Since the birth of humanity, the sky has always been a source of ceaseless wonder and amazement for our species, whether they be grizzly cavemen in their roughly hewn lodgings or exuberant young kids staring up through a lens, mouth agape. Humanity has always feared the unknown, but they've always been inexplicably drawn to the sheer vastness of the cosmos - a vastness that makes them feel small, and yet continues to beckon, daring them to reach out in return.
Planetes is that involuntary gasp, that inexorable sigh that exits our throats once our meagre existences are confronted by the infinite, it is that realization of how laughably small all our gripes with reality are in the grand scheme of things. And yet, in that all-important epiphany that spells doom for our smug self-belief are we able to find meaning and rediscover our very selves. Planetes embodies that emotion, it revels in it.
Exploring these empty skies necessitates an all-consuming thirst, one that forsakes all other emotions, thoughts, bonds, people in order to extend gloved hands into the inky darkness. It requires an unshakeable resolve, an unwavering belief that the answers are well worth the sacrifice. But is it really worth offering our very souls? Planetes seeks to answer that question, with its cast of very human, very carefully crafted characters. They're all driven by their own reasons to be where they are, do what they need to do, aspire to be what they want to be, and there's nothing more moving and inspiring than to see them get knocked down, resort to a fair bit of soul-searching, understand themselves better and evolve individually and collectively. It is a character-driven story with a rather simple plot, and a very well-written one at that. This inherent simplicity is what allows it to be such a precious, fragile and emotionally resonant experience. For all its depiction of cold, lifeless space, it is, first and foremost, a tale with a warm beating heart at its core.
While being appreciative of space, its beauty and its importance, Planetes doesn't hold back from criticizing its excessive worship when it needs to, stripping away much of the unnecessary romanticism and allowing itself to possess a very balanced perspective, letting the reader view a problem from different sides. The art is extremely good - the sci-fi paraphernalia are very detailed, the landscapes look gorgeous and the characters have very clear expressions. What's striking is the painstakingly concocted setting of a futuristic human civilization in space; it's evident that a lot of time has been spent on research, giving the manga an air of believability - the true hallmark of any great sci-fi work. The mangaka's exceptional talent is on full display as he weaves together moments of humour, seriousness and poignancy seamlessly, propped up with very impressive writing and art that reinforce each other in every panel.
I highly recommend reading Planetes, it will not disappoint.
