Pluto: Urasawa x Tezuka, Vol. 3: Volume 3

The third volume of this fantastic series brings in the title character, Pluto and the very last page gives us our first glimpse of the monster. In the meantime the story focusses on Atom/Astroboy's sister Uran, who can detect feelings by virtue of electromagnetism. Uran is a boisterous character, who antagonises her brother, even as she shows a very human nature. She encounters a strange man in the park, a man who will play an important part in the story. We also meet Professor Abdullah, who arrives in Japan. A robotics expert, he has connections to the Asian war referenced in previous volumes. Epsilon is introduced, a pacifist who attempts to convince Hercules not to seek doom, and Gesicht acquires a nemesis in a man who thinks his brother was killed by a robot. What I've realised makes this work so well, apart from the fabulous art, apart from the peerless characterisation and pacing, is that the superpower element of it all is shown in absence. We see the effects of the mighty robots' powers, rather than the spectacle of them acting. So Epsilon is heralded by bright lights, that emphasise how powerful he is, without having to see him lift a car over his head. It's subtle and exquisite. And having to wait a couple of months between volumes is killing me.