON THIS (MOUNTAIN? V~ THAT'S WHY SOMEDAY I'LL GO UP ON THE FIRE BI ROTHER DID AND CATCH THE PHOENIX!BUT IF THE MOUNTAIN DOESN'T FLAMES, THE BIRD DOESN'T APPEAR! EM DEE'S A GOOD MAN, AND IF YOU DON'T WOULD BE ALL RIGHT IF HINAKL REMARRIED.ALL RIGHT! NOW YOU'RE BOTH SWORN MAN AND WIFE!LOOK AT ALL THE PEOPLE YOU'VE HELPED! YOU'RE A RESPECTED MAN! SISTER, EM DEE, CONGRATU- LATIONS!OH IT's You, EM DEE. CONGRATULA- SEA FIRE IS PRETTY BRIGHT TONIGHT, THEY say Taat wHen THe | [IS TT TRUE SEA FIRE APPEARS some- | | WHAT THEY Say ONE WILL DIE. WHOOPS, T SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT WITH YOU HERE. I'VE NEVER SEEN IT AS | er THe way, THERE'S STULL SOME FOOD OvER at AYE, IT'S TRUE ALL RIGHT. YOU CAN GO ALL THE WAY OUT THERE AND YOU WON'T FIND ANYTHING LIKE A J. FIRE ANYWHERE. ARRRIGHT! THANKS A BUNCH! 34PUT OUT YOUR TORCHES AS SOON AS YOU GOOD JoB! LEAVE THE REST TO ME! ALL TROOPS ASHORE! ADVANCE IN SILENCE! MY WIFE'S IN THE THIRD HUT ON THE LEFT. WHATEVER YOU 00, DON’T KiLL HER. U,(S ‘TACK FROM FRONT IND REAR! SPARE NO ONE CHILDREN: ie NOT EVEN WOMEN OR i a a pe as sA SNEAK ATTACK ON THE NIGHT OF A CELEBRATION! FOREIGN BAS- TARDS, CHIEF IRON KETTLE a KETT! Ani, TAKE YOU ON! WHERE'S: YOUR ROTTEN LEADER?T'LL SHOW YOU DEVILS!' yy AYE THATS WER oa QUEEN OF THE MaSESTY WITH THE MOTHERLAND... THAT. POWER TO MAKE CROWS USES SORCERY... FALL FROM THE SKY AND RIVERS CHANGE THEIR COURSE! S-SARUTA! LISTEN WELL! IF...IF YOUR LEADER IS A... WOMAN, YOU TOO WILL BE...DESTROYED.... DRAG OUT THE SURVIVORS AND BRING THEM HERE!COMMANDER! THIS IS TOO CRUEL! EVEN IF THEY ARE BARBARIANS... 7 7 "TO se TOLD YOU cnoeas ane. | | Commer TO KILL YOUROWN _A==\ _ABSOLLITE. FAMILY, COMMANDER? A SOLDIERS ARE MEANT TO WOULD YOU DO IT? ona THAT'S ALL. INHUMAN! PUSH THE DEAD INTO A HOLE AND BURN THEM! THEN PUT UP A HEADSTONE AND READ THEM THEIR LAST RITES!WISH I'D KILLED ALL WHAT'S THIS? I's gust A TADPOLE. WHAT'S YOUR THE VILLAGE INCLUDING MY ! YOU BIG APE! T'LL GOUGE YOUR EYES out!WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? HURRY UP AND KILL ME! STAB ME... SHOOT ME... JUST GET IT OVER WITH. i ME AS YOU PLEASE. AND ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD AND DESPISE ME. HATE IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE, YOU'LL } COME WITH arom THE KINGDOM NEXT TO US. IT'S ONE OF A KIND. ra ( LORD SUSANO GAVE PHOENIK? © THE PHOENIX WITH IT. FF icur. youn BACK TO THE FIRE MOUNTAIN AND SHOOT HER. 73\\ This ano SL? eaTING TLL KILL you Tue — | MOMENT | you FALL | ASLEEP, YOU STILL BENT ON KILLING ME? WHY DON'T YOU GIVE UP BEFORE YOU REGRET IT?4 XN =HINAKU... ARE YOUSLEEP A WINK, 6H BOY? T KNOW How YOU FEEL. TCAN TELL BY THE LOOK IN YOUR EYES THAT YOU'RE THINKING OF KILLING ME. HERE, EAT BE GETTING CT REVENGE. SOLDIER 0 T CAN'T COOK THis Is THE THIRD \ HOW COME DAY. HOW MANY YOU'RE nore vowel) Suc A THINK YOU'LL STUBBORN last wimacut FELLOW? FOOD, DRINK, OR EP? 79THIS 1S CALLED DRAGONFLY FIELD. LOTS OF THEM, EH?THE WOLVES WiLL GET THE SCENT OF THE BLOOD SOON AND COME RUNNING. THIS IS A VALLEY, AND FROM HERE WE CAN SEE ALL THE SURROLNDING HILLS. NO MATTER WHICH DIRECTION THE WOLVES: COME FROM, WE CAN SPOT THEM. THE NUMBER YOU SHOOT DEPENDS ON HOW LUCKY YOU ARE.YOU WERE ABLE TO NAIL ME BEFORE, BUT IT WON'T BE SO(PAY ATTENTION 10 THAT INSTEAD! WE'VE Na een r. HERE THEY COME,..LOTS OF THEMI! ez 2p MOVIE-STAR STVLE rLET THEM Have IT! SHOOT, THEY'LL BE ON Us!YOUR PREY APPEARS ONLY WHEN» Eq 3f 28 / 33YOU IDIOT! NAGI! \ ( you at) Ie T HADN'T Rent? BEEN HERE, io LADY 2 _> YOu'D BE... 90(TLL WHIP UP ALL THE AND PUT THEM \ DOWN YOu WHETHER YOU [® IroR Coot eAnura WOULD YOU PLEASE (| STOP MAKING SUCH ‘A RACKET!WHAT'S ALL THIS MEDICINE IF YOU CARE ENOUGH TO HELP ME, WHY DID YOU KILL EVERYONE IN MY VILLAGE? MAJESTY sumasesty, / SHE'S JUST AN OLD HAG! HOW DARE You DEFILE THE NAME OF My y, QUEEN!HMPH! YOU LOOK LIKE SOME KIND SHE'S LOOKING THIS WAY!! LONG LIVE HER ) GRACIOUS MAJESTY! =< ) (| HURRY UP \\ AND BOW YOuR HEAD! SARUTA, YOUR QUEEN DESIRES TO KNOW THE NAME OF THE BOY BESIDE 93B-BUT THAT BOY WILL SOMEDAY BRING DISASTER TO THIS. KINGDOM! HE EVEN KILL HIM, SARLITA! \ FOR MY SAFETY! : ( CUT HIM UP AND HEAR ME? KILL HIMIL BE DONE WITH HIM!QUESTION HERE IS HOW HIMIKO, WHO WAS AN WEI THERE IS AN X ACCOLNT OF & YAMATAL WHICH SAYS THAT INTHE JABAN OF THAT PERIOD, THERE KINGDOMS, ONE OF WHICH WAS: YAMATAI, IT WAS ORIGINALLY RULED BY AKING BUT HE WAS SUCCEEDED BY A PRIESTESS NAMED HIM/KO, THIS WAS LIKELY