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Sternensammler Sammelband (Volumes) #2
Star Collector, Volume 2
Fynn's favorite activities are skipping class, smoking, and lying around. So when he's told it's time to shape up and try doing something else for a change, he has no idea where to even start.
Then, on a nighttime walk around his neighborhood, he sees a stranger with a telescope up on a hill: his name is Niko, and he loves to watch the stars. Intrigued, Flynn decides to find out more about this nerdy boy and what could be so interesting about the night sky that he loves so much.
This is the second and final volume of the Star Collector series.
Then, on a nighttime walk around his neighborhood, he sees a stranger with a telescope up on a hill: his name is Niko, and he loves to watch the stars. Intrigued, Flynn decides to find out more about this nerdy boy and what could be so interesting about the night sky that he loves so much.
This is the second and final volume of the Star Collector series.
192 pages, Paperback
First published March 12, 2018
35 people are currently reading
234 people want to read
About the author
Anna Backhausen
14 books15 followersAnna Backhausen wurde 1995 geboren. Momentan studiert sie an der Universität Kassel Soziale Arbeit. Nebenbei versucht sie in ihren Zeichnungen und Geschichten den Eigenheiten ihrer Mitmenschen einen Platz zu geben und Fuß in der deutschen Comic- bzw. Mangaszene zu fassen.
Neben den häufigen Verabredungen mit ihrem Schreibtisch, welche meist von Sophie Schönhammer eingefädelt werden, geht sie gerne ins Kino, trifft sich mit Freunden zum Kuchen essen oder backen und sucht auf Flohmärkten nach Schätzen.
Anna findet ihr auch unter ihrem Künstlernamen Holzesserin auf Facebook und Twitter.
Gemeinsam haben die beiden bereits verschiedene Dojinshi veröffentlicht und für ihre Geschichte He’s half-baked den Dojinshi-Preis 2014 gewonnen.
Instagram: traumholz
Neben den häufigen Verabredungen mit ihrem Schreibtisch, welche meist von Sophie Schönhammer eingefädelt werden, geht sie gerne ins Kino, trifft sich mit Freunden zum Kuchen essen oder backen und sucht auf Flohmärkten nach Schätzen.
Anna findet ihr auch unter ihrem Künstlernamen Holzesserin auf Facebook und Twitter.
Gemeinsam haben die beiden bereits verschiedene Dojinshi veröffentlicht und für ihre Geschichte He’s half-baked den Dojinshi-Preis 2014 gewonnen.
Instagram: traumholz
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
April 13, 2019
Vol. 1 ★★★★★
Vol. 2 ★★★★☆
The first volume of this series was absolutely adorable perfection, but this one didn't quite live up to the same level for me! I felt like there was a lot of unnecessary drama, and honestly, this volume made it hard to like Niko as much as I liked him to begin with, because, while I do totally get that his family life has gone to hell and he's in a lot of pain, the way he treats Fynn at times is really unfair.
All of that said, I still love Fynn, I valued the emphasis on safe sex and the fact that Niko never gave Fynn a hard time when he wasn't ready, and I think these two lil' beans are super precious so I really wish there was going to be a volume 3. 💔
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
July 12, 2022
The sequel is better
Niko and Fynn's relationship went downhill. Rooting from the previous jealousy of Zoe, and Niko's family problems, and the fact that they decided to hide their relationship from everyone at school—it made Fynn uneasy, anticipating a break-up from Niko who's slowly drifting away from. Loved how this book has more angst in it than the first one, and the atmosphere get to be a little serious. But the ending was everything! This series is really cute. And I'm in love with the character concept art!!
Niko and Fynn's relationship went downhill. Rooting from the previous jealousy of Zoe, and Niko's family problems, and the fact that they decided to hide their relationship from everyone at school—it made Fynn uneasy, anticipating a break-up from Niko who's slowly drifting away from. Loved how this book has more angst in it than the first one, and the atmosphere get to be a little serious. But the ending was everything! This series is really cute. And I'm in love with the character concept art!!
October 2, 2019
A sweet and gentle European example of BL manga, Star Collector by Sophie Schönhammer and Anna Backhausen is a lovely find.
Centred on the growing relationship - perhaps a bit on the insta side - between 'bad boy' Fynn and the dreamy stargazer Niko, the plot accompanies the reader through the ups and downs of new-found love, its insecurities and little misunderstandings.
The two characters are both lovely and endearing. Fynn is slightly adrift in life, not sure of his place in the world. Niko is determined and focused, but marked by a difficult family past that he has trouble sharing. Will Fynn and Niko manage to build up a new future and reach the stars?
With a trait that made me think of Kanna Kii's works, and that is nuanced, evocative and elegant, Star Collector is a recommended read for all fans of coming-of-age stories and BL manga.
Centred on the growing relationship - perhaps a bit on the insta side - between 'bad boy' Fynn and the dreamy stargazer Niko, the plot accompanies the reader through the ups and downs of new-found love, its insecurities and little misunderstandings.
The two characters are both lovely and endearing. Fynn is slightly adrift in life, not sure of his place in the world. Niko is determined and focused, but marked by a difficult family past that he has trouble sharing. Will Fynn and Niko manage to build up a new future and reach the stars?
With a trait that made me think of Kanna Kii's works, and that is nuanced, evocative and elegant, Star Collector is a recommended read for all fans of coming-of-age stories and BL manga.
August 7, 2021
So freaking cute.
I felt for Niko, I was able to relate to what he was going through with his grandfather.
I hope this story continues because it is so cute.
I felt for Niko, I was able to relate to what he was going through with his grandfather.
I hope this story continues because it is so cute.
