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Apollo’s Song follows the tragic
journey of Shogo, a young man whose abusive childhood has instilled
in him a loathing for love so profound he finds himself compelled
to acts of violence when he is witness to any act of intimacy
or affection whether by human or beast. His hate is such that
the gods intervene, cursing Shogo to experience love throughout
the ages ultimately to have it ripped from his heart every time.
From the Nazi atrocities of World War II to a dystopian future
of human cloning, Shogo loses his heart, in so doing, healing
the psychic scars of his childhood hatred.
Master storyteller Osamu Tezuka’s
Apollo’s Song is a lyrical tour-de-force on the
human spirit, the destruction of hate, and the triumph of love.
 Osamu
Tezuka (1928-89) is the godfather of Japanese manga comics. He
originally intended to become a doctor and earned his degree before
turning to what was still then considered a frivolous medium.
His many early masterpieces include the series known in the U.S.
as Astro Boy. With his sweeping vision, deftly intertwined
plots, and indefatigable commitment to human dignity, Tezuka elevated
manga to an art form. Other works available from Vertical include
Apollo's Song, Ode to Kirihito, and the eight-volume
epic Buddha, winner of the Eisner and Harvey Awards.
| PRAISE
FOR APOLLO’S SONG:
“A marvelously screwed-up
paean to the power of love and sex [...] The story is as emotionally
manipulative as a classic Disney movie, and just about as unstoppable”
— Salon.com
“The
paradox is that what's essentially the same story, filtered through
various historic and fantastic milieus, not only holds our interest
but also sparks a satisfaction deeper than the sum of its episodes.
We know what's going to happen, but Tezuka's shamelessly entertaining
storytelling and versatile art make repetition a giddy and even
profound pleasure.”
— Los Angeles Times
“Shows
just how grim and powerful Tezuka's stories can be, no matter
how childish his big-eyed manga-doll characters look.”
— The Onion AV Club
“Maybe
it's a good thing Apollo’s Song wasn't published
in the West until now. Had it appeared there when it first came
out, its peculiarity would surely have been dismissed. But now
comics sit at the table with the
grown-ups, and we should clear a space at the head for Osamu Tezuka
and his oddball masterpiece.”
— Newsweek
“Apollo’s
Song deserves the close reading of a literary novel and will
reward those who do so.”
— Bookslut
“This
manga is full of action and adventure to keep readers’ interest
while at the same time being relevant and noteworthy.”
— Comics Village
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