Uchuu Kyoudai - Space Brothers

This manga is in my To-Do limbo for a long time. Due to unforeseen (not really, I've pulled a Mizaru) circumstances, I've scanned all 301 current chapters, besides pondering the first somewhat 50 and some other interesting ones. Apart from a sincere recommendation, what can I say about this space-passionating, award-winning piece of art? Well, Mutta Namba firstly impressed me with his last scene in Chapter 1. Very cinematic. Or more precisely, that's what I want my movies (if any) to be: full of indirect emotions. I had saved that panel for a while as a self-reminder that I still have some minor pipe dreams and that I still have a "completion" psychological disorder.

I love the way that the mangaka, who seems not to be too famous for his previous works, shows some emotions with blushing faces. They're possibly way too cute, but this manga needs some kawaii and comedy to alleviate its intense dedication to space, space travel, astronaut (and cosmonaut), as well as ambition and family bonds. Somewhere along the way, the mangaka falls into some shounen tropes and some repetitions of personal drama, e.g. the young fulfill the dreams of theirs and of the old. East Asian culture 101, huh. As a redemption, Mutta's monologues really make the manga stand out. The guy is not only interesting but also occupied with many burdens on his shoulders and in his heart. A lot of gold can be extracted from somebody like that.

I'm not going to discuss the manga's overarching theme (duh) of brotherhood, I'm not the best man to listen to when you need some moral quotes about family. But I have to say, I'm really fond of Hibichov (yes, I call him that). He's like a version of themselves that men always want to be (me and Mutta included). On the other hand, Mutta's like a version that some men (me included) think they really are. The manga still has yet resolved the Serika conundrum, but it's safe to say that it's going to work out, resembling what happens in men's DREAMS. If you don't mind some Lolita vibes, Hibichov's love interest Olga is a done deal, smoothly resembling the way she moves.

My favorite character is Vincent Bold (hey, the name). Because he's like me. Except for the fact that he has an energetic wife and a poker-face son who's EXACTLY like him. And, as he already went into space, my ambition of space travel considerately increases in magnitude. Well, I always have the secret dream of solitary confinement interstellar travel.

I'm also not-short enough.

Genesis

! dlroW olleH