ACCOMPLISHED BY HER USE OF INCANTATIONSsuousT oe, AWESOME.THIS IS A BOY T AM RAISING TO BE THE HUNTER WHO CAN SHOOT THE PHOENIX YOU SO DESIRE.DU BIST EIN (. TALKENBACKER? ICH NICHT FORGIVE LOWLY SOLDIER _/ weavene, 2088, What COMRADE HUM, i \, COULD HE DO VENGEANCE! TO YOU, THE ————— SARLTA'S ONE OF YOUR MOST FAITHFUL SUBJECTS AND HE'S DOING HIS BEST TO BRING YOU THAT “¢_MORTAL BRD. FORGIVEN, BUT TAKENOW TuaT oLD WHAT HAG HIMIKO | as ATES YOU, } YOU KILL ME, woud || sust Because ORDER, WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT 70 OBEY.WHY DID YOU THROW BECAUSE SUCH A FINE AND ane ae. LOYAL SUBJECT IN THERE WITHOUT A TRIAL? WON'T PUT UP WITH THIS ANY LONGER! ORDER HIM FREED WWAEDIATELY!THERE'S A TERRIBLE RUCKUS OVER AT THE PALACE!suN's BEING EATEN! IT's THE END NO! No! THE WORLD!PLEASE! WE BEG YOU! CALM THE ‘SUN AND MAKE IT WHOLE AGAIN! SAM McMUGCLE, PUSH AWAY THIS BOULDER AND OPEN THE CAVE! YOUR BRAWN WILL BRING HER MAJESTY our! 'p THE SUN DISAPPEARS, EVIL SPIRITS MAY START ROAMING ABOUT. BE ON THE ALERT! WHAT... WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO US IF THE SUN DISAPPEARS? FAULT THAT THE SUN DISAPPEARED! I KNOW NOTHING...WITH THIS DARK- NESS AND EVERY- ONE OVER BY THE NAGI, IF YOU TRAVEL WITH YOUR 3] | Back TO THE SUN, YOU'LL COME TO |. THERE'S A BOATWW" ae SARITA, HANG . ON TILL WE / REACH MY COUNTRY, PLEASE! O : fe - ney B j mw iy, ‘a , Weill, K Lili :rraers ars xan he are iS Piao! a aie! THE SUN BECAME SMALLER AND SMALLER, UNTIL IT APPEARED AS A TREMBLING SLIVER SHEDDING A DARK CRIMSON LIGHT ON THE EARTH. SHADOWS OF THE LIVING GRADLIALLY WEAKENED AS NAGI WALKED THROUGH THE GRASS, TREES, MOUNTAINS, AND RIVERS FROZEN IN SLEEP, AS HE WALKED EVER NORTHWARD...ei Hey SNE Hae il Mey yy y AN 126(OH GOD OF THE SUN, LeT ME “THANK YOU. T DON'T KNOW WHY YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO BECOME MY ALLY, BUT THANKS rm” THE DARKNESS, BUT NOW T NEED SOME LIGHT! I HAVE TO LOOK FOR THE BOAT SOMEWHERE IN THESE BOULDERS...THEY'LL PROBABLY BE COMING AFTER ME PRETTY SOON. BLT BY THEN TLL BE WELL > OUT TO SEA. /_THEre's PROBABLY A \. Big Fuss Back AT THE CAPITAL RIGHT NOW. _- WINDS! BLOW US HOMEWARD! HAHA 128yi \h ee WY al / ust rest. WHEN WE \. Get Home LL WASH JUST THINK SARUTA, \ YOU WERE TAKING ME BACK ACROSS THIS OCEAN AS A SLAVE (ONE YEAR AGO. I CAN NEBER GO BACK TO YAMATAL... TURN TO TAKE YOU BACK TO MY ‘COUNTRY.waDDER! ») WADDER! we) rouse ma) | eaves JUST Have lust WAVE PRoBABLY| FOR YOu. 130TILL BITE wl Y wert sust Y \ 8 etayLike =) THis TILL we _/ i > Reace ~ ‘my VILLAGE! We useD TO LIVE RIGHT HERE...My SISTER DON'T WORRY, DID YOU DRAG SARUTA. ME HERE TO DON'T HATE REMIND YOU ANYMORE. YOURSELF OF EVERYONE'S YOUR HATRED DEAD AND MORE FOR ME? THAN A YEAR SY Has Gone By. AND BESIDES, YOU ONLY DID WHAT HIMIKO IF YOU COOL YOURSELF HERE, THE PAIN WILL GO AWAY.WHAT WILL YOU 00 NOW, NAGI? YOU CAN'T LIVE HERE. QUEEN HIMIKO'S TROOPS WILL SOON BE COMING AFTER YOU. AND SHE DOESN'T FORGIVE DESERTERS.YOU MUST BE KIDDING. THINK THEY'D REALLY COME ALL THE WAY HERE UST TO KILL us? see THE PHOENIX. THE PHOENIX ? HER MAJESTY'S GETTING OLD. ONCE SHE WAS YOUNG AND HER LE? BEAUTY WAS ALMOST HOLY. 4 KC Wx BUT SHE MUST BE NEARLY SIXTY BY NOW, AND EVEN SHE CAN'T IGNORE THE CALENDAR. LIKE EVERY OTHER HUMAN, BUT WORSE, SHE WANTS THE BLOOD OF THE PHOENIX. AS YOU KNOW, THEY SAY THE PHOENIX HAS LIVED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, AND THAT EVERY SO OFTEN SHE DIVES INTO A CRATER OF FIRE | AND |S REBORN.‘SEEMS THAT AND THE THE ONE REASON T WHO DRINKS DESTROYED HER BLOOD YOUR VILLAGE ON HER GAINS ETERNAL BUT WHY ALL THE BECAUSE SHE PLANS TO MAKE THIS A FRONT-LINE BASE FROM WHERE SHE'LL LAUNCH A HUGE HUNT FOR THE PHOENIK. OH, | GET IT! SHE'S AFRAID I'LL GET THE BIRD FIRST! ‘THE PHOENIX BELONGS TO MY VILLAGE. NO ONE ELSE CAN HAVE IT'S Ay TURN NEXT! TLL GET HER! Just THAT OLD HAG. HIMIKO WITH HER (ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE WOULD BE BETTER OFF CHOKING ON MUD THAN HAVING THETOLEARNTO << WER MORE! Nasi! You've Got) ( saruTa,THAT'S THE FIRE MOUNTAIN WHERE THE PHOENIX T WENT TO GREAT TO BRING tenets 70 BRR Down tHe OBTAIN AN ~ PHOENIX ARCHER OF il ~ your cauiger Y gn‘THEY TOLD ME THAT PEOPLE OF YOMA WERE PRIMITIVE, AND IT APPEARS TRUE INDEED. YOU SEEM I gust AND TLL DO AS I'M SHOOT ASKED. YOUR 140WITH YOU, IE PHOENIX IS SARUTA AND YOUR BRAT, YOU'LL NOT TAKE HER FROM ME!LOOK AT THE LIGHTS ON THE SEA, SARITA. ~~ MOUNTAIN. THEY'VE SOAKING