What do you think?
Rate this book
Planetes #1-2
Planetes Omnibus, Volume 1
In the 2070s, increased interplanetary travel has led to crisis-level amounts of dangerous space debris, and someone has to clean it up. Planetes follows the space-garbage crew of aspiring explorer Hachimaki, mourning Yuri, and secretive Fee, collected in two omnibus editions, printed from the original files and complete with bonus color pages!
528 pages, Paperback
First published December 22, 1999
62 people are currently reading
829 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
August 14, 2018
Planetes is an excellent sci-fi slice of life manga about a group of space janitors living in space and doing their jobs, all the while dealing with life things like space sickness, loss of loved ones, existential questions and even space terrorism. It's funny, occasionally deeply philosophical, a bit naive and absolutely beautiful thanks to Yukimura's impressive art style. As an added bonus it features a Russian character Yuri who is not a terrorist, billionaire, criminal or otherwise an asshole, but is actually a great person and one of the best characters in the book. As a Russian person myself who gets sick of those national stereotypes in every kind of media I was really happy to see a positive representation for once. Overall, Planetes is an outstanding book, and will be a great choice for the fans of life in Space genre.
August 31, 2019
--Planetes Omnibus, Volume 1
Planetes Supplement: This is a happy life, from a certain point of view
Planetes Supplement: This is a happy life, from a certain point of view
February 7, 2019
Set in the far future, Planetes is working-class sci-fi that follows the crew of a sanitation ship. Basically, space garbage collectors dealing with all the junk that humans have let accumulate in Earth's orbit. I didn't completely like it until the second volume, but then I loved it.
Initially it's a slice of life comic following these folks through their work and family lives, but a larger arc emerges as crew member Hachimaki trains to apply for a deep-space exploratory mission to Venus. His continuous speechifying about space and his destiny got a little old for me (yes, Hachi, we know, we get it, SHUT UP) but the rest of the cast made up for it so I kept going. In the second book, his character is a lot more settled, so that was a relief. The series is by turns hilarious, touching, suspenseful, and political. It's such a nice change in science fiction to focus on characters who aren't explorers, soldiers, or scientists - just folks getting their regular day-to-day work done. Well worth the time, especially since Yukimura's art is, as always, crisp and expressive.
Planetes is complete in two Omnibus editions, which are fairly large, but don't take as long to read as you'd think.
Initially it's a slice of life comic following these folks through their work and family lives, but a larger arc emerges as crew member Hachimaki trains to apply for a deep-space exploratory mission to Venus. His continuous speechifying about space and his destiny got a little old for me (yes, Hachi, we know, we get it, SHUT UP) but the rest of the cast made up for it so I kept going. In the second book, his character is a lot more settled, so that was a relief. The series is by turns hilarious, touching, suspenseful, and political. It's such a nice change in science fiction to focus on characters who aren't explorers, soldiers, or scientists - just folks getting their regular day-to-day work done. Well worth the time, especially since Yukimura's art is, as always, crisp and expressive.
Planetes is complete in two Omnibus editions, which are fairly large, but don't take as long to read as you'd think.
June 16, 2025
Ну нарешті манґа, яка відчувається після прочитання майже як повноцінна книжка, а не як нескінченний серіал.
"Блукальці" Макото Юкімури — це дещо меланхолійна за настроєм, але доволі динамічна розповідь про космос, який став рутиною. Про щось подібне завжди мріяли класичні фантасти і могли б продовжувати мріяти зараз ми, якби візіонер Ілон Маск не виявився фашистом та придурком, а весь світ, замість того, щоб займатися науковими дослідженнями і дбати про екологію, — масово озброюється і так заходить на нове коло взаємного знищення.
Майже всі персонажі тут — трохи космонавти. І займаються вони здебільшого нескінченною і достатньо невдячною роботою — ловлять довкола осередків життя та бізнесу космічне сміття. Не надто героїчна праця, яка втім залишає простір для раптової можливості стати героєм.
Я дуже люблю фільми про космос, на кшталт "Інтерстеллара" або "Гравітації" і ця манґа якраз для таких, хто дивом не розгубив цю дитинну прихильність до романтики космічних подорожей. Колись, у глибокому дитинстві, начитавшись Бредбері або Азімова, я одного разу безапеляційно заявив, що, як тільки з'явиться така можливість, — полечу на Марс і моя мама дуже через це засмутилася, адже навіть тридцять років тому було очевидно, що такий політ буде польотом в один кінець.
"Блукальці" класні. В міру глибокі та емоційні, в хорошому, олдскульному сенсі вайбові, місцями смішні і дуже, дуже гарно намальовані.
"Блукальці" Макото Юкімури — це дещо меланхолійна за настроєм, але доволі динамічна розповідь про космос, який став рутиною. Про щось подібне завжди мріяли класичні фантасти і могли б продовжувати мріяти зараз ми, якби візіонер Ілон Маск не виявився фашистом та придурком, а весь світ, замість того, щоб займатися науковими дослідженнями і дбати про екологію, — масово озброюється і так заходить на нове коло взаємного знищення.
Майже всі персонажі тут — трохи космонавти. І займаються вони здебільшого нескінченною і достатньо невдячною роботою — ловлять довкола осередків життя та бізнесу космічне сміття. Не надто героїчна праця, яка втім залишає простір для раптової можливості стати героєм.
Я дуже люблю фільми про космос, на кшталт "Інтерстеллара" або "Гравітації" і ця манґа якраз для таких, хто дивом не розгубив цю дитинну прихильність до романтики космічних подорожей. Колись, у глибокому дитинстві, начитавшись Бредбері або Азімова, я одного разу безапеляційно заявив, що, як тільки з'явиться така можливість, — полечу на Марс і моя мама дуже через це засмутилася, адже навіть тридцять років тому було очевидно, що такий політ буде польотом в один кінець.
"Блукальці" класні. В міру глибокі та емоційні, в хорошому, олдскульному сенсі вайбові, місцями смішні і дуже, дуже гарно намальовані.
