Barbara

A MUSE DEMANDS HER SACRIFICE.
Wandering the packed tunnels of Shinjuku Station, famous author Yosuke Mikura makes a strange discovery: a ragged hippie who can quote French poetry. Her name is Barbara. He takes her home for a bath and a drink, and before long Barbara has made herself into Mikura's shadow, saving him from egotistical delusions and jealous enemies. But just as Mikura is no saint, Barbara is no guardian angel, and Mikura grows obsessed with discovering her secrets, tangling with thugs, sadists, magical curses and mythical beings - all the while wondering whether he himself is still sane. Written in 1973 and 1974 and inspired by the classic opera "Tales of Hoffman" by Jacques Offenbach, Barbara may be Tezuka's most psychological and unsettling work, shattering the fine line between art and madness with masterful precision.

Osamu Tezuka (1928-1989) is the founder of the modern manga and anime industries and perhaps the most prolific and acclaimed comics artist of all time. He is the creator of iconic characters including Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion as well as the author of dozens of classic manga including "Buddha," "Black Jack" and "Ode to Kirihito." His work continues to be revered for its explosive creativity, provocative content and humane outlook.