Deer Park (Budha 5)

The fifth book in the classic eight volume graphic novel series retelling the story of Buddha, from the godfather of the genre. In book five, rising from the shade of the Pippla tree, Buddha must spread the word of Brahma to his fellows, be they human or animal. He will confront Devadatta's ruthless ambition, soothe Tatta's thirst for revenge and will even reach out to the stubborn monk Dhepa. But forgiving the Kingdom of Kosala for the devastation wreaked upon his homeland could prove to be Buddha's greatest challenge yet. Originated in the 1970s, Buddha is Osamu Tezuka's unparalleled rendition of the life and times of Prince Siddhartha. Tezuka's storytelling genius and consummate skill at visual expression blossom fully as he contextualizes the Buddha's ideas, with an emphasis on action, emotion, humour and conflict as 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. Furthermore, his approach is slightly irreverent in that it incorporates something that Western commentators often eschew, namely, humour.