January 7, 2017
knew nothing about this, but i liked the cover. i liked the picture of this astronaut just floating above earth. so i judge a book by it's cover? so what, eh? it worked out really well. there've been times i've read a book because the cover was really bad. call it reverse-judging.
anyway, i don't know i've been, cause apparently this has been out for a while. i really dug it. it only had some 'lost in translation' bits and pieces, but i really felt a universal vibe. this is about the human experience in a changing world, but i like that it takes different perspectives on this motif. yeah, it's the future alright, and these are the trash collectors tasked with cleaning the exosphere and beyond for space craft en route to the Lunar base and back. other players are involved with this story, but the core cast of protagonists are regular folks with compelling stories. very different reading experience.
anyway, i don't know i've been, cause apparently this has been out for a while. i really dug it. it only had some 'lost in translation' bits and pieces, but i really felt a universal vibe. this is about the human experience in a changing world, but i like that it takes different perspectives on this motif. yeah, it's the future alright, and these are the trash collectors tasked with cleaning the exosphere and beyond for space craft en route to the Lunar base and back. other players are involved with this story, but the core cast of protagonists are regular folks with compelling stories. very different reading experience.
November 3, 2015
This is the series that convinced me that graphic novels and manga was a worthy storytelling medium. Along with Y: The Last Man, Vol. 1: Unmanned, this is my favorite graphic novel series of all time. Back when it was published in the turn of the millennium (and picked up two Seiun Awards, Japan’s highest honor for science fiction), it also kindled a love for hard sci-fi that has since grown into an obsession. If you love novels and movies that go heavy on the realistic science, such as The Martian or Interstellar, I promise you'll love this series.
I was given an ARC by Dark Horse before this was published, but I've also read the original run some decades ago (and reread it many times since then). I'm very picky about my manga, since so much of the genre is bloated with formulaic plot devices. Unlike the popular stuff your little brother reads, Planetes is mature and nuanced, with deep characterization and subtle questions about the nature of humanity and our collective self-destructive drive to explore the unknown, at all costs.
Even though it first ran over 15 years ago, Planetes doesn't feel dated, and the art doesn't have that distinctive '90s manga style that so many people (including myself) love to hate. Yukimura takes full advantage of his medium, using the panels to alternatively illustrate the harsh and lifeless limitlessness of space and contrast it with the claustrophobic interiors of space shuttles.
Really, I can't wax enough praise for this series. I'm so pleased to finally see it finally reissued so that I can finally replace my extremely well-loved set I bought over ten years ago!
I was given an ARC by Dark Horse before this was published, but I've also read the original run some decades ago (and reread it many times since then). I'm very picky about my manga, since so much of the genre is bloated with formulaic plot devices. Unlike the popular stuff your little brother reads, Planetes is mature and nuanced, with deep characterization and subtle questions about the nature of humanity and our collective self-destructive drive to explore the unknown, at all costs.
Even though it first ran over 15 years ago, Planetes doesn't feel dated, and the art doesn't have that distinctive '90s manga style that so many people (including myself) love to hate. Yukimura takes full advantage of his medium, using the panels to alternatively illustrate the harsh and lifeless limitlessness of space and contrast it with the claustrophobic interiors of space shuttles.
Really, I can't wax enough praise for this series. I'm so pleased to finally see it finally reissued so that I can finally replace my extremely well-loved set I bought over ten years ago!
April 20, 2016
This is definitely one of the best space comics/manga out there. Although the original copyright was from 1999, this doesn't seem dated, mostly because the heart of it is ideas and emotions using space as a medium to convey these.
Aside from Hachi being the standard annoying, thick-headed young male manga protagonist whose main ability is to hard-headedly pursue a goal, and somehow accumulate much more interesting, intelligent, and caring human beings along the way, and Tanabe being merely a narrative tool top stereotypically show Hachi that love and compassion are important, I enjoyed everything else about this omnibus. There's comic relief, family dynamics, dealing with mourning, PTSD, and a complex portrayal both positive and negative about what it takes to explore the unknown (idealism, determination, ruthlessness, selfishness, etc). Planetes also manages to capture a wistfulness that's recognizable to anyone who's ever looked up at the beauty of the night sky.
Aside from Hachi being the standard annoying, thick-headed young male manga protagonist whose main ability is to hard-headedly pursue a goal, and somehow accumulate much more interesting, intelligent, and caring human beings along the way, and Tanabe being merely a narrative tool top stereotypically show Hachi that love and compassion are important, I enjoyed everything else about this omnibus. There's comic relief, family dynamics, dealing with mourning, PTSD, and a complex portrayal both positive and negative about what it takes to explore the unknown (idealism, determination, ruthlessness, selfishness, etc). Planetes also manages to capture a wistfulness that's recognizable to anyone who's ever looked up at the beauty of the night sky.
July 25, 2025
Наукова фантастика — один із тих жанрів, які я завжди сприймаю з особливим захопленням. Вона не лише відкриває перед нами двері в інші світи, а й повертає до запитань про самих себе. Саме тому, коли взяв до рук манґу «Блукальці» від Макото Юкімури, — не знав, чого чекати, але відчував передчуття чогось особливого. Адже уже мав вдалий досвід читання його іншої серії манґи «Сага про Вінланд».
Події розгортаються у недалекому майбутньому, де космос уже не романтика першопрохідців, а буденність і бізнес. Людство літає на орбіту щодня — запускати супутники, обслуговувати станції, доставляти вантажі. Але за всіма цими польотами залишається сміття — уламки, деталі, непотріб, що кружляє навколо Землі, становлячи небезпеку для всіх, хто вирушає в невагомість.
І тут на сцену виходить екіпаж корабля DS-12 — збирачі уламків. Вони прибирають орбіту, рятуючи від потенційних катастроф, хоча суспільство часто не помічає їхньої праці. Але ця щоденна, рутинна робота не позбавлена драм, відкриттів і дуже людських переживань.
На перший погляд, концепція космічних «прибиральників» може видатися вторинною або навіть кумедною — адже це не герої-першовідкривачі, не військові, не вчені. Але саме в цій буденності, у щоденному прибиранні уламків серед зірок, Макото Юкімура знаходить і показує справжню драму людського існування. Через рутину, яка повторюється день у день, розкриваються теми втрати й пам’яті, сенсу праці, людської самотності в неосяжному космосі.