IT IN WATER MADE THE PAIN GO AWAY, SO WHO CARES WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!ACCORDING TO JAPANESE MYTHOLOGY, AS THE GOD NINIG! NO M/KOTO DESCENDED FROM HEAVEN, HE MET THE STRANGE GOD SARLITA HIKO NO M/KOTO. SARUTA HIKO NO MIKOTO IS: GENERALLY REGARDED AS THE ANCESTOR OF THE TENGU, A UNIQUE GOBLIN OF JAPAN WITH AN AWESOMELY LONG NOSE. IN PAINTINGS, THE TENGU IS OFTEN DEPICTED AS AN ASCETIC, AND ALTHOUGH HIS LONG-NOSED COLINTENANCE APPEARS VERY STERN, IT BEARS A STRIKING RESEMBLANCE TO THAT OF THE PROBOSCIS MONKEY THAT LIVES IN BORNEO. IT 1S POSSIBLE THAT THE ANCESTORS OF THE PRESENT JAPANESE, WHO IN ANCIENT TIMES MIGRATED FROM THE SOUTH PACIFIC, MADE THEIR IMPRESSIONS OF THIS MONKEY INTO THE TENGU. LOOK, IT'S ALREADY SUNRISE!HURRY UP! TiEy LL Be merce ONL TIME THE SUN, Is OVERHEAD! AU! LOOKS Like THE PHOENIX!$0 THAT'S nach Be careruns EMER Sue's FuviNG AN TOWARDS THEDAMN IT! IT's MY LEGS AGAINST HER WINGS. IT'S TOO MUCH OF A HANDICAP!Nagi, | poy t's mel t'm right in Front WHAT? THE PHOENIK?: you speech. I'm talkin, ind No, it's not My mouth and ridiculous. / tongue are different I'm real ‘om yours, 0 | can't speaking to communicate by Ss zw, to you with IN THE FIRST PLACE, HOW DO YOU KNOW MY NAME? YOU DEVIL BIRD! ‘$0 YOU KNOW MY ARROW WILL FIND J ITS MARK EH?) But you cannot succeed. | am immortal.T” wuy is Taar you Never Nott sau? What d DIE WHILE WE HUMANS Not fair, you say? What do ‘MUST? IT’S NOT FAIR! you humans desir 2 immortality? Ever! = Yan. J happines BUT TOBE HOW |. IMMORTAL LIKE _/ Nagi, look ? ( Sy in Front of you Ng ve life ur rel avela [ea eho ives but three et ..and it doe: oe Ianin ba 9 St N Pace k Ken in oer ~ CL ure i eee Td ' elioen Ee If they I \ Men Ine realize the longer than joy of living the insects, in the life dogs, cats, they have or monkeys ..isn't that happiness? L DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT... TLL RINK \, Negi if you Your) refuse’to Biocon / understand, you BEFORE I & must die too! re neTRAITOR AND COWARD! T AVENGE MY WHOLE WAIT! LISTEN FIRST, NAGLE YOUR SISTERTHE MURDERER OF EVERYONE IN THE VILLAGE |S THE HUSBAND OF MY SISTER?HINAKU, YOU'RE » [Do A FOOL! WHY “ [D ARE LIVING wiTH RS Re EM DEE? 4 157Wry — HE KILLED EVERYONE IN OUR) HOW CAN VILLAGE, EVEN < YOU LIVE THE WOMEN AND WITH » CHILDREN! / SOMEONE LIKE THAT? HE'S A SPY...A Cr a AND ARE YOu SAYING... / aol) LISTEN! HEARTLESS? HAVE YOU GONE OF COURSE I WANTED TO KILL HIM. FOR A WHILE T LOATHED THE SIGHT \ / OF HIM.BUT EVEN IF T DID KILL HIM, WHAT GOOD WOULD IT DO? WOULD IT EASE MY HATE? — NONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO} DIED IN THE VILLAGE WOULD COME BACK TO LIFE AND BESIDES... NS I DECIDED TO REMAKE THE VILLAGE BY HAVING ‘ AS MANY CHILDREN AS...AS IS POSSIBLE... S nar WHAT KIND OF car -?TLL BEAR A \ a wo swose N THOUSAND CHILDRE! THOUSANDS BEFORE I DIE! AND) WILL MAKE THEN, WHEN THEY THE NEW GROW UP, THEY'LL HAVE CHILDREN OF HEIR OWN.. VILLAGE! LooK! HERE ARE MY CHILDREN! YOU...YOU HAD THIS AND WE AIN'T THE OSMONDS!HEE HEE! JUST LIKE HAVING WELL, IF IT OF course, BUT THE TAKES A THOU- ( GRANDCHILDREN OF THE SAND YEARS, \ GRANDCHILDREN OF THEIR YOU WON'T BE AROUND, YOU ‘AND VIHAT HAPPENS IF THE VILLAGE Is ip TIE. APTER ALL, FE DONT, ‘SOMEONE Witt. Yh ae Ce A AND YOU Too, SISTER! THAT'S WHY I'M HUNTING: THE PHOENIX EVERY DAYBUT I'VE GOT TO CATCH THAT BIRD FOR HINAKU! IF T CAN GIVE ITS BLOOD TO HER SHE WON'T DIE AND CAN BEAR ONE THOUSAND CHILDREN! YOU HAVE THE BUT TLL NEVER LET YOU'RE FROM YAMATAL T’M TLL SHOOT HER AND BRING THE BLOOD BACK TO HINAKU! NAGI, WHY MUST YOU GO? WON'T YOU STAY WITH us?!AT LEAST TAKE THIS MEDICINE ‘STAY AT (NO, | CAN'T (STAND To \ BE AROUNDATTENTION TROOPS! YOU'VE BUT ONE OBJECTIVE: THE PHOENIX WHICH DWELLS IN THE FIRE ‘MOUNTAIN! WHO BRINGS DOWN THE BIRD, REGARDLESS OF HIS STATION, | SHALL GIVE THREE MOUNTAINS, THREE & FORESTS, AND TEN SLAVES!WHAT'S YOUR BEEF? TRYING TO TELL ME TO DRINK SODA POP?AND SOMEONE HAD] DROPPED THIS ARROW,| YOUR |) HIGHNESS.