February 13, 2025
reread #1:
ugh, i swear it was like these volumes had straight magic in them a few years ago. similar to volume 1, this also fell flat towards the end.
ugh, i swear it was like these volumes had straight magic in them a few years ago. similar to volume 1, this also fell flat towards the end.
January 17, 2022
Süßer zweiter Band, nett. Ich muss aber auch leider dazu sagen, dass man es auch bei einem Band hätte belassen können, denn wirklich Handlung hatte dieser Band nicht. Eigentlich war die Geschichte im 1. Band auserzählt und ich hatte das Gefühl, dass den Figuren hier ein paar Probleme angedichtet wurden, um deren Geschichte weitererzählen zu können. Naja, das geht schon in Ordnung. Ich mag die beiden immer noch sehr gerne zusammen und ich mochte es vor allen Dingen, wie sich hier authentisch und behutsam und doch ohne Scham an den ersten schwulen Sex herangetastet wurde. Erfrischend zu lesen. Schade fand ich, dass es kaum noch ums Thema Astronomie ging, die Charaktere waren zu sehr mit ihren Problemen beschäftigtigt. Außerdem habe ich mich bei diesem Manga erstmals alt gefühlt. Denn ich hatte teilweise wirklich Probleme damit, den Text in den Sprechblasen zu lesen, weil er mir so entsetzlich klein vorkam. Vielleicht wird es tatsächlich langsam Zeit, dass ich mir eine Lupe ans Bett lege - oder hier wurde es tatsächlich irgendwann sehr kleinteilig.
April 20, 2023
The best part is the communication between the two main characters. And yes, this volume has less plot and more of being the two getting closer.
Love the art sequencing and the dialogue delivery.
Love the art sequencing and the dialogue delivery.
October 27, 2020
5/5 ⭐️
Aaaww I love the way it ended!
Aaaww I love the way it ended!
August 19, 2023
Adorable. 🥰
April 21, 2019
I received this comic from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
The final volume in this superduper adorable duology. I was delighted and squeeing when I saw this book up on Netgalley. OMG, the second volume! I wanted to see how the relationship between Niko and Fynn would continue (please no rivals or that silly crap) and if we would get tons and tons of romantic scenes.
I am reviewing this one as I read~ So come along while I read.
Aww, Fynn, you are adorable that you don’t care how early it is, instead just hop on your bike and cycle to your sleepy boyfriend. That scene when he arrived and Niko opened the door sleepily, awww! And then there was a sexy scene, though Fynn, boy, Niko said he was tired.
The cuteness continues, and I am delighted that both of them are still watching the stars together. Fynn is learning what the different stars are, while also having cute moments with his boyfriend. Squee!
Mm, something feels off. If I had gotten such a heartfelt reaction, such a confession of love, I would have looked way way happier. What is going on? Is there a rift growing between my two cuties? Nooooes!
While I was a bit pissed at Niko for pushing away Fynn like that at the party, I could also understand. This doesn’t seem the right crowd to come out to. I am sure there are people who will accept it, but there would be plenty who wouldn’t. Combined with how drunk everyone is getting…
Argh Fynn, you should understand that Niko has different friends and that he tells them stuff at his own time. That he hasn’t told you doesn’t mean you need to go pissy at your ex. :| Also, pick the right moment. That moment just wasn’t, AT ALL, the right one. Good grief. I get that you want to know things, I GET IT. But please, pick another timing.
sighsMore drama, though I can imagine that Fynn is now getting a bit antsy about things. Niko keeps dodging, keeps going back to sex, then getting angry when Fynn doesn’t want it because he first wants a good chat. Then he also learns that Nico doesn’t want to come out at school, which again, I respect and understand, but yeah, that can endanger a relationship. Because Fynn doesn’t care, and wants to be with you all the time and hearing that he can only be with you for the time that no one else is around… that fucking hurts. It finally all explodes, and I am sorry, I just wanted to smack Niko on his head. Dude. No. Just no. I was so on Fynn’s side on this whole exchange.
I did think the next part felt rushed. I mean we go from arguments to them talking, which is good, but it just felt as if Niko had magically flipped all the way in just the span of one night, which doesn’t seem real. He was so against it, and pushing a lot against Fynn, and now he is OK? And then someone else magically shows up, and sorry I was just rolling my eyes at this whole situation. And then Niko once again resorts to that and sorry, but please. Dude.
They do finally have the talk, and it made me happy to finally know more about Niko. I still think that Fynn is overreacting.
The visit to grandpa? Aww, that was just so sweet, though I was crying with how the conversations went. The author did a great job at capturing someone with alzheimer/dementia. I have worked for some time with people with alzheimer/dementia, and this was just spot on how conversations/interactions with most of them went.
Haha, I love Fynn’s mom.
snortsAh, the sex talk. I can imagine that it is not the best scenario to imagine, having get a dick in one’s butt (or put your dick in someone’s butt).
And so this one ends with a very hot and steamy scene (and I already thought their normal sexy times scenes were smoking, but dang this one takes the cake). The ending had me in tears, that was just so sweet and I am so happy for this couple.
All in all, a pretty fabulous volume though at times the pacing seemed a bit weird/off. I am glad that we got some sexy scenes, learned more about Niko, got to see this couple grow (though with some frustrating moments), and of course… the art was freaking fabulous again. Dang, that art. So beautiful.
I would recommend these two volumes to everyone looking for a nice and sweet LGBT comic.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
The final volume in this superduper adorable duology. I was delighted and squeeing when I saw this book up on Netgalley. OMG, the second volume! I wanted to see how the relationship between Niko and Fynn would continue (please no rivals or that silly crap) and if we would get tons and tons of romantic scenes.
I am reviewing this one as I read~ So come along while I read.
Aww, Fynn, you are adorable that you don’t care how early it is, instead just hop on your bike and cycle to your sleepy boyfriend. That scene when he arrived and Niko opened the door sleepily, awww! And then there was a sexy scene, though Fynn, boy, Niko said he was tired.
The cuteness continues, and I am delighted that both of them are still watching the stars together. Fynn is learning what the different stars are, while also having cute moments with his boyfriend. Squee!
Mm, something feels off. If I had gotten such a heartfelt reaction, such a confession of love, I would have looked way way happier. What is going on? Is there a rift growing between my two cuties? Nooooes!
While I was a bit pissed at Niko for pushing away Fynn like that at the party, I could also understand. This doesn’t seem the right crowd to come out to. I am sure there are people who will accept it, but there would be plenty who wouldn’t. Combined with how drunk everyone is getting…
Argh Fynn, you should understand that Niko has different friends and that he tells them stuff at his own time. That he hasn’t told you doesn’t mean you need to go pissy at your ex. :| Also, pick the right moment. That moment just wasn’t, AT ALL, the right one. Good grief. I get that you want to know things, I GET IT. But please, pick another timing.
sighsMore drama, though I can imagine that Fynn is now getting a bit antsy about things. Niko keeps dodging, keeps going back to sex, then getting angry when Fynn doesn’t want it because he first wants a good chat. Then he also learns that Nico doesn’t want to come out at school, which again, I respect and understand, but yeah, that can endanger a relationship. Because Fynn doesn’t care, and wants to be with you all the time and hearing that he can only be with you for the time that no one else is around… that fucking hurts. It finally all explodes, and I am sorry, I just wanted to smack Niko on his head. Dude. No. Just no. I was so on Fynn’s side on this whole exchange.
I did think the next part felt rushed. I mean we go from arguments to them talking, which is good, but it just felt as if Niko had magically flipped all the way in just the span of one night, which doesn’t seem real. He was so against it, and pushing a lot against Fynn, and now he is OK? And then someone else magically shows up, and sorry I was just rolling my eyes at this whole situation. And then Niko once again resorts to that and sorry, but please. Dude.
They do finally have the talk, and it made me happy to finally know more about Niko. I still think that Fynn is overreacting.
The visit to grandpa? Aww, that was just so sweet, though I was crying with how the conversations went. The author did a great job at capturing someone with alzheimer/dementia. I have worked for some time with people with alzheimer/dementia, and this was just spot on how conversations/interactions with most of them went.
Haha, I love Fynn’s mom.
snortsAh, the sex talk. I can imagine that it is not the best scenario to imagine, having get a dick in one’s butt (or put your dick in someone’s butt).
And so this one ends with a very hot and steamy scene (and I already thought their normal sexy times scenes were smoking, but dang this one takes the cake). The ending had me in tears, that was just so sweet and I am so happy for this couple.
All in all, a pretty fabulous volume though at times the pacing seemed a bit weird/off. I am glad that we got some sexy scenes, learned more about Niko, got to see this couple grow (though with some frustrating moments), and of course… the art was freaking fabulous again. Dang, that art. So beautiful.
I would recommend these two volumes to everyone looking for a nice and sweet LGBT comic.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
January 11, 2024
3/5
And here I am with another mini-series finished.
This one was honestly pretty average. It wasn't anything too deep nor special/unique.
I found a cute boy's love without the necessity of being too graphic nor explicit.
What it was missing in my opinion was a little more of characters depth. I honestly found both of them pretty flat, as was Zoe, our third character.
The story has the whole stars element that made it slightly more original than the most, but the whole thing overall felt a little bit heartless. The story needed something more to really pop.
The only aspect that really needed more development was introduced too far into the story and too soon was put aside.
Cute but nothing more.
And here I am with another mini-series finished.
This one was honestly pretty average. It wasn't anything too deep nor special/unique.
I found a cute boy's love without the necessity of being too graphic nor explicit.
What it was missing in my opinion was a little more of characters depth. I honestly found both of them pretty flat, as was Zoe, our third character.
The story has the whole stars element that made it slightly more original than the most, but the whole thing overall felt a little bit heartless. The story needed something more to really pop.
The only aspect that really needed more development was introduced too far into the story and too soon was put aside.
Cute but nothing more.
July 12, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Instagram | TikTok
Ugh that was such a cute wrap up to a little duology! There were definitely questions answered and the art style was stunning as always. This volume definitely dealt with a found family theme, parental abandonment (especially when it comes to having an LGBT child), coming out, first times, and acceptance. If you are into any of those themes, I definitely recommend Star Collector.
Flynn finally has his guy and he is ready to all the cutesy, ugly couple things like all the other kids in school. However, every time Flynn gets close to Niko, Niko pulls away and puts distance between each other. Letting it slip one night, Zoe (Flynn's Ex) tells Flynn that Niko has family issues and refuses to say anything else. Struggling with Niko's keeping secrets and him not wanting to have their relationship out in public, Flynn fears that their relationship will fail. All he wants is for his boyfriend to trust him.
What I loved most about this volume is that it introduced a lot of themes that mean a great deal too me. Especially the coming out theme. We definitely get two ends of the spectrum of coming out with acceptance on one end and being shunned on the other side. The mangaka and illustrator definitely bring these themes to life through each of the panels and the flow of the pages. As the plot gets thicker you just want to know more.
The one thing that I wished was explained more was Niko and his father's issues. All you get is that there is an issue and part of it might be because he is gay. But there is more to that story and we aren't really given it fully. Then of course we have Niko's grandfather and there is so much going on there. Also there might be family issues between the dad and grandparent's that isn't really explained. So slight plot holes.
And of course the romance development was so well done in this volume. The romance was slowly built whereas in the first volume it was very quick. There was that build up to the first time and then their build on the emotional side. They started to understand each others faults and strengths. They definitely are opposites but are really great together.
I definitely wish we had another volume. There were so many things I wanted more of. I wanted more build between Flynn and Niko. I wanted more of the background with families. Especially Flynn's dad. I would have liked to meet him and how he would have reacted to his son being gay. I wanted more of the emotions between the two. And I also would love to see how they would have gone into the school year.
But this was still cute and I really loved this manga duology! So go read it. ❤️❤️
Instagram | TikTok
Ugh that was such a cute wrap up to a little duology! There were definitely questions answered and the art style was stunning as always. This volume definitely dealt with a found family theme, parental abandonment (especially when it comes to having an LGBT child), coming out, first times, and acceptance. If you are into any of those themes, I definitely recommend Star Collector.
Flynn finally has his guy and he is ready to all the cutesy, ugly couple things like all the other kids in school. However, every time Flynn gets close to Niko, Niko pulls away and puts distance between each other. Letting it slip one night, Zoe (Flynn's Ex) tells Flynn that Niko has family issues and refuses to say anything else. Struggling with Niko's keeping secrets and him not wanting to have their relationship out in public, Flynn fears that their relationship will fail. All he wants is for his boyfriend to trust him.
What I loved most about this volume is that it introduced a lot of themes that mean a great deal too me. Especially the coming out theme. We definitely get two ends of the spectrum of coming out with acceptance on one end and being shunned on the other side. The mangaka and illustrator definitely bring these themes to life through each of the panels and the flow of the pages. As the plot gets thicker you just want to know more.
The one thing that I wished was explained more was Niko and his father's issues. All you get is that there is an issue and part of it might be because he is gay. But there is more to that story and we aren't really given it fully. Then of course we have Niko's grandfather and there is so much going on there. Also there might be family issues between the dad and grandparent's that isn't really explained. So slight plot holes.
And of course the romance development was so well done in this volume. The romance was slowly built whereas in the first volume it was very quick. There was that build up to the first time and then their build on the emotional side. They started to understand each others faults and strengths. They definitely are opposites but are really great together.
I definitely wish we had another volume. There were so many things I wanted more of. I wanted more build between Flynn and Niko. I wanted more of the background with families. Especially Flynn's dad. I would have liked to meet him and how he would have reacted to his son being gay. I wanted more of the emotions between the two. And I also would love to see how they would have gone into the school year.
But this was still cute and I really loved this manga duology! So go read it. ❤️❤️
April 11, 2019
Okay, so I was undecided whether I was going to read this or not, when I finished Vol 1, but I thought I'd give it another chance and hope for the best...
Sadly, I was disappointed.
While a second read of Vol 1 meant I could look past most of the biggest issues, I did feel that the same problems existed here - everything moved too fast, the relationship didn't feel genuine, and it didn't really have a purpose.
In the end, the purpose of the story seemed to be getting Niko to finally see a shooting star, which was fine. I liked that it was a consistent theme. I also appreciated how well the alzheimers storyline was handled, but there was a lot of drama for drama's sake: e.g. Fynn being jealous that Zoe knew something he did; Niko keeping his home life a secret; the continuous fights that led nowhere and were overreactions to simple situations. While Niko's father was homophobic, his independence from his family meant that it was pretty much a non-issue and it wasn't as though he'd been raised in a homophobic environment, being polluted with those thoughts. He was raised by his grandfather, who was more accepting, so I didn't see the point of that side-story except to explain away a single scar and Niko's secret-keeping.
I'm not sure why it had to be 2 volumes instead of one, but I was left disappointed by the ending, too. It was so abrupt and final, while very little substance had actually happened. All throughout this volume, I felt like Niko was pushing Fynn to have sex and being a bit single-minded about it, while Fynn was obsessing about everything within the relationship. It became less about 'star collector' (and I still have no idea what meaning that has to the story) and more about Niko and Fynn having sex and seeing a shooting star.
Overall, while I still like the illustrations and the general story, the potential was greater than the execution. The relationship felt forced and rushed, they didn't talk as a couple and both reacted irrationally to situations instead of talking. It had so much potential to be a great LGBT storyline with good characters and a back story, but it just failed to progress into something solid.
Sadly, I was disappointed.
While a second read of Vol 1 meant I could look past most of the biggest issues, I did feel that the same problems existed here - everything moved too fast, the relationship didn't feel genuine, and it didn't really have a purpose.
In the end, the purpose of the story seemed to be getting Niko to finally see a shooting star, which was fine. I liked that it was a consistent theme. I also appreciated how well the alzheimers storyline was handled, but there was a lot of drama for drama's sake: e.g. Fynn being jealous that Zoe knew something he did; Niko keeping his home life a secret; the continuous fights that led nowhere and were overreactions to simple situations. While Niko's father was homophobic, his independence from his family meant that it was pretty much a non-issue and it wasn't as though he'd been raised in a homophobic environment, being polluted with those thoughts. He was raised by his grandfather, who was more accepting, so I didn't see the point of that side-story except to explain away a single scar and Niko's secret-keeping.
I'm not sure why it had to be 2 volumes instead of one, but I was left disappointed by the ending, too. It was so abrupt and final, while very little substance had actually happened. All throughout this volume, I felt like Niko was pushing Fynn to have sex and being a bit single-minded about it, while Fynn was obsessing about everything within the relationship. It became less about 'star collector' (and I still have no idea what meaning that has to the story) and more about Niko and Fynn having sex and seeing a shooting star.
Overall, while I still like the illustrations and the general story, the potential was greater than the execution. The relationship felt forced and rushed, they didn't talk as a couple and both reacted irrationally to situations instead of talking. It had so much potential to be a great LGBT storyline with good characters and a back story, but it just failed to progress into something solid.
April 18, 2019
I was so pleased that I managed to get a review copy of this manga from Edelweiss+ It is a lovely story about two young men who are in a relationship together. One is rather laid back and the other is a nerdy stargazer, so it is really an opposites attract story.
In this second volume the couple become closer to each other, but there is some friction between them. Fynn is drifting at school and not doing so well. He really cares for Niko but senses that there is a barrier between them. Niko has secrets but he doesn't want to let Fynn in. Niko doesn't seem to be too comfortable with telling people that he and Fynn are together and this causes another barrier between them. It feels as if the relationship will be over before it begins. Will their love survive these early problems?
I actually enjoyed this second volume more than the first because it explores the characters in more depth. Stargazing is still the icing on the cake of this relationship but seeing them grow in their appreciation of each other is great. The artwork is still just as good as in the first volume.
This is a lovely romantic manga and I am looking out for the next volume.
Copy provided by Edelweiss + in exchange for an unbiased review.
April 27, 2019
I really liked the story of this manga. The plot flowed very nicely and there were plenty of ups and downs. But not so many that it seemed unrealistic. I liked how the relationship between Niko and Fynn developed throughout the book. I didn't always like how Niko would treat Fynn, I felt like he was pushing him away instead of just talking to him. But then I thought, when it feels like your whole life is falling apart it's really hard to sit and explain something to someone that you thought would just love you without expectation. But I also see where Fynn was coming from as well. He needed Niko to confide in him because he felt like Niko didn't trust him enough to tell him what was going on in his life. Overall, I really liked this book and I'm pretty bummed that this is the last one. I would love to read more about Niko and Fynn. I would recommend this manga for fans of slice of life or sweet yaoi manga.
June 20, 2021
This was so beautiful. Volume two has more reveals about Niko's past, no spoilers but I cried. Being someone who has experienced a family member with memory problems, it hit me hard.
This is such a love BL manga. Everyone should read it.
CW: Homophobia, Unsupportive Family Members, Family Member with Dementia/Alzheimers
This is such a love BL manga. Everyone should read it.
CW: Homophobia, Unsupportive Family Members, Family Member with Dementia/Alzheimers
May 28, 2019
It was so nice to get a change to see what happened next with Fynn and Niko!
Unfortunately, I didn't love the story line quite as much as I did in the first Volume.
The art was still great and I still absolutely love Niko's character.
Unfortunately, I didn't love the story line quite as much as I did in the first Volume.
The art was still great and I still absolutely love Niko's character.
April 13, 2022
I’m glad to have the chance to read this series at last. And it was a wholesome that I anticipated. Wonderful art and heartfelt story. I could have gone on reading about Niko & Fynn forever, I’m just saying 🥰🙌
June 23, 2021
Sehr sweet.
Viel Romantik was üblicherweise nicht ganz so meins ist hier aber doch ganz niedlich wurde.
Viel Romantik was üblicherweise nicht ganz so meins ist hier aber doch ganz niedlich wurde.
February 27, 2022
3,5 stars
A cute little teenage love story that's been told a thousand times.
A cute little teenage love story that's been told a thousand times.
June 17, 2022
4-4,5
Einfach cute. War ein schöner Manga und bin froh, ihn gelesen zu haben. Hat echt Heartstopper Potenzial. :D
Einfach cute. War ein schöner Manga und bin froh, ihn gelesen zu haben. Hat echt Heartstopper Potenzial. :D
September 21, 2022
wdym this is the end? i need m o r e
February 19, 2023
no i don't want it to end!!!!!!
ah i need more flynn and niko!!! but alas, i've reached "the end" and it was beautiful, amazing, and i'm at a loss for words because of how happy i am.
ah i need more flynn and niko!!! but alas, i've reached "the end" and it was beautiful, amazing, and i'm at a loss for words because of how happy i am.
June 17, 2021
PLEASE let there be a Volume 3 of Star Collector.
What a magnificent accomplishment. The story of Flynn, a high school student who may not graduate, his boyfriend Niko, a star gazer who hopes to work for NASA after graduation, and their friend Zoe comes to a beautiful, bittersweet end in this second volume of Star Collector.
Now that they are together, Flynn is head over heels in love with Niko. But new relationships can have their insecurities, and Flynn doesn't understand why Niko can't share a family secret with him even though he told Zoe. Adding to the insecurity is Niko not wanting to let others know they are a couple. Part of the beauty in this manga is the way the artist-authors show both the lingering, intermittent immaturity of these two teens with the way their love for each other, their earnest desire to care for one another, spurs them into maturity.
It's not just the story or dialogue alone that makes this manga beautiful - it's the glorious artwork, the near perfect decisions about pacing, the detailed settings, the body language and facial expression, the textures and visual style that, combined with the story, sets this work apart. Watch for close-ups of Flynn and Niko and notice how the tilt and angle of a head or the intensity of a gaze communicates visually more about what's happening inside them than words alone can. In some panels, we can feel Flynn holding his breath, anxious about what comes next.
Anna Backhausen, whom I assume is responsible for most of the art we see on each page, has found the perfect balance between linear gesture, expressive brushwork, and finely detailed realism that explodes off the page with an intimacy and immediacy that we might expect from painting. The aesthetic quality of immediacy can not be overlooked here. We immediately grasp the mood as it's conveyed through Backhausen’s mark-making, not just through the coded symbols for emotions (e.g. the hatched lines over cheeks and eyes showing embarrassment or self-consciousness) or the descriptive content of a panel (e.g. what is happening). The way a line, brush mark, or texture is laid down on the page has the feel of a real artist’s hand at work, a hand imbuing each mark with a distinctive feeling connected to the whole. We grasp the tacit and explicit levels of meaning and mood simultaneously. Each panel has its own visual gestalt that is integrally tied to the gestalt of the page and thence to the manga as a whole.
We don't need to know the reasons why the artwork works - what is most important is that it does. Here we get to the heart of why manga, graphic novels and comics can, at there best, be so compelling. The artwork has to resonate with us, it needs to trigger emotions that reward our looking simply because the looking is pleasurable, even as the imagery we see spark associations that weave layers of meaning around us - meaning informed by our past as well as by our anticipation of what we have yet to experience. Combine this resonance with a story, with words strung together setting up their own vibrations, their own rhythms and tensions, well, then you have a symphony in visual form.
Anna and Sophie: Brava!! Please, let us have one more movement to the exquisite music you've made in Star Collector. Judging by the fan art that this (comparatively short) two volume story has generated, I'm sure I'm not alone in this request. Other manga need twenty volumes to generate the excitement you've accomplished in two.
What a magnificent accomplishment. The story of Flynn, a high school student who may not graduate, his boyfriend Niko, a star gazer who hopes to work for NASA after graduation, and their friend Zoe comes to a beautiful, bittersweet end in this second volume of Star Collector.
Now that they are together, Flynn is head over heels in love with Niko. But new relationships can have their insecurities, and Flynn doesn't understand why Niko can't share a family secret with him even though he told Zoe. Adding to the insecurity is Niko not wanting to let others know they are a couple. Part of the beauty in this manga is the way the artist-authors show both the lingering, intermittent immaturity of these two teens with the way their love for each other, their earnest desire to care for one another, spurs them into maturity.
It's not just the story or dialogue alone that makes this manga beautiful - it's the glorious artwork, the near perfect decisions about pacing, the detailed settings, the body language and facial expression, the textures and visual style that, combined with the story, sets this work apart. Watch for close-ups of Flynn and Niko and notice how the tilt and angle of a head or the intensity of a gaze communicates visually more about what's happening inside them than words alone can. In some panels, we can feel Flynn holding his breath, anxious about what comes next.
Anna Backhausen, whom I assume is responsible for most of the art we see on each page, has found the perfect balance between linear gesture, expressive brushwork, and finely detailed realism that explodes off the page with an intimacy and immediacy that we might expect from painting. The aesthetic quality of immediacy can not be overlooked here. We immediately grasp the mood as it's conveyed through Backhausen’s mark-making, not just through the coded symbols for emotions (e.g. the hatched lines over cheeks and eyes showing embarrassment or self-consciousness) or the descriptive content of a panel (e.g. what is happening). The way a line, brush mark, or texture is laid down on the page has the feel of a real artist’s hand at work, a hand imbuing each mark with a distinctive feeling connected to the whole. We grasp the tacit and explicit levels of meaning and mood simultaneously. Each panel has its own visual gestalt that is integrally tied to the gestalt of the page and thence to the manga as a whole.
We don't need to know the reasons why the artwork works - what is most important is that it does. Here we get to the heart of why manga, graphic novels and comics can, at there best, be so compelling. The artwork has to resonate with us, it needs to trigger emotions that reward our looking simply because the looking is pleasurable, even as the imagery we see spark associations that weave layers of meaning around us - meaning informed by our past as well as by our anticipation of what we have yet to experience. Combine this resonance with a story, with words strung together setting up their own vibrations, their own rhythms and tensions, well, then you have a symphony in visual form.
Anna and Sophie: Brava!! Please, let us have one more movement to the exquisite music you've made in Star Collector. Judging by the fan art that this (comparatively short) two volume story has generated, I'm sure I'm not alone in this request. Other manga need twenty volumes to generate the excitement you've accomplished in two.
June 22, 2019
Fynn and Niko are settling into their relationship and trying to learn more about each other, good and bad. When Fynn finds out that Niko has told their mutual friend and his ex, Zoe, about some of his personal problems but hasn't told Fynn yet, Fynn is upset, jealous, and wonders where they stand as a couple. Niko and Fynn have to learn how to trust one another and when is the right moment to delve into their pasts in order to move on to the future.
One thing I really love about this series is how they don't fall into the usual tropes of bad boy/nerd. Niko is a nerd sure, he loves astronomy and is incredibly intelligent, but he's the more laid back and easy going of the two. Fynn, though he smokes and fits the bad boy image, is constantly pining over Niko and imagining a future together. It's nice that the authors flipped roles with this series, it makes it feel fresh and compelling rather than trope heavy. Niko is also the more sexually experienced of the two, but never belittles or cajoles Fynn into doing anything more than he is ready for.
Niko asks Fynn to keep their relationship a secret at school because it's easier. Niko also tells Zoe about his past but won't breach the topic with Fynn. Fynn's feeling like he's secondary often and that Niko makes choices for their relationship without giving Fynn a say or trusting in him. There's a lot of realism to their situation which I enjoy, and I also enjoy that Fynn doesn't hide away and hopes things will get better. He actively tries to talk to Niko and communicate with him about the problems in their relationship because he cares enough to make it work. There's some family drama in this volume which I thought was very true to life and well done. Niko faces a lot of the same familial situations as many teens, and I felt the authors handled it in a clear way that showed Niko's power in the situation. When Niko and Fynn decide to take their relationship to the next level sexually, it's with mutual understanding and respect, which is nice to see, especially in boys love manga's.
The entire Star Collector series is only two volumes, so it's a great romance read for anyone to give a shot.
Blog / Twitter
One thing I really love about this series is how they don't fall into the usual tropes of bad boy/nerd. Niko is a nerd sure, he loves astronomy and is incredibly intelligent, but he's the more laid back and easy going of the two. Fynn, though he smokes and fits the bad boy image, is constantly pining over Niko and imagining a future together. It's nice that the authors flipped roles with this series, it makes it feel fresh and compelling rather than trope heavy. Niko is also the more sexually experienced of the two, but never belittles or cajoles Fynn into doing anything more than he is ready for.
Niko asks Fynn to keep their relationship a secret at school because it's easier. Niko also tells Zoe about his past but won't breach the topic with Fynn. Fynn's feeling like he's secondary often and that Niko makes choices for their relationship without giving Fynn a say or trusting in him. There's a lot of realism to their situation which I enjoy, and I also enjoy that Fynn doesn't hide away and hopes things will get better. He actively tries to talk to Niko and communicate with him about the problems in their relationship because he cares enough to make it work. There's some family drama in this volume which I thought was very true to life and well done. Niko faces a lot of the same familial situations as many teens, and I felt the authors handled it in a clear way that showed Niko's power in the situation. When Niko and Fynn decide to take their relationship to the next level sexually, it's with mutual understanding and respect, which is nice to see, especially in boys love manga's.
The entire Star Collector series is only two volumes, so it's a great romance read for anyone to give a shot.
Blog / Twitter
April 2, 2025
The main premise of this second volume is that Niko is keeping a secret about his family from Fynn. Whatever is going on is obviously affecting Niko greatly and because Fynn cares about him he wants to help. Niko refuses to tell him anything though. Not only that, he also refuses to explain why he won’t tell Fynn anything leading to Fynn thinking Niko doesn’t trust him. I found this incredibly annoying. Of course, all of this culminates in their relationship becoming strained.
I don’t enjoy reading stories that center around miscommunication, especially when the miscommunication is only occurring because one of the characters is being unreasonably stubborn. I could not stand Niko this time. He was a little annoying in the last volume, but at least I could understand where he was coming from then. This time around I struggled to see his viewpoint. He was annoying me so much and treating Fynn so poorly I wanted them to break up. Near the end I could finally see his viewpoint, but after spending a whole volume annoyed with him it was too little too late.
Fynn was my absolute favorite. I became super protective of him. It’s obvious how much he cares about Niko with how he goes above and beyond in their relationship. And also with how much crap he puts up with from Niko. I felt like he was more mature than most people are in relationships, so it frustrated me when Niko acted like he was being unreasonable. You know, they have their cute moments, but I really think Fynn deserves better.
There were some good moments buried in this volume. The story between Niko and his grandfather was depicted well. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. There was also a sweet moment between Fynn and his mother that I enjoyed. All of this got overshadowed by my frustrations with Niko though.
I found this second volume to be a pain to get through. If you read the first book in this series then I recommend stopping there. This second volume doesn’t add anything significant to the story.
I don’t enjoy reading stories that center around miscommunication, especially when the miscommunication is only occurring because one of the characters is being unreasonably stubborn. I could not stand Niko this time. He was a little annoying in the last volume, but at least I could understand where he was coming from then. This time around I struggled to see his viewpoint. He was annoying me so much and treating Fynn so poorly I wanted them to break up. Near the end I could finally see his viewpoint, but after spending a whole volume annoyed with him it was too little too late.
Fynn was my absolute favorite. I became super protective of him. It’s obvious how much he cares about Niko with how he goes above and beyond in their relationship. And also with how much crap he puts up with from Niko. I felt like he was more mature than most people are in relationships, so it frustrated me when Niko acted like he was being unreasonable. You know, they have their cute moments, but I really think Fynn deserves better.
There were some good moments buried in this volume. The story between Niko and his grandfather was depicted well. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. There was also a sweet moment between Fynn and his mother that I enjoyed. All of this got overshadowed by my frustrations with Niko though.
I found this second volume to be a pain to get through. If you read the first book in this series then I recommend stopping there. This second volume doesn’t add anything significant to the story.
June 23, 2019
Star Collector Volume 2 is a great continuation of Fynn and Niko’s relationship that finally addresses some of the insecurities and secrets that Niko harbors which prevents him from totally opening up to Fynn. While this sort of drama and the family issues that leads up to it isn’t new ground or uncharted territory, it is still done in a way that makes for an interesting and emotional read.
Fynn, totally new to this type of relationship, is a great character in this volume and determined in a sort of way that is beautiful to see. I love how passionate and devoted he is to make their relationship work, enough so that he wants to do all sorts of things with Niko no matter how it looks to people who may not be open to same sex relationships such as perhaps Niko’s friends. The scene with his Fynn’s mom saying she knew and was alright with it was sweet and a nice change compared to what we saw with Niko and his father have going on. I enjoyed how the plot surrounding Niko’s father and the conflict it created did lead to a nice, actually beautiful, declaration of love which was amazing.
Overall this was a really sweet manga that improved immensely over the first volume and brought the characters to life in a way that they were not done previously. I connected with them on all levels, felt everything they felt, and even cheered or rooted for them through the thick and thin. I did wish that their post argument moment lasted just a bit longer than overnight as that seemed to be a bit rushed in the context of reality, but pages are limited so the team behind this story couldn’t drag it out too long. I loved the love making scenes too and the kisses and teases from Niko. Somehow with glasses, people look ten times hotter than without, lol.
Fynn, totally new to this type of relationship, is a great character in this volume and determined in a sort of way that is beautiful to see. I love how passionate and devoted he is to make their relationship work, enough so that he wants to do all sorts of things with Niko no matter how it looks to people who may not be open to same sex relationships such as perhaps Niko’s friends. The scene with his Fynn’s mom saying she knew and was alright with it was sweet and a nice change compared to what we saw with Niko and his father have going on. I enjoyed how the plot surrounding Niko’s father and the conflict it created did lead to a nice, actually beautiful, declaration of love which was amazing.
Overall this was a really sweet manga that improved immensely over the first volume and brought the characters to life in a way that they were not done previously. I connected with them on all levels, felt everything they felt, and even cheered or rooted for them through the thick and thin. I did wish that their post argument moment lasted just a bit longer than overnight as that seemed to be a bit rushed in the context of reality, but pages are limited so the team behind this story couldn’t drag it out too long. I loved the love making scenes too and the kisses and teases from Niko. Somehow with glasses, people look ten times hotter than without, lol.
December 10, 2022
It's not perfect, but I loved the reading experience. Read this right after v. 1 and had so much fun. I love Niko's complex, guarded personality. Fynn was best boy in this volume. Zoe was an awesome friend. I loved the gag with Niko always missing the shooting stars lol The whole thing with them wanting to see a shooting star together was so stinking dreamy and I seriously love the artwork.
I loved the angst too. I like the flaws these characters have. Maybe some of the drama could be avoided if Niko just talked to Fynn but, weird as it sounds, I like how they argue with each other and how they make mistakes. Because they are young and kinda stubborn, because they jumped into a relationship without knowing much about each other so at times their personalities clashed (makes it feel less insta-lovey), and because stuff like this happens in real life. Because at the end of the day they learned and grew.
Ultimately I just wish there was more. The ending was a bit abrupt. I wanted to go more in depth about Niko's scar. The story gave me the impression that Niko experienced bullying, so I wanted to see him maybe come to terms with it at least a little. I wanted to learn about his previous romances. I'd love a third volume that wraps up Niko's relationship with his family, that explores what Fynn wants to do in life, and that shows how the relationship will be affected when Niko goes to college.
Still, it was a fun quick ride that ticked a lot of my things-I-enjoy-reading boxes.
I loved the angst too. I like the flaws these characters have. Maybe some of the drama could be avoided if Niko just talked to Fynn but, weird as it sounds, I like how they argue with each other and how they make mistakes. Because they are young and kinda stubborn, because they jumped into a relationship without knowing much about each other so at times their personalities clashed (makes it feel less insta-lovey), and because stuff like this happens in real life. Because at the end of the day they learned and grew.
Ultimately I just wish there was more. The ending was a bit abrupt. I wanted to go more in depth about Niko's scar. The story gave me the impression that Niko experienced bullying, so I wanted to see him maybe come to terms with it at least a little. I wanted to learn about his previous romances. I'd love a third volume that wraps up Niko's relationship with his family, that explores what Fynn wants to do in life, and that shows how the relationship will be affected when Niko goes to college.
Still, it was a fun quick ride that ticked a lot of my things-I-enjoy-reading boxes.
March 7, 2020
Desenlace perfecto para una historia perfecta.
Después de empezar a salir juntos, Fynn sigue sin conocer del todo a Niko. Fynn está muy enamorado de él y quiere tener con su novio una relación normal y sin esconderla. Pero Niko no quiere lo mismo ya que quiere protegerse y evitar las habladurías de los demás alumnos del instituto.
Fynn, acepta a regañadientes. Quiere mucho a Niko y quiere que su relación funcione. Pero Niko no termina de confiar en él y Fynn no está dispuesto a dejar las cosas así.
En este segundo y último volumen de esta preciosa historia, se centra más en el desarrollo primerizo de la relación entre Fynn y Niko y en el pasado de este último. De los miedos sobre que otras personas sepan que sales con alguien de tu mismo sexo, problemas familiares, sobre la amistad y la confianza... Y todo esto en su grado justo y necesario. También hay una gran evolución en los personajes, sobre todo en Fynn. Aish, cómo le adoro.
El final me he parecido el acorde, sin precipitarse, bonito , feliz y abierto. Porque la vida y la relación de Fynn y Niko acaba de comenzar y seguro que, con altos y bajos, los dos serán felices.
Después de empezar a salir juntos, Fynn sigue sin conocer del todo a Niko. Fynn está muy enamorado de él y quiere tener con su novio una relación normal y sin esconderla. Pero Niko no quiere lo mismo ya que quiere protegerse y evitar las habladurías de los demás alumnos del instituto.
Fynn, acepta a regañadientes. Quiere mucho a Niko y quiere que su relación funcione. Pero Niko no termina de confiar en él y Fynn no está dispuesto a dejar las cosas así.
En este segundo y último volumen de esta preciosa historia, se centra más en el desarrollo primerizo de la relación entre Fynn y Niko y en el pasado de este último. De los miedos sobre que otras personas sepan que sales con alguien de tu mismo sexo, problemas familiares, sobre la amistad y la confianza... Y todo esto en su grado justo y necesario. También hay una gran evolución en los personajes, sobre todo en Fynn. Aish, cómo le adoro.
El final me he parecido el acorde, sin precipitarse, bonito , feliz y abierto. Porque la vida y la relación de Fynn y Niko acaba de comenzar y seguro que, con altos y bajos, los dos serán felices.
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