What do you think?
Rate this book
Reborn as a Space Mercenary: I Woke Up Piloting the Strongest Starship! Manga #1
Reborn as a Space Mercenary: I Woke Up Piloting the Strongest Starship! (Manga) Vol. 1
When I woke up, I found myself in outer space—and in a universe like the one in my favorite game. "With my beloved, ultra-specced-out ship, I can make a ton of money as a mercenary and live out my days on some cozy planet!" At least that's what I thought, until this beautiful babe with mountains of debt stumbled into my arms! A space fantasy like you've never experienced before! Join Satou Takahiro and his crew of hotties on an overpowered starship as they speed through a strange new universe, seeking adventure!
168 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 23, 2020
43 people are currently reading
45 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 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 1, 2024
If you've read some of my other reviews, you might know I'm not generally a fan of isekai series. The standard trope of functionally-invincible protagonists who are the best at everything is a surefire sign of a boring story with no stakes or tension to speak of. But there are so damn many of these things, that every so often I'll try one out that looks like it's at least trying something different. Reborn as a Space Mercenary caught my attention simply because it's sci-fi instead of fantasy, and it sounded like the ship is the powerful thing, and not the hero, himself. Those two things were enough to convince me to give it a shot--plus, it seems relatively unknown, so I thought I might've stumbled across a diamond in the rough.
The end result so far is...all right. Hiro takes to waking up in a space opera awfully quickly, but given that in our world, he was an overworked wage slave whose only joy in life was MMOs, it makes a certain sense--and just the fact that he's not another high school NEET makes me want to give him a pass. And while he is a good pilot, owing to his time doing dogfights in games, he's not superhuman. Another point in his favor. And oddly, he's the most rounded of the cast so far.
Elma is, quite literally, a space elf who takes an interest in Hiro...um, just 'cause? She sees him almost get jumped by some thugs in a seedy part of a space station, and just...decides to show him around, to kill time. She's the tsundere of the cast, with all the bravado and posturing you'd expect from that archetype. Nothing special so far, but she has her moments.
Which is more than I can say for Mimi, who Hiro saves from being assaulted in another seedy part of the station. She has no skills, a waifish personality, and a ton of debt (with a tragic backstory to boot). For most of the volume, she's demurely trying to figure out ways to make herself useful to Hiro, to thank him for bailing her out. Initially, that euphemism means exactly what you might think it means (and while a bit skeezy and codependent in how it happens, at least Hiro flip out and backpedal at the idea of having sex, like 99% of other manga protagonists), by the end, Mimi is taking lessons on how to operate parts of the ship, so at least she has the potential to grow as a character.
There's also Serena, a lieutenant in the military of the Grakkan Empire, who Hiro runs into near the beginning, and before the battle against pirates brewing at the end of this volume. She's fairly straight-laced, but willing to throw her weight around to bring her subordinates in line. She has the potential to be interesting, but we haven't seen a ton from her yet.
You may have noticed this review has been all about the characters. Well, that's because...not a whole lot happens in this volume. Hiro shows up in another universe, has a run-in with pirates, registers himself with the authorities at the station and the mercenary guild, and ends up with a waifu. There's the battle I mentioned that will probably kick off volume 2, but this one really is just setup. It isn't bad, but there isn't exactly much of a plot so far. I might give this one another volume to see where it goes, but based on volume 1, I can't really recommend picking it up just yet.
The end result so far is...all right. Hiro takes to waking up in a space opera awfully quickly, but given that in our world, he was an overworked wage slave whose only joy in life was MMOs, it makes a certain sense--and just the fact that he's not another high school NEET makes me want to give him a pass. And while he is a good pilot, owing to his time doing dogfights in games, he's not superhuman. Another point in his favor. And oddly, he's the most rounded of the cast so far.
Elma is, quite literally, a space elf who takes an interest in Hiro...um, just 'cause? She sees him almost get jumped by some thugs in a seedy part of a space station, and just...decides to show him around, to kill time. She's the tsundere of the cast, with all the bravado and posturing you'd expect from that archetype. Nothing special so far, but she has her moments.
