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What Do Space Junk and Vikings Have in Common?
Hey manga friends,
September is here, and if you’ve been following this newsletter lately, you already know: I'm a Big Fan of Vinland Saga. So, it only felt right to dedicate this month’s newsletter to the mastermind behind it all: Makoto Yukimura.
But who is Makoto Yukimura, anyway? Makoto Yukimura doesn’t have a massive back catalogue, but every title he’s put out feels incredibly thoughtful and personal. He started his career as an assistant before debuting with Planetes, a quiet sci-fi manga that would become a modern classic. Years later, he followed it up with Vinland Saga, and that’s when things really took off.
What makes Yukimura special, at least to me, is how deeply human his stories feel. His manga never scream their messages at you. They whisper them slowly, through reflection and struggle. And if you’ve ever seen interviews with him, he just radiates kindness and humility in a way that’s honestly pretty moving.
Let’s talk about Planetes
So, here’s the thing. Planetes is not flashy. It’s not fast. It’s not the kind of manga that grabs you with a huge plot twist on page five. And honestly, that’s exactly why I loved it.
It follows a small crew of astronauts who clean up space debris. At first, that premise might sound kind of dull. But the way Yukimura writes? Every moment is filled with quiet emotion. You’re not just floating through orbit with these characters. You’re floating through their hopes, fears, dreams, and frustrations. It’s a manga that takes its time. There are pages where nothing seems to happen, until suddenly it all hits you. Loneliness. Grief. The weight of being alive in an endless, indifferent universe. And yet somehow, it doesn’t feel hopeless. There’s this quiet beauty in it all.
The best part? Planetes is finally getting the edition it deserves. A brand-new Deluxe Edition is on the way from Dark Horse, with a larger hardcover format and a fresh design. If you've never read it, now's the perfect time to pick it up.
Planetes Deluxe Edition Book 1 HC
€52,50
In 2075, working-class astronauts try to clear the junk humanity brought into space—whether it’s deadly orbital debris, or just the messiness of being human. It’s the late 21st century. People now live on the Moon and Mars, and for some,… read more
Of course, I’ve now officially entered the endless loop of re-buying manga I already own - just in prettier editions. 😅
First, I had the old Planetes softcovers from Dark Horse. Then I slowly switched to the new German Softcover-Edition (those shiny space-themed covers? Kinda love them). And now... surprise! Dark Horse drops this fancy new deluxe edition and yep, I’ll be getting it too. Because let’s be honest: it’ll look so good next to my Vinland Saga Deluxe stack, right? 🧐
Okay, truth be told... I only have one tiny corner in my room for manga at the moment (renovations are brutal). Things are stacked. Manga are lying on top of each other. Aesthetics? Never heard of them. But in my head? I’ve already shelved this edition in my future Mangaheaven Reading Lounge.
From blood and revenge to peace and forgiveness
Let’s be honest. If you only read the first few chapters of Vinland Saga, you might think you’re in for a pretty standard historical revenge story. Vikings, violence, a boy whose father is killed, a burning desire for revenge. You’ve seen it before, right?
But Vinland Saga is not that kind of manga. Or rather, it starts out that way, and then slowly, quietly, it transforms into something completely different. Something bigger. Thorfinn’s journey begins in rage and bloodshed, but as the story progresses, it becomes about peace. About guilt. About trying to be a good person in a broken world. And I don’t mean in a cheesy, "love and friendship will save us" kind of way. I mean real inner struggle. Regret. Reflection. The hard work of learning to live without hurting others.
If Planetes was about the quiet weight of being human in space, Vinland Saga is about the human cost of violence and the slow, painful path toward something better.
But I’ll keep it short this time. You’ve heard me gush about this series more than once already. And if you want to hear someone else (equally obsessed) talk about it, check out Daniel’s blog post here: 👉How Vinland Saga Can Change Your Life – It Did Change Mine
What else is new?
Alongside the first volume of Planetes and the eighth volume of the Vinland Saga deluxe edition, there are plenty of other exciting new arrivals in the shop. Besides fresh Shonen Hits and webtoons, one title in particular caught my eye and it’s one you might easily overlook is: Miss Ruki by Fumiko Takano.
Miss Ruki by Fumiko Takano TP
€16,99
€19,95
A young woman rejects the fast-paced consumer culture of 1980s Japan in favor of a slower, more carefree lifestyle in this tenderhearted, sweetly funny classic of slice-of-life manga.A classic of Japanese manga, Miss Ruki is a warm and vivid portrait… read more
To be honest, I can’t tell you yet whether this manga is brilliant or not. But just a few weeks ago, I read a Manga from her that was published in Germany and I absolutely loved it. Takano won the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2003, and in 2015 she became only the second manga artist to receive the prestigious Iwaya Sazanami Literary Award. So yeah, she’s definitely someone to keep an eye on.
Looking ahead
Another mangaka I want to highlight is Jiro Taniguchi. He might not be a sales machine, but he’s far from unknown, especially in France and Germany. In fact, quite a lot of his work has been published here.
Since The Climber has been one of the most talked-about titles in the Seinen Scene recently, let me recommend something that (in my opinion) captures the spirit of the mountains, nature, and personal challenge even more: The Summit of the Gods. If you haven’t read it yet, you really should grab one of the reprints. The volumes are currently available for pre-order! It’s one of my favourite Taniguchi titles and definitely worth adding to your shelf.
Another gem of his I love is The Ice Wanderer and Other Stories by the way. 🤫😉
And speaking of beauty: there’s a bunch of amazing artbooks coming out in the next few months, and many are already up for pre-order. For example, CLAMP Official Artbook: Color - Shiro, Soul Eater: Soul Art Encore! or The Art of Witch Hat Atelier.
That’s it from me for now!
Whether you're diving into the stars with Planetes, wandering icy trails with Taniguchi, or just trying to make it through your reading pile, I hope you find a story this month that really sticks with you.
Until next time,
Kerstin
