Reviews

Planetes, Volume 1 by Makoto Yukimura

abmgw's review against another edition

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3.0

Komishce Bildsprache, seltsame Mischung aus eher westlicher Near-Future Raumfahrt und japanischem Phatos.

ben_sch's review

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4.0

Different from the anime. Some things worked better, and some not as well. More technology porn, less drama. Just changing the pacing and having all the filler scenes adds a lot more characterization, which I like. I think I prefer anime, though the naval-gazing sections are better in the manga.

I will have to come back to it, as I'm pretty planetes saturated right now.

samsamsam's review

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

The story meanders primarily between the opening group of space debris collectors, anti-space-colonisation terrorists (whose motivation I feel quite sympathetic towards, though not sure that is the intent -
regardless, that plot is abruptly dropped without resolution toward the end
), and one of the debris collectors’ (Hachimaki) ambitions to make the cut for a mission to Jupiter.

Hachimaki‘s plot line makes up the bulk of the chapters after the first few, though it’s very character driven without much actual character development. Sure there are some significant and emotional challenges to overcome, but I never got the impression he’s much changed by them. He’s a typical, angsty male lead who spends a lot of time introspecting and yet has very little insight to show for it.

I also think it has to be noted that most of the women in his orbit are underwritten (in contrast
to the men, who are generally better fleshed out), existing seemingly just to shout at him or be condescended to - and consequently the romance subplot there is extremely unconvincing.

The art is beautiful, and especially so after the first couple of chapters. The sci fi elements generally take a back seat to the characters, but the concepts and execution scratched that hard SF itch. I also get the feeling some of the other plot strands that were left entirely loose here will get tied up in later volumes, but this ultimately hasn’t grabbed me enough to find out!

teodora42's review

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

dragana86's review against another edition

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4.0

Kraj mi se nije toliko dopao, ali čitaću nastavke.

generalmalfoy's review

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adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

First of all, I am not a regular manga reader. I chose this manga because I enjoy sci-fi about space, so it was very much up my alley. 
From the drawing and the amount of what is happening per page, it was not too overwhelming for me, but a step up from the very easy "nothing happens" manga that I read previously.
The first 2 chapters were incredible, the characters and some of their story were showcased in a delicate and emotional, but not too emotional way, which I enjoyed a lot.
The latter chapters were still very nice, but didn't hit me as much as the first 2 chapters. So, as a whole, I give 4.25 stars.

lordofbooks's review

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adventurous challenging dark informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

hakansid's review

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4.5

rating for both volumes

ninx5's review

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adventurous emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

ketallpot's review

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4.0

This was a scenario I never really thought about: garbage men in space. Very interesting so far.