Sabaku no Tami

This manga, created by Miyazaki for a children's newspaper, resembles a graphic novel due to its minimal use of dialogue bubbles and text often placed outside the frames, though it adopts a more conventional manga format toward the conclusion. The narrative explores the harsh realities of war, betrayal, and the darker aspects of human behavior in dire circumstances, featuring the deaths of multiple characters. The artwork shows the influence of TEZUKA Osamu, typical of the era, while also reflecting stylistic and thematic elements later seen in Miyazaki's "Nausicaä." It serves as an early precursor to that work.