Message to Adolf Vol. 02 (Hardcover)

Message to Adolf Vol. 02 (Hardcover)

In part two of Message to Adolf, with World War II escalating things have become quite heated for the Adolfs. Adolf Kaufman is now enrolled in a Hitler Youth Academy. While there he quickly is taught to distinguish between races and religions. He would eventually hand out stars of David to Jews in his community. His work, some of which would be physically difficult, would lead to a visit with the Führer. Unfortunately as young Kaufman would reach such heights, he like Kamil and Tohge before him would find out that Hitler may have a very heavy secret he is hiding.

Biographical Notes:

Osamu Tezuka (1928-89) is the godfather of Japanese manga comics. He originally intended to become a doctor and earned his degree before turning to what was then a medium for children. His many early masterpieces include the series known in the U.S. as Astro Boy. With his sweeping vision, deftly intertwined plots, feel for the workings of power, and indefatigable commitment to human dignity, Tezuka elevated manga to an art form.

The later Tezuka, when he authored Buddha, often had in mind the mature readership that manga gained in the sixties and that had only grown ever since. The Kurosawa of Japanese pop culture, Osamu Tezuka is a twentieth century classic.

Tezuka is a multiple award-winner on both sides of the Pacific. His Message to Adolf won the Kodansha Manga Award in 1986. His works Buddha and Dororo have received Eisner Awards in North America over the past decade.

Quotes / Reviews:

Winner of the 1986 Kodansha Manga Award for Best Manga

“Adolf is one of Japan’s greatest manga epics… The perfect choice for those who don’t normally read manga. There’s humor here, but also monstrous acts that defy comprehension. Adolf is an emotional and complex work that proves once again that comic books can be equal to any great literary novel. Whether you love manga, super hero books or personal tales, Adolf is one series you must read.” – IGN.com

“Clocking in at 648 pages, “Message to Adolf” begins in modern times, quickly jumps to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin and moves through World War II. It chronicles the fate of three men with the same first name: Adolf Kamil, a Jewish boy; Adolf Kaufmann, the young boy with a German father and a Japanese mother who befriends him; and Adolf Hitler…The book has a sprawling cast, and the relationship between the two young boys and their struggle to remain friends is touching.” – NY Times

Title Notes:

A Timeless Historical Thriller with a Fascinating Theme: Message to Adolf was a literary masterpiece in its time. Published by Japan’s top literary journal, Bungei Shunju Magazine, it is a provacative political thriller that poses the question of Hilter’s past while examining Nazi Germany from a Japanese perspective.

Highly demanded re-release: Message to Adolf was Osamu Tezuka’s first English language release. Originally published in English by Cadence Press in 1996. Long out of print, and highly in demand, Vertical will re-release this series in a two volume hardcover collection.

Vertical’s Proven Track Record with Tezuka: As evidenced by the acclaim and success of Vertical’s translations especially Buddha, Adolf is expected to continue to garner comprehensive media attention and accolades.

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