Ця манґа — про людство, яке йде вперед, залишаючи за собою уламки — фізичні й ментальні. Вона порушує теми екології, етики, мрій і жертовності. І водночас у ній є гумор, тепло і звісно ж драматизм. Кожна глава — це окрема орбіта, на якій обертаються мрії, втрати й надії героїв.
Окрема насолода — це персонажі. Хачімакі, молодий і запальний, прагне більшого, мріє про власний корабель і місію на Юпітер. Але його шлях — це не шлях героя з рекламного буклету умовного NASA. Це шлях сумнівів, помилок, страхів і внутрішніх трансформацій. Юрій — мовчазний космонавт з травмою втрати. І хоча він не говорить багато, саме тиша навколо нього промовляє голосніше за слова. А Фі — жінка з харизмою лідерки, але водночас жива, земна, кумедна й рішуча. Її гонитва за цигаркою — це маленький шедевр побутової драми на ��лі невагомості. Юкімура майстерно прописує характери, показує їхні зміни, конфлікти й зцілення. І що важливо — усе це подано природно й щиро, без надмірної театральності.
А ще, я в захваті від візуального стилю манґи. У кожній панелі відчувається баланс між технічною точністю (особливо в зображенні кораблів, станцій, обладнання) та живими, виразними обличчями героїв. Космос тут — не просто фон, а окрема дійова особа. Його чорна безодня — велична, страшна і прекрасна водночас. Малюнок виконано з тією ж увагою до деталей, що й у «Сазі про Вінланд» — художник знову демонструє майстерне ставлення до кожного аспекту візуальної сторони манґи.
Хоча через обставини, змушений був відкладати манґу багато разів та читати не один день, але за відчуттями, що прочитав перший омнібус «Блукальців» на одному подиху. І не зміг знайти жодного мінуса. Це глибока, чесна, візуально вражаюча манґа, яка поєднує романтику космосу, реалії життя й філософські роздуми.
Щиро рекомендую всім, хто шукає у фантастиці не лише космічні кораблі та подорож між планетами, а й живі історії, що торкають і залишають слід. Єдине, що змусило усміхнутись — як серйозні космонавти, не моргнувши, штовхають уламки сміття ногою, щоб ті згоріли в атмосфері. Оце і є справжня магія буднів у космосі.
Події розгортаються у недалекому майбутньому, де космос уже не романтика першопрохідців, а буденність і бізнес. Людство літає на орбіту щодня — запускати супутники, обслуговувати станції, доставляти вантажі. Але за всіма цими польотами залишається сміття — уламки, деталі, непотріб, що кружляє навколо Землі, становлячи небезпеку для всіх, хто вирушає в невагомість.
І тут на сцену виходить екіпаж корабля DS-12 — збирачі уламків. Вони прибирають орбіту, рятуючи від потенційних катастроф, хоча суспільство часто не помічає їхньої праці. Але ця щоденна, рутинна робота не позбавлена драм, відкриттів і дуже людських переживань.
На перший погляд, концепція космічних «прибиральників» може видатися вторинною або навіть кумедною — адже це не герої-першовідкривачі, не військові, не вчені. Але саме в цій буденності, у щоденному прибиранні уламків серед зірок, Макото Юкімура знаходить і показує справжню драму людського існування. Через рутину, яка повторюється день у день, розкриваються теми втрати й пам’яті, сенсу праці, людської самотності в неосяжному космосі.
Ця манґа — про людство, яке йде вперед, залишаючи за собою уламки — фізичні й ментальні. Вона порушує теми екології, етики, мрій і жертовності. І водночас у ній є гумор, тепло і звісно ж драматизм. Кожна глава — це окрема орбіта, на якій обертаються мрії, втрати й надії героїв.
Окрема насолода — це персонажі. Хачімакі, молодий і запальний, прагне більшого, мріє про власний корабель і місію на Юпітер. Але його шлях — це не шлях героя з рекламного буклету умовного NASA. Це шлях сумнівів, помилок, страхів і внутрішніх трансформацій. Юрій — мовчазний космонавт з травмою втрати. І хоча він не говорить багато, саме тиша навколо нього промовляє голосніше за слова. А Фі — жінка з харизмою лідерки, але водночас жива, земна, кумедна й рішуча. Її гонитва за цигаркою — це маленький шедевр побутової драми на ��лі невагомості. Юкімура майстерно прописує характери, показує їхні зміни, конфлікти й зцілення. І що важливо — усе це подано природно й щиро, без надмірної театральності.
А ще, я в захваті від візуального стилю манґи. У кожній панелі відчувається баланс між технічною точністю (особливо в зображенні кораблів, станцій, обладнання) та живими, виразними обличчями героїв. Космос тут — не просто фон, а окрема дійова особа. Його чорна безодня — велична, страшна і прекрасна водночас. Малюнок виконано з тією ж увагою до деталей, що й у «Сазі про Вінланд» — художник знову демонструє майстерне ставлення до кожного аспекту візуальної сторони манґи.
Хоча через обставини, змушений був відкладати манґу багато разів та читати не один день, але за відчуттями, що прочитав перший омнібус «Блукальців» на одному подиху. І не зміг знайти жодного мінуса. Це глибока, чесна, візуально вражаюча манґа, яка поєднує романтику космосу, реалії життя й філософські роздуми.
Щиро рекомендую всім, хто шукає у фантастиці не лише космічні кораблі та подорож між планетами, а й живі історії, що торкають і залишають слід. Єдине, що змусило усміхнутись — як серйозні космонавти, не моргнувши, штовхають уламки сміття ногою, щоб ті згоріли в атмосфері. Оце і є справжня магія буднів у космосі.
January 3, 2020
PLANETES Omnibus Volume 1 by Makoto Yukimura, translated manga by Yuki Johnson / 2000 Japanese, 2015 English @darkhorsecomics
My first book of 2020: a graphic scifi taking place in the 2070s. In a world where interplanetary travel is booming, someone has to clean up the trash... this small "ragtag" group - Hachimaki, Fee, Yuri, and Tanabe - are the space cleanup crew.
