Planetes

Sorta Minor Spoilers Below

I picked up Planetes because I wanted to read a manga from a genre I don't explore much, science fiction, and it was definitely a nice change of pace especially since fantasy/isekai have been the mainstream for a while now.

The beginning of Planetes was a little slow for me; for one, the characters are drawn quite differently (I'm assuming this is the mangaka still working out their designs?) and it's a lot of character introductions. But once I got acquainted, I started to really enjoy this read. The beginning of the first book (or first omnibus technically) starts off pretty casually with a lot of information on what the members of DS-12/Toy Box actually do in cleaning space debris, but builds really naturally into developing the characters and exploring the culture of space work.

I think it's really impressive how maturely Planetes is written—not to say the book is really explicit or gruesome or anything—but it is obvious care was put into making the world and characters as realistic as they can be. Space sicknesses like radiation poisoning, cancer, and even bone deterioration from living in low-gravity environments are mentioned throughout the book. Even scientific concepts like the Kessler Syndrome make an appearance. Characters behave realistically to their environment and struggle with feelings of isolation, fear, and regret. There are also, of course, happy moments as well. Fee's cigarette chapter is pretty funny, and Hachi's dad is rather comical indeed, hardy har har.

Things actually get a lot more philosophical (and frankly depressing) than I thought they would. There is a lot to be said here about science, God, existentialism, and mankind's ambitions and failures as a whole (maybe with a sprinkle of commentary on work culture too). I think these ideas are explored pretty well, and the more philosophical aspects are abstract enough to get you thinking, but not so much that it gets boring or stops making any sort of sense. As characters wrestle with some of the ideas and themes this book presents, sometimes they don't find direct answers or conclusions. I really like that about Planetes; some of the conflicts found in the story are larger than life (especially when dealing with outer space), and it makes sense that sometimes characters have to accept when things are completely out of their control.

I think my only real complaint is Tanabe is sometimes a little too "power of love and friendship"-ey for a book that is written this well. Hachi treats her like garbage for the majority of the story, but she still seems to hold little to no resentment for him. I like her character a lot, and I think her introductory chapter might be my favorite in the book, but I wish she was a selfish jerk a little more or something—she can seem a little too perfect sometimes.

So overall, the characters are really well-written, the story is told well, and of course, the art is just the cherry on top. This is the type of manga that makes me go back and really question everything else I ever considered a 10 on this website. Very pleased.

Also, I'm not really one to care about this stuff, but this manga was written in like what, 1999? How is the character cast this diverse, especially for a manga? We got a Black person as a main character! And not like a Mr. Popo kind of Black person—no, like a respectfully presented Black/mixed chick. And we got some Americans in the mix. BUT BLACK PEOPLE IN SPACE FR? HOW THEY LET A BLACK PERSON IN SPACE?!?!

This review is written in two parts: the first without spoilers and the second with potential spoilers.

Without spoilers:

When I watched Vinland Saga and then read the manga, I thought I had seen enough of Yukimura's greatness that nothing would surprise me anymore. But boy, was I wrong. This mangaka kept exceeding my expectations and never ceased to amaze me with his incredible ideas and artwork. In this essay, I'll be reviewing another masterpiece by probably my favorite mangaka (alongside Urasawa), a piece of art that managed to achieve in just four volumes what most manga can't do in fifteen. This is a review of Planetes by Makoto Yukimura.

Before diving into the details, I want to clarify something about the adaptation of the manga done by Sunrise Studio. The anime and the manga are, in my opinion, two different pieces of art. While the anime did adapt nearly half of the manga and picked up many of Yukimura's ideas, the execution was completely different. The anime focused more on the plot, made things more thrilling with the terrorist storyline, and added new characters for comedy and enjoyment. Meanwhile, the manga concentrated on the characters and their problems, evolving into a philosophical reflection on life and human beings through their development. By my standards, the anime was good but lacked the depth of the manga, and some new content felt unnecessary. In my view, the manga is superior in almost every aspect, but this is subjective. So, I recommend anyone reading this review to check out both and decide which one they prefer.

As for why people should give this manga a try, I think Planetes contains a bit of everything people expect to see: it has realistic characters reflecting the human condition, great character development, an amazing atmosphere in a futuristic setting not too different from our current world, incredible world-building using physics elements, very good use of drama and comedy, stunning artwork, and most importantly, an amazing take on life problems, human nature, and themes like space exploration, the meaning of existence, where people belong in the universe, loneliness and the influence of others, racism, human evolution, love, and its true essence. The manga may not have a lot of entertainment elements, but for those seeking quality writing, great storytelling, and serious topics for reflection, I highly recommend this manga.

