I picked up Astra Lost in Space without expecting too much, but I gradually got more and more hooked by all the unexpected turns. And that’s the glorious draw of this one-of-a-kind series—it’s an unassuming masterwork that seamlessly marries light-hearted adolescent bonding with nail-biting suspense and pathos.

Volume 2 moves on from the events at Vilavurs after Zack breaks the news to Kanata that someone in their midst has sabotaged the communication system. An air of anxiety permeates the begging chapters as Kanata wonders who the culprit could be. Given the relatively short amount of time that the crew has spent together, nothing is certain. Meanwhile, as they journey to the next planet, Shummoor, Kanata decides to wait and watch for red flags…and a chance to nab the saboteur.

The concept of five planets per five volumes makes for a well-portioned diet of plot-building and world-building. Planet Shummoor is a wondrous place with lovable camel-bird creatures, delectable candy flowers, and pole-like trees. And all aspects of the environment, fauna, flora, are so well thought out and realized I’m surprised that Shinohara Sensei isn’t a science sensei.  

While the previous volume focuses on developing Quitterie and her relationship with her sister Funi, this volume puts the spotlight on Yun-hua, who honestly blended so well into the background in volume 1 that I had to look back to remember who she was. The girl hardly speaks a word or draws attention to herself, and in the moments where she does go out of her comfort zone to lend a hand, her good intentions only seem to end up backfiring.

Yet, there’s a crack under Yun-hua’s shy and unassuming visage, which Aries and Kanata catch onto. Peeling back the layers of Yun-hua’s past and insecurities reveals a shining talent that serves the crew well in a time of desperate need. Her courage to break free, and the moving representation of her unraveling, hits a very special and soft spot that closes off the volume with newfound hope.

Freedom seems to be the glowing anthem of Astra, as the youngsters redefine interstellar estrangement as a sort of renegade liberation and self-discovery. Every step on uncharted territory draws them closer together as a family and deeper into their own struggles and scars. It’s only in that place of loss that their true selves can be found—and thankfully for the Astra crew, they’ve got three more planets until they’re back home. But, given how the plot is progressing and how the characters are blossoming, looks like they’ll come back with a very different perspective from when they left. A coming-of-age tale at its finest.

Astra Lost in Space Volume 2 by Kenta Shinohara is available here. 

by Jessica Kim