A cool premise (got a little *Roadside Picnic* vibe with some of the concept), characters with rich back stories, and surprisingly big emotional, philosophical and environmental topics covered.
I liked that the story shows the physiological and psychological realities of space travel's effects on the human body - what it does to bone, muscle, and minds.
This Omnibus is 528 pages, mostly b/w, but with color spreads at the beginning of each separate issue. Planning to get Volume 2, and hope to find the anime film adaptation of this one too!
I mentioned before that I'm still new to manga, but a longtime reader and admirer of graphic novels and comics. I wanted my personal experience of #JanuaryinJapan to include several manga titles that showcase the breadth and depth of this graphic medium. More manga to come!
My first book of 2020: a graphic scifi taking place in the 2070s. In a world where interplanetary travel is booming, someone has to clean up the trash... this small "ragtag" group - Hachimaki, Fee, Yuri, and Tanabe - are the space cleanup crew.
A cool premise (got a little *Roadside Picnic* vibe with some of the concept), characters with rich back stories, and surprisingly big emotional, philosophical and environmental topics covered.
I liked that the story shows the physiological and psychological realities of space travel's effects on the human body - what it does to bone, muscle, and minds.
This Omnibus is 528 pages, mostly b/w, but with color spreads at the beginning of each separate issue. Planning to get Volume 2, and hope to find the anime film adaptation of this one too!
I mentioned before that I'm still new to manga, but a longtime reader and admirer of graphic novels and comics. I wanted my personal experience of #JanuaryinJapan to include several manga titles that showcase the breadth and depth of this graphic medium. More manga to come!
October 27, 2024
I’ve been a science fiction fan for as long as I can remember. Probably has something to do with my dad’s obsession and how Star Wars or treck was always on our television… I say this because I find this near future/realistic space setting the perfect place to tell a story about humanity. Planetes does an amazing job of using an extraordinary setting to tell a story of common feelings and themes relatable to everyone. Love, sacrifice, and belonging.
May 19, 2020
Brillante es una obra completa sobre el dia a dia de unos recogedores de basuras espaciales con sus sueños,amores, tristezas,enfermedades,etc.
Nos deja ver como podra llegar a ser la vida en el espacio con los riesgos que se tiene de vivir en el mismo combinando esto con ligeros toques de comedia ,el Drama que es la vida misma y esa busqueda del porque de nuestra existencia que siempre esta dentro de cada ser humano.
Nos deja ver como podra llegar a ser la vida en el espacio con los riesgos que se tiene de vivir en el mismo combinando esto con ligeros toques de comedia ,el Drama que es la vida misma y esa busqueda del porque de nuestra existencia que siempre esta dentro de cada ser humano.
March 4, 2016
[March 4th, 2016] EXISTENTIAL CRISIS IN SPACE
4.5 stars.
Thought I reviewed this already but apparently not, hence remedying that now.
Our universe is vast, probably much bigger than we perceive it to be. We may be the only form of life in our solar system, but who knows what lies out beyond ours? Why are we here? For what purpose do we exist for our particular solar system?--to consume?--to explore?--to live? All these questions are constantly questioned throughout this omnibus. But essentially its a story about exploring the human existence and why we strive to be more and even seek out the all consuming answer of "why are we here?"
It is the year 2070+ and space is being explored even more so than before. Not saying this is Star Wars or Star Trek levels of space livelihood but the precursor of such sci-fi tales. Our story centers around the ambitious Hachimaki, the forlorn Yuri and the mysterious Fee as they operate as a space-garbage crew. Let's face it, we humans make a lot of garbage, even in space with debris such as dead satellites and other junk either broken off from spacecrafts or by other means. Even coffins. --but through all that, the story tackles and cycles through our three main characters before focusing largely on Hachimaki for various reasons. Each have their own concerns and thoughts while in space. And they all come from somewhere on Earth.
The correlations between Earth and space, and the human existence crisis becomes an apparent topic of discussion as ideals clash, even dealing with space terrorists within their own ranks as the story expands to include the space stations and the rest of the interplanetary public. Various cultures, races, ideals, beliefs and more clash here yet at the same time hold a common factor --space.
If I was to get into more depth and focus in terms of the characters, all three illustrate different perspectives of what you may encounter in space--ambition, loss, and reality.
For Hachimaki, space has always been something he dreamed of being a part of--his father is a astronaut too, and a damn good one too from the sound of things (the reality of it is debatable however in comedic terms rofl). It is through him that we see the paralyzing ideals and wonders about space and the human existential crisis I see explored through different means and perspectives as he clashes with other characters.
Yuri, he deals with the aspect of loss. Very early on in the story, like within the first few pages you see a peek into his past and what he's lost. An accident into space steals the life of his wife, causing him to deal with the grief in an isolated way. Always looking for any trace of her, hence taking the job of being on the space-garbage crew. Through the process, we see that grief transcends earth and space. It's always there no matter where we go or how we get there, but the resulting realization and reasoning behind it is an interesting angle to the human existential crisis that pervades the majority of this story.
Lastly Fee, oh Fee. She's a firecracker of sorts. While her story is barely touched upon, you do see sides of what she had to do to adapt to living in space, and being away from her family on earth for long periods of time. and her inner struggles and responsibility to her crew--she acts at their communicator and guide, while Hachimaki and Yuri do the dirty work personally. Also, she illustrates an interesting aspect in the terms of living in space such as the limits and persistence of humanity. She surpasses it for her own selfish reasons, but it's a treat and awe to see it unfold.
Overall, the weight of this story is only encompassed more so by the weight of this tome. I feel as though it being in omnibus format is better for this kind of series that the regular volume format. I hope to read the remaining books because I'm definitely left wanting more, especially with the developments linked to the space terrorists, which reminds me I should touch on that aspect briefly.
