Seikai Trilogy

(Tokyopop, 2004)
™ and © 2004 Tokyopop

This one has a premise not to be found in most American space opera: Faced with imminent invasion and inevitable conquest by the humanoid alien Abh, young Jinto’s dad sells out mankind for political gain, elevating his son to minor noble status in the process.

The story jumps ahead seven years and finds Jinto, simultaneously looked down upon by the Abh and hated by the bulk of humanity, about to embark on a long journey to the empire’s capital with the pretty Abh royal, Lafiel.

Thematically, it’s a very Japanese story, as it’s obsessed with matters of rank and parentage. Details of court etiquette frequently take precedence over space battles (though there are some of those, as well).

Luckily, an Abh dictionary has been provided to help readers get through this, but it doesn’t help any that the “hero,” an incredibly passive character, even by manga standards, never actually does much. But it’s because it’s so completely different from our standard Star Trek-Star Wars formulaic scenarios (more love, less rockets) that Seikai is so inevitably appealing.

— S.A. Bennett

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