Androgyny Image

Cover from an early edition of Astro Boy, a manga series created by the pioneering Japanese manga artist Osamu Tezuka. Astro Boy takes place in the distant future. It's main character is an android created by a famous doctor after his own son is killed. The android, Astro Boy, is deemed by the father to be unworthy of replacing his son and he becomes an outcast, at times performing in a circus. Astro Boy discovers that he has superhuman powers and goes on to fight many forces of evil. Astro Boy is the epitomy of both the inner and outer androgyne. His appearance is completely without sex and his personality is likewise composed of opposing forces. On one hand, he's an outcast, an inhuman freak that can only entertain by his " otherness" . On the other hand, he transcends human powers as an immortal god, able to withstand forces beyond human capabilities.

Return to Convergence of Species

Astroboy

Androgyny Image