The space terrorists that I refer to is the reasoning behind their efforts--believing humanity is spreading its pollution and self-destructive behaviour beyond Earth's atmosphere. It's an interesting look into environmental issues that we have even today. And they won't stop there, environmental issues will continue to affect us well into the future and generations upon generations. It's not global warming, but climate change--and we're adapting the best we can. The interplanetary travel exploration is the same thing, adaptive survival on other worlds, and expanding our own universe and understanding the beyond. One of my fave examples of this is the Lunarian question, and how can humans exist and hope to be born on other planets where gravity and other means are drastically different. I wish they explored this aspect more but alas, it'll be something that will continue to haunt my thoughts when reading other sci-fi books for sure.
4.5 stars.
Thought I reviewed this already but apparently not, hence remedying that now.
Our universe is vast, probably much bigger than we perceive it to be. We may be the only form of life in our solar system, but who knows what lies out beyond ours? Why are we here? For what purpose do we exist for our particular solar system?--to consume?--to explore?--to live? All these questions are constantly questioned throughout this omnibus. But essentially its a story about exploring the human existence and why we strive to be more and even seek out the all consuming answer of "why are we here?"
It is the year 2070+ and space is being explored even more so than before. Not saying this is Star Wars or Star Trek levels of space livelihood but the precursor of such sci-fi tales. Our story centers around the ambitious Hachimaki, the forlorn Yuri and the mysterious Fee as they operate as a space-garbage crew. Let's face it, we humans make a lot of garbage, even in space with debris such as dead satellites and other junk either broken off from spacecrafts or by other means. Even coffins. --but through all that, the story tackles and cycles through our three main characters before focusing largely on Hachimaki for various reasons. Each have their own concerns and thoughts while in space. And they all come from somewhere on Earth.
The correlations between Earth and space, and the human existence crisis becomes an apparent topic of discussion as ideals clash, even dealing with space terrorists within their own ranks as the story expands to include the space stations and the rest of the interplanetary public. Various cultures, races, ideals, beliefs and more clash here yet at the same time hold a common factor --space.
If I was to get into more depth and focus in terms of the characters, all three illustrate different perspectives of what you may encounter in space--ambition, loss, and reality.
For Hachimaki, space has always been something he dreamed of being a part of--his father is a astronaut too, and a damn good one too from the sound of things (the reality of it is debatable however in comedic terms rofl). It is through him that we see the paralyzing ideals and wonders about space and the human existential crisis I see explored through different means and perspectives as he clashes with other characters.
Yuri, he deals with the aspect of loss. Very early on in the story, like within the first few pages you see a peek into his past and what he's lost. An accident into space steals the life of his wife, causing him to deal with the grief in an isolated way. Always looking for any trace of her, hence taking the job of being on the space-garbage crew. Through the process, we see that grief transcends earth and space. It's always there no matter where we go or how we get there, but the resulting realization and reasoning behind it is an interesting angle to the human existential crisis that pervades the majority of this story.
Lastly Fee, oh Fee. She's a firecracker of sorts. While her story is barely touched upon, you do see sides of what she had to do to adapt to living in space, and being away from her family on earth for long periods of time. and her inner struggles and responsibility to her crew--she acts at their communicator and guide, while Hachimaki and Yuri do the dirty work personally. Also, she illustrates an interesting aspect in the terms of living in space such as the limits and persistence of humanity. She surpasses it for her own selfish reasons, but it's a treat and awe to see it unfold.
Overall, the weight of this story is only encompassed more so by the weight of this tome. I feel as though it being in omnibus format is better for this kind of series that the regular volume format. I hope to read the remaining books because I'm definitely left wanting more, especially with the developments linked to the space terrorists, which reminds me I should touch on that aspect briefly.
The space terrorists that I refer to is the reasoning behind their efforts--believing humanity is spreading its pollution and self-destructive behaviour beyond Earth's atmosphere. It's an interesting look into environmental issues that we have even today. And they won't stop there, environmental issues will continue to affect us well into the future and generations upon generations. It's not global warming, but climate change--and we're adapting the best we can. The interplanetary travel exploration is the same thing, adaptive survival on other worlds, and expanding our own universe and understanding the beyond. One of my fave examples of this is the Lunarian question, and how can humans exist and hope to be born on other planets where gravity and other means are drastically different. I wish they explored this aspect more but alas, it'll be something that will continue to haunt my thoughts when reading other sci-fi books for sure.
June 14, 2016
This is by the same author as the currently running "Vinland Saga". The art is absolutely fantastic and this edition by Dark Horse is a beautiful book. Volume 1 is an omnibus containing the first half of the series. Each chapter starts with the original colour pages and the book itself is made of thick quality paper. The story is hard science fiction and I think this is my first manga like this. The main theme is space travel and the main character's training for a mission to Jupiter. The characters are both quirky and dark and I was wrapped up in the story very quickly. The book leaves me with a lot of thought as the topics are very philosophical and deep. I've not read a manga quite like this before and am looking forward to reading the final volume.
July 6, 2016
Desperately wish I could give this a 4.5. It is that good.
The arc of this first omnibus is something to be applauded; watching Hachimaki grow as both an astronaut and a person is heartbreaking, irritating, and yet beautiful. The struggle to accept certain things (most of which I can't give away because *spoilers*) is just so human. I think what I loved most about the entirety of the omnibus is how the writer managed to really settle into the emotional beats in each chapter. All around, this is just a fantastic story about our very human desire for exploration, independence, and, ultimately, love. Can't wait to read omnibus volume 2.
The arc of this first omnibus is something to be applauded; watching Hachimaki grow as both an astronaut and a person is heartbreaking, irritating, and yet beautiful. The struggle to accept certain things (most of which I can't give away because *spoilers*) is just so human. I think what I loved most about the entirety of the omnibus is how the writer managed to really settle into the emotional beats in each chapter. All around, this is just a fantastic story about our very human desire for exploration, independence, and, ultimately, love. Can't wait to read omnibus volume 2.
April 14, 2019
In a future universe, humans have made space travel almost commonplace. But with the exploration of outer space comes the waste and debris that follows. This manga follows the story of a few space janitors who travel around picking up the debris from selfish humans. It's an exploration of man's responsibility to the universe and how far we can (or should) go to discover new worlds. I enjoyed the beautiful artwork, but the characters and motivations were a little confusing to keep track of.
