Review by Win Wiacek
Kou Yaginuma’s masterful plotting ensures that chapter by chapter his story methodically combines into an overarching mosaic detailing the subtle interconnectedness of generations of characters, all linked by the call of the heavens.
As has been the pattern to date, a number of ‘Missions’ in the series present day are accompanied by back-up stories investigating the past and a brace of enchanting autobiographical vignettes from the author’s own teenage years.
He ended Twin Spica 8 by supplying a big wake-up call for would-be astronaut Asumi Kamogawa. She now realises that there’s just a year left with the friends she’s made during training.
‘Mission: 47’ starts with a flashback to happier times in Yuigahama when the class buried a time capsule and revealed what they wanted to do as adults, while brash little Fuchuya found a library book with a picture of an astronaut who had come from the tragic town. It rapidly moves to the present, though, as Shu Suzuki has become an overnight celebrity due to his shortlisting to join a US space mission now being public. In a masterful twist Asumi is even door-stepped at the gate by an inquisitive reporter whose breath is taken away when enigmatic Ukita arrives. He has seen her before – or a least someone from long ago who looks exactly as she does now.
‘Mission: 48’ sees Asumi welcoming new student Mikan Tokushima to the Seagull Hostel before reporting to class for the latest in the never-ending series of gruelling physical and mental challenges designed to winnow out all but the very best potential astronauts. Asumi is unsettled, feeling she is the only one incapable of change or progress, whereas the truth is everyone else in class envies her determination and covets her stamina.
‘Mission: 49’ offers another revelatory flashback as a relentless and troubled man finally uncovers the truth behind the Lion: how government cost-cutting, political chicanery and PR glad-handing resulted in a second-rate spaceship and a rush to launch before every detail was checked. ‘Mission: 50’ sees Asumi’s father former engineer Tomoro Kamogawa considering his own heady days of stellar ambition.
Life goes on and training continues in ‘Mission 51’ with the Junior year experiencing their first taste of the G-Force simulator. When Shu has an adverse reaction, Ukita is particularly concerned. She has seen his symptoms before but Suzuki brushes it all off and asks her not to report what she suspects. The quixotic class frontrunners are slowly becoming inseparable friends and as days pass Marika becomes embroiled by a strange new mystery: someone is leaving her odd cartoon messages at work.
‘Mission 52’ finds Asumi coping with an unexpected and perhaps unwelcome visitor. Kasane Shibata is an old schoolmate from Yuigahama whom Asumi barely knew, but now she’s come looking for something but cannot explain what or why. The mystery deepens in ‘Mission 53’ and ‘Mission 54’ concludes a three chapter interlude neatly.
The story glides to a temporary halt with ‘Mission 55’ as the Juniors learn of their next extra-curricular exercise. There is a frightening subtext to the outing: they will be competing against robots that the funding authorities are considering using in space instead of – not beside – living astronauts. Moreover, journalist Ichimura intently watches Marika, having just uncovered her improbable connection to life-sciences mogul Senri Ukita, a publicity-shy mystery-man the reporter knows from long ago.
To be continued in Twin Spica 10.
These magically moving marvels continue to enthral, and it’s little wonder the series spawned both anime and live action TV series.