Which is more than I can say for Mimi, who Hiro saves from being assaulted in another seedy part of the station. She has no skills, a waifish personality, and a ton of debt (with a tragic backstory to boot). For most of the volume, she's demurely trying to figure out ways to make herself useful to Hiro, to thank him for bailing her out. Initially, that euphemism means exactly what you might think it means (and while a bit skeezy and codependent in how it happens, at least Hiro flip out and backpedal at the idea of having sex, like 99% of other manga protagonists), by the end, Mimi is taking lessons on how to operate parts of the ship, so at least she has the potential to grow as a character.
There's also Serena, a lieutenant in the military of the Grakkan Empire, who Hiro runs into near the beginning, and before the battle against pirates brewing at the end of this volume. She's fairly straight-laced, but willing to throw her weight around to bring her subordinates in line. She has the potential to be interesting, but we haven't seen a ton from her yet.
You may have noticed this review has been all about the characters. Well, that's because...not a whole lot happens in this volume. Hiro shows up in another universe, has a run-in with pirates, registers himself with the authorities at the station and the mercenary guild, and ends up with a waifu. There's the battle I mentioned that will probably kick off volume 2, but this one really is just setup. It isn't bad, but there isn't exactly much of a plot so far. I might give this one another volume to see where it goes, but based on volume 1, I can't really recommend picking it up just yet.
May 6, 2024
This review and my rating are for all released volumes of the manga adaption of this story.
Unfortunately, this is one of those works that heavily pushes the harem thing... Practically every woman, human or AI, that makes an appearance in this manga instantly wants to bed the MC. The author, for the most part, decided the MC should be 'noble' and turn them down... only to cave immediately. It's silly and is the kind of thing only a virgin would think makes any sense.
It's very refreshing to see an isekai story that isn't set in medieval environments or about funky magic users. Outside of the vacation arc, the characters are always in space on the unique ship, Krishna, or on a space station.
The art is solid and the paneling works well enough. This series is a fun ride, but definitely can be a bit frustrating to read.
---- Spoilers for other volumes below! ----
The MC is a little too foolish for my liking.
He gives up blood and semen samples for study for a paltry 3 million credits. The hospital immediately suffers a data breach and his DNA is stolen by ... someone. The MC's DNA is then spliced onto these test tube monsters that are grown for food in this universe. The big and bad prototype monster is highly-effective in combat and can infinitely regenerate, provided its body isn't completely vaporized in a single moment. One can assume that this misplay by the MC has just created a black market for genetically-modified super soldiers and that the scope of war will soon change forever in this world.
The MC's ship, Krishna, is a unique model that doesn't exist AT ALL in this world, even though it did in the video game. The MC's custom masochistic android, Mei, decided it was appropriate to sell the FULL SHIP SPECS and ENTIRE OPERATIONAL HISTORY for a paltry 20 million. The MC and crew decided it was fine to be filmed at ALL TIMES for television and assorted entertainment services. The MC also signed up to sell ALL FUTURE OPERATIONAL DATA. I cannot emphasize just how incredibly stupid it would be for a mercenary to sell off their job security in such a fashion. Even if the ship was damaged, it wouldn't be a stretch to say Mei could store a full scan of the internals, make repairs, and/or manufacture any necessary parts. The MC also made some enemies in the Imperial Army, who would gladly pay an exorbitant fee to learn every weakness he has....
Unfortunately, this is one of those works that heavily pushes the harem thing... Practically every woman, human or AI, that makes an appearance in this manga instantly wants to bed the MC. The author, for the most part, decided the MC should be 'noble' and turn them down... only to cave immediately. It's silly and is the kind of thing only a virgin would think makes any sense.
It's very refreshing to see an isekai story that isn't set in medieval environments or about funky magic users. Outside of the vacation arc, the characters are always in space on the unique ship, Krishna, or on a space station.
The art is solid and the paneling works well enough. This series is a fun ride, but definitely can be a bit frustrating to read.
---- Spoilers for other volumes below! ----
The MC is a little too foolish for my liking.
He gives up blood and semen samples for study for a paltry 3 million credits. The hospital immediately suffers a data breach and his DNA is stolen by ... someone. The MC's DNA is then spliced onto these test tube monsters that are grown for food in this universe. The big and bad prototype monster is highly-effective in combat and can infinitely regenerate, provided its body isn't completely vaporized in a single moment. One can assume that this misplay by the MC has just created a black market for genetically-modified super soldiers and that the scope of war will soon change forever in this world.
