The Bat Planet

The Bat Planet

TV Episode 111

TV Episode Summary:

The episode begins showing us various parts of a city, then focus on an animator, Masai, who sits in his room working on some animation. He despairs and wishes he had a mechanical body, thinking he could focus on his script as much as he wanted then. We cut to later where Masai asks several people if he can draw their portrait but all ignore him. On the 999, Maetel tells Tetsuro they are nearly at the final stop. Maetel seems depressed and Tetsuro asks what’s wrong. Maetel says she’s been thinking of their long journey. The Conductor comes in and says their next stop is the “Bat Planet”, with a layover of around 5 hours. The Conductor also mentions how the journey is almost over and if Tetsuro has changed his mind at all. He apologizes for asking such a thing and walks off.

Tetsuro says he doesn’t get the Conductor. Maetel wants to ask him something but pauses and says she’ll ask him later. Tetsuro asks if this is the planet where he’ll get a free mechanical body. Maetel says no, that’s the final planet they’ll be stopping at, where we can see how he feels. Tetsuro talks about how their final stop is almost here. Maetel tells him to think it over while on the Bat Planet. The 999 arrives at the station. Tetsuro seems a bit dour and Maetel says he has plenty of time to think it over slowly. Tetsuro wonders why he’s so unsure now, when he had been so set on getting a mechanical body. As they walk down the street, Tetsuro says this planet reminds him of Trader’s Fork. Maetel says while Trader’s Fork is where people weary from their travels are, this is a planet where people hesitate over their final decision. Tetsuro says it is fitting given how he feels. They head up to a park area where Tetsuro is surprised by some bats flying by.

Masai walks up to Tetsuro and asks if he can draw his portrait, but Tetsuro says he’s not in the mood. Masai claims it’s to raise money to make his animation. Maetel walks by and suggests Tetsuro have him draw him and she’ll be waiting at the hotel. Tetsuro agrees, exciting Masai. As he draws him, Masai asks Tetsuro if he’s heading to the final station. Tetsuro says yes, he hopes to get a mechanical body and help his friends from being oppressed at home. But now he isn’t sure of it. Masai says that happens to everyone who comes here. He shows Tetsuro the finished portrait of him. At the hotel, Maetel stares at a glowing red star in the sky. Tetsuro heads into the hotel and a young boy runs down the stairs, tripping over him. The boy’s mother comes to him and asks what’s wrong, The boy, Shuma, claims he doesn’t want to attain a mechanical body.  His mother asks why he feels this way when he’s so close to eternal life. Tetsuro goes into the hotel room and shows Tetsuro the portrait. Maetel suggests a bath but Tetsuro is hesitant. She tells him to take his time and think of what comes next. The final station is the glowing star in the sky.

Tetsuro lies down and wonders why he’s so nervous. He flashes back to when his mother was killed by Count Mecha. He thinks of those who struggle to journey someplace they want to go to badly, and we see shots of Geronimo (episode 2) and Kagero/Kasumi (episode 39). There are many who want to attain mechanical bodies but can’t even venture out. He thinks of how lucky he is compared to them. He also thinks of despite how many are enamored with the prospect of getting a mechanical body, there are many opposed as well. We see a flashback to Wheeler Lock and his mother (episode 34). Tetsuro wonders what this all means. We see Tetsuro walking through space and hit by the 999. Tetsuro cries out over how he doesn’t know what to do and Maetel wakes him up. Maetel says someone must have broken in the room as her suitcase is a mess. Nothing seems missing at first, but Tetsuro searches his and finds his hat, cloak and pass stolen. Maetel spots a pencil on the ground and Tetsuro realizes it must be Masai. He rushes outside back to the park and asks a stranger where the boy who draws portraits went. No one is able to answer him. Tetsuro talks to himself of how people only think of themselves.

