Atomcat

Reading the “Tetsuwan Atom” (popularized in America as “Astro Boy”) comic book with his dad is Tsugio’s one refuge from merciless school bullies. And even then, without a single friend, Tsugio can’t catch a break. One day he finds an abandoned kitten, and names it after the robot hero to convince his family to keep it. But after a strange encounter with aliens honeymooning on Earth, Tsugio’s shocked to find his cat can speak – and has all of Astro Boy’s powers! Sworn to secrecy, Tsugio and Earth’s tiniest hero find themselves entangled with demonic cats, pirate ghosts, a crime syndicate, and more! Playful, ingenious and appropriate for all ages, Osamu Tezuka’s fresh take on his classic Astro Boy character will charm nostalgic grown-ups and clever kids. As gentle and humane as it is exciting, Atomcat also nurtures a positive outlook for children who might feel like they don’t quite fit in. Editorial Reviews: "It’s unlikely that Atomcat will be mistaken as one of Tezuka’s classic gems, something that’s pushed the boundaries of the manga form and courted weighty issues of social, spiritual or political meaning. That simply isn’t what the book is about. What it is though, is an incredibly fun all ages read. It’s light, cute, and has a nice sense of whimsy to it. All of which combine to make Atomcat a pretty fun read." -  GoodComics, Ken H. "The Atomcat manga is as cute as its cat protagonist, and it has Tezuka’s well-known humor and whimsy. The manga often turns to slapstick (the kind more often seen in older cartoons) and you can see the Disney influences on the drawing style. It’s interesting to see the evolution of manga, because it’s so different from the stuff you see published today, but it helped pave the way for what we have now. This isn’t just a nostalgic manga, though, or a manga to read just so you can know the genre’s history. It’s a fun kids comic, and older readers can enjoy it, too." -  Otaku USA "Atom the cat is ridiculously adorable." -  Otaku USA Page count: 200 BW