Osamu Tezuka’s vaunted storytelling genius, consummate skill at visual expression, and warm humanity blossom fully in his epic volumes on Siddhartha’s life and times. Tezuka evidences his profound grasp of the subject by contextualizing the Buddha’s ideas; the emphasis is on movement, action, emotion, and conflict as the prince Siddhartha runs away from home, travels across India, and questions Hindu practices such as ascetic self-mutilation and caste oppression. Rather than recommend resignation and impassivity, Tezuka’s Buddha predicates enlightenment upon recognizing the interconnectedness of life, having compassion for the suffering, and ordering one’s life sensibly. Philosophical segments are threaded into interpersonal situations with ground-breaking visual dynamism by an artist who makes sure never to lose his readers’ attention. (Source: Kodansha USA) Note: Won the Bungei Shunju Manga Award in 1975 and the Best U.S. Edition of International Material for the Eisner Award in 2004 and 2005.

Read If You Enjoy

Engaging pacing, distinct artwork, and worldbuilding crafted for fans of Adventure and Comedy.

Skip If You Prefer

Instant one-chapter resolution or light reading without an ongoing overarching storyline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I read Buddha legally?

Official digital reading licenses vary by region. Physical and digital volumes can be found via official distributors.

How many volumes does Buddha have?

Buddha currently has 14 published volumes.

What is the status of Buddha?

Buddha is currently marked as completed.