Black Jack (character)
Encyclopedia
is a fictional character
created by Osamu Tezuka
, introduced in Weekly Shōnen Champion
on November 19, 1973.
, selling his skills to the highest bidder. He is a shadowy figure, with a black cape, eerie black-and-white hair, and stitched-up scars worming all over his body with the most prominent being across his face. Black Jack cures patients indiscriminately, from common folk, to presidents, to yakuza
leaders, though he charges all of his patients absurdly high sums. This has given him a reputation for callousness and greed that he cultivates gleefully. In actuality, Black Jack possesses a complex personal code
. He will cure a patient for free if they move him with the story of their suffering; however, he always establishes a patient's willingness to pay beforehand. If Black Jack cannot discover a redeeming story behind a patient, his charges stand. He will make exceptions in exigent circumstances
, and may change his mind if proven incorrect in his assumptions. Black Jack gives much of the money he earns to charity
, and considers it a favour when he takes the majority of a wealthy patient's money.
The doctor is usually in the company of his ward, Pinoko (also spelled Pinoco), a sentient mass of parasitic twin organs surgically removed from her normal sister. After giving the unwanted twin an artificial body in the shape of a female child, Black Jack took in the resulting toddler as his own on the basis that it was deserving a chance at life. Pinoko capably acts as housekeeper, cook and surgical assistant, but more importantly provides moral support and human warmth to the otherwise emotionally distant doctor. Although a fully functional human, Pinoko is incapable of growing; the loving girl has the personality of a first-grader and the knowledge of an 18 year old.
In addition to his medical skills, Black Jack is a skilled fighter. While not violent by nature, he will not hesitate to use force to defend himself or others. Though preferring to fight
with his fists, he will use a gun, and can use a scalpel
as a throwing weapon somewhat like a shuriken
.
, the kind of doctor he wished he could have been. The character was created for the 30th anniversary of Tezuka's professional manga career. It was originally intended as a five-part miniseries but, thanks to the audience reception, Tezuka's engagement with the character was extended to five years.
Black Jack's attitude and matter of dress are meant to remind readers of the archetypal pirate: rebellious and clever, a man who operates outside the restricting bureaucracy of modern life. His scar, however, embodies the principle of the flawed hero: his half-black, half-white face foregoes any claim to "purity" -- be it cultural or ideological -- and betrays the complexity of the character. In the end, Black Jack is capable of great kindness as well as brutal cruelty.
, later slipping into a coma
and dying. Kuro's own body was nearly torn to shreds, but he was rescued thanks to a miraculous
operation by Dr. Jotaro Honma. The skin covering the left side of his face is noticeably darker due to getting a skin-graft from his best friend, who is half African. Kuro refused to have plastic surgery to match the skin color as a sign of respect for his friend. Marked by this experience, Kuro decided to become a surgeon
himself, taking the name of Black Jack.
Despite his medical genius, Black Jack has chosen never to obtain a surgical license
, choosing instead to operate from the shadows
. He considers licenses to be meaningless symbols of social status
, preferring instead to live in anonymity
. Also, a license would mean he would have to follow certain rules, including not charging large fees for operations. The episodes "Missing Pinoko" and "The Day his Medical License Returns" show that Black Jack once had a medical license; having performed a procedure that his superior said would be hopeless, and despite saving the patient, his license was revoked. Ever since, he has been based in a private clinic
on a sea cliff far from civilization
, but frequently travels to hospitals
around the world to covertly assist terminally ill
patients.
In chapter
68, "The Most Beautiful Woman in the World" (published April 14, 1975), Black Jack explains the meaning behind both of his names: "Kuro" is written with the Japanese characters for "black" and "man;" as "Jack
" is a common name for a man, he translates his name as "Black Jack."
", Black Jack has appeared in several of the artist's works.
Black Jack starred as a side character in episode 27, "The Time Machine," of the 1980 animated
adaptation of Tezuka's Astro Boy
. Both he and Astro were recruited by a detective from the distant future, and taken back to a medieval castle to catch a man attempting to alter the timeline; where Black Jack was to heal a sick prince (actually Tezuka character Princess Knight
) while Astro was to protect the castle from an evil sorcerer
. While Astro attempts to fight the beasts sent by the sorcerer, Black Jack discovers that the prince is actually a princess
, and, using clever deception, manages to heal her as Astro defeats the sorcerer. In true Black Jack fashion
, he tells the town to learn to accept that they have a female ruler, and refuses payment, instead taking a commemorative coin
before returning to the future, which Astro values the mint condition artifact to today be worth several million dollars
.
