Series
Under the Air Series
1968 - 1970
This series contains short one-off stories about desire and despair of humans wriggling on the surface of the Earth.
Many of the stories, such as Joe's Visitor (the 1st episode) about a white racist who has been transplanted a heart from a black donor before he knows and tries to erase the evidence, and Under the Air (the last episode) about a man and a woman raised only by an automatic life supporting system since the birth faces tragedy after growing up, are based on the themes criticizing today's civilization.
DESCRIPTION
01. Joe's Visitor Sep. 25, 1968 Play Comic (Akita Publishing)
02. Night Voices Oct. 25, 1968 Play Comic (Akita Publishing)
03. The Rascal and the Cliff Nov. 25, 1968 Play Comic (Akita Publishing)
04. Duel at Grand Mesa Mar. 10, 1969 Play Comic (Akita Publishing)
05. Cape of Scales Jun. 10, 1969 Play Comic (Akita Publishing)
06. Woman behind the Dark Window Jul. 10, 1969 Play Comic (Akita Publishing)
07. There Was a Hole Aug. 10, 1969 Play Comic (Akita Publishing)
08. Our Valley, Unknown Sep. 10, 1969 Play Comic (Akita Publishing)
09. The Cat's Blood Oct. 10, 1969 Play Comic (Akita Publishing)
10. The Telephone Nov. 10, 1969 Play Comic (Akita Publishing)
11. Chameleon Dec. 13, 1969 Play Comic (Akita Publishing)
12. Chatastrophe in the Dark Fe. 14, 1970 Play Comic (Akita Publishing)
13. Rovvana! Mar. 14, 1970 Play Comic (Akita Publishing)
14. Both Under the Air Apr. 11, 1970 Play Comic (Akita Publishing)
This series is a compilation of works serialized once a month on Play Comic, a magazine targeted to young-adult readers.
Not only Sci-Fi stories but also suspenseful horror stories based on various themes are developed in the series.
Actually Mushi Production, an animation studio Tezuka established, was approaching the closing days then.
Tezuka, himself was also involved in labor dispute and had a difficult time.
The title, Under the Air, means human beings living on the surface of the Earth, i.e. the bottom of the Air surrounding the Earth.
