Common Name: Black Jack
Alternative Names: Black Jack OVA, Black Jack Final
Score: 8/10, 5/5
Length: 12 Episodes
Genres: Drama, Action
Summary: Kuroo Hazama, known better to the world as "Black Jack," is a renowned doctor with the skills to cure almost any patient of whatever ails them no matter the cost to his own safety. He'll go to any lengths, well past the long arms of the law, to help his patients. Such skills and dedication don't come cheap though. But, if you can afford the price this cold-hearted medicine man, you can rest assured that your life is in good hands.
Review: Another one of those great works by "the Godfather of anime," Osamu Tezuka, brought to the screen. Like most anime of the period, art style is dated but no less appealing due to its simplistic but thoughtful beauty. By simplistic I mean that it is quintessentially a medical drama that rarely breaks from that mold. To offer a simple comparison, Black Jack is like a medical Batman. There are rules and principles that cannot be bent or broken without destroying the character. If you know Batman's code, you know what he'll do each episode more or less, and the same applies to Black Jack and many of Tezuka's other classic characters. Unlike recent adaptations of the Batman, however, this work sticks the the true nature of Black Jack and is well worth the watch for that reason alone. For others that need a little more encouragement though, I will say that the stories told are engaging and thrilling at almost every point. There is a good balance of drama, comedy (portrayed usually through Black Jack's companion Pinoko), and a looming sense of dread as the episode progresses into the episodes as the stakes continue to rise. It's a great watch, even today, a bit cheesy at times, but that only makes the journey all the more endearing.