Scan barcode
A review by samsamsam
Planetes, Volume 1 by Makoto Yukimura
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!
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!