Dr. Hanamaru

Another of Tezuka’s trademark mad scientists, Dr. Hanamaru, appeared as Dr. Yamada in Nextworld Dr. Bell in Metropolis, Dr. Bettara in Jet King, five doctors in Astro Boy and eleven doctors in Black Jack among varied other roles. He is generally a friendly and competent researcher concerned with the welfare of mankind. Often he will make a great discovery pertinent to a crisis, even to the salvation of mankind, and be disregarded as a crackpot by the rest of the scientific community. At other times he serves as a voice of sage wisdom, famously lecturing Black Jack on the significance of not underestimating the human body and the miracles of nature. While he never has his own series, Dr. Hanamaru is a significant contributor to almost all of Tezuka’s major science fiction series, and one of his most recognizable and reliable faces.

Dr. Hanamaru
. First appearance: 1948, The Musked Adventure Kid
. Primary series: Black Jack, Nextworld
. Other series: Phoenix, Astro Boy
. In brief: Wise old doctor or scientist, often misunderstood by his peers