This is the rare update of a masterpiece that is a masterpiece in its own right. "Pluto" is technically an "Astro Boy" story but focuses on a side character from the original "The world's greatest robot" story. Urasawa opens with an environmental disaster and the death of one of the seven great robots of the world, Mont Blanc. 

 

The story establishes that robots in this world live like humans, and some like Mont Blanc are even treated with high regard. However, the human/robot relationship is heavily explored in the series, and it becomes apparent that, outside of a select few, humans don't think of robots in a mortal sense. When the protagonist, Gesicht, investigates a human death, he finds out that a patrol robot died as collateral. 

 

Interestingly, many human characters have mixed or gray feelings about their relationships with robots, with some witnesses ignoring the fact completely. One notable worker recalls the robot as Robby before quickly correcting himself to call it Patrol-Bot PRC Model 1332. This is the first notable moment that calls this theme into play, and Urasawa does it so subtly and quickly but with enough weight to the words and pictures that readers can't help but dwell on that little speech mistake. 

 

The scene gains poignancy when Gesicht has to tell "Robby's" robot wife (looking like the maid robot in the Jetsons) that her husband has died. These moments exemplify the core strength of Pluto - examining the relationship between humans and robots and the subtle differences between how robots process grief, loneliness, and joy. Pluto provides incredible poignancy and insight into human capacity for love, giving, greed, and violence, while spinning a fast-paced tale of techno-noir, environmental disaster, and shadowy corporate and government greed. 

 

The artwork perfectly matches the story- simple most of the time, pausing on a subtle gesture or look. But he can play on the exaggerated game of manga that is common today when needed.