Tetsuro sits on the steps; since people are too preoccupied with their decisions they don’t think to help someone like him. He thinks of the long journey he took to travel here to get a mechanical body and how he’s feeling differently now. We see a flashback to the Conductor laying Artemis to rest (episode 52) and Tetsuro thinks of how she lost hope after getting a mechanical body and returned to her mother in death. He also thinks of those who held funerals because they had no other pleasure in life (episode 66). He also flashes back to Yutaka Moriki (called Briar) and how he couldn’t handle the desolation of not having friends (episode 21). Tetsuro says he has no idea what to do about his decision and he may feel some relief if he doesn’t get his pass back and has to stop his journey here. Maetel watches from above him on the stairway. Maetel asks him if he’s given up looking for his pass and if he feels a certain level of relief over it now. She says without that pass he can’t return to Earth either.

Maetel asks Tetsuro what he’s going to do, get a mechanical body or something else. Tetsuro says he isn’t sure. He’s met so many people on this long journey. He thought he’d get a mechanical body and fight against those with mechanical bodies who were bullying others. But now he doesn’t know if staying a flesh and blood human or getting a mechanical body is a clear decision. Tetsuro asks Maetel what he should do, but she is interrupted by the whistle of the 999. Maetel says they should go to the station and he can make up his mind later. The 999 announces it is boarding at the station. We see Masai sitting at the station in Tetsuro’s clothing with his pass, thinking of how now he’ll be able to get a mechanical body. He has doubts about whether stealing the pass was the right thing. We see Shuma and his mother passing by. Tetsuro and Maetel rush to the station. Within the station Tetsuro realizes they’ve started boarding. Maetel points out Masai wearing his clothing nearby. Tetsuro runs up to him and grabs a hold of Masai, demanding his pass back. Masai hands it back to him.

Tetsuro notices Masai has a lot of money in his suitcase and wonders why he needed to steal his pass because of that. Masai says this is to fund his animation. Tetsuro asks where he was planning to go with the pass and Masai says he wanted to get a strong body. He’s been sickly and suffered since he was born. In order to produce animation he wanted eternal life above all else. He says he made it here, to the second to last stop and got sick and wasn’t able to make it the rest of the way. He says he has tried to create works full of dreams but has now stolen people’s property. He claims he worked his way here from Earth, earning money to fund tickets from station to station and is upset with himself over resorting to theft. Tetsuro forgives him. Masai says he has made animation for himself to this point and will make animation that everyone can enjoy. They shake hands and say farewell.

Tetsuro tells Maetel he’s made up his mind. He is going to see his way to the end. If he gives up now, he’ll let down those who have wanted to make their journey here but can’t. The train whistle goes off and they make their way to the 999. Meanwhile Masai walks outside the station then turns around. Maetel asks Tetsuro what made him make up his mind. He says he’s made it this far; he’d be a coward to turn back now. He owes it to his mother. He hopes Masai is able to get a mechanical body soon to help him make his animation. He says he wants to introduce him to Freya (episode 16) and that they’d make wonderful animation together.

Masai looks at the 999 from the other side of the tracks and Tetsuro spots him. Tetsuro wonders what happened and if he gave up on his dreams. He waves goodbye to Masai as the 999 starts taking off. Masai says he has made up his mind and won’t let his weak body stop him. Tetsuro tells him to make some awesome animation. Tetsuro asks Maetel what she thinks Masai will do and if he’ll achieve his dream. Tetsuro realizes Masai was standing on the side of the train that would bring him back to the Milky Way galaxy. Maetel tells Tetsuro that Masai hasn’t given up. He has made a difficult choice. He was using his weak body as an excuse. He’s decided to live a mortal life and work as hard as he can during the time he has. As Tetsuro sleeps, Maetel looks at the portrait of him. The 999 heads towards the final station.

TV Episode Cast:

Tetsuro Hoshino – Masako Nozawa

Maetel – Masako Ikeda

Conductor – Kaneta Kimotsuki

Masai – Toru Furuya

Boy – Seiko Nakano

Boy’s Mother – Yuri Kobayashi

Narrator – Hitoshi Takagi

Toru Furuya previously appeared as Zeda (episodes 47 – 48), Tetsuo (episode 86) and Brother (episode 106). Seiko Nakano previously appeared as a child in episode 6, Baby in episode 55 and Ark in episodes 77 – 78.

