Buddha – The Best Comics, Graphic Novels, and Manga Books
Part of our ongoing article series highlighting the best Comic Books, Graphic Novels, And Manga.
Today’s Favorite Comic, Manga, Graphic Novel:
Buddha
Writers, Artists, Illustrators For Book:
Osamu Tezuka
Description of Book / Series:
Osamu Tezuka’s vaunted storytelling genius, consummate skill at visual expression, and warm humanity blossom fully in his eight-volume epic of Siddhartha’s life and times. Tezuka evidences his profound grasp of the subject by contextualizing the Buddha’s ideas; the emphasis is on movement, action, emotion, and conflict as the prince Siddhartha runs away from home, travels across India, and questions Hindu practices such as ascetic self-mutilation and caste oppression. Rather than recommend resignation and impassivity, Tezuka’s Buddha predicates enlightenment upon recognizing the interconnectedness of life, having compassion for the suffering, and ordering one’s life sensibly. Philosophical segments are threaded into interpersonal situations with ground-breaking visual dynamism by an artist who makes sure never to lose his readers’ attention.
Buddha Volumes/Omnibuses
Buddha, Vol. 1: Kapilavastu
Buddha, Vol. 2: The Four Encounters
Buddha, Vol. 3: Devadatta
Buddha, Vol. 4: The Forest of Uruvela
Buddha, Vol. 5: Deer Park
Buddha, Vol. 6: Ananda
Buddha, Vol. 7: Prince Ajatasattu
Buddha, Vol. 8: Jetavana
Make sure to also check out the other books in our Best Comics/Graphic Novels/Manga Series! Also our “Best Book” articles about: