Mikai no Hoshi

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Synonyms: Mikai no Wakusei, Savage Planet

Japanese: 未開の惑星〈ほし〉

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Type: Manga

Volumes: 2

Chapters: 11

Status: Finished

Published: Dec 20, 2003

Genres: Drama, Sci-Fi

Theme: Psychological

Serialization: Manga Erotics F

Authors: Matsumoto, Jiro (Story & Art)

Statistics

Score: 7.00¹ (scored by 1,719 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #8805²

² based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #3720

Members: 5,504

Favorites: 76

7.00

Ranked #8805Popularity #3720Members 5,504

MangaManga Erotics FMatsumoto, Jiro (Story & Art)

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Volumes: /2

Chapters: /11

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Synopsis

From the author of Freesia comes a story of three childhood friends - Nicolo, Cookie and Naomi - who grew up in a sleepy backwater town on an uncivilized planet. They struggle to get by while holding on to their dreams of leaving town and finding a better life... but can their friendship endure the tests of time? Can it withstand invading armies, broken dreams, conflicting ambitions, divided loyalties, jealousy and even betrayal?

(Source: Omanga)

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Characters

Main

Naomi

Main

Colo

Main

Naruhachi

Supporting

Reviews

May 26, 2023

DeltaWDunn

Recommended

In my 'Fire Punch' Review, I said that 'Fire Punch' was the most underrated Manga on MAL. I've found at least two that exceed that one so far, and 'Uncivilized Planet' is one of them.

So far I've only read two of Jiro Matsumoto's Manga, this and [i]Freesia[/i]. It seems many prefer the latter (and other Matsumoto works) for how unconventional it is compared to this one. I find this strange, however. While it is true that 'Freesia' has very unique characters and an interesting premise, 'Uncivilized Planet' has a far more unique setting and presentation. The World our characters occupy is futuristic and sci-fi in ...

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Jul 14, 2020

duylinhsss

Recommended

To me, Jiro is one of the most important author in Japanese comic. Unfortunately, to the Japanese, Jiro is faux avant-garde, hence his sales number and empty trophy spots.
You should read this is you really like Japanese comic and think it is a wonderful medium, worthy of being considered art.

Who am I kidding, you are not here because you want to know if it's worthy buying and reading. You are here because you are either like me, a fan of Jiro works, or you have read it and wonder what people think of it. Personally, I think it is the most memorable of his ... work. Not because it's particularly striking, but because it's the simplest of the bunch.

Let's quickly get through the art. Jiro's art seems extremely, lazy, raw, unrefined and even messy sometime. I think most people wouldn't have a problem with it. I quickly learn that Jiro wasn't trained in painting, he's in sculpture, which is surprising because his drawings seem like it would fit better on water colour, as shown by his cover illustration. If we talk about art evolution, there were barely any between this and later titles, but it is very striking and easy to follow. While Jiro later works are frame much better, this is by no mean condemning his earlier works such as this. It is beautiful on its own.

I wont dissect the story and the symbolism, because it is up to you to interpret after all. I would, however, rant about my feelings reading this. After all, to me, a work of art either makes me feel emotions or makes my senses go numb. This definitely made me feel.
The characters went through their arc, reacting in 2 ways to their current circumstance. They either endure and accept, or fight against circumstance by sacrificing their soul. The main character ended up keeping his soul through his delusions and inability to cope with current circumstances adequately. His friends didn't end well either, selling their soul. The setting for soul selling is both interesting and unsettling. It took place in a distinctly Eastern European setting, during what seems to be a Germans occupation. The characters are stuck there, both because of their circumstances and because of the occupation. The occupiers, however, are both the monster and the way out for the characters, but the monster requires a meal before it let you pass. I am a little shaken, consider how the author portrayed the occupied force. They were both cruel and sympathetic. While they shoot, rape, pillage and oppress, they also maintain order and have their own life before the war. Meanwhile, during and after the occupation, the people were portrayed as both traitorous, selling out to the occupier, and cruel, shooting them and hang the traitors, rape and pillage their owns. While the setting is Eastern Europe, I can't help but feel it parallels the occupation of China and Korea by Japan. I won't dwell on the war too much, because that's not really the point. The point is obvious really, the world is cruel, and we can only adapt to it, not fight it, hence the title. While Jiro can hardly be called a feminist, I do believe he is, at heart. He never shy away from women's suffrage, putting them on the fore front of his works, even if the works are packed sexual images that women will find repulsive. Not to mention his female characters are strong willed and always want to dictate their own fate, even if it is ill-advised. You can see he did not reprimand his friends for using their body, but merely from distancing herself from her friends and the other for cruelty. There's also a disconnect between his own happiness and his ability to create art. The main character was praised after he started to lose hope and coping with his imagination. Only when he had embraced the sorrow, the meaninglessness of life and existence, did he advance as an artist and had the courage and strength to step forward.
I don't think Mikai no Hoshi is profound and not even Jiro's best work. In fact, I think as an anti-war piece of work, it's kind of weak. But, I think the passion that he put into this short story came through very clearly. For me, this is the best introduction to Jiro by far. It has all of his central theme without indulge in symbolism, fantasy and dream sequence. Every time after finishing it, I sat in silence for a while. It's not beautiful, but it makes a powerful impression that made me decide to sit down and write a review for it 14 years after I read it for the first time.