Non-Spoiler Analysis:

It is time for the penultimate episode and the final stand-alone episode of the show, although this episode is hardly one that can be declared stand-alone in nature. If anything, this episode eschews having a typical episodic plot and focuses on Tetsuro and his decision on whether he will get a mechanical body. It has been a very long journey, at times so long it seemed the end would never arrive. But Tetsuro is finally here, one stop away from the planet that will give him the mechanical body he has desired so much. Yet now that he’s so close to the finish line, Tetsuro has doubts. Is it worth attaining the mechanical body after all? What decision will he make? The journey he has been on, the many people he has met have all shaped Tetsuro and the decision he needs to make. Attaining a mechanical body will give him the eternal life he so desires. But he has also faced many who have been opposed to attaining a mechanical body and has witnessed the cruelty of those who have mechanical bodies. What is the right choice to make?

Intermingled with Tetsuro’s decision is the introduction of Masai, a boy who it is revealed also went on the long journey to try and attain a mechanical body. Masai is an aspiring animator a type of profession we met back in the storyline “The Town of Fireflies (chapter 4-2/episode 16) with the character of Freya. We get a brief callback to that episode which I was happy to see. I suppose the show’s writers couldn’t go one last time without a storyline over Tetsuro’s pass being stolen, so naturally Masai resorts to stealing it. Although I’ll say this plot is largely an afterthought in the episode. It is quite obvious from the beginning who stole it and the episode doesn’t waste any time pointing out to us or Tetsuro/Maetel who did it. The pass being stolen is really just there to lead to the conversation with Masai and Tetsuro at the station which helps Tetsuro in making his final decision. Masai has traveled so far; he doesn’t want to give up on his dreams. Tetsuro realizes he has to make the same choice. He has come this far, he can’t give up now. He also strives to attain the mechanical body that many have also desired but have been unable to due to circumstance. It is interesting that despite having similar mentalities about not wanting to give up, Masai makes the opposite decision of Tetsuro and decides to not get a mechanical body and start his journey back towards Earth. Although to Masai the dream isn’t so much attaining the mechanical body as it is making his animation.

In terms of other thoughts on the episode, it was interesting to note that this is a planet where people hesitate and have to think over their decisions. It is played off similar to the influence the planet had back in episode 85, “Planet of Illusive Love” although in that case it was a different type of emotion that was impressed upon people. Upon hearing of the 5 hour layover time and seeing Tetsuro go to sleep at the hotel I was fearful of something that it would be a very easily correctable error on the part of the writers, but thankfully this doesn’t come to be as Tetsuro and Maetel have to make their way back to the station at nighttime. This episode features a ton of flashbacks to previous episodes, more so than any other episode in the TV series. With us just about at the end I suppose this was inevitable, and it is a good thing to get it out of the way here rather than as part of the two-part finale.

For our final episode prior to the finale it was overall a strong one and I’m glad the writers decided to focus much more heavily on Tetsuro’s decision rather than a stand-alone plotline. It provides us some powerful character moments for Tetsuro, and given how strong the previous TV episodes were (“Maetel’s Journey” in episodes 109 and 110) it is doubtful they would have been able to come up with an original story more interesting than that with half the space to tell it. I’m looking forward to the upcoming finale, although a bit sad that the journey is just about at its end!

 

Breakdown Clock

Breakdown Clock

Manga Chapters 18-3

Manga Chapter Summary:

The Conductor announces the 999’s next stop as “17 Stones”, with a layover time of 18 hours. As the 999 approaches the planet a number of craters can be seen, but each has a clock within it! Tetsuro hears a clicking sound as the 999 lands and Maetel says the whole planet is like an old clock. Clocks are seen everywhere, at the station, on the street and at all the various restaurants around. Maetel suggests they go get something to eat. Tetsuro finds that even the table is made out of a clock. The waitress arrives and she has the head of a clock! Tetsuro asks for ice cream and Maetel coffee. The waitress says it will be 3 minutes, but nothing arrives within that time.

They head back outside and make their way towards the hotel, which also has numerous clocks around its outside. They go to sleep in their hotel room, where giant clocks are on the wall above them and even their blankets have clocks within them. Tetsuro has had enough of the noise and smashes the clock above his bed. He notices a shining hole towards the back and strange noises. He climbs into the hole left by the destroyed clock, then falls in it completely. Tetsuro ends up falling into a spherical pit where there are a lot of clock parts on the bottom. The screws here remind him of those he saw on Ulatores. Maetel gets in as well by climbing down a rope, although it soon becomes untied, Maetel suspects by someone, trapping them in here.

