Drawing heavily upon Tezuka's medical training and his lifelong interest in world religions, human cruelty and compassion, Ode to Kirihito is a 800+ page epic that weighs in at over 2 pounds. It also contains some Tezuka's most dynamic page compositions and many examples of his innovative style of visual storytelling.
Ode to Kirihito is also nominated for a 2007 Will Eisner Award in the "Best Archival Collection/Project - Comic Books" category. Ode to Kirihito is published by New York City-based Vertical Inc. and includes an innovative sliding cover design by Chip Kidd.
The awards will be announced at San Diego Comic-Con International at the San Diego Convention Center on Friday, July 27, 2007.