Review by Ian Keogh

Although the title character, to date Dororo’s been the scrappy accompaniment to Hyakkimaru, the real main presence. Born without so many organs and body parts, which his father traded off to demons, Hyakkimaru was compensated with extraordinary sensitivity, and as shown in Volume 1, his life to date has been slaughtering demons. He’s around a third of the way through the 48 required to restore all parts and organs.

By other creators this might be played out as gruesome tragedy or vengeance, but under Osamu Tezuka’s guidance it’s supplied as energetic adventure. To start this second volume Tezuka picks up Hyakkimaru’s family, and time hasn’t made a man who would pledge his still to be born son to demons any more likeable. Volume 1 was more episodic, and although Hyakkimaru and Dororo separate into two narrative strands for a short while, this feels like a continued story. It’s notable that for the first time Dororo comes across as something more than a funny bundle of energy. Bravery and sticking up for what’s right have been consistent from the start, but here Tezuka adds some pathos as we learn a little about what lies behind Dororo’s whirlwind personality.

That personality is masterfully drawn by Tezuka. Unless tied up, which happens frequently, Dororo is constantly in motion and the same applies to Hyakkimaru when in a sword fight. Also notable is every demon the pair meet is differently designed, some seeming more human than others, but all actually concerned with preying on humanity.

The constant threat of demons is balanced by a spirituality. Acts of kindness and karmic aid from beyond the grave feature, and having established Hyakkimaru as a superior swordsman, Tezuka has to come up with ever more inventive ways of hampering him to provide suspense. The volume ends with Tezuka picking up on a thread concerning a hoard of buried money, supplying a lead-in to Volume 3.

Dororo may have been created in the 1960s, although not collected until the early 1970s, but it’s timeless adventure and fun with some universal comments about humanity, meaning it wouldn’t look out of place in The Phoenix today. The demons being set a level of threat beyond the Disney line mean it’s not quite for all ages, perhaps also represented by the strangely off-putting cover designs, but older primary school children should still find Dororo delightful.

Vertical’s three serialised volumes can still be bought, but the best value is the bulky Omnibus Edition combining all three.