Suddenly a hole opens up in the bottom of the pit, sucking in the various parts, and Tetsuro and Maetel along with them. The two of them crash into a large black spherical object with a lot of clock parts on it. Maetel says this is the central cavity of 17 Stones, a place where all the detached parts gather. Maetel thinks they were brought here by someone. Suddenly a voice speaks out and confirms it. The voice claims it is 17 Stones itself, the planet talking to them. 17 Stones asks for their help. It claims that there are often leftover parts whenever the clocks on this planet are made or repaired making them inaccurate. None of the clocks on this planet point to the same time and it doesn’t even know what time is correct. It wants to know the correct time.

Maetel claims the planet is famous because it doesn’t properly keep track of time. She whispers to Tetsuro that 17 Stones was once a famous watch collector before becoming the planet itself. Maetel realizes that in order to properly help 17 Stones they will need to help repair all the clocks here. Tetsuro asks if it will let them out if they help. She then tells it to read chapter 738 of the Andromeda Galaxy. A rope ladder is released to let them out. Tetsuro and Maetel make their way to the station where the Conductor is waiting for them.

After the 999 departs it, the Conductor says 17 Stones is moving, It claims it will be heading to another part of space. Maetel says chapter 738 of the Andromeda galaxy says there is a utopia at the end of space, although no one who has gone there has returned. Tetsuro realizes that 17 Stones is going to a place where there is no time. Maetel says in a utopia it doesn’t matter what time it is. The Conductor wonders if such a place actually exists. Maetel asks if this is a place they should want to go. We see 17 Stones continuing to travel further away into space. Tetsuro hopes 17 Stones can make it there. Tetsuro asks Maetel if she’s ever seen a place without time and she says yes. She says for both her and the 999, no matter when time stops, they will have no rest.

Non-Spoiler Analysis:

This is our last stand-alone story in the manga before the finale, which takes place across the final 5 chapters. In this chapter the 999 travels to the planet “17 Stones” a rather odd name that seems to have nothing to do with the planet or anything that happens within it. The gimmick of the planet is that there are clocks everywhere. From a design standpoint, Matsumoto does a good job giving them to us as much as possible. Everything you can think of has clocks in it. Even the streets, the tables people eat from, and blankets. The sole person that Tetsuro and Maetel meet during the chapter has a clock for a head! Alas, with all the clocks means lots of ticking and this drives Tetsuro crazy enough to smash one. Incidentally enough this leads him to a pit with a lot of old clock parts.

Once in the pit, Tetsuro and Maetel are able to communicate with the planet itself, which is a sentient being. It is rare for us to encounter an entire planet that is a sentient being, the one I always think back to is the rather perverted planet in “A Star Named Curiosity (chapters 2-12/3-1 and episode 68). This planet is at least more polite than that planet was, but it does have a rather monumental task for our heroes, to fix all the clocks on this planet. As we see early in the chapter at the restaurant, all the clocks are telling different times, so it’s really hard to get anything time-related correct. Luckily Maetel comes up with a better idea; the planet can go to a place where there is no time, and hence no need to worry about the clocks being wrong.

Like many of these manga only chapters, I can’t say I was the most interested by this chapter, although I do like seeing the sentient planet concept revisited.

Dr. Everyone is Stupid But Myself

Dr. Everyone is Stupid But Myself

Manga Chapter 18-2

Manga Chapter Summary:

The Conductor announces the 999’s next stop as “Stripe King”, with a layover time of 24 hours. Tetsuro wonders about what a strange name this planet has. As the 999 approaches the planet we see holes throughout it with lines connecting them. Tetsuro says it’s like a planet that parts have fallen out of. The 999 descends into the atmosphere and passes numerous hot air balloons. Even Maetel is surprised, saying this is the first time she’s seen something like this. As they get closer to the balloons, Tetsuro realizes that they are all holding houses below them. Tetsuro wonders if it is some kind of contest. The Conductor says there is no space shield in the atmosphere so they could be injured if they’re not careful. Tetsuro wonders if there is a shortage of land here.