With potential spoilers:

Planetes, unlike other space stories, isn't about exploring new places in the universe or space battles. It's actually a reflection on our world set in space. It's a take on everyday human situations and life problems transmitted into a futuristic fictional universe that reflects and embodies various aspects of human nature.

The setting Yukimura chose to tell the story represents humanity's desire to find better living places, her will to unravel the unknown, her greed for control, and her continuous march towards evolution. It embodies one's desires and regrets and shows the insignificance of his existence compared to the whole universe, yet also his value among other humans. Space, as portrayed by Yukimura, can have different meanings depending on the character:

For Hachimaki, it's the place where he discovers what truly matters to him, where he sees the lies he blindly pursued, where he learns that Earth is part of space and wherever you are in the universe, you remain a human who loves others.

For Tanabe, it's where she surpasses her limits and shows her capabilities, where she finds freedom as a human being, and where her philosophy of love positively impacts others.

For Fee, space is where she can finally be herself, express her rebellion against how things are, and rid herself of all life regrets.

For Yuri, it's where he learns to keep living no matter what happens, even if he loses loved ones, life always has something for you, and you don't need answers to all questions to continue living.

For Locksmith, it's where his ego and scientific ambitions find no bounds. For Goro Hoshino, it's where his adventurous spirit shines. For some astronauts, it's where they truly belong, and for others, it's where they escape from hellish lives.

It's incredible how rich Planetes' world is, reflecting each character's nature and personality and providing numerous connections between characters for the writer.

Talking about characterization and character development, unlike the anime, Yukimura took time to show the backstories, motivations, and thoughts of the characters. He focused on everyone's problems and developed them to find potential solutions with simplistic plots and natural events.

He showed Hachimaki's psychological struggle against the fear of being alone in space after an accident while collecting debris. He brilliantly portrayed Hachimaki's inner conflict between his selfish desire to leave everything behind for Jupiter and his attachment to Earth and Tanabe. He also did a fantastic job showing Hachimaki's realistic depression in space, his reflections on his existence, and how he overcame the situation to find the right answer to his problem.

We also saw Tanabe as a child, how she was adopted by the Tanabes who gave her love and tenderness, how she impacted their lives, and how she intuitively developed affection for others similarly to the unconditional love she received.

Fees' backstory with her shunned uncle added depth to her character and supported her development when she grew tired of her futile work as a debris collector and started rebelling against her superiors and old life.

Another thing showcasing this manga's greatness is the vast number of themes discussed in 26 chapters. I'm still impressed by how Yukimura touched on many life questions and problems in just four volumes, leaving readers in deep reflection. The idea of belonging to a place, ideology, religion, humanity, and the universe is presented harmoniously with the narrative. The idea of love defining humans, the fact that people can't change everything, the limits of ambition, the absurdity of war, existing injustice and racism, and how people live outside social standards—all these ideas and questions are present in dialogues and monologs, portraying personalities and concluding character arcs meaningfully.

There's also a significant amount of physics and scientific knowledge in this manga. You can find the Kessler syndrome, zero gravity, low gravity's impact on the body, cosmic radiation, spatial leukemia—so for science lovers, Planetes is a real treat.

To finish this review, in my opinion, Planetes is nothing short of a masterpiece. I don't think there are many short manga as rich in themes and messages, with incredible settings and world-building, drawn with such detail and care, and telling impactful stories with well-written and developed characters. Such manga is created only once in a long period, and we should be grateful to witness this piece of art.

Planetes is arguably one of the most remarkable debut works in the manga realm to date. Yukimura hit the nail on the head with both his art and an intriguing cast, crafting compelling drama from a somewhat nebulous premise about space debris collection. Despite its vagueness, Planetes immediately captured my interest, particularly given my longstanding fascination with space exploration and physics—a fascination more immediate than any hypothetical offer from hysterical feminists.

