Book Review: Pluto, Vol 4 by Naoki Urasawa & Osamu Tezuka

 

Pluto, Vol 4         

Author: Naoki Urasawa & Osamu Tezuka

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: May 19, 2009

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Sci-Fi Manga//200 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Dr. Ochanomizu discovers a discarded dog robot and decides to repair it, since it reminds him of a dog he and his wife once had.  He is being pressured to send more robot troops to the Persian kingdom, which he doesn’t wish to do. His grandson Takashi messages him to talk about the strange tornado he and his mother saw. The dog’s owner shows up as they are talking, having tracked the dog through his GPS. All seems well, until he reveals his name and demands that the Professor summon Atom so he can fight someone!

The Professor refuses to give in to Goji’s demands, but Goji tells him he can control tornados… even where they go and who they target! Atom appears unexpectedly and tells the Professor that Uran is responding to a call!  Atom goes to her rescue, but tragedy ensues.

Gesicht continues to have bad dreams, unaware that he has been targeted by a man who thinks he killed his brother. Adolf is unaware that his bosses don’t wish him to succeed in his mission as they have other plans for Gesicht, and he is very necessary to these plans. Gesicht goes to see Dr Hoffman, unaware that the doctor knows someone has been fiddling with Gesicht’s AI. Meanwhile, Adolf makes a detour to his brother’s grave, and narrowly avoids being killed!

Gesicht’s vacation is put on hol, after the untimely death of Atom, and his new assignment is to protect Adolf Haas. How ironic is that? Haas’s son is totally smitten with the detective and is excited to meet him. Gesicht accompanies Haas to work, where they learn of the death of another robot creator, this time the creator of Epsilon. Haas gives Gesicht some info he ran across in a Persian prison his company installed systems for. Gesicht finds some disturbing information. Someone is after Professor Hoffman! After Gesicht saves Adolf’s life, he starts to reveal everything about the anti-robot group he is in.

So much going on, so many bad people with bad agendas. Another good robot gone! It’s heartbreaking. I find it satisfying that Adolf has to put up with Gesicht protecting him. Maybe now he’ll realize that Gesicht didn’t kill his brother… if he doesn’t manage to kill Gesicht first. Another great volume, looking forward to the next one!