Monday, March 30, 2020

Black Jack Under Quarantine

The only reason I've been able to weather being under quarantine for so long is not just because I'm more used to staying inside more than outside, but also because I've read a story dealing with the subject.  Whenever I encounter any new life experience, I search the backlog of experience from fictional characters, and when I come across something I haven't seen or read in fiction, I panic.

I read multiple stories about dealing with computer viruses, so was able to cope with that, but when my old computer fan broke down and needed to be replaced, I had no way of dealing with that, because I'd never read anything about needing spare parts, and was a nervous wreck for days, even though my computer was out of commission the same amount of time and not under threat.

With that in mind, I'm sharing a Black Jack short story that occurred to me, and am surprised hasn't been making the rounds on the internet.  I could've used the better scans from one of the online piracy sites  out there, but obliged on using my own copy.  There's a chance Vertical might protest my use, but I'm hoping they won't mind, and it'd be a way to spread publicity for Tezuka's most popular creation, especially under these trying times.  We sure could use more medical heroes, and who else could fit that bill?

This is more for the benefit for my parents than anything.

Black Jack deals with perplexing medical cases that baffle modern science, and who other doctors won't even touch.  While this description sounds hardly different from most medical dramas, Black Jack approaches each case differently, and hardly feels formulaic.

Some minor disclaimers for anybody who's jumping onto this series for the first time:

  • Manga is read from Right to left, except for the word balloons, which read from left to right.
  • Black Jack is the world's best underground surgeon, who charges exuberant fees for his services.
  • Black Jack is identifiable by his perpetual black cloak, shocking white hair contrasting his black hair, and a facial scar.
  • He has a little girl, Pinoko, an 18-year old girl in the body of a 3-year old, who acts infantile due to lack of world experience, and also has a crush on Black Jack.
  • Explaining Pinoko's backstory is a Black Jack story all by itself.  Just roll with it.
  • Seriously, just think of Pinoko as his daughter or something.  It'd be easier.