Tetsuro eventually spots land as the 999 approaches a giant metropolis, similar to what he’s seen on Earth. Tetsuro claims the buildings look like gravestones though and they realize there are no lights in the city. The Locomotive claims there is only a weak life reaction on the surface and underground settlements. It seems there are very few living creatures or mechanical people here. Maetel is surprised, having expected there to be a large population. The Locomotive says city functions are on the verge of stopping. It is like it’s a graveyard. Tetsuro and Maetel exit the station and make their way towards the hotel. Tetsuro feels strange, hearing only his footsteps echo. They eventually reach the hotel, which also has no lights coming out of it. Heading inside, they find lamps to be the only light within. Maetel doesn’t concern herself with it as they know their hotel room number.

Tetsuro wonders what those in charge of this city are doing and Maetel makes a comment about the energy being stopped. Tetsuro notices there is no hot water or water in the bathtub, which he doesn’t mind. He also says, looking outside that the city has no signs of destruction so there must have not been a rebellion or riot here. Tetsuro spots a light coming closer and closer. Maetel warns him to stay away from the window. Suddenly a large voice shouts out that they are exiling Tetsuro on the mayor’s order. Several mechanical arms burst through the window and grab Tetsuro, taking him with them. As the device carrying him ascends higher and higher, Tetsuro feels drowsy, with the oxygen running low. The device makes it up to the area with all of the hot air balloons.

Meanwhile, Maetel places a call to the mayor’s office and claims she is heading there. We cut to Tetsuro, who is now in one of the houses attached to the hot air balloons. A young man in front of him gives him some ramen to eat. He claims this is a house for those who have been exiled. The right to live freely in the city has been seized. Tetsuro wonders why he was banished and is told as soon as someone says something that isn’t liked on this planet they are banished. Tetsuro wonders what he must have said wrong and doesn’t remember. The man claims anything Mayor Guillotino doesn’t like is exiled or killed. Tetsuro starts getting frustrated and rushes outside, nearly falling off until the man grabs him. Tetsuro realizes he’s up in the air with the hot air balloons. He realizes this is why no one was on the ground.

Elsewhere, Maetel stands in front of an elaborately decorated and giant door and asks Guillotino to let her in. She steps inside where we find that Guillotino, while still alive, is just a skeleton. Guillotino admits that he’s banished or killed all the other mayors so he’s the only one left. He claims those on this planet are stupid and shouldn’t exist. Maetel asks how he knows that everyone else on this planet is stupid and he simply says because that’s the way it is. Maetel realizes that Guillotino is quite weak. He claims he has an incurable space disease. The doctors and any correspondents who could have contacted someone else had been executed and he doesn’t know how to operate the machine. Maetel says it is troublesome when there’s no people around, but Guillotino still insists it is wonderful to be on a planet with no idiots. Guillotino’s speech slows and he soon dies.

Meanwhile, Tetsuro wonders how long he’ll be up here. A loud noise emits from outside and they realize it is the 999! Maetel claims the mayor is gone; his digestive system was eaten by mechanical bugs and bacteria. Now everyone can go back to the ground and be of peaceful mind. The man whose home Tetsuro had been staying in says his name is Pinestein and that this will be a better planet when he returns. Tetsuro doesn’t know when he’ll return, but tells Pinestein to do his best. The 999 heads to space and continues on its journey.

Non-Spoiler Analysis:

This is another chapter which reminds me greatly of a previous one, in this case chapter 7-6, “The Empire of the Cowardly Emperor”. In that story, the Emperor of the planet distrusted everyone so much that he had everyone else killed until he was the only one left. Guillotino in this story doesn’t go as far as him; many people he has simply exiled rather than having killed, but he has reduced society greatly, to the point where he is the only other person that we see on the surface. Everyone else is forced to live either underground (referenced but never seen) or up in the sky via houses attached to hot air balloons! While the story comes off as a retread, at least we have the interesting looking sky with so many different hot air balloons.