September 1, 2016
Always loved the Planetes anime - whilst the manga is rather different I still loved it. Can't wait to read the second half.
August 7, 2017
Approximately 530 pages of heavenly graphic storytelling for only 20 Dollars.... Divine!
January 3, 2020
Phenomenal. Best sci fi I’ve read in a long time. Character focused, brilliantly written, funny, tragic, I loved this.
September 20, 2022
This was a really cool manga, great art and the slice of life aspect of it was really cool, it had some cool ideas like the S.D.L, the whole smoking bit seems a bit outdated and it feels like when it tries to get philosophical (not really but the last chapter in particular) it can get a bit too much. Overall pretty good, let’s see what happens on the next one
April 19, 2025
3 stars. The art is gorgeous and the story is enjoyable, but I care more about the side characters than the MC (with the exception of Tanabe, who is merely a vehicle for the MC in the shape of a cardboard cutout of a girl).
Edit after reading volume 2: The story as a whole (both volumes) is actually very good, and my grievances were definitely set right in the second volume. 4 stars :)
Edit after reading volume 2: The story as a whole (both volumes) is actually very good, and my grievances were definitely set right in the second volume. 4 stars :)
July 7, 2022
I’ve been aware of Planetes for a while but for whatever reason haven’t gotten into it until now, when one of my book clubs decided to read it. I had heard of it as being a story about people cleaning up space debris, basically outer space garbage men. And that is true, at least to an extent. The basic premise is about blue collar astronauts, cleaning up all the junk in Earth orbit to keep the spaceways clear as humanity steps out into the solar system in the latter half of the 21st century.
But from that premise, I had assumed that the story would mostly be about the job, showing the characters cleaning up junk and focusing on the hazards of life in space. And there is some of that in the first few chapters. The first chapter very clear shows the hazards of space debris by showing an accidental collision that destroyed a shuttle and killed a number of people, including the wife of one of the main characters. And chapter three involves Kessler Syndrome, the threat of an orbital collision cascading into a never-ending swarm of tiny debris that would make leaving Earth impossible.
But most of the plot is concerned with what happens in-between the space cleanup jobs. This volume contains the first twelve chapters, and they see multiple trips to a moonbase to recover after injuries and multiple vacations on Earth. And that by itself isn’t bad.
The problem comes with the character the narrative focuses on. When the story started, I figured that Yuri, the guy with the dead wife, would be the focus, but he works through a lot of his grief and issues within the first few chapters. Instead, much of the story focuses on Hachimaki, a young astronaut who dreams of going on the first mission to Jupiter and parleying that into owning his own ship. Except he’s a dick and I really don’t like him. He’s got a potentially interesting arc where he vacillates between wanting to give up his emotions and devote his soul to space and realizing how inhospitable outer space is and how much it scares him. But this mostly manifests as him hallucinating and berating everyone around him, including his crew mates and family. I found him to be pretty unpleasant to read about, and I think if Yuri or Fee had been the focus of the story I would’ve rated this higher.
On the plus side, the artwork is quite nice. The creator does a good job of capturing the vastness of space and also depicting fairly realistic spaceships and technology. The setting is definitely grounded and realistic - it’s on the harder side of sci-fi. Humanity’s exploration of space is motivated largely by economic factors. It’s clear that global warming has gotten worse and we’ve used up a lot of our Earthbound resources, so when helium that can be used for nuclear power is found on the moon, it finally gives us the reason to get moon bases up and running. And in a stark contrast to 2001, the Jupiter mission was created to get a mine up and running to use that planet as another fuel source.
So it’s definitely a cool setting, and I really like the idea of viewing space exploration from the bottom rung of the ladder. Usually the heroes in this kind of story are the brave explorers pushing the envelope and expanding human knowledge, not the guys cleaning up all the junk those explorers leave behind. I just wish the main person who got the focus out of the heroes that are presented was the one I actually wanted to read about. I am going to go ahead and read the rest of the story because while I don’t care much for Hachimaki, manga makes it easier to get past his rants quickly, and I’m curious to see where things go. I’m not expecting any sort of first contact scenario or other bend away from fairly realistic sci-fi but I’m assuming that the story is building towards something and I’m curious to see what it is.
But from that premise, I had assumed that the story would mostly be about the job, showing the characters cleaning up junk and focusing on the hazards of life in space. And there is some of that in the first few chapters. The first chapter very clear shows the hazards of space debris by showing an accidental collision that destroyed a shuttle and killed a number of people, including the wife of one of the main characters. And chapter three involves Kessler Syndrome, the threat of an orbital collision cascading into a never-ending swarm of tiny debris that would make leaving Earth impossible.
But most of the plot is concerned with what happens in-between the space cleanup jobs. This volume contains the first twelve chapters, and they see multiple trips to a moonbase to recover after injuries and multiple vacations on Earth. And that by itself isn’t bad.
The problem comes with the character the narrative focuses on. When the story started, I figured that Yuri, the guy with the dead wife, would be the focus, but he works through a lot of his grief and issues within the first few chapters. Instead, much of the story focuses on Hachimaki, a young astronaut who dreams of going on the first mission to Jupiter and parleying that into owning his own ship. Except he’s a dick and I really don’t like him. He’s got a potentially interesting arc where he vacillates between wanting to give up his emotions and devote his soul to space and realizing how inhospitable outer space is and how much it scares him. But this mostly manifests as him hallucinating and berating everyone around him, including his crew mates and family. I found him to be pretty unpleasant to read about, and I think if Yuri or Fee had been the focus of the story I would’ve rated this higher.
On the plus side, the artwork is quite nice. The creator does a good job of capturing the vastness of space and also depicting fairly realistic spaceships and technology. The setting is definitely grounded and realistic - it’s on the harder side of sci-fi. Humanity’s exploration of space is motivated largely by economic factors. It’s clear that global warming has gotten worse and we’ve used up a lot of our Earthbound resources, so when helium that can be used for nuclear power is found on the moon, it finally gives us the reason to get moon bases up and running. And in a stark contrast to 2001, the Jupiter mission was created to get a mine up and running to use that planet as another fuel source.
