Manga Reviews (2010-2019): Astra Lost in Space vol. 1 by Shinohara Kenta (2017)

This fourth volume of “Astra Lost in Space” is no doubt fascinating. It’s a surprise that this fourth volume is the penultimate volume, but considering that Shinohara Kenta would win the 12th Manga Taisho Award and the 51st Seiun Sci-Fi Award for “Astra Lost in Space”, instead of prolonging it, he manages to wrap up the story in five volumes. So, if you are looking for a short manga series that is captivating and entertaining, definitely give “Astra Lost in Space” a try!

Click here to buy the “Astra Lost in Space” vol. 4

MANGA TITLE: Astra Lost in Space vol. 4 ( 彼方のアストラ)

STORY AND ART BY: Shinohara Kenta

FIRST PUBLISHED IN JAPAN: SHUEISHA, INC.

PUBLISHED IN USA BY: VIZ

RATED: N/A

RELEASE DATE: September 4, 2018

Can eight teenagers find their way home from 5,000 light-years away?

It’s the year 2063, and interstellar space travel has become the norm. Eight students from Caird High School and one child set out on a routine planet camp excursion. While there, the students are mysteriously transported 5,000 light-years away to the middle of nowhere! Will they ever make it back home?!

After crashing on planet Icriss, all seems hopeless for the crew of the Astra. That is, until they discover another Astra hidden on the planet. And thereʼs a woman in cryogenic sleep inside! Will this new Astra be the ark that saves group B-5 from their despair?

From the creator of “Sket Dance” and “Witch Watch” comes “Astra Lost in Space” written and illustrated by Shinohara Kenta.

Serialized online on “Shonen Jump+” from May 2016 through December 2017, a total of five volumes were created and a 12-episode anime adaptation by Lerche aired on television from July-September 2019.

“Astra Lost in Space” revolves around a group of teen students from Caird High School departing to a nearby planet of McPa for their Planetary Camp.

But not long after arriving on the planet, the nine teenagers encounter a mysterious sphere of light and are attacked and are transported far in space.

As the nine are floating in orbit around an unknown planet, they discover an old abandoned spacecraft which they call the Astra and hope to return to their home planet. But because they are quite far from home, they must visit alien planets so they can replenish and manage their limited resources.

Fortunately, on the space craft, there are people with abilities:

- Kanata Hoshijima – Athletic, known for his decathalon skills but wants to be a better leader but often makes impulsive decisions.
- Aries Spring – Bubblehead, naive but has a photographic memory.
- Zack Walker – The genius prodigy who has a pilot license and pilots the Astra. His father is a scientist.
- Quitterie Raffaelli – Spoiled, opinionated and came from a wealthy family. Doesn’t have any friends and must take care of her adopted sister, Funicia. Wants to become a doctor, so has medical experience. Grew up with Zack Walker.
- Funicia – She was taken in by Quitterie’s mother and adopted as part of the family when her mother passed away. She adores her older step-sister, despite Quitterie not reciprocating her feelings. She has a dog puppet, who tends to say things bluntly.
- Charce – Experience with science, plants and animals and is the guy that often flirts with the girls.
- Luca Esposito – Loves arts and crafts and his parents are politicians, but Luca wants to go into art school.
- Yun-hua – The well-endowed quiet member.
- Ulgar – Keeps to himself and rubs people the wrong way. He appears to be quite intelligent.

In volume 4, the group’s spacecraft is damaged and they end up landing in a planet. To their surprise, they discover another spacecraft exactly like theirs.

As they go to investigate their spacecraft, they don’t see anyone, but when they discover a message of “Help Me”, they go to the Cryostasis Pods and discover a woman, Polina Livinskaya, a crew member of the Ark VI.

Her group were surveying planets to explore and see if they can find other planets which humans can colonize.

Meanwhile, the crew look around the planet to see how they can escape off it with their new crew member.

During their research, Polina wonders why Quitterie Raffaelli and Funicia Raffaelli look exactly the same as her adopted sister. Curious, Zack offers to test their DNA and to his shock, he discovers something that will not only shock the crew, but will make each of them to discover something about themselves and a secret that has their own parents may have kept from them.

Overall, this fourth volume of “Astra Lost in Space” is no doubt fascinating. It’s a surprise that this fourth volume is the penultimate volume, but considering that Shinohara Kenta would win the 12th Manga Taisho Award and the 51st Seiun Sci-Fi Award for “Astra Lost in Space”, instead of prolonging it, he manages to wrap up the story in five volumes. So, if you are looking for a short manga series that is captivating and entertaining, definitely give “Astra Lost in Space” a try!

Click here to buy the “Astra Lost in Space” vol. 4

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