| THERE WAS STILL SOME SMOKE AND KED LIKE THEY . HAD Ler’ ONLY HOURS AGO.V7” AND YOU ARE SARUTA. I'VE HEARD OF YOU TM NOT THE ONLY ONE. QUEEN HIMIKO HIRED YOU FOR FIVE HUNDRED THICK-SKULLED, SOLDIERS FOLLOW BEHIND. ia iE WELL, IT WON'T BE MUCH OF A MATCH IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY. Wi 169T CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY 70 BE RIGHT. T'M STAKING MY BOW ITLL BE EVEN EASIER TO TAKE THE PHOENIX. TO GIVE TO THAT OLD HAG. ONCE T BAG MYCATCH THE PHOENIX, I WANT YOU TO GIVE IT TO SOMEONESINCE YOU DON'T NEED THE BIRD, GIVE IT TO HIM! COUNT TO THREE! ON THREE, SHOOT!NO! WE'RE NOT EVEN RELATED! WHO SAID WE WERE? SARUTA! WE'LL MEET AGAIN... PERHAPS IN HELL! STAY AWAY FROM THE CRATER! CROSS THIS MOUNTAIN AND HEED MY WORDS. EVEN YOU TWO ARE NO MATCH FOR FIVE HUNDRED SOLDIERS.YOU'LL LIVE A LOT LONGER IF WE ESCAPE! I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE UNTIL I GET }. THE PHOENIX. WHAT ABOUT YOU? J THINK I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU JUST TO SAVE MY SARUTA, ILIKE YOU. THAT'S WHY T WANT YOU TO SAVE ~* YOURSELF. T LIKE YOU. I REALLY LIKE YOU! °C gust ONCE MORE...YOUR masesty, | || Is sunpay, | // 60 i WITH EACH DAY WASTED A NEW THIS IS NOTHING WH-WHAT MORE THAN A IS N EXACTLY DOES PHEASANT, YOU BLIND IDIOT!GLOWS LIKE THE SUN! AND CAN'T BE KILLED! THAT'S THE BIRD we're [| arterR! IDIOTS! FIND THE BIRD IMMEDIATELY! IF YOU! FAIL TO CATCH HER, I'LL HAVE YOU THROWN IN THE CAVE! THESE MEN ARE WORTHLESS! WHAT'S HAPPENED TO BOWMAN? My ONLY FAILURE IN WHAT'S SO STRANGE? IT [ SOMETHING STRANGE \ \ LOOKS QUIET TO IS HAPPENING. THE} FIRE MOUNTAIN SEEMS < ANGERED. YOU'D BEST CALL OFF THe HUNT. MD, 7LOOK! WHEN THAT MANY BIRDS START LEAVING, IT'S A BAD SIGN. oy A aa i ‘ NO QUEEN! WHAT T SAY IS oy Ay 4 iy ii i \ ‘i ‘ mil i i THERE'S NOT A BIRD OR BEAST LEFT ON THE MOUNTAIN. SOMETHING'S BREWING. SILENCE! YOU'RE HURT AND NOW SOUND THE " DRUMS TO FRIGHTENED ADVANCE! ALL YOU'RE BABBLING TROOPS NONSENSE! FORWARD TO THE CENTER! I'LL PROTECT YOU WITH MY POWERS! TDON'T NEED TO. HEAR ANY OF THIS!are! They don't even know this mountain is about Go the humans Veg & ave finaly ‘SO WHERE'S THE PHOENIX? WATCH OUT! SOMETHING'S HAPPENING!‘Show your anger, mountain! Show yourHINAKU! GET OUT OF THERE!Hinakul ’ NO! NO! ONCET Tuls Is No STEP OUTSIDE THE : ee R time 10. CHILDREN WILL BE a COWER! heO Ne te y a E’LL EXIT STAGE LEFT! 3 you'll Be aBLe TO CLIMB TO SAFETY ONCE WE REACH THE CLIFFS! ae iy iWE DON'T HAVE TIME TO LOOK! KEEP RUNNING! HERE'S THE CLIFF. TLL GO FIRST ‘AND YOU FOLLOW BEHIND ME, ALL RIGHT? WHAT ARE: YOU DOING? I'S ALL RIGHT. THIS WILL LEAVE A MARK ON THE ROCKS. 186| | once we | Getto THAT LEDGE, WE CAN REST! 187WE'VE BEEN BURIED ALIVE. OUR CHILDREN ND EVEN THESE BEASTS ARE ALL BURIED ALIVE...| 4s surer-veareo |\\1), ||| 7oRRenrat zains ‘FELL, ONLY TO MEET | THE BOILING LAVA AND BE SENT STEAMING |||) SKYWARD AGAIN... ||| earre BETWEEN Fire ||| ano WATER THAT HAS || BEEN REPEATED FOR ‘MILLIONS OFIF YOU'RE GOING TO CR SAVE YOUR STRENGTH TO MAKE MILK FOR THE BABIES, UNDERSTAND?WATER'S SAID, IF WE CROSS MOUNTAINS WE'LL BE IN THE LAND OFCONTACT WITH WE! AND ARE Quite PROSPEROUS. YOU KNOW, T SERVED HER MAJESTY FOR THIRTY YEARS. LIKE | AND WHat 0 you REMEMBER EM DEE? HE WENT TO. WASTED MATSURO TO (MY LIFE. STUDY MEDICINE. a 197WELL T'LL GET HER! YOU GO WHEREVER YOU WANT. T'M STAYING DON'T YOU THERE ARE 1 UNDERSTAND 4 PHOENIKES ANYTHING!? NEVER!!!Woo : va T WONDER \ DAYS WE'VE BEEN IN HERE? IT'S ANAZING WE'RE STILL ma ALIVE! HEH HEH! IF T PUT HIM WHAT'S THE THE BABY! DOWN, THE ANIMALS WILL DIFFERENCE? T's pean! ABN r EAT HIM. WE'VE EATEN THE ANIMALS THAT DIED, HAVEN'T WE?No! Never! Never! THEY DIG AND DIE AND THE LIVING EAT THE DEAD TO GO ON DIGGING. STRANGE. THEY WORK AS IF THEY PROMISED NOT TO FIGHT BACH OTHER. EVEN THAT BL.00D- STARVEDAND SEE WHERE IT LEADS. WAIT TILLNo! T'VE MADE IT THIS FAR AND NOW I'VE THIS IMPOSSIBLE WALL IN FRONT OF ME! T'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO CLIMB IT! AMT TO WITHER UP AND DIE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PIT?HOW CAN THERE BE SO MUCH IN THIS Pir? THERE'S PLENTY TO BAT! EM DEE STUFFED HIS MOUTH, CHEWED AND SWALLOWED, THEN THE LIGHT SHONE THROUGH THE OPENING OVERHEAD, BATHING El DEE AND THE CRATER FLOOR IN ITS WARM RAYS, AND SEEMED TO CALL FORTH ANEW STRENGTH, A NEW WILL TO SuRVIVE, TILL SHOW THE WORLD! WATER, GRASS! p> HINAKU AND PLENTY OF WILL STAY EVERYTHING! ALIVE! THIS WILL BE MY 206HINAKU, COME UP! THERE'S BLUE SKY! YOU CAN SEE THE SUN! BY SOME STRANGE TWIST OF FATE, BOWMAN, IN SEARCH OF THE PHOENIX, SAT SILENTLY WAITING FOR DAYS ON END ONLY A FEW HLINDRED YARDS FROM THE FIT IN WHICH EM DEE WAS TRAPPED, 50 THIS IS HER HIDEOUT! AND AT THE SAME TIME ANOTHER HUNTER OF THE PHOENIX WAS FLEEING FROM THE FIRE MOUNTAIN TO 207Loos PRETTY aig TO Me. I'VE NEVER SEEN AN ANIMAL LIKE THIS. , »THEY DION'T Seem THEY MUST Ao, HAVE