This is it campers - the final episode of the epic series BLACK JACK. For the uninitiated, Black Jack is a "rouge doctor"; a man of unparallel medical skill and savvy who just doesn't have the little thing called a medical license. But that doesn't stop clients from paying thousands of dollars for the good doctor's services to cure their ills and solve mysteries that confound the established medical community's greatest minds. In this episode, Black Jack's reputation precedes him, and that could mean trouble for the doc...

Episode 10 - In Mikazukia Bay, disaster has struck. The once-thriving fishing city has suffered the effects of an ecological nightmare; millions of gallons of industrial waste toxins have leaked into the bay, poisoning the fish and causing sickness and economic hardships to the residents. In a rare victory, the court rules against DL Chemicals and holds them responsible for the bays clean up. More importantly, the corporation must also see to the welfare of hundreds of sick residents. Black Jack has observed all this from his humble abode, and resolves to go to Mikazukia Bay to see if he can help. His companion Pinoko joins him (through a bit of trickery) as he visits an old friend, Dr. Fox in the city. Fox is working on behalf of DL Chemical in heading up a team of doctors to solve the mysterious Mikazukia Syndrome - the plague raving the city as a result of the contaminated water and fish. Black Jack seeks to learn more about the illness before committing his service...

Black Jack and Pinoko take a taxi (driven by a crazy hack) to their hotel at the nearby hot springs (run by a crazy owner). Once there, Black Jack meets Tsukiko, who is crippled, but still goes around the village selling the fish she has caught. The owner buys her wares, but Black Jack warns him about possible contamination. He tells the doctor he knows the danger; he buys the fish to help the girl, but he's not gonna actually eat it! Tsukiko slips as she 's leaving the inn, and a concerned Black Jack tends to her wounds. The fall is not serious, but Black Jack realizes she's suffering the effects of the Syndrome....

With Tsukiko still in his thoughts, Black jack goes to offer her help to Fox and the medical team. At the hospital Black Jack's skills are put to the test by an emergency caused by the Syndrome. All his surgical skills are needed to solve the mystery of this killer disease, but will it be in time to save the city's residents from a slow sure death? Can his skills save the life of Tsukiko, whom the normally stoic doctor has started having more personal feeling for? Will the legend of the mermaid and the blue pearls come true?

What was that about mermaids? Ah, as Black Jack fans already know, this series is an elegant triumph of storytelling and character. BLACK JACK BIOHAZARD continues the high quality of this by framing the medical adventure around the tale of a lovesick mermaid, which becomes more and more significant as the episode goes on. The two stories meet in what I will only say is a bittersweet, yet surprisingly touching, climax. BLACK JACK BIOHAZARD is geared towards character, and all the leads are given a depth rarely seen in an anime series. Even secondary characters like the inn owner and taxi driver are not just simple 'comedy relief'; they are as well rounded in their roles as Black Jack is in his. My favorite example of just how good this series treats its cast is corporate lackey Sugita; instead of being the bumbling stooge, he is shown to be a man trying to do his job, a job he increasing feels to be wrong. When he makes his final choice in regards to Black Jack, it makes a small role a memorable one. But that's normal for the BLACK JACK series - there may not be any exploding robots, but the characters and medical mysteries draw one in and refuse to let go. The animation is good, but fairly standard, although anything flashier would detract from the series low-key approach. Quality is superb with clean lines and bright color. The animators do use a still-frame technique from time to time, where a line drawing is used while voice or narration continues over the frame. Audio is fine; the dub job is good as it captures much of the emotion of the original Japanese. BLACK JACK BIOHAZARD is a fitting pinnacle to the all round excellent series.

BLACK JACK BIOHAZARD has been released on DVD with only a few extras. There are textless opening & closing credits, previews (of course), and trailers for the other BLACK JACK titles. There is an art gallery as well as a bit on the art of creator Osamu Tezuka. Best of all, there is a subtitled commentary track by episode director Osamu Dezaki, which reveals a lot about the people who put so much into this anime series. You can really see the passion he and his crew have in their efforts to make a great series, and understand the character they created!

If you haven't seen the rest of the series, it's all right; BLACK JACK BIOHAZARD can stand alone as an achievement of anime excellence. But if you have been following the good doctor's exploits, the maturing of his character and the lessons he learned all come to a head in this final episode that makes us not only grateful for Black Jack the doctor, but proud to know Black Jack the man.

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