The Last Day on Earth

The Last Day on Earth ("Chikyū saigo no hi" 地上最後の日) is a chapter of the Astro Boy manga which originally ran in Shonen magazine in March 1964.

Plot Summary
Astro Boy meets another robot boy from outer space named Bem. He tells Astro that he is part of a bomb that was developed by aliens on a distant planet. He ran away to hide out on Earth in peace and he is disguised as a young human working in a bakery. He explains that he is the control mechanism for the actual bomb that looks like a refrigerator he keeps in his apartment. Bem warns Astro that if it is ever opened it will explode with enough power to blast the entire Earth into micro particles of dust. Astro promises to keep Bem's secret but tells him that he will tell only one trustworthy human, Professor Ochanomizu. Bem is very worried about the thought of any humans knowing the truth about him, but Astro assured Bem that Ochanomizu will help him.

So Astro went to see Ochanomizu and when he hears about Bem he is very concerned about the possible danger. On their way to meet Bem, they are attacked by three flying aliens with wings built into their heads like Bem. Astro begins to fight with them but Ochanomizu decided to listen to what they have to say. The aliens introduce themselves as Professors Pom, Pim and Pum from the planet Nicola. They claim their intentions are peaceful and they only wish to take Bem back and redesign him as they fear he may be dangerous. Astro pleads that they can't be trusted, but Ochanomizu believes them and promises to help them get Bem back. Astro is so upset that he flies away while Ochanomizu drives the aliens to the bakery.

Bem tries to fly away with his box but is captured and the Professor next takes the others to their flying saucer. As they prepare to blast off, Ochanomizu casually asks why they are flying around with such a bomb and they tell him they are going to conduct an experiment to see how big a star Bem can destroy. When they explain that the target of their experiment is the sun, Ochanomizu protests that Earth cannot exist without it. The aliens couldn't care less, so he contacted Astro and sents him to retrieve Bem. Astro enters the saucer and overpowers the aliens, but when he rescues Bem, he takes his box and flies away on his own telling Astro he betrayed his trust. While Astro pleads in vain for forgiveness, the outraged aliens plan a terrible revenge. They shoot a huge projectile into the Earth where their saucer was parked and announce to the whole world that in thirty days they shall destroy the planet.

As time goes by it becomes apparent that the rod implanted into the ground is a beacon like magnetic device that is slowly drawing a huge red star towards the Earth. It will impact at the end of the thirtieth day and in the meantime the star's gravity field is causing earthquakes and tidal waves. Astro runs across Bem in some dark alley and tries to reason with him to give him the box to blow up the star and save Earth. Bem refuses, so Astro tries to take it by force. Bem fights back and actually destroys Astro with electro-mag waves, but looking at his broken body he feels remorse and picks up Astro delivering him to the doorstep of the Ministry of Science where Ochanomizu discovers him and repairs him. Astro realizes Bem must have brought him to the Ministry.

With less than two weeks to go, Astro resolves to find Bem again as the bomb is the only thing that can save Earth. He and the aliens track him down at the same time and there is a final showdown inside the flying saucer that culminates in the spacecraft exploding as Astro and Bem escape destroying the aliens. Bem asks Astro for forgiveness and flies off with the box into the midst of the star. Astro cannot try to stop or follow him as he is almost out of energy, and Bem sacrifices himself to save Earth blasting the star to nothing.

Characters

 * Astro Boy
 * Bem
 * Professors Pom, Pim and Pum
 * Professor Ochanomizu

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


 * Astro Boy, Volume 12 (Kodansha)
 * Astro Boy, Volume 11 (Dark Horse)