The narrative is straightforward, centering on a crew of four main characters, who are space debris collectors, along with numerous well-characterized secondary figures. Planetes stands out as a character-driven manga. The struggles, philosophies, and motivations of these characters form the core of the drama. Yukimura excels at expressing human emotions through both his art and dialogue. Hachimaki's journey towards achieving his goals is especially captivating. Initially unlikeable and stubborn, he evolves, along with the rest of the crew, into a more nuanced personality by the end. Fee is my favorite character; her backstory was deeply touching (I shed tears), and her past experiences significantly shaped her worldview. Beyond the scientifically accurate depictions of space travel and spaceship operations, the personal lives of the characters add a grounded realism to this space-centric story. While it might sound serious, Planetes incorporates plenty of light-hearted moments and excellent comedy, making character interactions feel natural and effortless. Most characters are likable, but one particular individual is portrayed as an antagonist. Those familiar with the manga likely know whom I mean (the guy usually in a suit). His actions may seem selfish, yet they stem from his own ideals and reasons, underscoring the depth and development of the characters.

However, what impresses me most isn't the characters themselves but the range of themes explored within just 27 chapters. Given the multiracial cast and their diverse beliefs and ideologies, one might not expect racism to be addressed, yet it is, and quite adeptly. Socio-political commentary enriches the plot, adding layers of tension and importance uncommon in slice-of-life narratives. The science and space elements provide the backdrop, while the characters take center stage. Yukimura also delves into existential questions about God's existence, a theme revisited in Vinland Saga. These examples illustrate the broad thematic scope of Planetes.

The artwork is another standout feature that improves steadily. Early chapters have a sketchy quality, but soon the art becomes one of Planetes' strengths, featuring some stunning two-page spreads. Unlike similar sci-fi works, Planetes isn’t overly descriptive about its technology; instead, the visuals do much of the explaining. You won’t find pages upon pages detailing how astronauts relieve themselves in space—just a humorous panel or two showing Tanabe making funny noises in the bathroom suffices.

In summary, Planetes is concise and impactful. Every chapter, every page contributes to character development through engaging dialogue and strong art. Nothing feels wasted, making for a thoroughly satisfying read.

Planetes is a seinen, science-fiction manga series penned and illustrated by Makoto Yukimura (of Vinland Saga fame). It follows a small team of astronauts tasked with cleaning up Earth's orbit from debris. Over the four volumes or two omnibus editions, we become acquainted with individuals performing the most undesirable jobs that no one else wants to do. We see them as professionals in their field and also as regular people dealing with everyday problems in their personal lives.

The chapters within Planetes tend to be quite episodic, with some "episodes" spanning multiple chapters depending on the current arc being explored. This structure works brilliantly because it allows readers to get to know each character individually. While we do see these five to six individuals working together, the focus of each arc typically centers on a specific person.

Despite its categorization, the writing is exceptional. As someone who understands complex sciences well, I appreciate how dangerous and intricate the job of an astronaut truly is, even when it involves mundane tasks like "trash gathering." You need to be exceptionally knowledgeable across many subjects to perform these tasks safely and successfully. The narrative introduces each person in a deeply intimate manner, revealing unique reasons for their desire to work in space. Some motivations are emotionally charged, while others stem from simple curiosity. This diversity creates dynamic characters and unpredictable storytelling. Each crew member’s story, whether subtle or direct, contributes to a larger picture: the family they have all become. Every aspect ties together intricately, making the overall narrative cohesive despite its episodic nature.

Beyond its rich character development, the depiction of space-life in Planetes is astonishingly realistic. Themes include political strife, emotional, physiological, and psychological stresses, and the impact on astronauts' families due to their prolonged absences. This evokes a range of emotions. There were at least three times while reading this manga where I had to pause because I was moved to tears. The focus on family is heart-wrenchingly relatable. Everyone has a dysfunctional home life, but it remains a home filled with warmth and love. Additionally, there were moments where I was awed by the physics, astronomy, and engineering depicted in the series.

The manga is sensationally smart and profoundly intelligent, not to mention meticulously technical, regarding living in space. This includes handling gravity within a space station, the effects of cigarette smoke in space communes, settling on planets for mining, and more. My brain felt wonderfully invigorated and completely immersed; it was an interactive reading experience. All of this is amplified by the masterful illustrations.

To say that Planetes is one of the most breathtaking manga series I've ever read would be an understatement. While I've read many beautiful manga and comics, nothing compares to this seinen story. One of the scariest aspects of being in space is its overwhelming vastness and emptiness. It’s a black void filled with stars and gaseous creations, devoid of oxygen, light, and sound—a terrifying loneliness. The mangaka excels at bringing this horrifying concept to life through his drawings. A page showing a single man standing on a planet, looking out into the blackness, gives me chills. I can feel the anxiety and panic seeping into my bones. This mastery creates a strong foundation for the series. Without the art, Planetes would have lost its potential. But it didn’t, and I’m immensely grateful.

