Dark Horse to Release a Deluxe Edition of the Planetes Omnibus Manga

It feels like this should be posted here; so I'll make it quick -

Dark Horse is releasing a (larger) Hardback Deluxe version of the original Planetes Omnibus, of which the first book may be available by end of July 2025 (pre-order currently available through some stores).

« 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 »

I'd assume it will be two Omnibus volumes, similar to the original Omnibus from 2015/2016.

The 7" x 10" size of the Deluxe is up from original 5.75" x 8.25" omnibus. (The original is a standard/common TPB size that fits well next to others from Viz; whereas the (new) Deluxe release should match Vertical's Master Edition releases of "Blame" and "Knights of Sidonia".) (big!)

The announcement of 528 pages for Deluxe Book One looks to match the original omnibus; including the 44 color (glossy) page count, which in the original are a 4 page intro (includes table of contents) and then 4 pages at the beginning of each Phase (except for Phase 9, which is the second of the 2-parter 8+9). The original volume 2 omnibus has 48 color pages (skipping Phases 21-24), so I'd expect similar for Deluxe Book 2.

Currently one site has the combined cost of the two original softcover omnibus at the price of pre-ordering just volume 1 of the Hardback Deluxe Edition; though if having a larger format and reading/owning a hardback seems appealing then do keep an eye out for it or reviews this July/August!

For more info on some older merchandise, see the merchandise post here from 2008 or links to it in the side bar.

You too can go into space and be a klutz like Tanabe

Space Needle Space Race--someone will win a suborbital flight to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Space Needle. Limit one entry per person, and make sure you get it in by November 30, 2011 to be considered for the grand prize (and it's a multistep kind of thing, but hey it's a great chance).

Not sure what we'll do for the tenth anniversary of Planetes. We should probably give someone the chance to clean up all the space debris or give them a Nora-kun plushie.

Uchuu no Keitai!

Ok, who forgot their cellphone?

Reminder -- Episode 2 this weekend

Remember to watch episode 2 this weekend! Can't slack off after the first week.

You copy?

Getting Planetes and ... merchandise?

I guess for some reason you might be interested in Planetes and actually want to watch it, or even purchase merchandise (such as it may exist).

*DVD's

Bandai Entertainment released a complete collection set [SKU av26306/UPC 669198263064] (basically the first disc from the 6 volumes in a brick case). MSRP is $50, but I've seen it online for $30, and it can probably be found for less. It's pretty much the way you want to go; individual volumes 1-3 had second discs that the complete collection doesn't have, but they have very little bonus content, and it's probably not worth the effort to get them (unless you see them at Big Lots).

Bandai did release six individual volumes. To my knowledge, it appears they are now going out of print, but we have seen some of these volumes show up at Big Lots for $3:

Volume 1 (SKU 26300/UPC 669198263002/ISBN 1-59409-468-3) [2 discs]
Volume 2 (SKU av26301/UPC 669198263019) [2 discs]
Volume 3 (SKU av26302/UPC 669198263026) [2 discs]
Volume 4 (SKU 26303/UPC 669198263033)
Volume 5 (SKU 26304/UPC 669198263040)
Volume 6 (SKU av26305/UPC 669198263057)

When Bandai was producing volumes 1 and 2, there was an issue with the first disc falling off clamp, and rolling around inside the case, causing circular scratches on the disc. So if you buy these volumes separately, be aware of this issue! (We aren't aware of a replacement program, but you could always try contacting Bandai if your discs are partially unplayable).

*Manga



Tokyopop licensed the original manga version (the anime is an adaptation of it). There were four Japanese volumes; Tokyopop split the last volume into a Volume 4 Part 1 and a Volume 4 Part 2 (manga image detail).

Even as Brother Soopy keeps reminding me, I haven't finished reading the manga, but they are well worth your time. The manga is quite different in places than the anime; the anime adapts volumes 1 through 3 of the manga. We don't know how long it will be until they run out of print for Tokyopop, but once they are gone, they probably will be gone for good.

*Original Soundtracks (OST's)

There were two OST's of Planetes: OST 1 and OST 2. Between the two are almost all of the awesome music that is heard on the show (OST 1 has the opening and ending music if you're just interested in that). Neither have been licensed in the United States, so you'll need to import them from Japan (be careful about cheap versions; they cost about US$30 in Japan each, so if you see something much cheaper, it's probably been bootlegged). But both are surely worth your while.

A single was also released in Japan. It has the opening and closing, as well as the karaoke versions. It's cheaper, but it too has not been licensed in the United States, so you would need to import it.

There were some audio dramas made of the show. Unlike the CD's though, these are on the extras for the DVD's (although for the early volumes, they are on the second disc, so you'll need to buy the standalone volumes).

*Guidebook

In February 2004, a guidebook was published in Japan, but it hasn't been licensed in the United States. We don't know much about it.

*Planetes Special

On December 31, 2004, NHK aired a Planetes special, that appears to be pieces of episodes and interviews. It was never brought over to the United States (as far as we know, it was never subtitled over here either).

*Other merchandise

As much as any of the brothers have hoped for awesome merchandise, figurines, gachapon, and anything else Planetes, none of us have seen anything else Planetes related.

Phase 01 - Outside the Atmosphere

Every discussion of episode 1 must begin with the screw.



The screw is probably no more than an inch long, and maybe 2 or 3 grams. But that little screw is moving at 8km/s--that's about 18,000MPH, instantly converting 96,000 joules of kinetic energy. And while something that gets hit won't be pulverized, it will be breached, and the air inside will vent out. No one in that passenger cabin had a chance.

According to NASA, there are approximately 17,000 pieces of space debris larger than 10cm in diameter, and over 200,000 larger than 1cm in diameter. By the time of Planetes in 2075, seven years after the terrible disaster shown above, the problem is surely much worse.

It's true that it would take forever for anyone to try to pick up all the space debris. In Planetes, we suspend disbelief for this issue. But we don't ignore that no one wants to be a janitor. A janitor in perhaps the most dangerous conditions known to humans--the vacumn of outer space.

Given the undesirability of the job--wouldn't you want to be a pilot, scientist, engineer, or at least do more glamorous outer space work--the people who do it aren't the most upper crust. The managers are pathetic, the pilot is a chainsmoker, the copilot has a minature zoo, the main character is a naive klutz, AND you have to wear diapers!

But somehow these people do get something done, and they do care. And at the end of the day, they might make someone's day a little happier.



Welcome to Planetes.

Happy fifth birthday, Planetes!

First of all, I'd like to wish Planetes a happy 5th birthday. It first aired on NHK on Saturday, October 4, 2003, the 46th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik (October 4, 1957).

I, and a number of us, remember watching Planetes in college in 2003-2004. For me, it was the first show I saw end-to-end, and still the best anime I've ever seen. There are so many elements of Planetes that are truly beautiful and awesome from the concept, to characters, to plot, to art, music, and more.

For this fifth anniversary, a few of us are embarking on a special rewatch of Planetes:

• Rewatch the show.


• Watch 1 episode a week and ONLY 1 episode a week.


• Watch the episodes in the original air order on the original air dates (or as close as possible) to the Japanese airing.

I'll be posting more, like the original air order shortly. In the meantime, the first episode should be watched on the weekend of Saturday, October 4 (or if you're behind, catch up as soon as you can!).