Carlos Morales
Dark Horse Manga presents Makoto Yukimura’s expansive and immersive space exploration manga, Planetes, soon to be collected in a beautifully designed Deluxe Edition. Planetes Deluxe Edition Book One packages the first half of Yukimura’s hyper-realistic look at the near-future exploration of our neighboring planets in a 7″ x 10″ hardcover on high-quality paper and includes 44 full-color art pages on special gloss stock. This edition takes inspiration from the International Space Station to pay tribute to the real astronauts that inspire the hard science-fiction genre, with the front and back covers also featuring debossed patterns that provide a tactile effect. The Planetes Deluxe Edition Book One features metallic gilding on the page edges, making this a genuinely out-of-this-world edition!
In 2075, working-class astronauts live an unglamorous and dangerous life. The Moon and Mars are both populated, with people living in challenging conditions. But for some, space is still an epic adventure, as plans take shape for the first-ever crewed voyage to Jupiter. The goal of navigating to the gas giant is harvesting much-needed helium-3 from its atmosphere, opening up the entire solar system to humanity.
Astronaut Hachimaki “Hachi” Hoshino dreams of breaking out from his famous father’s shadow and joining the Jupiter mission. For him, being an astronaut is about cleaning up space, not exploring its vastness. Aboard the DS-12 Toy Box, Hoshino is joined by pilot Fee and fellow crewmate Yuri. Their task is clearing a hundred years of debris circling the world at eight kilometers per second. Amidst a dangerous and unappreciated job, Planetes reveals that the lives of those who fly amongst the stars are filled with the drama of family, romance, and ambition.
Praise and Accolades for Yukimura’s Planetes:
“Planetes remains a pretty staggering achievement in the world of comics. Yukimura’s deft characterizations drive the story…Both in black and white and in the occasional chapter-opening color pages, Yukimura’s art is stunning, managing to marry meticulous detail with fluid, human expressions and great comedic timing when necessary.”—Otaku USA
“The real strength of Planetes is telling human stories in a believable near-future setting, without slowing down the story for exposition.” (3 ½ stars out of 4)”—Manga: The Complete Guide
“With its solid, engrossing storyline and well-developed characters, Planetes should have a permanent spot on anyone’s bookshelf.”—Anime News Network
Official Selection, 2023 Angoulême International Comics Festival
Voted among “Best Continuing Manga Series for Grown-Ups” at San Diego Comic-Con 2016
Listed as one of the “10 Best Sci-Fi Manga” by msn.com
Take to the stars and see the life to be lived amongst them when Planetes Deluxe Edition Book One arrives in hardcover for $49.99. The 528-page (7″ x 10″) Deluxe Edition will be available in bookstores on July 29, 2025, and comic shops on July 30, 2025. Pre-order now from TFAW, Amazon, Barnes and Noble or your local bookstore, or visit Comic Shop Locator for more details and stores near you.
