Crucifix Island

Crucifix Island ("Jūjikajima" 十字架島) - originally titled "Cruciform Continent" - is a chapter of the Astro Boy manga which originally ran in Shonen magazine in January 1958.

Plot Summary
A scientist named Dr. Tozawa had been working on a special robot boy with the ability to transform his shape into the form of various animals. However, he had been embezzling money from the Ministry of Science and is caught and imprisoned before he can fully complete his project. The robot boy is residing on Crucifix Island where diamonds, gold and uranium are being drilled for by robot miners. He is a student at a school for robot children along with Astro taught by Higeoyaji.

One night, Tozawa escaped from jail along with two other prisoners. The trio made their way by rowboat to Crucifix Island where they take Higeoyaji hostage and tie him up in his room. The robot boy named Pook was so happy to see his creator. They love each other just like father and son. Then Astro is also captured and Tozawa uses part of his circuitry to complete Pook. The other two convicts ask Pook to use his new abilities to steal some of the diamonds for them and when Pook leaves they turn against their former boss and shoot him. They leave his body and go to meet Pook as he returns. However Tozawa does not die immediately and manages to free Higeoyaji so he can assist him to restore Astro so he can save Pook. Just as Tozawa pushes the switch to awaken Astro, he dies.

Astro and Higeoyaji chase after the villains. One is just a simple jewel thief, but the other is actually a member of the mafia gang led by Kin Sankaku. He gives all the diamonds to the other criminal as his boss is only interested in the island's supply of uranium. But his boss also gets Pook to help collect the uranium. The thief meets up with Higeoyaji trying to escape, realizes the threat his country with so he changes sides and is eventually shot and killed while helping Higeoyaji rescue and repair Astro. Pook fights Astro aboard the gang's submarine and is broken when Astro throws him into some pipes. The sub blows up but Astro manages to save his teacher and in spite of what he had done, Pook also.

Professor Ochanomizu will be able to restore Pook back to a normal robot boy and Pook apologizes to Astro and cries in his arms when told of his creator's death.

Characters

 * Astro Boy
 * Pook
 * Dr. Tozawa
 * Two criminals
 * Kin Sankaku
 * Professor Ochanomizu

Collected Volumes
This story has been collected in the following volumes:


 * Astro Boy, Volume 5 (Kodansha)
 * Astro Boy, Volume 5 (Dark Horse)