Manga Review: Swans in Space Volume One

[Jason]

Title: Swans in Space
Volume: One
Mangaka: Lun Lun Yamamoto
Originally Serialized in: Asahi Shougakusei Shimbun (Asahi Shimbun)
Genre: Kodomo, Science Fiction
Licensed by: Udon
Rated: All Ages
Price: $8.99/US

Corona is a popular sixth grader who tries her hardest to get along with everyone, even the off-beat Lan Tsukishima. When Lan gives Corona a “Space Patrol” watch, Corona thinks it’s just because Lan is a fan of the sci-fi TV show. Corona is amazed when the watch suddenly causes her to go shooting through space to the headquarters of the real Space Patrol! Now Corona finds herself juggling more than even an honors student can handle.

This three volume kids’ manga is being published starting in June 2009 by UDON’s new Kids Manga line. What makes it such a delight is the retro feel to the art. Corona and the other characters dress in a 70s-ish style that manages to look hip and interesting, without at all seeming dated. The entire book is in full, vibrant color, an unexpected delight for manga readers accusomted to only a few color inserts at most. The colors are well varied as well, which keeps the book from getting a stale, “comic book” look to it.

The story is just as much fun as the art. Corona is an overachiever, but a likeable one, and Lan is amusingly lazy. The aliens all seem scary or weird at first, but are soon revealed to be harmless and fun. There’s a message to each story—“work hard,” “ask for help when you need to”—but nothing over the top. The biggest weakness, though, is the ending of the last story. I was expecting a much different resolution to the problem than what Yamamoto wrote and her ending was rather anticlimactic.

Even with that caveat, this is still a fun read that should be appreciated by both younger readers, who will be excited to have their 'own' manga, and by older readers who want a sweet, funny read.

Reviewer: Snow Wildsmith
Proofed and Edited By Lissa Pattillo