I.L. Vol.1

Dive into the extraordinary world created by Osamu Tezuka, author of world-renowned titles Astro Boy and Dororo.

The ’God of Manga’ Tezuka weaves an innovative narrative, as the peculiar powers of transformation propel characters into a myriad of thrilling missions.

Embark on a mesmerizing journey with I.L as Osamu Tezuka, the world-renowned ’God of Manga’, navigates the divide between his early manga experiments and later, more intricate narratives, while delving into the eternal struggle between fantasy and science.

Readers are thrown into the life of Imari Daisaku, a filmmaker whose fanciful creations have fallen of favor in a society dominated by scientific triumphs. However, his life changes forever when he encounters a peculiar group led by Count Alucard, and he receives an extraordinary gift; I.L, a mysterious mannequin with the power of shapeshifting.

Together, Daisaku and I.L utilize the transformative abilities to help those in need, and they are propelled into an array of thrilling and haphazard adventures.

Each new client seeks I.L’s unique services, as the protagonists find themselves in an array of scenarios ranging from domestic strife to political unrest. Not only does the reader accompany the duo on these action-packed missions, but they are given an insight into Daisaku’s internal conflict, caused by walking the tightrope between reality and fantasy.

This is a treasure for fans of Tezuka’s works, including the widely successful Astro Boy, Dororo and Princess Knight, as well as the seminal and titles. I.L is now being published in English for the first time, meaning fans can journey through Tezuka’s innovative and contemporary themes within a classic by the pioneer of Manga.

Whether an enthusiast of Tezuka and Manga, or not, the nuanced exploration of thought-provoking themes and characters, and a compelling storyline coupled with captivating illustrations, is a reading experience that will linger in the minds of readers.

Osamu Tezuka was a Japanese manga artist, cartoonist, and animator whose revolutionary comics earned him the title of manga no kamisama (＂God of Manga＂). His body of work is one of the largest and most prolific in all of Japanese culture, and he produced several of the country’s greatest drawn stories for both children and adults, including the iconic Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion, Black Jack, Dororo, Message to Adolf, and Princess Knight. Tezuka passed away in 1989.