Black Jack makes cameo appearances in 1979's Marine Express, in 1980's Phoenix 2772
as the foreman of the prison planet labor camp
, and in the 2004 video games Astro Boy
and Astro Boy: Omega Factor
. He also appears in one panel in Tezuka's work Buddha
as a hallucination as well as a cameo under a different name and somewhat different appearance in "Phoenix" in the volume titled "Nostalgia", where he apparently holds some degree of power over a group of thugs about to take advantage of the main character Romy.
Black Jack is also ambiguously referenced in the manga Pluto, a remake of Astro Boy created by Naoki Urasawa with approval from Osamu Tezuka before his death.
In 2010, a short was released showing Black Jack teaming up with Dr. House
to promote the DVD release of the show's fifth season
. In it, Black Jack was hired to replace Kutner
. House immediately takes a dislike to him, and vice versa, but Black Jack quits on amicable terms with House after they cooperate on a difficult surgery.
.
Other manga artists have paid homage to Tezuka's surgeon. Shūhō Satō
's Say Hello to Black Jack is named after Tezuka's character. A surgeon, identified only as B.J., appears in Akihito Yoshitomi
's Ray. In the story, B.J. operates on the title character, giving her X-ray vision.
Kamen Rider Den-O
's Imagin Anime OVA parodized Black Jack by having Ryutaros cosplay as him in a doctor sketch.
During the 2007 batsu game
for Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!
, which took place at a hospital, comedian Itsuji Itao repeatedly appeared during the game dressed up as Black Jack, with requisite black cape, hair and scar. Pinoko also appears by his side. He'd leave the scene after being spotted, with an announcer saying "Itsuji Itao presents: Black Jack!"
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
created by Osamu Tezuka
Osamu Tezuka
was a Japanese cartoonist, manga artist, animator, producer, activist and medical doctor, although he never practiced medicine. Born in Osaka Prefecture, he is best known as the creator of Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion and Black Jack...
, introduced in Weekly Shōnen Champion
Weekly Shonen Champion
is a weekly shōnen manga magazine published by Akita Shoten.- History :Shōnen Champion was first published 15 July 1969. It has had numerous popular series by manga artists such as Osamu Tezuka, Go Nagai, Shinji Mizushima, and Keisuke Itagaki...
on November 19, 1973.
Character
Black Jack is a medical mercenaryMercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
, selling his skills to the highest bidder. He is a shadowy figure, with a black cape, eerie black-and-white hair, and stitched-up scars worming all over his body with the most prominent being across his face. Black Jack cures patients indiscriminately, from common folk, to presidents, to yakuza
Yakuza
, also known as , are members of traditional organized crime syndicates in Japan. The Japanese police, and media by request of the police, call them bōryokudan , literally "violence group", while the yakuza call themselves "ninkyō dantai" , "chivalrous organizations". The yakuza are notoriously...
leaders, though he charges all of his patients absurdly high sums. This has given him a reputation for callousness and greed that he cultivates gleefully. In actuality, Black Jack possesses a complex personal code
Value system
A value system is a set of consistent ethic values and measures used for the purpose of ethical or ideological integrity. A well defined value system is a moral code.-Personal and communal:...
. He will cure a patient for free if they move him with the story of their suffering; however, he always establishes a patient's willingness to pay beforehand. If Black Jack cannot discover a redeeming story behind a patient, his charges stand. He will make exceptions in exigent circumstances
Medical emergency
A medical emergency is an injury or illness that is acute and poses an immediate risk to a person's life or long term health. These emergencies may require assistance from another person, who should ideally be suitably qualified to do so, although some of these emergencies can be dealt with by the...
, and may change his mind if proven incorrect in his assumptions. Black Jack gives much of the money he earns to charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
, and considers it a favour when he takes the majority of a wealthy patient's money.
The doctor is usually in the company of his ward, Pinoko (also spelled Pinoco), a sentient mass of parasitic twin organs surgically removed from her normal sister. After giving the unwanted twin an artificial body in the shape of a female child, Black Jack took in the resulting toddler as his own on the basis that it was deserving a chance at life. Pinoko capably acts as housekeeper, cook and surgical assistant, but more importantly provides moral support and human warmth to the otherwise emotionally distant doctor. Although a fully functional human, Pinoko is incapable of growing; the loving girl has the personality of a first-grader and the knowledge of an 18 year old.
