Osamu Tezuka is known as the "God of Manga" in Japan. He single-handedly made Manga respectable after WWII and pioneered the use of cinematic techniques. He not only entertained the public with characters like "Astro Boy" but he tackled more weighty subjects such as nuclear danger, Buddhism, and care for the environment. He created a "studio" of star characters, like a "Disney for Japan."
Tezuka's most autobiographical character is "Black Jack." Before becoming an artist full-time, Tezuka graduated from medical school. Black Jack is a "super doctor," an un-licensed maverick who is a fantastic surgeon. His exploits are so over-the-top, he must be Tezuka's dream of what a doctor could be. He has his flaws, such as his scarred face, and his greed for money, which at this point in the series we don't really understand.
Each chapter of this book has a separate tale of Black Jack which is self-contained. Usually there is a moral to the story, or a message about life, but many times Tezuka just sets out to entertain us.
In this volume, in one of the notable stories, Black Jack learns something about humility. Another amazing story of a sushi chef that loses his arms in an accident inspires. The story about the stingy old lady has a surprise ending that leads me to believe there is something about Black Jack that we don't know yet.
With fast-paced writing and kinetic artwork, once you start reading Black Jack, you won't be able to put it down.