Manga Review: MW Shows the Dark and Twisted Side of Tezuka

I started off this week by reviewing Black Jack, the latest release from the godfather of manga, Osamu Tezuka. Then I checked out the first two volumes of his most famous (and under-appreciated in the U.S.) manga series, Astro Boy. Now, I revisit a seriously twisted Tezuka tale that was released in the U.S. in Fall 2007. I should have talked about it when I first read it, but it got lost in my reviewing pile back then, so I'm giving it a second look. I'm talking about MW, a.k.a. "Muu." from Vertical Inc.

MW is a seinen manga suspense story about an amoral, sexually ambiguous and manipulative murderer, his tormented Catholic priest lover / accomplice / enemy, and a massive political / military cover-up of a poison gas leak that killed the population of a remote Japanese island. Over the course of 26 chapters and over 500 pages, Tezuka serves up a heady mix of sex, violence, politics, history and suspense that keeps you guessing until the very last page.

At times it's gorgeous; at other times it's shocking, and still other times, it can be a dense read that's a chore to slog through. But in the end, is MW compelling, creepy, preachy, or a strange mix of all of the above? Check out my review of MW and see if its suspenseful story, gorgeous hardcover presentation and stunning art makes it a must-read or if this twisted tale is strictly for hardcore Tezuka fans. Also, check out an online preview of pages from MW at Vertical's website.

Image credit: © Tezuka Productions