Long Haul

Looking for a great comic book to take with you on your next flight? Then how about these charming depictions of the story of Buddha? Osamu Tezuka (1928-89), a pioneer of the manga (Japanese comic book), added his own characters and stories to the life and times of the great spiritual leader, creating a graphic-novel epic.

Translated into English by Vertical Inc. as an eight-volume series of stylish, $25 hardcovers, the third installment was released this month. Though Tezuka's characters are cartoonishly cute and he frequently inserts goofy humor, the series also explores adult themes of romance and...