Speaking of gratitude, while there are numerous themes in Planetes, my favorites revolve around life being what you make of it and the people you share it with. No matter who you are or your profession, a life without these qualities isn’t worth living. It’s a notion I’ve taken for granted and forgotten along my journey, and it feels marvelous and comforting to be reminded of it occasionally.

In conclusion, if you enjoy hard science fiction and technically complex narratives centered on space, I highly recommend this manga series. It’s positively brilliant.

10 pocket watches outta 10!

GOOD BITS: The artwork is stunning, showcasing Makoto Yukimura's incredible talent in drawing highly detailed spacecraft before transitioning to Vikings. His understanding of the subject matter is evident; the pages dedicated to spacesuit propulsion systems and helmets are intricately detailed, even though these details aren't crucial to the plot.
The characters and their development are captivating, each one unique from the others and evolving in significant ways.
While the story is straightforward, it remains engaging with a few twists that keep things interesting. The main narrative provides ample room for character growth and has a clear conclusion in sight.

BAD BITS: There aren't many drawbacks. My biggest gripe is that Yuri feels somewhat underutilized, but he had his moment in the first chapter. As the primary plot unfolds, there isn't much more room for his character development, so the story doesn't need to focus on him.
That's pretty much it, aside from minor personal nitpicks like the untranslated dialogue of an old Ukrainian woman. However, this becomes a positive since her sentiments are conveyed clearly through the art alone.

TLDR: Fantastic characters and world-building with breathtaking art.

tl;dr: A manga with intriguing concepts and themes but fails to fully capitalize on them.

This manga struck me as rather unfocused. While it executed several elements decently, nothing stood out as particularly well-done. One of the core themes appeared to be space exploration, specifically exploring lesser-discussed aspects like debris collection and opposition groups. If the story had concentrated solely on these elements and delved deeper, it might have been more compelling. However, an equally significant part was the journey to Jupiter, which followed a more conventional narrative arc and wasn't handled particularly well.

The various plot threads never seemed to reach satisfying conclusions, instead transitioning from one to another in a disjointed manner. This lack of cohesion wasn’t necessarily a major issue since, especially in the second half, the manga didn’t appear to prioritize a heavily plotted storyline. There weren't many suspenseful moments or cliffhangers that left you wondering what would happen next. Instead, the focus seemed to shift towards the characters and their psychological states.

The manga explored numerous ideas: humanity's insignificance in the vastness of existence, astronauts' motivations for risking their lives for distant goals, people’s willingness to sacrifice everything for grand ambitions, and the underlying drives that propel individuals forward. These topics were somewhat interesting, but none were examined deeply enough to carry the story. To a large extent, many of these explorations felt pointless. Topics would be introduced, prompting changes in Hachimaki's mindset, but the reasons behind these shifts remained unclear, making the character development seem random and unjustified. The ending, with its line about love, came across as generic and cliché.

Introduction:
I've always been fascinated by space. I'm a huge fan of Star Wars, I did a school project on space, and as a child, I dreamed of becoming an astronaut. But after watching the movie Apollo 13, I realized that space isn't as welcoming as it seems. It's quite terrifying. Humans weren't meant to venture into space, just like we weren't meant to fly. Yet, we defied nature and made flying as routine as walking for some people. Similarly, we challenged nature again by sending Yuri Gagarin to space on April 12, 1961. After that day, space became within humanity's reach. Evolution has brought mankind and space even closer, and today you can book a flight to space with Virgin Galactic.

Set in 2075, Planetes portrays a world where space travel is commonplace, people live on the moon, and work in space. This concept intrigued me, but initially, I only knew about the anime adaptation. When I learned it was based on a sci-fi manga by Makoto Yukimura (whom I recognized from his later work Vinland Saga), I was thrilled. I read the entire manga over a weekend and couldn’t believe how exceptional it was. To me, it felt too good to be true. It was the first manga I truly considered a masterpiece, perfect in every aspect, and recommended for anyone interested in space or psychology.

Story: 9/10
The story of Planetes is straightforward. In this universe, space debris poses a serious threat. To prevent the accumulation of debris around Earth and the Moon, there are "garbage men" who clean up space. The story follows a three-person crew (later joined by Ai Tanabe) tasked with cleaning up space. Simultaneously, engineer Werner Locksmith works on a spaceship called Von Braun, which aims to take the first humans to Jupiter—a gold mine of Helium-3, the fuel of 2075. Hachirota Hoshino, the most ambitious crew member, decides he will do anything to participate in this historic mission and board the Von Braun.

