Hamegg

Hamegg is one of Osamu Tezuka's most widely used character actors, appearing for the first time in The Old Man's Treasure Island (1945). He almost always plays a villainous role, and when he does, it's usually as a henchman or lackey to another character (usually Duke Red, and occasionally Skunk Kusai). His roles run the gamut from lighthearted comedy to darker, more violent characters, and oftentimes the parts he plays involve elements of both. He's probably most well known for his roles as the sadistic ringmaster in Astro Boy, Inspector Akabane of the secret police in A Message to Adolf (1983-85), and as the hunter in Jungle Emperor.

With his round head, permanent grin and large, peering eyes (patterned after Hollywood actor Peter Lorre), Hamegg's appearance is one of the most distinctive among Tezuka's varied cast, and help illustrate him as a consummate shyster. He's motivated by greed and is extremely dishonest, going so far as to cross and double-cross the people he's working with, though he bends easily when he's scared or threatened.

He's usually partnered with Acetylene Lamp, another go-to character actor for Tezuka's henchmen and thugs, and Tezuka felt that they partnered particularly well together. They often show up together in stories and background sequences, particularly in Astro Boy, although they've also teamed up in other stories as well.