Having never picked up a manga comic before I found I couldn't put this eight part series down. One of Osamu Tezuka's last works, The Life of the Buddha is an adult-oriented interpretation of a figure that embodies eastern spiritual thought while also empowering the individual that he/she can end their own suffering. You are already a Buddha. That is Buddha's essential teaching.
The illustrations are captivating and beautiful. And the space between the scenes create a transition which keeps the reader engaged. You want to fill in the details, like watching a M. Night Shyamalan film. But be warned. You won't find this book as part of your curriculum for college Comparative Religion classes. There's murder, profanity, sex and other adult-oriented themes that make up the darker sides of human nature. But there's forgiveness, compassion, gratitude, comedy and wisdom that such aspects of darkness also reveal.
If you like Dexter or Six Feet Under and enjoy reading Huston Smith or get what the Tibetans are doing with shadow practices, you'll enjoy the full depth that The Life of the Buddha series has to offer.
adult oriented
I definitely think an adult should look over the manga before deciding whether it's appropriate for their child, but I remember it meeting my standards of appropriate for teens and late 'tweens.
Everything 'adult' oriented is there for a reason and supports the greater message of the story. The only thing I found the least bit gratuitous was perhaps the number of bare breasts.
Whatever the case, I intentionally left the books out where my son would find them and read them as my way of subtly brainwashing him. The occasional breast just makes it that much more compelling for a teenager. :-)
It's definitely a wonderful series.
Thanks
I ordered this and read it in about an hour. It's a thick book but quick read. However the art (as well as the story) are enjoyable enough to make it readable many times over. Not to mention I feel like I've learned something about India and their beliefs, so I thank you.
~Jerad