Tetsuro’s mouth or attitude is something that often gets him into trouble, and that continues to be the case here, with him getting himself exiled fairly quickly after they enter the hotel room. It was fairly interesting to see Tetsuro and Maetel head through a city and a hotel that is pretty much deserted, with only lamps there to light the way. When we meet Guillotino towards the end of the chapter it was also interesting to note that he is a skeleton! It isn’t explained whether he was always this way, or if the disease that he has reduced him to this state. My guess would be the latter. He ends up dying of his illness shortly after Maetel comes to see him and that causes a quick resolution to this chapter’s storyline.  As I’ve mentioned in some other recent chapters, with Matsumoto both resorting to ideas he’s previously used and the storylines coming to rather quick resolutions it seems like a good time for us to head to the conclusion of the Galaxy Express 999 storyline.

Cosmo Wine

Cosmo Wine

Manga Chapter 18-1

Manga Chapter Summary:

The narrator explains that mankind hasn’t reached the point of being able to control nature on most planets yet. People must live under the tide of nature. We see a rainy planet with a sign saying that those who go out during the rain will be sentenced to death. As the 999 approaches the planet, Tetsuro and the Conductor claim the scene of the rain is rather good, irresistible in fact. A lively looking Conductor says this planet’s name is “Cosmo Wine” and they will be stopped here for 24 hours. The Conductor spots some of the rain coming through under the door and drinks it. The 999 heads to the station, which is included within a pipe. Maetel says they do this due to the troublesome rain. The Conductor sings and Tetsuro and Maetel comment on how he likes this place a lot.

We cut to Tetsuro and Maetel at their hotel, called Hotel Umbrella (which is shaped like one). They had entered the hotel directly through the underground station. Tetsuro says despite the rain, it smells nice here. Maetel says the rain can be both poison and medicine and people aren’t allowed to go out during the rainy season. Tetsuro talks about the stupidity of it and is yelled at by someone from the wall. Maetel claims the entire hotel has a surveillance monitor. If Tetsuro says something he shouldn’t he may get warned, or the police may arrive. Tetsuro wonders what he can do and Maetel tells him to take a bath and sleep. Tetsuro wants to wander around and Maetel says he can go around the hotel but to not go outside, as she steps into the bath. Tetsuro heads down to the lobby, wondering where he can get something to eat. He finds the hotel gloomy, with few people around and mold present. He also spots some spiderwebs as he makes his way to the hotel restaurant, saying it is more like a haunted house!

Tetsuro sits down and is tended to by a waitress. He orders clams, shrimp, tempura and rice. The waitress also asks him about what type of wine he’d like, claiming it is like water here. Tetsuro has some and likes it. Some time goes by and Tetsuro, now feeling the effect of the alcohol, says wine isn’t water after all. He wanders his way out of the restaurant and we next see Tetsuro outside in the rain. Tetsuro soon realizes the rain coming down is wine as well! He gets worried that he is going to die of alcohol poisoning. Suddenly a number of swords are held out at Tetsuro and he is told he’s being arrested for violating the curfew. Tetsuro doesn’t mind it as long as he can get out of this rain.

Some time passes by and we see Maetel walking outside with an umbrella. A device demands her to stop going out in violation of the rain decree. Maetel, who is wearing some sort of mask, flashes a card at the device which apologizes to her. Maetel continues her way through the rain and finds Tetsuro’s hat on the ground, with a stab through it via an electronic bayonet. She realizes it was just recently stabbed. Maetel is suddenly shot at and collapses. Maetel wakes up later in a room with a lot of dials on the walls. She is told she’s not injured and is asked if she will cooperate. Two men in lab coats walk in, one of which says he is Minato, a representative from the Anti-Alcohol Society, “Water”. He tells Maetel their goal is to ban alcohol from this planet and make it a refreshing planet flowing with pure water.

Maetel realizes they do not have mechanical bodies and they confirm this. They admit they are using the power of machines but desire for living humans to control machines here rather than the other way around. Minato says the mechanical people tried to drown living humans in the rain of alcohol here and they are resisting it. We cut to the police station where Tetsuro is being interrogated. He says he is Tetsuro Hoshino, traveling on the 999, but without his ID on him the police don’t believe him. They also question why he left the hotel and if he knew about the curfew. He is told the punishment for violating the curfew is death! Tetsuro begs for some water but is told he doesn’t need it. Tetsuro is ordered to be executed.