The MC's ship, Krishna, is a unique model that doesn't exist AT ALL in this world, even though it did in the video game. The MC's custom masochistic android, Mei, decided it was appropriate to sell the FULL SHIP SPECS and ENTIRE OPERATIONAL HISTORY for a paltry 20 million. The MC and crew decided it was fine to be filmed at ALL TIMES for television and assorted entertainment services. The MC also signed up to sell ALL FUTURE OPERATIONAL DATA. I cannot emphasize just how incredibly stupid it would be for a mercenary to sell off their job security in such a fashion. Even if the ship was damaged, it wouldn't be a stretch to say Mei could store a full scan of the internals, make repairs, and/or manufacture any necessary parts. The MC also made some enemies in the Imperial Army, who would gladly pay an exorbitant fee to learn every weakness he has....
July 3, 2023
I like this because it's one of the few "isekai" (other world) stories that ISN'T a high fantasy setting!
I don't like that it pretty much jumps straight to the token love interest (Mimi) bedding the main character ("Hiro": his player name in the video game he was reborn* in) because she has such low self-esteem that she doesn't believe she has anything else to offer him.
There are of course some eye-rolls to be had in that he mysteriously retains his overpowered spaceship and a load of valuable rare materials from his game, plus the piloting and shooting skills, and so becomes fabulously wealthy as soon as he starts, but... if I'm being honest, sometimes a "New Game+" story is nice once in a while, after consuming something mentally draining, so I'm okay with Hiro being rewarded for all the time he spent grinding. At least that's better than spending all that time grinding and being PUNISHED for it.
Anyway, recommended for fans of space pirates and those who fight them, or some such.
*This seems to be a misnomer, at least when reading only the manga (I have not read the light novel), since there's no indication that he actually DIED; for all we know, he could have pulled a Re:ZERO and just spontaneously teleported there).
I don't like that it pretty much jumps straight to the token love interest (Mimi) bedding the main character ("Hiro": his player name in the video game he was reborn* in) because she has such low self-esteem that she doesn't believe she has anything else to offer him.
There are of course some eye-rolls to be had in that he mysteriously retains his overpowered spaceship and a load of valuable rare materials from his game, plus the piloting and shooting skills, and so becomes fabulously wealthy as soon as he starts, but... if I'm being honest, sometimes a "New Game+" story is nice once in a while, after consuming something mentally draining, so I'm okay with Hiro being rewarded for all the time he spent grinding. At least that's better than spending all that time grinding and being PUNISHED for it.
Anyway, recommended for fans of space pirates and those who fight them, or some such.
*This seems to be a misnomer, at least when reading only the manga (I have not read the light novel), since there's no indication that he actually DIED; for all we know, he could have pulled a Re:ZERO and just spontaneously teleported there).
January 8, 2024
A fairly standard isekai (swept to another world) story, but with a sci-fi rather than fantasy setting. an overworked office-worker wakes up inside the mercenary spaceship he pilots in his favourite sci-fi video game and soon figures out this isn't just a vivid dream. He has to figure out what to do with himself, starting with finding out where he is and how to resupply. There are some spaceship-fights, but equally if not more important is figuring out the day-to-day regulations and survival aspects of this word, especially since not everything is exactly the way things were in the game - for instance, a contentious border between two space empires is uncomfortably close...
A couple of fanservice-y female side characters (the plucky, tight-shorts local and the busty, childlike damsel in distress) might annoy female readers or make them a bit uncomfortable, so this is a more guy-oriented sci-fi fantasy.
Content warnings: no heavy swearing (so far), no alcohol or drugs (so far); gun violence, some nudity (not full frontal), one scene of attempted rape (considered unremarkable at the location in question), sexual servitude, implied sexual activity
A couple of fanservice-y female side characters (the plucky, tight-shorts local and the busty, childlike damsel in distress) might annoy female readers or make them a bit uncomfortable, so this is a more guy-oriented sci-fi fantasy.
Content warnings: no heavy swearing (so far), no alcohol or drugs (so far); gun violence, some nudity (not full frontal), one scene of attempted rape (considered unremarkable at the location in question), sexual servitude, implied sexual activity
October 2, 2022
This manga made me learn the term "chunibyo." I read a few volumes at once so this review is of the "start" of the series as a whole.
My impression of this is trope-y sci fi isakei with weird pacing between very mid space battles and shopping montages with the protagonist's growing harem. Character designs are of the "looks cool not functional" variety. Ship designs are only briefly touched on as there's not a lot of attention being paid to genuine world-building so far. What you need to know: there are space elves and the protagonist is literally so overpowered there are zero stakes!