TRAINED[ TVE HAD | ENOUGH OF YOUR sTuB- BORN- ‘AND YOU DON'T ; 7 more z Get mr you rants 10 JUST HOLD ON TO THESE ROPES SARUTA, Look! NOT ORIGINALLY THERE WERE NO HORSES ON THE ISLANDS THAT COMPRISE JAPAN, THEY WERE ANIMALS FROM THE CONTINENT AND WERE BROLIGHT OVER LATER BY MEN—PROBABLY MONGOLS, WHO HAD USED THEM FOR THEIR MANY INVASIONS ON THE PLAINS OF ASIA. THESE HORSEMEN CROSSED OVER FROM THE KOREAN PENINSULA TO THE TSUSHIMA SANI AND NORTHERN KYUSHU AREAS OF JAPAN.THIS IS FUN! rh ait ’ DON'T BE EASIEST THING IN. h . e DON'T ) | RIDICULOUS! THE WORLD, a 5 TOO, \ HOW CAN A ONCE YOU GET cay Wes " ‘ useD To Ir. RR y\ TM CALLED NINIGI. —— Ux | Yo s-sire! SPARE THESE MEN! 215. § 4 my . = ON TRE PUR I Key‘MY, WHAT A MAGNIFICENT ~, NOSE! ARE YOU MARRIED? BMA » TRULY? ELORL: (| THen BACHELORIL 5 \, recast 0c x fw (. Huszano. NN NEVER! DON'T ‘COME NEAR ‘ME! NOT ON. MY LIFE! Bur I's ALREADY DECIDED... MARRY ME, YOU'LL BE KILLED! NEVER! GO AWAY! WHO'D WANT TO MARRY A FACE (Like Yours?THAT MAY BE FINE FOR YOU, But ABOUT NINIGI? HA! IMA WARRIOR OF YAMATAI AND TILL NEVER DIE A 06'S \\ MARRY, HE SAYS? N THE UGLIEST WOMAN IN N THE WORLD AND A MAN NO xy \ Wo WOMAN WOULD TOUCH?!TONIGHT, AFTER THE WEDDING, WHEN EVERYONE'S ASLEEP, WE'LL KILL THAT NINIG! AND ESCAPE. WAIT TILLWHO WAS NINIG/ AND HIS BAND? SCHOLARS THEORIZE THAT THE TAKAMAGAHARA PEOPLE WERE A MOUNTED TRIBE— A HORSEBACK NATION—THAT WAS ACTIVE IN THE REGIONS OF NORTHERN CHINA AND MONGOLIA FROM THE THIRD TO THE FIFTH CENTURY A.0., AND THAT THEY CAME THROUGH THE KOREAN PENINSULA IN LARGE NUMBERS TO INVADE THE ISLANDS OF JAPAN. THE NATIVE INHABITANTS WERE SUBDUED ONE BY ONE AND EVENTUALLY THE STATE OF YAMATO WAS ESTABLISHED WITH EMPEROR JIMML AS ITS HEAD. ACCORDING TO JAPANESE MYTHOLOGY, NINIGL WAS A GOD WHO DESCENDED FROM HEAVEN TO MOLINT TAKACHIHO, BUT IN REALITY HE WAS PROBABLY CHIEF OF A NOMADIC TRIBE. 220 HEY SARUTA, IT'S JUST LIKE THE TIME YOU MADE ‘ME YOUR SLAVE, HUH?WATER... WATER...SACRED WATER... Leal | cones, 2 a CHANTING? | Me Yeo HEAR... Ny | | yy \\ \| \ ICANT ¢ YOUR MAJESTY, IT HEAR (must Be Your EARS. THEM) eel EVER SINCE YOU ~ WERE HIT BY THAT FALLING ROCK AT THE FIRE MOUNTAIN... FIRE MOUNTAIN? THE ‘SPIRIT OF THAT PLACE HAS CURSED ME. BUT THE GODS TILL SHOW ITI TILL Lift THRONE TO ONE OF us! PLEASE GIVE US “THE SEAL OF JAPAN" WHICH YOU'RE WAS GIVEN (OLD... AND IN YOU BY THE EMPEROR OF FORGIVE ‘TREACHERY!Ip | TELL Me I'M 700 OUP, wa bab HA YOU'RE JUST APTER THE am \ZESa FIRST A PIROUETTE 5 — KF cameTHE DUNGEON < FOR TREASON, SW Your MAJESTY!YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN HELP ME. YOU'VE ALWAYS HAD A WAY WITH THE CALM THE CROWD IN FRONT OF THE PALACE AND HAVE THEM GO HOME. TELL THEM I'M, STILL HEALTHY. verveno TILL FORGIVE YOUR PREVIOUS VIOLENCE... \ I'VE TOLD You OVER AND OVER THAT THE DAYS OF RULING ? PEOPLE BY FEAR (Care OvER! 231APTER THAD You RELEASED AFFORD TO you. IGNORE ME Have THE = WITH THE MOB. INSOLENCE TO AT THE LECTURE ME? WILL BE REBORN MODERNIZED! SO SHE CAN ASSOCIATE PROUDLY WITH COUNTRIES LIKE CHINA! a | / LISTEN TO ME! YAMATAI i IF YOu DONT SILENCE! ere ncooN TLL HEAR NO IT WiLL Be MORE OF IT! 700 LATE, SISTER! HAVE His EYES PUT OUT AND BANISH HIM FROM THE LAND! 232Ls SS Es G7 =p N es b aie eR ao JQ y hy La iS x AS LONG AS MY SISTER RULES, YAMATAI WILL PLUNGE HEADLONG INTO SISTER! THE DAY = WILL COME WHEN YOU REALIZE MY TRUE! me presAHHH! IF ONLY T FELT WELL! T'D CALM THIS COUNTRY WITH MY SPELLS. PHOENIX...BIRD OF FIRE...IF ONLY I COULD HAVE HER BLOOD! IF ONLY 1 HADN'T BEEN HURT AT FIRE MOUNTAIN! mayer FIVE? OR THREE? I WANT HER BLOOD! I WANT TO LIVE FOREVER! FOREVER!Z A 72 WPA CE, MEN X SARUITA! UZUME! FROM NOW ON YOU WILL LIVE HAPPILY ~\>, TOGETHER UNTIL YOU DIE! a7SARUTA, TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT! IF WERE GONG TO Om. THERE'S NO MOON TONIGHT! IT's BLACK AS PITCH LET'S KILL NINGI oursive! WHILE HE'S SLEEPING, GRAB A HORSE, AND ESCAPE!THIS IS TOO Y-YOU'RE SURE THAT'S NOT PLASTICIk 1'D BEEN BEAUTIFUL, NINIG! WOULDN'T HAVE GIVEN ME TO YOU, HE'S AMAN WHO GETS WHAT HE WANTS. UP A GiRL IS UGLY ENOUGH, NO MAN WILL LAY A HAND ON YOU, AS I TRAVELED WITH THEM, I HOPED I'D FIND SOME KIND OF HAPPINESS. BECAUSE WE WERE ABOLIT TO BE KILLED, (OR OUT OF PITY, BUT UZUME, Wont a PID! WHY DID YOu HOw Stun) SAVE ME? I REALLY DON'T HAVEUH On! THE CARTOON'S ‘MELTING! tenTELL Me, WHERE DOES THIS NINIGI FELLOW COME FROM AND WHERE IS HE GOING? HE COMES FROM A ‘DISTANT CONTINENT WHERE THEY HAVE NOTHING BUT PLAINS AND SAND. AND HE'S: SEARCHING IDEA WHERE FOR A GOOD HE'S PLACE TO LIVE HEADED WITH HIS Now? PEOPLE. 