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Oct 25, 2022

KitsuFrost

Not Recommended

Mikai no Hoshi is the DUMBEST, CRINGIEST and most MEDIOCRE manga I've ever read. To be honest, I didn't know what to expect of it at first sight, but considering its recommendations and synopsis, I could figure out it was one of those "niche" mangas. Written by Jiro Matsumoto, it tells the story of three childhood friends, called Nicolo, Cookie and Naomi. They live in an "uncivilized planet", where its natives are constantly at war, and guess what? They are just like humans! There you can see that this is just a metaphor for how humans are evil, and all those kind of stuff you ... read and watched in thousands of different medias. Nothing new here.

The story starts with Cookie dancing to strangers for some money, with Nicolo as a musical support (also as a slave, since she abuses him). But turns out that she does more than that to survive, which is selling her body in those kinds of ways you already know. Naomi, the third character, sells bread to make a living. However, when a opportunity of earning more was given by the army in power, she grabbed it with both hands. But turns out that the "work" was doing the same thing Cookie does. Not only that, but the general in charge of the military is a cringey pervert who likes harming the thousands of women there. The plot then shows their tragic story, and how the views they had in their childhood are not reality, once they became adults.

There you can notice that this manga loves to show perverted h-scenes that add no purpose to the story, just for the sake of shocking and to make it seems like it has any deeper meaning. It is pretentious, pointless and annoying, and proves to be a waste of time, especially with its poor message wrapped in weak symbolism. You see, if this manga was honest with itself, and didn't try to be bigger than it actually is, then it would be something special. Another issue is its characters, which I mentioned previously. None of them ever stands out, and their novelty and few interesting traits wear off pretty fast. Add it to the fact that there is no such thing as a solid message, which makes the whole universe look loose and uninteresting as well.

The closing of the story was the only moment that grabbed me. I really liked the climax, Naomi's conclusion came somewhat unexpected and fair. And right after it, Nicolo decides to leave town, but Cookie tries to stop him. They have a tough fight, he almost strangles her, and after coming to terms, they make a promise to meet again. Promise that Nicolo himself knew would never be fulfilled. After a couple of years, Cookie get married and becomes a mother, and Nicolo leaves city to find his way out there.

The art is fine, it made the story atmosphere more depressing. It fulfills its job and works well in especific situations of the story. Sometimes the dark and gritty ideas make the plot immersive. But this doesn't mean much when the whole material isn't appealing.

In general, Mikai No Hoshi has a simple message, that could work if only the manga was honest with itself.

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Poll: Mikai no Hoshi Chapter 7 Discussion Ranxomare - Nov 27, 2016	2 replies	by SonyShock »» Mar 29, 2023 7:54 PM
Poll: Mikai no Hoshi Chapter 6 Discussion Ranxomare - Nov 25, 2016	4 replies	by SonyShock »» Mar 29, 2023 7:41 PM
Poll: Mikai no Hoshi Chapter 5 Discussion Ranxomare - Nov 25, 2016	4 replies	by SonyShock »» Mar 29, 2023 7:25 PM
Poll: Mikai no Hoshi Chapter 4 Discussion Ranxomare - Nov 25, 2016	2 replies	by SonyShock »» Mar 29, 2023 5:18 PM
Poll: Mikai no Hoshi Chapter 11 Discussion Trequartista - Oct 17, 2014	5 replies	by Optigisa »» May 28, 2019 7:28 PM

Mikai no Hoshi
Uncivilized Planet
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Uncivilized Planet
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