A bell rings which Maetel hears and is told by Minato that it is a “death bell” signaling that execution of the criminal is over. We hear Tetsuro’s voice as we see some shots in space and Tetsuro gets frustrated. Is he dead? We cut to Tetsuro waking up in the hotel room. Tetsuro says he wasn’t dreaming. The waitress from the restaurant hands Tetsuro his pass, saying she picked it up. Minato is standing there and introduces himself. The waitress claims the death bell had actually been rung for the Prime Minister of the planet. Cosmo Wine has abandoned its policy and he was executed under the orders of the Great Mother Planet due to violation of the mechanization law. Minato says according to the mechanization law, one cannot threaten a human or force them to attain a mechanical body. Minato says that according to the law, those becoming mechanized must do so voluntarily.

Minato says he does not pledge to mechanized society and doesn’t believe there is a reason to cooperate. Tetsuro asks who contacted the Great Mother Planet about this situation and Minato says it was Maetel! Minato claims the government of this planet forces living humans to drink alcohol. He thought it would create a revolution. We cut to a shot of the prime minster, who has been hung, as the 999 departs the planet. On the 999, Tetsuro and Maetel talk about if a planet like this is paradise or hell. Tetsuro asks about the planet they are going to in order for him to obtain a free mechanical body and Maetel says it is the great mother planet, the capital of the mechanized world. It’s known as Great Andromeda, and is located in the center of the Andromeda galaxy. It is a utopia for mechanized people and the home of the mechanical civilization. Tetsuro asks what the name of the planet is that gives a free mechanical body and she says it would be better for him to not ask. Tetsuro looks at his pass and thinks of how they have passed Orion and Pleiades and are advancing towards Great Andromeda. The Conductor says the terminal station is coming soon, hanging down his head.

Non-Spoiler Analysis:

This chapter returns us to a world with a rather absurd concept, this time the fact that wine is the equivalent of water on this planet. We soon realize something odd is going on with the rain due to the nice smell of it and the fact that the Conductor happily drinks some of the rain seeping through below the train door. Tetsuro eventually realizes what is going on after going to the restaurant and being served some. Of course, being a kid, Tetsuro quickly becomes drunk and wanders outside in violation of the curfew. Tetsuro getting in trouble with the local authorities is a very common theme, seen in previous chapters such as “The Holy Planet of Silence” or “City Without Night” and this chapter is no exception. Although this time Tetsuro finds himself nearly dying of alcohol poisoning out in the rain and has at least a little relief at being arrested. That relief quickly goes away as Tetsuro is interrogated and sentenced to death! Why this planet has such a harsh penalty is unfortunately never explained.

Meanwhile Maetel finds herself involved with a revolutionary group “Water” that is rebelling against the alcohol entrenched nature of this planet. It got me thinking back to the era of prohibition in real life, a period of time during the 1920s where alcohol was illegal in the United States. “Water” seeks something similar to prohibition and is made up of living humans rather than mechanized ones. Through Maetel’s help they are eventually able to overthrow the Prime Minister of the planet. Through simply a phone call to the Great Mother Planet of Andromeda, Maetel is able to get him executed for violation of a law that prohibits living humans from being threatened or forcibly made into mechanized people. It’s rather odd that this is the justification for his execution as we never actually see that threat made to anyone in this chapter. I also found it interesting as we have had several past chapters when Tetsuro was threatened with a mechanical body but no one got in trouble over it. Most of those chapters occurred before the 999 arrived in Andromeda, but we did see a character, Snowlock, trick people into getting mechanized to pay a big debt to him in the chapter “Snow Woman of Andromeda”. Maetel has often displayed feats of great power and we see that yet again here as it is just a phone call that enables the leader of the planet to be overthrown. Now that we’re close to the end, the secrets behind Maetel are soon to be revealed.

Spoiler Analysis:

I would presume that the reason that Maetel doesn’t want Tetsuro to know the name of the planet where he can get a free mechanical body is because it is named Maetel, as seen in the movie version of Galaxy Express 999. Oddly enough though, this never actually comes up in the final series of manga chapters.