243SARUTA, WATCH! DON'T BE SORRY! ( BUT IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN, MAKERIGHT! IT'S AN ANTIDOTE OR SOMETHING! EM DEE MADE IT AND IT PROBABLY REALLY WORKS!oO) KWRAG SPLEASE COME LIFE. T BEG YOU. PLEASE. you PROBABLY THINK T'M A IF I TAKE ANY PITY ON YOU PEOPLE ‘MY PLANS: WILL NEVER MATERIALIZE. TO ASK, BIG NOSE, IS IF YOU KNOW ANY SHORTCUT TO YAMATAI. THERE'S THE FIRE NOUNTAIN.Tus Is GooD TLL BUILD LAND. NOT LIKE MY CASTLE ‘MY HOME ON ‘THE CONTINENT. DON'T GET CARRIED AWAY THINKING YOU CAN TRAMPLE OVER US THAT EASILY. IMA WARRIOR OF YAMATAI,AND NECK WILL DECORATE THE CASTLE OF YAMATAI WHEN DESTROY IT! HE'S...HE'S COME BACK TO LiFe...gy [THEY THEN TRAVELED AGAIN... EVER EASTWARD... AND...ah \ ‘ \ ac x vt \ ) \ ( ) gf - ‘ | pax h AR NOD | Ati x tots a, x oe ve POs | My at ES QY = % ANH +t oe aft, & PAR Cea? = ee oath Bf! iM) Mie ta} YBhe one Le a, gett “eathgaa ts Rais 8 os xf A 256UM ag RUC NA ee age ee Aa OMAN Lee TN eee WLS Mage NATIVE INHABITANTS OF JAPAN AND BUILT Pe LTA AAELON NAL hap aed TA MeeEu te HUNTER, iCyou weteaee ie wanton) TLL GIVE YOU MY Have NezD < BLOOD. WOULDN'T FOR SUCH YOU LIKE qT wT? AL ‘M FIED. AND TY SATIS} - T'LL SHOW YOU TO THAT OLD HIMIKO.WE'RE THE ONLY SURVIVORS! THOUSANDS MORE WERE PEOPLE RIDING STRANGE ANIMALS PID WHO Salo THEY WERE THE TAKAMAGALARA. THEY LOOKED LIKE ‘A BAND OF ROBBERS! | macensis (venue wa ? THis way wwly — 1 HEARD THEM TALKING! THEY SAID THEY'RE EVERYONE YOU CAN GO GRAB WHEREVER YOU WEAPONS! WANT, OLD MAN! I'M WE'LL FIGHT TO THE DEATH!WAIT A MINUTE, THINK! WITHOUT A LEADER, WE'RE JUST A NOB, RIGHT? Bur He’s Noth WE'VE GOT TO BUILD A BARRICADE ‘AT THE BORDER! EVEN THE WOMEN MUST YOUR HE PROMISED MAJESTY, > TO BRING ME YAMATAL IS ( THE PHOENIK. FACING A : crisis! SILENCE! I HAVE NO INTEREST IN ‘SUCH“7 IF I WAS \ ARE YOU SAYING "YOUNG, T'D EXPEL THAT I SHOULD GO THE ENEMY WITH _/ AHEAD AND DIE? My SPELLS! << IT'S YOUTH... THAT I SHOW MY YOUTH! THAT'S WITHERED AND WRINKLED FORM WHAT T WANT! TO ENEMY BYES? I WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE!~(on" TACK 7 SAVE YOUR ‘ARROWS! IT's Me, THE PHOENIX FOR HIMIKO!BOWMAN _ se RETURNED? HAS 4 WHAT OF RETURNED! | THE vrDANGER! : ENEMY BOATS ON re 2% THINK OF IT!ARE YOU A NO! IT MUST BE > A-LIE! WE'RE NOT SOLDIERS DID THE KIND OF \. IT AND Now PEOPLE TO 00 SUCH A CRUELIF IT'S REALLY TRUE, YOU MUST HATE US! WHY 70 YOU ACT LIKE OUR FRIEND? FRIEND? Ss = - > ryusr 3 DON'T WANT 2 TO DIE 2 are aut & TenerALL RIGHT! WHEN I GIVE THE IGNAL, SET THE BALLS ON FIRE AND ROLL THEM LOPE! BUT DON'T START UNTIL THEY'VE BROKEN THROUGH OUR INES! KEEP THEIA HIDDEN LINTIL THEN, UNDERSTAND?LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE WASTING YOUR TIME, ‘SARUTA. EVEN THOUGH THEY SAY THE ATTACK WILL BEpeer Ip THERE'S ANYTHING T KNOW, Irs WEATHER. ALIVING AS IF YOU'RE GOING TO CHANGE YOUR ‘STRATEGY, NOW'S THE TIME.NAGI'S THE NAME, RIGHT? HERE'S A MAP OF WHERE THE PHOENIX IS. BURIED. REALLY? WH-WHERE IS. SHE? WHY DIDN'T YOU DRINK THE WHAT GOOD WOULD IT DO ME? T'’M NOT THAT ATTACHED TO Ween y HE ASKED ME TO GIVE YOU HER BLOOD IF T SHOT HER DOWN. yOYOU MAY nt qian saunter HER,commanver! |! We DO? THESE THINGS ), WON'T wen)SoreGET INSIDE! ABOUT FIVE (¢ MEN IN BACH |HOLD ON, BOY! IT'S ONLY A SCRATCH! } COWARDS! Get Orr ( Your HORSES AND FIGHT LIKE MEN!SARUTA, WAIT HERE! T'VE GOT TO _// GO GET SOMETHING’ cof FOR THAT! FANT! j 5 IT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP | YOU AND ALL JUST ONCE, CALL ME FATHER AND go!TI \ THIRD \) FORMATION, l JA ATTACK! \\ \ Al—_y ce Sip file = VeHMPH! SO "MUCH FOR Xe MODERN WARFARE! INNARD: TLL STUFF re Ty YOUR HEAD INTO \ on horse's 4) |i\.Dene THOUSAND 4 REMEMBER THAT ~ ANYWHERE WITHIN 1 YARDS... BUT WOULDN'T YOU RATHER MEET AWOMAN OF YOMA? A WOMAN OF YOUR F COUNTRY? CALL YOUR SOLDIERS! ORDER THEM TO LINE UP HERE! T'M GOING TO SEND THEM TO THE HEREAFTER ONE BY ONE!BURN EVERYTHING WE DON'T NEED! LEAVE ONLY THE PALACE AND THE GRAIN SHEDS!\ HUPE HUFF HUFF THE WHOLE AREA WHERE THE PHOENIX IS BURIED IS. ON FIRE!!THE PHOENIX AND THE BLOOD OF IMMORTALITY! NOT A DROP! NOT A SINGLE DROP WILL COME OUT! SHE'S DRY AS DUST! AAS PIDNOT A SINGLE DROP... (we weer) (WATCH OUTIDIOTS! NOT ONLY HAS WHATEVER WAS IN THAT BOX BURNED UP, BUT WE'VE LOST FOUR MEN AND HORSES AS WELL!GEE! couy! LORD NINIGIE | A BIRD IS RISING OUT OF ‘iL...T REMEMBER MY \\ NURSE TELLING Me THe STORY WHEN T Was A. |IMMORTALITY? HA! WHAT (OH BIRD OF FIRE, I BLESS YOU. IF YOU'RE TRULY IMMORTAL, SEE THAT THIS CONQUEROR NINIGI'S LEGACY IS PASSED DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION!THE RED ONES TOOK ON THE BLACK ONES. BUT THEY LOST. THEIR LITTLE RED CORPSES ARE A PITIFUL SIGHT, EH?COMPLETELY ANNIHILATED. YOU HAVE TO ADMIRE THE BLACK ANTS’ | THOROUGH- NESS, EH? FORGET ABOLIT THAT DEAD SLAVE AND COME WITH ME. = BUT WITH MAN, IT'S DIFFERENT. TO MAKE THIS NATION WORK, T NEED PEOPLE. I HAVE TO SELECT SOME PUPPET TO BECOME < HIMIKO"S WHY? I'VE CONQUERED THIS ENTIRE LAND! WHAT FAULT CAN YOU FIND WITH MEP =S—j{ TON SEE YOU { VICTOR! AND TM THE TILL FORCE YOU TO DO AS I SAy! =7 tM —————|_ CARRYING = ~~ YOU THOUGHT THAT BY SPILLING BLOOD AND DESTROYING EVERYONE YOU COULD BECOME VICTORIOUS! BUT YOU'RE WRONG, WELL, MASSACRE KING, THERE'LL BE SOMEONE BORN IN WE'RE THE ONES THAT WIN—WOMEN! IN OUR OWN WAY! WE MARRY YOUR SOLDIERS AND BEAR CHILDREN... THE CHILDREN ARE OURS AND We'LL RAISE THEM SO THAT ONE DAY THEY WILL DESTROY YOU! T'M GOING ON A JOURNEY. \\AND WHEREVER 1GO, YOU ( WON'T TOUCH THIS CHILD.9 = gE ws Sxes gg NED! RETURI ol J yLOOK! SHE'S RETURNED TO THE NEST JUST WHEN T THOUGHT SHE WAS GONE FOREVER. LUCK HASN'T FORSAKEN US YET! SOMEDAY I'LL being, CATCH THAT BIRD MW AND GIVE HER BLOOD TO You < AND THE ip BY THAT TIME YOUR CRAZED ‘SPIRIT WILLHALF ARE EDIBLE. WE CAN MAKE MEDICINE. WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED! HAVE YOU SEEN IT? HOW DID YOU SEE Bn i TAKERU, FUKI, Y ‘ YAZUCHI, DON'T LONG TIME AGO, BEFORE W 5 CAME HERE WITH YOUR PAPA. YOU'LL MAKE HER LISTEN WELL, YOUR CONDITION FATHER HAS SPENT TEN YEARS TRYING TO GET OUT OF HERE, BUT IT'S USELESS! THE ONLY THING THATa! WATERFALLS | q | iW (i i MELTED SNOW... BA || AA BURNING RAYS OF ML Ih i : THE SUMMER4 WHAT IF YOU SLIP AND FALL? DANTE! IT's YOUR DUTY TO CARRY BUT FATHER, YOU TOLD ME BEFORE THAT IF WE MARRY LIKE THAT OUR CHILDREN MAY 332 AHH, THAT'S TRUE, BUT HOW ELSE CAN YOU HAVE CHILDREN?, WHERE ELSE WILL YOU FIND A WIFE? 4 = SJNO, THAT'S \MPOSSIBLE! THE WALL CAN'T BE CLIMBED! "MOTHER, TODAY I'M GOING TO CLIMB THE WALL! T’LL FIND A WIFE » AND mn — MAY I GO, MOTHER? T WANT TO SEE WHAT'S ABOVE HERE. I WANT TO ‘SEE HOW WIDE THE WORLD Is! I WANT TO SEE WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ARE OUT TLL TRY MY LUCK!STILL...STILL NOT THE EDGE YET?! WHAT'S WRONG WITH HAVE ANY STRENGTH LEFT. THE MORE I CLIMB, THE HIGHER THE u\ WALL BECOMES...hs NO USE...GETTING DiZzy....I'VE LOST FEELING IN MY ARMS... THIS IS LET GO... THEN YOU CAN REST... 3364 WH-WHO'S CALLING ME? IT'S ALL OVER FOR Wb ME ANYWAY. . Yes. You must PHOENIK?, not die. Whatever rales happens you must cep on living, THE RIGHT Because Soes Tar you have the right to. You're alive now, so you can goon living! GO AWAY! DON'T LECTURE ME! YOU'RE JUST L A BIRD! pornS| FATHER! ALL THIS j MOTHER! as TLL COME Kumaso's! BACK!! T’LL ( fh BRING BACK A ae owABOUT THIS Sg a) VL The twelve self-contained yet interinked stories that compose Phoenix (Hino tori in Japanese, it COMO cc aon Re eee ee on co ee a Te eS Cee Re ce on) ce Een Te Ce Cag OCS UCR UL IS Wu aC SIE TOE ees) GEC eS on ecco DC a TR ce Re Re) OE nea) eC O eee altermating between a distant future and a distant Pe ee ce UCC) from one story being reincarnated in another. The Cee aCe ce Te eae a eC GeO acl OU am ae ST Ue CeO See oe the frst ofthe twelve Phoenix stories.“Dawn” was Seo C EMU UI AU cd CORR Een) Cee rac Ca Ce RS The second volume of the series, Phoenit: A Tale of the Future, was published in English by Viz Comics. A 27-page excerpt from “Hou-ou" See ee edd Dna BE eeA Journey through Time and Space: An Overview of the Complete Phoenix Saga Se ee er eae ee volume depicts the dawn of cilztion. The second volume jumps to the far future. The setting forthe third story shits back to early history, and ‘0 on, back and forth, from past to future; the amplitude deoreases as past and future converge to meet inthe present Dawn (1967) jus ee) The oone The era of Queen Hiniko of te Amano Yamatal Koku, The work quotes ato myta ftom the accounts of the Gishiwginden. Also ses accounts rom the legend of where compares ere to Amaterasu-Oumikam and @ solar ope curs Yamato (1968-69) Ea Based on the legend of Yamato takeru-no-mikoto. ‘The cates above were infered from the account of O18 Man Take, and ‘fom information in Baw, Hou-ou (1969-70) ‘anemary, who as een