I finished the first volume of Saturn Apartments last night. I picked it up because of the cover, and also because the VIZ Signature IKKI imprint seems to be rocking the party.
Also, its about a big ring around the planet!
Far in the future, humankind has evacuated the Earth in order to preserve it. Humans now reside in a gigantic structure that forms a ring around the Earth, thirty–five kilometers up in the sky. The society of the Ring is highly stratified: the higher the floor, the greater the status. Mitsu, the lowly son of a window washer, has just graduated junior high. When his father disappears and is assumed dead, Mitsu must take on his father’s occupation. As he struggles with the transition to working life, Mitsu’s job treats him to an outsider’s view into the various living–room dioramas of the Saturn Apartments.
The stories are great, and the artwork is adorable. While there seems to be an arcing plot, it also comes off as just a series of slice of life stories. It is very relaxing to read, even in the tense parts. I am constantly amazed at the different contexts mangaka come up with to tell these stories of connection and belonging.
I recommend it. 