Astra Lost in Space Graphic Novel Volume 3 cover image

By the year 2063, interstellar travel has become the norm for the people of Earth.  Eight teenagers and one pre-teen girl (a.k.a. “Planet Camp Group B-5”) are participating in “Planet Camp.”  They begin a sojourn to Planet McPa for a week-long excursion.  Soon after they arrive on McPa, however, a mysterious orb appears and transports the entire group into the depths of space.  Now, the only thing that can get them home is Astra, an empty spaceship, floating alone in space and low on supplies.

Astra Lost in Space, Vol. 3 (entitled Secrets; Chapters 19 to 28) opens in a conference room where the parents of the missing children are holding a meeting.  It seems as if only Emma Springs, the mother of Aries Spring, holds out hope that the missing nine are still alive somewhere.

Meanwhile, thousands of light years away, the crew of the Astra are on the planet, Arispade, which turns out to be something like a virtual tropical paradise.  It is a place to relax and frolic, but then, the group's lone-wolf, Ulgar Zweig, pulls a gun and threatens to kill a fellow crewman.  Could Ulgar be the traitor for whom the group has been looking?  Now, it is time to reveal secrets, but this island paradise planet holds an even more dangerous secret.

THE LOWDOWN:  My reviews of the Astra Lost in Space manga have been generous.  It is an accessible, teen-oriented, sci-fi graphic novel series from VIZ Media, and it can appeal to middle school, high school, college-age, and adult readers.  It is a sweet, pop-comic book confection of mystery, danger, and adventure with a winning appeal.

Astra Lost in Space Graphic Novel Volume 3 is the volume in which some of the characters who have been quiet about their pasts are forced to reveal them.  There are some especially poignant chapters in this volume, and the brief return to Earth sets up intrigue for later chapters.  Creator Kenta Shinohara is offering readers one of the best all-around graphic novels on the market to day.  This is a fantastic read; I almost cannot believe how much I like it.  I unequivocally recommend it.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of science fiction comic books, manga, and graphic novels will want the “Shonen Jump” title, Astra Lost in Space.

A+
10 out of 10