In addition to his medical skills, Black Jack is a skilled fighter. While not violent by nature, he will not hesitate to use force to defend himself or others. Though preferring to fight
Close combat
*Close combat is a generic term for both Close Quarters Battle and Hand to hand combat.*Mêlée generally refers to disorganized close combat.*CQB is an acronym for Close Quarters Battle, such as that which occurs in urban warfare....
with his fists, he will use a gun, and can use a scalpel
Scalpel
A scalpel, or lancet, is a small and extremely sharp bladed instrument used for surgery, anatomical dissection, and various arts and crafts . Scalpels may be single-use disposable or re-usable. Re-usable scalpels can have attached, resharpenable blades or, more commonly, non-attached, replaceable...
as a throwing weapon somewhat like a shuriken
Shuriken
A shuriken is a traditional Japanese concealed weapon that was generally used for throwing, and sometimes stabbing or slashing...
.
Creation and conception
Other than a manga artist, Osamu Tezuka was a licensed physician and created many manga titles with medical themes and physician protagonists. Black Jack has been called Tezuka's alter egoAlter ego
An alter ego is a second self, which is believe to be distinct from a person's normal or original personality. The term was coined in the early nineteenth century when dissociative identity disorder was first described by psychologists...
, the kind of doctor he wished he could have been. The character was created for the 30th anniversary of Tezuka's professional manga career. It was originally intended as a five-part miniseries but, thanks to the audience reception, Tezuka's engagement with the character was extended to five years.
Black Jack's attitude and matter of dress are meant to remind readers of the archetypal pirate: rebellious and clever, a man who operates outside the restricting bureaucracy of modern life. His scar, however, embodies the principle of the flawed hero: his half-black, half-white face foregoes any claim to "purity" -- be it cultural or ideological -- and betrays the complexity of the character. In the end, Black Jack is capable of great kindness as well as brutal cruelty.
Fictional character biography
Black Jack's real name is . His odd appearance comes from an incident when he was eight years old, in which both he and his mother were terribly injured in an explosion. His mother lost all four limbsQuadriplegia
Tetraplegia, also known as quadriplegia, is paralysis caused by illness or injury to a human that results in the partial or total loss of use of all their limbs and torso; paraplegia is similar but does not affect the arms...
, later slipping into a coma
Coma
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
and dying. Kuro's own body was nearly torn to shreds, but he was rescued thanks to a miraculous
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
operation by Dr. Jotaro Honma. The skin covering the left side of his face is noticeably darker due to getting a skin-graft from his best friend, who is half African. Kuro refused to have plastic surgery to match the skin color as a sign of respect for his friend. Marked by this experience, Kuro decided to become a surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
himself, taking the name of Black Jack.
Despite his medical genius, Black Jack has chosen never to obtain a surgical license
Medical license
In most countries, only persons with a medical license bestowed either by a specified government-approved professional association or a government agency are authorized to practice medicine. Licenses are not granted automatically to all people with medical degrees...
, choosing instead to operate from the shadows
Underground economy
A black market or underground economy is a market in goods or services which operates outside the formal one supported by established state power. Typically the totality of such activity is referred to with the definite article as a complement to the official economies, by market for such goods and...
. He considers licenses to be meaningless symbols of social status
Social status
In sociology or anthropology, social status is the honor or prestige attached to one's position in society . It may also refer to a rank or position that one holds in a group, for example son or daughter, playmate, pupil, etc....
, preferring instead to live in anonymity
Anonymity
Anonymity is derived from the Greek word ἀνωνυμία, anonymia, meaning "without a name" or "namelessness". In colloquial use, anonymity typically refers to the state of an individual's personal identity, or personally identifiable information, being publicly unknown.There are many reasons why a...
. Also, a license would mean he would have to follow certain rules, including not charging large fees for operations. The episodes "Missing Pinoko" and "The Day his Medical License Returns" show that Black Jack once had a medical license; having performed a procedure that his superior said would be hopeless, and despite saving the patient, his license was revoked. Ever since, he has been based in a private clinic
Clinic
A clinic is a health care facility that is primarily devoted to the care of outpatients...
on a sea cliff far from civilization
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
, but frequently travels to hospitals
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
around the world to covertly assist terminally ill
Terminal illness
Terminal illness is a medical term popularized in the 20th century to describe a disease that cannot be cured or adequately treated and that is reasonably expected to result in the death of the patient within a short period of time. This term is more commonly used for progressive diseases such as...
patients.
In chapter
Tankobon
, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...
68, "The Most Beautiful Woman in the World" (published April 14, 1975), Black Jack explains the meaning behind both of his names: "Kuro" is written with the Japanese characters for "black" and "man;" as "Jack
Jack (name)
Jack is a male given name, although in very rare cases it can be used as a female given name, and sometimes as a surname.In English it is traditionally used as the diminutive form of the name John, though it is also often given as a proper name in its own right.The name Jack is unique in the...
" is a common name for a man, he translates his name as "Black Jack."
Other appearances
As part of "Osamu Tezuka's Star SystemOsamu Tezuka's Star System
Over the course of his career, Osamu Tezuka reused the same characters in different roles in different stories. The way that Tezuka used the characters in his "star system" can be seen as somewhat analoguous to a film director frequently casting members of a regular "stable" of actors in different...
", Black Jack has appeared in several of the artist's works.
Black Jack starred as a side character in episode 27, "The Time Machine," of the 1980 animated
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
adaptation of Tezuka's Astro Boy
Astro Boy (1980s)
is a remake of the 1960s anime series of the same name; both series are adapted from the manga by Osamu Tezuka.This series, which first aired during the 1980s, placed more focus on Astro's robotic skills and a somewhat darker storyline than the previous incarnation of the series. While mostly...
. Both he and Astro were recruited by a detective from the distant future, and taken back to a medieval castle to catch a man attempting to alter the timeline; where Black Jack was to heal a sick prince (actually Tezuka character Princess Knight
Princess Knight
is a Japanese manga that ran through four serializations from 1954 to 1968, as well as a 1967 Japanese children's animated series. It was dubbed into English and brought over to Western audiences in 1970, where it was called Choppy and the Princess. In 1973, this series was dubbed in Portuguese and...
) while Astro was to protect the castle from an evil sorcerer
Magician (fantasy)
A magician, mage, sorcerer, sorceress, wizard, enchanter, enchantress, thaumaturge or a person known under one of many other possible terms is someone who uses or practices magic that derives from supernatural or occult sources...
. While Astro attempts to fight the beasts sent by the sorcerer, Black Jack discovers that the prince is actually a princess
Princess Knight
is a Japanese manga that ran through four serializations from 1954 to 1968, as well as a 1967 Japanese children's animated series. It was dubbed into English and brought over to Western audiences in 1970, where it was called Choppy and the Princess. In 1973, this series was dubbed in Portuguese and...
, and, using clever deception, manages to heal her as Astro defeats the sorcerer. In true Black Jack fashion
Moral character
Moral character or character is an evaluation of a particular individual's durable moral qualities. The concept of character can imply a variety of attributes including the existence or lack of virtues such as integrity, courage, fortitude, honesty, and loyalty, or of good behaviors or habits...
, he tells the town to learn to accept that they have a female ruler, and refuses payment, instead taking a commemorative coin
Commemorative coin
Commemorative coins are coins that were issued to commemorate some particular event or issue. Most world commemorative coins were issued from the 1960s onward, although there are numerous examples of commemorative coins of earlier date. Such coins have a distinct design with reference to the...
before returning to the future, which Astro values the mint condition artifact to today be worth several million dollars
Dollar
The dollar is the name of the official currency of many countries, including Australia, Belize, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States.-Etymology:...
.
Black Jack makes cameo appearances in 1979's Marine Express, in 1980's Phoenix 2772
Phoenix 2772
is an animated feature film directed by Taku Sugiyama and co-scripted by Osamu Tezuka, based on his manga series Hi no Tori. It was then released in the UK in 1980 under the title Space Firebird, and later in the United States in 1983, shortened to 79 minutes and dubbed by British voice-actors...
as the foreman of the prison planet labor camp
Labor camp
A labor camp is a simplified detention facility where inmates are forced to engage in penal labor. Labor camps have many common aspects with slavery and with prisons...
, and in the 2004 video games Astro Boy
Astro Boy (2004 video game)
is a video game based on the 2003 version of the anime television series, produced by Sonic Team.- Soundtrack : is the official soundtrack for the game...
and Astro Boy: Omega Factor
Astro Boy: Omega Factor
is a beat 'em up video game developed by Treasure Co. Ltd and Hitmaker, and published by Sega. The game was released for the Game Boy Advance console on December 18, 2003 in Japan; August 18, 2004 in North America; and February 18, 2005 in Europe. The game is based on Osamu Tezuka's manga and anime...
. He also appears in one panel in Tezuka's work Buddha
Buddha (manga)
is a manga drawn by Osamu Tezuka and is Tezuka's unique interpretation of the life of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. The critically acclaimed series is often referred to as a gritty, even sexual, portrayal of the Buddha's life. Buddha received the 2004, 2005 Eisner Award...
as a hallucination as well as a cameo under a different name and somewhat different appearance in "Phoenix" in the volume titled "Nostalgia", where he apparently holds some degree of power over a group of thugs about to take advantage of the main character Romy.
Black Jack is also ambiguously referenced in the manga Pluto, a remake of Astro Boy created by Naoki Urasawa with approval from Osamu Tezuka before his death.
In 2010, a short was released showing Black Jack teaming up with Dr. House
Gregory House
Gregory House, M.D., or simply referred to as House, is a fictional antihero and title character of the American television series House, played by Hugh Laurie. He is the Chief of Diagnostic Medicine at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, where he leads a team of diagnosticians...
to promote the DVD release of the show's fifth season
House (TV series)
House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House , an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in...
. In it, Black Jack was hired to replace Kutner
Lawrence Kutner (House)
Lawrence Kutner M.D. is a fictional character on the Fox medical drama House. He is played by Kal Penn. He becomes a member of House's new diagnostic team in "Games", the ninth episode of the fourth season...
. House immediately takes a dislike to him, and vice versa, but Black Jack quits on amicable terms with House after they cooperate on a difficult surgery.
Cultural impact
Black Jack is one of Tezuka's most beloved characters and its popularity is rivaled only by Astro BoyAstro Boy (character)
is a fictional character, and the main protagonist of the Astro Boy franchise. Created by Osamu Tezuka, the character was introduced in the 1951 Captain Atom manga...
.
Other manga artists have paid homage to Tezuka's surgeon. Shūhō Satō
Shūhō Satō
is a Japanese manga artist. He won the Japan Media Arts Festival Manga Award for his work Say Hello to Black Jack.His assistants have included his wife, manga artist Tomomi Satō, as well as Masami Kakizaki , Takahisa Shiratori, Itsunari Fujii, Eiji Nomura, Takashi Yoshida, and Kōjirō Umezawa.-Brief...
's Say Hello to Black Jack is named after Tezuka's character. A surgeon, identified only as B.J., appears in Akihito Yoshitomi
Akihito Yoshitomi
is a Japanese manga artist. His most known work is the manga series Eat-Man, which consisted of 19 volumes. Due to the success of the manga, it was adapted to an animated series...
's Ray. In the story, B.J. operates on the title character, giving her X-ray vision.
Kamen Rider Den-O
Kamen Rider Den-O
is the seventeenth installment in the popular Kamen Rider Series of tokusatsu programs. It is a joint collaboration between Ishimori Productions and Toei. It premiered January 28, 2007 on TV Asahi, and concluded airing on January 20, 2008...
's Imagin Anime OVA parodized Black Jack by having Ryutaros cosplay as him in a doctor sketch.
During the 2007 batsu game
Batsu game
A Batsu game , meaning "penalty game", is a common element in Japanese owarai stage comedy and variety shows. The name comes from batsu , meaning both "punishment" and "X", as in an incorrect answer.- Definition :...
for Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!
Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!
, often abbreviated , is a Japanese variety show hosted by the popular Japanese owarai duo, Downtown, with comedian Hōsei Yamasaki and owarai duo Cocorico co-hosting. The program has been broadcast on Nippon TV since its pilot episode on October 3, 1989, and continues to this day, celebrating its...
, which took place at a hospital, comedian Itsuji Itao repeatedly appeared during the game dressed up as Black Jack, with requisite black cape, hair and scar. Pinoko also appears by his side. He'd leave the scene after being spotted, with an announcer saying "Itsuji Itao presents: Black Jack!"
External links
- Black Jack in the Tezuka World database
- Black Jack in the Tezuka in English database