sEL ‘rere ye autores 1 be in craye othe eoaducn ‘The complicated crema ofthe pir and deg oe Get Bu, tot two Buoanst sults Set IS sosted wien he ste the Nara Perios (710-794) dung if Seco tar The workers ‘he national enterprise ofthe con: N) becme titted, ad the tution of the. Great. Budch, tare _ phew na Here, the Hou-ou (a Chinese myth) i the Penix. seo. eee ee toon he Cvetan of fhe Kano atte, 2s td ne KK my te pines ges the” nae "Tse om te opener rable he 7 ‘sci verson ofthe Hagoromo Legend of ens Mino 0 Matsubara in Enshu (modern day MT teri) nica The time ofthe Genpe Kassen (War betwen te Tara andthe Gen) ater the fal of he Hest ara Clan. Using fate of ving things Xn tna detent te Hl anal ato ecpta Heche aus ork Moun He came fhe capt Baas afer Frei Cue ey (1981)1468-1498 40, ‘The Sengoku Ped (1482-1558). Sekonnosuke, the hel of General Yah lemasa cuis down the nun, Yaobikuni, who seems to be 800 Years 1d But se doesnt rele the tue relatorship between her- salt ad the nn, Mary asin te mi of he Ou fon. ‘hinika), St during Tara na ‘Masakago's rebellion which (ocurred. during the ‘Heian Period (898-1185). The soto woman swimming the cam eaptuod bya bet of th whea sand ané een pee The story begins after the defeat of the Japan-Kudaraallance at Hakusukinoe and Japan's with ‘raw fom the Korean peninsula, land ends wit the struggle for te imperial tron during the inshin Rebaton. ‘apr en ermeny ‘ates noo, ‘Mik, wo she sn ot ar niaFuture (1967-68) EO The end ofthe future. Mankind is in odie and as become very con ve The earth sun don and faces devastation, Eventually a ruclear war breaks out causing the ed of everyting, nome memes ee Universe (1969) = a cir a meteorite. The ship becomes ‘unable to fy and fo age bes Naa, ger escapes msn nds excape Ho ough fed er aa yea and enh ea eeenL In the year 3344, Prof. Saruta Tangs onthe moon, He meets scqures Robia In his final form Spaning 850 years, the end of Ins epsote goes beyond Unierse and. close to the beginning of Future anita and Wie rock aso make Stop ok ar then gts shot by hi, nee) Toned icminicm eater neem e A sasaneso woman nae, Rony Cin ne Csibisnes a caoaion and hey pl forthe fomery unahanted pant see drt Eni He: hstan es an nat Saerdet 7 trl dean bt the ie she cones ARAM & nee vee held mere ay, eno) BEG} Human clones ae being create. Ital for high atngs and a pub taling TV game si Man Hunt Human ees ae EU Mees) Eo The “Light Tribe” acouied the Phoenix in space. However, they ‘umn tito an eon and ana come 1 control saciety though eligi Nn-betevers are call “sha tnd are chased out to ve unde ‘youn, ‘tod tpl of ho “ih Tbe” &ABOUT THE ARTIST all Osaka-born Osamu Tezuka (1928-1989) has Te long regarded in his native Japan as a cul- tural icon and the single artist most responsible for the creation of Japan's vast manga and anime cul- ture, He began to draw shortly after WWI, working on short gag strips. In 1947 Tezuka had his first big hit, Shintakarajima (New Treasure Island), a 200-page comic drawn when Tezuka was stil a medical student that revolutionized the “decompressed storytelling” style that is now the birthright of all Japanese comics. Tezuka went on, in both short and long narra- tives, to master and/or invent virtually every genre of the comics form-sci-, fantasy, mystery, spy, horor, historical drama, political drama, transforming robots, Shakespearean adaptation, even sex-ed comics— including pioneering the shojo (girs') manga genre with Ribon no Kishi (aka Princess Knight, 1953-6). In 1952 Tezuka created his most beloved work, the robot-boy scifi series Tetsuwan Atom (aka Astro Boy). Other popular Tezuka works include the talking animal saga Jungle Tate (aka Kimba, the White Lion, 1950- 4) and the outlaw-surgeon adventure series Black Jack (1973-84). By the mid-snties Tezuka was a pioneering ani- mator as well as the most popular artist in history of, Japanese comics, yet he continued to fervently rein- vent manga forms. The early volumes of Phoenit, which began to be serialized in the pages of Tezuka’s exper- imental COM magazine in 1967, were Tezuka’s bold attempt to expand comics’ artistic and demographic reach. Among Tezuka's finest works inthis high literary mode are Buddha (1972-83), a biography of the rei- gous teacher, and the complex and moving WWII saga ‘Adolf (1983-5). In the West, Tezuka's reputation and renown continues to grow. The recent hit anime Metropolis (2001) is based on one of Tezuka’ earliest works from 1949. 344