So it’s definitely a cool setting, and I really like the idea of viewing space exploration from the bottom rung of the ladder. Usually the heroes in this kind of story are the brave explorers pushing the envelope and expanding human knowledge, not the guys cleaning up all the junk those explorers leave behind. I just wish the main person who got the focus out of the heroes that are presented was the one I actually wanted to read about. I am going to go ahead and read the rest of the story because while I don’t care much for Hachimaki, manga makes it easier to get past his rants quickly, and I’m curious to see where things go. I’m not expecting any sort of first contact scenario or other bend away from fairly realistic sci-fi but I’m assuming that the story is building towards something and I’m curious to see what it is.
May 8, 2016
Disclosure: I received a free e-galley copy of this book from Edelweiss.
I'd heard about "Planetes" when I received my e-galley copy, but I hadn't heard much. I had no idea what this book was about, no expectations, and I was honestly pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed everything about it. From the opening scenes the characters, the world, and the style pulled me in. All of the SF anime and manga I've consumed has either been near-future, Earth-based, and often dystopian or cyberpunk (Neon Genesis Evangelion, Ghost in the Shell, Akira), or set in the far future when humanity is already living comfortably in space (Knights of Sidonia) - but above all, thematically concerned with human and other, instantiated as humans and the super-human (either superpowered humans or something more alien and more powerful). "Planetes" is unique (to me) in that it's a near-ish future concerned with expansion into space and humans living their lives. There are no giant aliens, no cyborgs, no superhumans, just humanity.
This focus on human life is clear from the opening scenes: a man and his wife are flying in a low-orbit ship across the planet. The wife is nervous, as she always is. The husband moves to the back of the ship to get some coffee, and the entire front end of the ship is destroyed. A few years later, he is part of the three-person crew that are the core characters of the story. Their ship is a garbage collector; they spend their days literally cleaning up after humanity, collecting space debris. This is an important job, though, because the thoughtless, random detritus of human expansion can be deadly, from the largest chunk of space station to the smallest screw. There's Yuri, who is looking for his late wife's compass, Hachimaki, who wants nothing more than to be chosen for the longest space trip ever, a trip to Jupiter, and Fee, who wants nothing more than a good place for a smoke.
Most of the story arcs can stand alone, and many are slice-of-life pieces, but together they build a story that spans several years and chronicles the lives of a crew that grow together and come to depend on each other. I love the character dynamics, especially as the series continues and minor characters blossom. I also very much enjoy the world Yukimura has built (as a side note, I'm impressed that he's both the writer and illustrator for the whole thing). It's a world with moving parts and importance, and a message that comes through pervasively but not overwhelmingly. The art was a slow burn. I didn't love it at first, because I do have a strong preference for color over black and white, but there are some absolutely gorgeous scenes where the blackness of space feels as vast and drowning as it is in reality.
Overall, strongly recommend this collection, and I'll be on the lookout for the second one soon!
I'd heard about "Planetes" when I received my e-galley copy, but I hadn't heard much. I had no idea what this book was about, no expectations, and I was honestly pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed everything about it. From the opening scenes the characters, the world, and the style pulled me in. All of the SF anime and manga I've consumed has either been near-future, Earth-based, and often dystopian or cyberpunk (Neon Genesis Evangelion, Ghost in the Shell, Akira), or set in the far future when humanity is already living comfortably in space (Knights of Sidonia) - but above all, thematically concerned with human and other, instantiated as humans and the super-human (either superpowered humans or something more alien and more powerful). "Planetes" is unique (to me) in that it's a near-ish future concerned with expansion into space and humans living their lives. There are no giant aliens, no cyborgs, no superhumans, just humanity.
This focus on human life is clear from the opening scenes: a man and his wife are flying in a low-orbit ship across the planet. The wife is nervous, as she always is. The husband moves to the back of the ship to get some coffee, and the entire front end of the ship is destroyed. A few years later, he is part of the three-person crew that are the core characters of the story. Their ship is a garbage collector; they spend their days literally cleaning up after humanity, collecting space debris. This is an important job, though, because the thoughtless, random detritus of human expansion can be deadly, from the largest chunk of space station to the smallest screw. There's Yuri, who is looking for his late wife's compass, Hachimaki, who wants nothing more than to be chosen for the longest space trip ever, a trip to Jupiter, and Fee, who wants nothing more than a good place for a smoke.
Most of the story arcs can stand alone, and many are slice-of-life pieces, but together they build a story that spans several years and chronicles the lives of a crew that grow together and come to depend on each other. I love the character dynamics, especially as the series continues and minor characters blossom. I also very much enjoy the world Yukimura has built (as a side note, I'm impressed that he's both the writer and illustrator for the whole thing). It's a world with moving parts and importance, and a message that comes through pervasively but not overwhelmingly. The art was a slow burn. I didn't love it at first, because I do have a strong preference for color over black and white, but there are some absolutely gorgeous scenes where the blackness of space feels as vast and drowning as it is in reality.
Overall, strongly recommend this collection, and I'll be on the lookout for the second one soon!
May 15, 2020
Series Info/Source: This is the first book in the two volume Planetes Omnibus manga series. I got this volume as a gift. I am a huge fan of Yukimura’s Vinland Saga and was excited about this series because of that.
Story (4/5): The story starts out a bit confusing because the focus jumps between different characters. However, as the chapters progress the story gets more and more intriguing and engaging. The story mainly follows the crew of a spaceship that deals with hazardous space debris. After the first couple chapters the story mostly focuses on the characters of Hachi, who is desperate to get assigned to a high profile mission to Jupiter.
Characters (4/5): As mentioned above we get jerked around some between characters initially. First the story seems to be about Yuri, and then Fee, but eventually it settles on Hachi as the main character. The characters were all decently done but I never really engaged with any of them.
Setting (5/5): I loved the futuristic setting and how things are imagined to be. It was all very well put together and well done.
Writing/Drawing Style (4/5): You can tell this is one of Yukimura’s earlier works. Things just aren’t as polished early on in the Omnibus. However, about halfway through, Yukimura really starts to shine. Drawings get more detailed and you start to get sucked into Hachi’s quest to join the Jupiter mission.
My Summary (4/5): Overall, although this isn’t as awesome and polished as Vinland Saga, it is still a well done story and I enjoyed reading it. Things are a bit confusing at first because of how we are bounced between characters and stories, but about halfway through things really pick up and start to make more sense. Drawing quality also improves throughout the omnibus. I would recommend it if you are a big fan of Yukimuri’s work and are interested in seeing some earlier work. I would also recommend it if you like futuristic space exploration type of manga.
Story (4/5): The story starts out a bit confusing because the focus jumps between different characters. However, as the chapters progress the story gets more and more intriguing and engaging. The story mainly follows the crew of a spaceship that deals with hazardous space debris. After the first couple chapters the story mostly focuses on the characters of Hachi, who is desperate to get assigned to a high profile mission to Jupiter.
Characters (4/5): As mentioned above we get jerked around some between characters initially. First the story seems to be about Yuri, and then Fee, but eventually it settles on Hachi as the main character. The characters were all decently done but I never really engaged with any of them.
Setting (5/5): I loved the futuristic setting and how things are imagined to be. It was all very well put together and well done.
Writing/Drawing Style (4/5): You can tell this is one of Yukimura’s earlier works. Things just aren’t as polished early on in the Omnibus. However, about halfway through, Yukimura really starts to shine. Drawings get more detailed and you start to get sucked into Hachi’s quest to join the Jupiter mission.
My Summary (4/5): Overall, although this isn’t as awesome and polished as Vinland Saga, it is still a well done story and I enjoyed reading it. Things are a bit confusing at first because of how we are bounced between characters and stories, but about halfway through things really pick up and start to make more sense. Drawing quality also improves throughout the omnibus. I would recommend it if you are a big fan of Yukimuri’s work and are interested in seeing some earlier work. I would also recommend it if you like futuristic space exploration type of manga.
November 20, 2022
3.5 stars. Fantastic world building, though very dragging at times. But how interesting to imagine a future where there is a need for space garbage people?
November 18, 2022
SPACE TRASH. I still don’t know how to properly say the title… is it Planet-tess ?… Planets?… Planet-ess?… Plan-nettes?? I don’t know! The art is nice, That’s really this manga has going for it.
I DISLIKED, with a passion, the main character, Hachi. The only thing I admire about him is his ambition and drive to achieve his goal. Other than that, he wasn’t a person that I’d want to be around. He took his family and co-workers for granted. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be Hachi’s mom.
The story was constantly changing direction and it would jump around and cause some confusion, especially in the beginning. I thought main character was going to be Yuri. But it switched from him to Hachi. I didn’t really connect or care about any of the characters. There is nothing compelling me to read the next one. 😝
Looking for more manga content?
Instagram & YouTube & More!
I DISLIKED, with a passion, the main character, Hachi. The only thing I admire about him is his ambition and drive to achieve his goal. Other than that, he wasn’t a person that I’d want to be around. He took his family and co-workers for granted. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be Hachi’s mom.
The story was constantly changing direction and it would jump around and cause some confusion, especially in the beginning. I thought main character was going to be Yuri. But it switched from him to Hachi. I didn’t really connect or care about any of the characters. There is nothing compelling me to read the next one. 😝
Looking for more manga content?
Instagram & YouTube & More!
January 8, 2016
This comic is all about loving what you do, loving it to an absurd and unreasonable degree. It's about letting go of fear and grasping for love and the people around you.
It just so happens to also be set amongst a bunch of space garbage men.
Yukimura's vistas (especially on the color pages) are vast and grand and a little lonely, his characters are well-defined, his story is deft and assured. If you have any interest in manga, especially some of the more high-brow stuff, I highly recommend this.
It just so happens to also be set amongst a bunch of space garbage men.
Yukimura's vistas (especially on the color pages) are vast and grand and a little lonely, his characters are well-defined, his story is deft and assured. If you have any interest in manga, especially some of the more high-brow stuff, I highly recommend this.
February 13, 2016
4.5 stars. Tanabe was just soooooo annoying.
But other than that, this was amazing. <3 <3 I really can't wait for the next omnibus to come out, I want to see how the story will go on.
The art is absolutely gorgeous, details, details everywhere, great facial expressions and human anatomy. Good job!
I would recommend this.
Maybe I will write a longer review soon.
But other than that, this was amazing. <3 <3 I really can't wait for the next omnibus to come out, I want to see how the story will go on.
The art is absolutely gorgeous, details, details everywhere, great facial expressions and human anatomy. Good job!
I would recommend this.
Maybe I will write a longer review soon.
December 8, 2018
A pretty good sci fi slice of life story. It is pretty interesting and the art is pretty good as well. It's slightly older but overall a good story for sci fi fans. Hachi's growth should be interesting to see.
July 5, 2016
4 3/4 stars
November 29, 2022
A very interesting character piece with a healthy dose of social commentary, a lot of which is just as relevant today as it was 20 years ago. The art is beautiful, and despite reading pretty quickly, I still wound up finding myself staring at a fair few pages.
There were a few points where I didn't immediately understand decisions that some characters made, especially towards the end, but upon some reflection I was able to make it work. The book just moved a little too quickly through some of those moments of realization.
I was surprised by the amount of spiritualism in this story, especially since it's so wrapped up in technology. I wish the priest was introduced much earlier so we could actually explore his headspace more.
As a whole though, a fantastic story, and one I will definitely suggest to others in my life.
There were a few points where I didn't immediately understand decisions that some characters made, especially towards the end, but upon some reflection I was able to make it work. The book just moved a little too quickly through some of those moments of realization.
I was surprised by the amount of spiritualism in this story, especially since it's so wrapped up in technology. I wish the priest was introduced much earlier so we could actually explore his headspace more.
As a whole though, a fantastic story, and one I will definitely suggest to others in my life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews