Barefoot Gen Volume Three – Life After the Bomb

Barefoot Gen Volume Three – Life After the Bomb, by Kejii Nakazawa, Last Gasp

IN THIS third semi-autobiographical epic comic album series by Kejii Nakazawa we witness new atrocities as Gen and his surviving family cope after the bombing of Hiroshima in World War II. But, as often in this series, all is not complete despair.

Chiefly this volume tells us that where there is life, there is hope. Ryuta, the child gang leader from the previous volume is taken in by Gen’s mother, after being found to be not such a bad sort after all; indeed many presumptions concerning characters are revealed to be untruths as Nakazawa peels away at his characters to reveal more about them.

Nakazawa constantly reminds us that he, and his characters, lay blame at the fault of the Japanese military and business elite for entering his nation into a war they could not win without natural resources. Also, while America launches the nuclear bombs that caused such devastation to the country, we are reminded that Britain was viewed as an equal enemy having undertaken many military operations in the Asian theatre of war; but it is only when Russia decides to end its non-conflict pact that Japan’s power elite acknowledge the game is up and surrender.

Between these events we see a different face to the barbaric Japanese military we saw in previous volumes and witness how they come to the radiated war zones to aid the injured when and where they can. Also, Gen’s elder brother who has been away working for the war effort returns to deliver a happy ending to this volume.

For many years we were given the impression that the series had long been lauded in Japan, but as Jun Ishiko states in his introduction there were those still in power who tried to suppress Nakazawa’s telling this story; after all those in power rarely appreciate their selfish misdeeds being taken into account.

I continue to applaud Last Gasp for bringing these important comics into unabridged English language collections.

There are facts revealed that should not be forgotten, and, lessons we have to remember, and, as I hope I’ve made clear, this is not one long horror story; there is joy and humour and a celebration to be found in this collection too.

However, as I noted about Volume One, I worry that the distance of time will prevent those too young to know about these historical events from absorbing this important, worthwhile, and satisfying a read. They should.

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