Characters: 10/10
In my opinion, the characters in Makoto’s manga are Planetes' strongest element. Each character has remarkable depth, which Makoto explores through their extreme experiences in space. He uses these settings to reveal their emotions, showing readers how dark space can be. There are four main characters, with Hachirota being the most prominent, and all are exceptionally well-developed. Each character has a backstory that connects readers emotionally. Their actions and feelings become understandable, and none of them are perfect. They have flaws and often make questionable decisions, which might frustrate some readers but emphasizes their humanity. The complexity of each character makes Planetes a masterpiece, as readers begin to understand the reasoning behind their actions.

Art: 10/10
Makoto’s art in Vinland Saga already impressed me, and Planetes exceeded my expectations. I love how he draws characters, but what shocks me most is the detail in the backgrounds—they look like paintings. Every spaceship is meticulously drawn, appearing flawless. As a hard sci-fi work, realism is crucial, and the art perfectly complements this. Makoto uses large panels filled with darkness to convey loneliness, effectively transferring characters’ feelings to readers. His talent in storytelling and art shines through here.

Enjoyment: 10/10
As a reader, I felt everything the characters experienced in Planetes. Despite many negative emotions throughout, finishing the manga left me feeling pure joy. I can't fully explain why I enjoyed it so much, but I highly recommend reading it to experience all its emotional depth.

Last Comment:
When I discovered the manga existed, I was surprised it had only four volumes. I didn't expect much, but now I must say it offers more than some manga with ten or twenty volumes. For me, a manga like this comes out once every decade. I understand some may not like it or prefer the anime (which I think distorts Planetes). This is a seinen manga about space, but above all, it’s about the human condition, and it delivers this theme flawlessly.

Who hasn't dreamt about venturing into space, or wondered what lies beyond our planet? Or even fantasized about living among the stars? Space travel, once a distant dream for only a select few, is gradually becoming a tangible reality, potentially within the next 50 years or perhaps over a century. "Planetes" is a psychological science fiction manga that tells the story of a crew of space garbage collectors tasked with cleaning up Earth's orbit from space debris. At first glance, it might not seem like an enthralling tale, but delve deeper and you'll find a rich narrative that any space enthusiast must read.

~Story~

The narrative unfolds in 2075, where working and traveling in space has become commonplace. The plot revolves around the Toy Box crew: Yuri Mihalkov, who lost his wife in a space accident; Fee Carmichael, a chain-smoking mother; and Hachitora Hoshino, aspiring to own a spaceship for his own journeys. Later, Ai Tanabe joins the team, playing a crucial role in their mission.

Beyond just clearing out debris, a serious issue for space travel, the story delves into the personal lives and ambitions of each crew member. For instance, Hachitora, nicknamed "Hachi," strives tirelessly to join the Jupiter mission aboard the "Van Braun" to gather Helium-3, the fuel of 2075.

One striking aspect is how realistic "Planetes" feels. Every problem encountered is meticulously detailed and explained, from travel methods to equipment. Yukimura goes as far as detailing why certain changes were made to existing space standards. Humor is also woven into the narrative, balancing drama effectively and keeping the story fresh. Beyond space exploration, the manga touches on environmentalism, economics, and even racism.

The inclusion of background stories adds emotional depth, offering insight into character motivations. Take Fee, for example, whose struggles with smoking due to various issues evoke sympathy.

~Characters~

The realism extends to the characters. Each one is well-developed with unique backgrounds and flaws, making them relatable. While some actions may be annoying, readers will eventually root for these characters. Character development is impressive, shaped by their goals, interactions, and pasts, leading to transformations that influence their paths and provoke reader reflection.

The diverse cast includes people of various nationalities, enhancing the narrative's depth. Stories like Fee's uncle's highlight issues like racism, aiding character development.

~Art~

The art in "Planetes" is exceptional. Panels are masterfully drawn, especially the backgrounds, which detail space's vastness and loneliness. However, the main characters' simplistic designs can make distinguishing them challenging. Secondary characters are well-drawn and varied, with expressions conveying emotions without dialogue.

~Enjoyment~

"Planetes" offers an enjoyable read from start to finish, blending a realistic story, engaging subplots, and compelling characters. Personally, I felt the story could have explored more about humanity in 2075 and the Jupiter mission, but this is a minor criticism.

Thank you for reading.