ATOM: The Beginning Vol.13

Illustrated by Tetsuro Kasahara
Paperback
$12.99 US
| $16.99 CAN
On sale Jan 20, 2026 | 176 Pages | 9781787741089

Discover the thrilling prequel to Tezuka’s Astro Boy, where the future of robotics is forged in the fires of innovation and intense mecha battles. Experience a gripping journey into the origins of this series, based on the iconic anime streaming on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Crunchyroll.

The countdown to a new era begins in ATOM: The Beginning Volume 13 as the team at Laboratory No. 7 prepares to complete A108, a revolutionary robot powered by the Omega system, the most advanced version of the Bewusstein system. With the dawn of the “robot era” rapidly approaching, the emergence of robots that are more sophisticated than ever before threatens to change the world forever.

As the final stages of A108’s creation unfold, the stakes rise to unprecedented levels. The boundary between man and machine blurs as these robots gain capabilities once thought impossible. But with this new power comes new dangers – ethical dilemmas, rival factions, and the question of whether humanity is prepared to handle the consequences of their own creations. With Laboratory No. 1 under the influence of Haido, and the looming threat of more powerful robots in the world, it becomes clear that the balance between human control and robotic autonomy is shifting.

Volume 13 is a pivotal chapter in this thrilling prequel, blending high-tech mecha action with complex philosophical themes about consciousness and autonomy. The advancements in robotics reach a critical juncture as the Omega system takes center stage, creating a tension-filled environment where each breakthrough brings both excitement and uncertainty.

Fans of the Astro Boy legacy and mecha-themed sci-fi, this volume dives deeper into the intricate world that Tezuka first envisioned. With stunning action sequences, rich storytelling, and thought-provoking questions, this series a must-read for fans of futuristic action and philosophical exploration.
Osamu Tezuka was a Japanese manga artist, cartoonist, and animator whose revolutionary comics earned him the title of manga no kamisama (“God of Manga”). His body of work is one of the largest and most prolific in all of Japanese culture, and he produced several of the country’s greatest drawn stories for both children and adults, including the iconic Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion, Black Jack, Dororo, Message to Adolf, and Princess Knight. Tezuka passed away in 1989.

Masami Yuuki is a manga artist and member of the artist group Headgear. He is most known for his celebrated manga series Mobile Police Patlabor, which has spawned many spin-offs and adaptations into anime, movies, live-action projects, novels, video games, and more.

Tetsuro Kasahara is a manga artist whose body of work revolves mostly around the robot and mecha genres. One of his most famous works, RideBack, was adapted into an anime in 2009. Now, he is focusing on ATOM: The Beginning, a prequel to Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy.

About

Discover the thrilling prequel to Tezuka’s Astro Boy, where the future of robotics is forged in the fires of innovation and intense mecha battles. Experience a gripping journey into the origins of this series, based on the iconic anime streaming on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Crunchyroll.

The countdown to a new era begins in ATOM: The Beginning Volume 13 as the team at Laboratory No. 7 prepares to complete A108, a revolutionary robot powered by the Omega system, the most advanced version of the Bewusstein system. With the dawn of the “robot era” rapidly approaching, the emergence of robots that are more sophisticated than ever before threatens to change the world forever.

As the final stages of A108’s creation unfold, the stakes rise to unprecedented levels. The boundary between man and machine blurs as these robots gain capabilities once thought impossible. But with this new power comes new dangers – ethical dilemmas, rival factions, and the question of whether humanity is prepared to handle the consequences of their own creations. With Laboratory No. 1 under the influence of Haido, and the looming threat of more powerful robots in the world, it becomes clear that the balance between human control and robotic autonomy is shifting.

Volume 13 is a pivotal chapter in this thrilling prequel, blending high-tech mecha action with complex philosophical themes about consciousness and autonomy. The advancements in robotics reach a critical juncture as the Omega system takes center stage, creating a tension-filled environment where each breakthrough brings both excitement and uncertainty.

Fans of the Astro Boy legacy and mecha-themed sci-fi, this volume dives deeper into the intricate world that Tezuka first envisioned. With stunning action sequences, rich storytelling, and thought-provoking questions, this series a must-read for fans of futuristic action and philosophical exploration.

Author

Osamu Tezuka was a Japanese manga artist, cartoonist, and animator whose revolutionary comics earned him the title of manga no kamisama (“God of Manga”). His body of work is one of the largest and most prolific in all of Japanese culture, and he produced several of the country’s greatest drawn stories for both children and adults, including the iconic Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion, Black Jack, Dororo, Message to Adolf, and Princess Knight. Tezuka passed away in 1989.

Masami Yuuki is a manga artist and member of the artist group Headgear. He is most known for his celebrated manga series Mobile Police Patlabor, which has spawned many spin-offs and adaptations into anime, movies, live-action projects, novels, video games, and more.

Tetsuro Kasahara is a manga artist whose body of work revolves mostly around the robot and mecha genres. One of his most famous works, RideBack, was adapted into an anime in 2009. Now, he is focusing on ATOM: The Beginning, a prequel to Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy.
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