This Week's Anime: Black Jack

[ickaimp]

Okay! Black Jack. Was blown up as a small child while playing with his Mom on a beach by a previously unexploded bomb, was put back together by Honma-sensei, who then inspired him and later mentored him to become a surgeon. Mom died shortly after, Dad abandoned them both and ran off with another woman. Currently operates as an unlicensed surgeon who charges huge amounts for his services, yet people still go to him because he's one of the five best in the world. (given name, 'Kuroo', ie 'Black' and 'Jack' is a man's name.)

-He's unlicensed because he gave it up after working with the hospital would not allow him to save the life of Kisaragi, the love of his life, due to politics. (he did it anyway and his license was revoked, she lived, but now lives as a guy-? o_O) Has a reputation for greed because he charges lots because what exactly is a life worth? -Although he cultivates the greedy reputation himself and often turns around and ignores the fee or accepts barter instead, depending on the people or the circumstances.
Currently lives with his sidekick/daughter Pinoko, and a dog that steals stuff.

The Ultimate Emo, IMHO, not because he dresses in black, but because he solves everything by Cutting.

Black Jack: Select episodes only. Still waiting for more of these 56 episodes to be subbed, because I want more of Pinoko's backstory. 'She's a tumour put into a child-size mannequin body' doesn't quite seem to work, yanno?
... Although her constant claims of being 18 and Black Jack's wife would make an interesting crossover with Conan, considering that most of the time she acts her apparent age...

Black Jack 21: Black Jack is on the run from a mysterious organisation who is looking into the secret of immortality. Does this sound familiar to anyone? Kidnappers get massive props for calling Pinoko his daughter. XD Less props to same secret organisation for constantly referring to him as 'BJ'. *sporfles every time*
Also, someone PLEASE tell him that a scarred face, half-white/half-black hair and wearing a long black cloak over a tuxedo might be fashionable, but it is NOT low-profile. o_O

Black Jack - Two Doctors of Darkness: Black Jack is a complex character. Because of what he went through recovering from the explosion and what he accomplished, just being able to walk and move properly, he's one of those who never gives up hope until long after he has to. He will -not- give up on a patient once he's agreed to heal them.

Contrasting to him is Dr. Kirko, a doctor who worked during the Vietnam War. He's got longish white hair and an eyepatch. Like Black Jack, is also unlicensed who charges huge fees for his services. Because of his experiences in Vietnam, he believes that when hope has been exhausted and the patient is in pain with no chance of recovery, the best thing to do is to end their pain.
I find the moral contrasts in Kirko to be fascinating, because he is a healer and an 'Angel of Mercy'. He does try to save people, but when he cannot and the patient asks for it, he makes the end as painless as possible. (please, no Kevorkian references.)

Usually when Kirko is around, Black Jack will take on any challenge set infront of him, just to keep Kirko from doing what he's there to do. Even if it means that the patient dies an excruciating death shortly after because Black Jack is attempting to prolong their life.
-I can see both sides and would prolly fic this, except I can't balance out in my own head well enough to do so impartially. Quality vs Quantity of life debate.

Strangely enough, Kiriko/Black Jack seems to be one of the big pairings in the itty-bitty fandom, (IE: All my luck has been able to find) but I can't really see it due to the personality and morals clash. Wouldn't mind seeing more interaction and possible friendship with the two of them, but dunno as a 'pairing'.

Anyway. The movie is about a corporation developing bio-weapons and Black Jack trying to stop them and heal everyone at the same time before Kiriko does his thing. Still trying to figure out the tune being whistled through most of it. Also, Best Reminder To Turn Off the Cellphone During The Movies. Ever.

Black Jack OVA - The Four Miracles of Life: Four short stories about various cases Black Jack has taken on. A Mafia boss who wants his rotten son brought back from brink of death, even if it means killing someone else, an old woman and her sons on her birthday, a robot hospital who requires an 'operation' and a back story of when Black Jack was young and what happened to a scalpel that was accidentally left inside of him.

Really not that much anime watched this week, somehow stumbled into reading Phoenix Wright fanfiction and haven't wandered out yet. *cackles at Edgeworth and Phoenix*

Comments

[kaitou1412.livejournal.com]

The Ultimate Emo, IMHO, not because he dresses in black, but because he solves everything by Cutting.

That's just brilliant. You win at the internet.

[samcurt.livejournal.com]

Tesuka is being unclear on Blackjack's early life, however. We are sure in some point of his life he was a wheelchair user, but it was never clear on why was that. Some chapters imply Honma-seisei treated his disability on the side.