Who would I recommend this to? I had to think about this more objectively Teens that want to read manga but only know fantasy series or big hitters like One Piece, MHA, or Naruto. For them the tropes won't be as grating.
FYI: It's technically rated for an older audience as there is drinking, sex and sexual innuendo, some nudity, violence, and harsh language.
My impression of this is trope-y sci fi isakei with weird pacing between very mid space battles and shopping montages with the protagonist's growing harem. Character designs are of the "looks cool not functional" variety. Ship designs are only briefly touched on as there's not a lot of attention being paid to genuine world-building so far. What you need to know: there are space elves and the protagonist is literally so overpowered there are zero stakes!
Who would I recommend this to? I had to think about this more objectively Teens that want to read manga but only know fantasy series or big hitters like One Piece, MHA, or Naruto. For them the tropes won't be as grating.
FYI: It's technically rated for an older audience as there is drinking, sex and sexual innuendo, some nudity, violence, and harsh language.
October 12, 2023
Let me start off by saying if you are a manga reader of the genre of being reincarnated as someone else…this story is not going to be groundbreaking for you. There is probably hundreds of different books on this basis, hence I feel it has graduated into its own genre within the manga universe. That said, this story is a fun romp in a familiar area. Satou Takahiro is the main character and before this first volume is done we have been introduced to 3 characters I believe will have greater impact on the story as it progresses. The story is fun and not too complicated and seems to be moving at a good pace for the first volume. A good light read with not too much in terms of weighty subject matters or life/death consequences…though that may change as the book series continues.
October 18, 2021
I would have given this first volume a fourth star if it wasn't for the very forced "seduction" scene. I mean, even if the main character still thought it was a dream, that was just creepy, and it had nothing to do with the story. It wasn't even good as fan service. It was a weird and gratuitous "off camera" sex scene where one of the characters felt like they had to have sex in order to justify being in the story, basically.
The rest of the story was much better, fortunately, and I am willing to try the second volume when I can find it. I want to see how the space battles work when it's not just the fancy ship vs. a bunch of second-rate pirates.
The rest of the story was much better, fortunately, and I am willing to try the second volume when I can find it. I want to see how the space battles work when it's not just the fancy ship vs. a bunch of second-rate pirates.
February 22, 2023
A pretty good start, I love iseaki series, so this one was always going to make its way to my shelves. Plus, I haven't read any to do with space, so it's a nice change.
There were a few moments that I didn't quite get the reason why they was needed (the seduction for one) it just didn't feel necessary at the time but even so the build up has been pretty good and I'm curious at how the next volume builds on this one!
There were a few moments that I didn't quite get the reason why they was needed (the seduction for one) it just didn't feel necessary at the time but even so the build up has been pretty good and I'm curious at how the next volume builds on this one!
January 28, 2022
Published in 2020, it could have been a story of how I was distracted from Covid by myself to escape into the imaginary world of the 24th century Federation, instead of a space operatic MMORPG.
It's fun and escapist, but the only major cringe was the forced “seduction” scene.
Because of that, 3.5, rounded up to 4.
It's fun and escapist, but the only major cringe was the forced “seduction” scene.
Because of that, 3.5, rounded up to 4.
December 28, 2025
This was such a lightheaded manga for being a space battle. I hope the girl characters get more development besides looking good or being a little hot headed. I'm excited to see our gamer boy conquer this world though his knowledge and wits.
October 3, 2021
3.5 // interesting begin to the story line but it kinda felt a little rushed
November 11, 2023
Its fine. A fun light read.
December 26, 2023
Addictive
This manga is as addictive as the light novel. Time to binge read the rest of it. If you like space and isekai than you would like this series.
This manga is as addictive as the light novel. Time to binge read the rest of it. If you like space and isekai than you would like this series.
April 10, 2024
Fun scenario. A lot to get used to. Interstellar politics and war.
June 1, 2025
I like this! It feels realistic.
September 21, 2025
it's alright.
January 6, 2026
i do absolutely love this series a new way to go with isekai manga.
August 25, 2021
I really enjoyed this :D
Not much happened in this vol it's just setting stuff up to get into it next vol. I'll be sure to read it!!!!
Not much happened in this vol it's just setting stuff up to get into it next vol. I'll be sure to read it!!!!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews