furtech | Tezuka, pt.3

I usually refer to this series of three volumes as "The Three Dogs." As usual, ask Fred Patten for the exact titles and character names...

This story revolves around two brothers and a sister who, as pups, drink a magical fluid that turns them into super-powered canines. The three of them fulfill their mother's dying wish to return a valise to the son of a man who saved her life. This boy becomes the point around which the story revolves.

The sister goes on to become a circus star: a performing dog who uses her powers to do amazing stunts. The two brothers end up on different sides of the law: the brown (and white) dog works with the boy for the government; his black and white brother-- in an effort to please the boy-- ends up stealing money and valuables (and killing a lot of people to get them). The boy is not pleased, and sends the black dog away. Blackie (I think the actual names are that simple...) soon finds a home with gangsters and later enemy spies. Unfortunately for him, they all meet violent ends and each time he tries to return to the boy that all three dogs love.

As with the other books in this "Best of" series, this is a fairly mature story with much angst, violence and death. I especially like the interactions between the three dogs: Though there is a lot of enmity at times, they act like a close family (well, like a good NY Italian family) and alternately support and fight each other. The ending is bittersweet, but the characters and storytelling make it shine. I especially liked the character of Blackie (very poignant).

An interesting side note: something I recently realized is that the two male dogs bear a remarkable (but probably coincidental) resemblance to Balto and Steele. This is especially evident in a fight sequence they have: http://www.akela.com/IMAGES2/TEZUKA/tezdogssm/dogsfightsm.jpg

Here is the cover and the three title characters:
dogscovers