A rainy night - the phone rings. A mysterious man sits in his chair oblivious to the sound. A young girl asks the man if he's going to answer the call. He sits unmoving as the answering machine picks up. The message requests medical information from the caller, for this phone belongs to the mysterious rouge doctor known only as BLACK JACK. Two episodes of this series from acclaimed anime legend Osamu Tezuka have just been released on DVD, so let's make a house call on the good doctor and see what he's up to....

EPISODE ONE - Black Jack flies into "The City" with his assistant Pinoco to solve a medical mystery for three million dollars. Met by wealthy eccentric Crossword's aide Dave, they are transported to a remote island castle- Crossword's home. It seems Crossword suffers from constant pain and seizures, and no doctor has yet found a cure for his suffering. Black Jack meets Crossword, who thinks the doctor is a fraud, but is willing to try anything to ease his pain. Suffering a seizure, Crossword's wife Seido gives him simple water to suppress the attack. Black Jack is perplexed over what could be infecting the millionaire. Seido reveals she was once helped by Black Jack, which is why she wants him to cure her husband. Black Jack reveals to her that he knows she's pregnant, and will keep Crossword alive at least until the child is born. The next day, a young thief from the local village hides in the castle, where a reluctant Black Jack tends to some minor wounds. The boy tells him he steals to feed his family, because his father suffers from the same disease as Crossword. Intrigued, Black Jack travels to the town, only to arrive in time to see the boy's father die. The local doctor, Minea, informs Black Jack that this disease - kimyra - is only found on this particular island. She knows because her brother has it, and she's been unable to find the cure, either. Black Jack realizes the only way to solve this mystery is to perform surgery on a victim during a seizure, but that would, of course, kill the patient. Meanwhile, there's trouble back at the castle, and the townsfolk start revolting against the 'curse of Crossword' - blaming the old man for bringing kimyra to the island. How can Black Jack make everything right for Crossword and the islanders?

EPISODE TWO - Lost driving in the snow, Black Jack comes upon a small town celebrating the winter. After asking directions from a group of girls, he winds up treating one of them - Ryuuji - after she falls on the ice. He insures her she'll be o.k. Six months later Black Jack winds up back in this same town during a crossover in flights. He confronts an old acquaintance, Lt. Tsakasumi, who implies the doctor might help in tracking down a new drug that's been infecting the city. Black Jack meets Ryuuji again, and sees she's healed nicely. But when he inquires about her friends, the poor girl tells him that two are dead, and the other is in a coma at the local hospital. She begs Black Jack to help her friend. There, Black Jack states he will save Ryuuji's friend Yumiko by performing a delicate surgery himself, much to the chagrin of hotshot head doctor Tokyo. Overjoyed, Ryuuji takes Black Jack out on the town, even implying certain 'favors' for him. The doctor politely declines and takes his leave to prepare. In her room, Ryuuji breaks down amidst flowers and pictures of her dead friends, only finding solace by grasping a cactus. (!) The next day, Black Jack is assisted by many of the hospital's staff and doctors on the surgery, but Tokyo only observes from his office. Lt. Tsakasumi tells him he might learn something about medicine watching Black Jack. Will the operation be a success? Can even Black Jack's skill bring Yumiko out of her coma? And will he discover the secret that is destroying both Ryuuji and Tokyo?

If you're a fan of medical dramas like "ER", then BLACK JACK is for you. There is great attention paid to the details of the medical issues mysterious Black Jack investigates, and major emphasis put on characterization. Characters like Crossword initially seem to be cliches, but are allowed to develop into complex, and even noble figures. Not much is revealed about who Black Jack is or why he does the things he does, but that makes him that much more intriguing. The storyline moves along at a leisurely pace - there's not much action involved (this is drama, after all) but it's certainly not dull. However, there are some inconsistencies in the story that had me confounded; why, in this day and age, do the island villagers go to 'get Crossword' with literally pitchforks and torches? It was like Marcus Welby meets Dr. Frankenstein? And what's the deal with Black Jack's assistant Pinoco? Is she the doc's lover, kid, cousin? She looks about ten, but says she's eighteen. Kinda creepy, if ya ask me.

The DVD for these episodes of BLACK JACK includes only a few extras- art gallery, trailer, and previews. The picture quality is the usual high standard for Japanese TV, and the audio is clean as well. The animation is good, but relies on the use of "static" imagery a little too much (especially Episode Two.)

With no robots, sword fights or planetary explosions, BLACK JACK is not your ordinary anime. The show really draws you in with its complex medical drama and fascinating detective doctor, answering many questions, but asking many more. BLACK JACK is fine viewing for those who want intrigue instead of action or mystery instead of monsters. I'd like to find out more about our rouge doctor, so hopefully Central Park Media will deal us more BLACK JACK in the future.

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