 

Blue Melon Duel

Blue Melon Duel

Manga Chapter 17-4

Manga Chapter Summary:

The Conductor announces the next stop as “Blue Melon” with a layover time of 1 hour and 10 seconds. The 999 approaches the planet, which looks like a watermelon.  Tetsuro says it is a very short stop time and Maetel says it’s because the 999 is replenishing itself here. Tetsuro’s stomach rumbles and the Conductor says their ramen supply has run out! He says this is a planet with a lot of food and they come here to replenish it. The 999 makes its way down to the planet, over a large ocean. Tetsuro sees a lot of round objects in the water and says they are floating like jellyfish. As the 999 gets closer to them we realize it is a whole bunch of watermelons floating in the water. Maetel says this is like a giant watermelon field and they act like islands. Tetsuro is impressed, comparing it to the planet where they saw round pigs and cows.

As the 999 approaches the water there is an eruption of water and Tetsuro and Maetel get soaked. As there are more eruptions, Tetsuro gets carried out of the 999 and into the water below. The 999 continues on without him as if it hasn’t realized he’s fallen out. Tetsuro makes his way to a nearby watermelon but has a hard time gripping onto it so he can climb it. He eventually finds one with a hole in it and crawls towards it, being grateful to whoever left it here. He sees the inside is red like a regular watermelon. Suddenly a giant pair of eyes appear in the darkness and ask why some annoying person is coming in without permission. It is a giant worm-like creature that comes out and forces Tetsuro back into the water. The creature tells Tetsuro to not worry; it came out due to the surprise, but won’t eat him. Tetsuro is surprised to realize insects here are intelligent and can speak like humans.

The creature invites Tetsuro in. Tetsuro worries it is going to eat him and continues to tread water, but finds his body getting heavier. Tetsuro starts sinking into the water below. Meanwhile Maetel and the Conductor have gotten off at the station, finding the city there in ruins. The Conductor hadn’t noticed Tetsuro falling out and wonders how he should report it. Maetel says the explosions from the sea were from a battle and it’s not his fault. She realizes the atmospheric composition has changed here. Tetsuro wakes up inside the home a man has made within one of the watermelons. The man claims he is a stubborn one and was almost eaten by a worm. We see the worm coming out the backside of the watermelon and Tetsuro compares the worm to a guard dog.

The man, whose name is Forks says there have been recent attacks and counterattacks here. This area is his clan’s watermelon field. He says insects biting into some of the watermelons is a natural occurrence. Even if worm-eaten fruit won’t sell, Forks says they can be self-sufficient here. Forks says mechanical people rule this planet; they couldn’t live here though so they commanded watermelons to be grown. Mechanical people don’t eat watermelons, but they have been able to export them to the many living humans in the universe. Tetsuro wonders what will happen to him and Forks says he can ride a bug to the station. He claims the rebellion they are staging hasn’t been settled yet and wonders if in a final battle he’ll end up battling the ruler. He says this planet is no longer useful to mechanical people due to the costs to transport the food and the worm-eaten food. He would like for this planet to be forgotten by the mechanical people and for them to be self-sufficient. It can be a paradise for real humans.

Tetsuro gets on the giant worm and rides it away. We cut to the 999 where Tetsuro is holding a giant watermelon seed given to him by Forks. He wants to plant it somewhere. The Locomotive claims a high speed destructive object is approaching from the center of Andromeda towards Blue Melon. Blasts head towards Blue Melon and the entire planet explodes. Tetsuro says Forks’ side lost the battle, but Maetel claims humans won in a sense since the mechanical empire couldn’t control them. She claims mechanical people won’t allow the existence of a living paradise for humans. Tetsuro asks if they are scared. Maetel says in the center of the Andromeda galaxy there is the planet that gives a machine body for free, known as the terminal station. As the chapter comes to a close the narrator explains how Tetsuro knows his journey is nearing its end. He wants to realize his hopes and dreams to live an eternal life, but also hates mechanical people.

Non-Spoiler Analysis:

It is a rather simple, fast moving chapter this time as the 999 heads to the planet “Blue Melon”. Blue Melon is a stop where the 999 comes to replenish its food supplies, and reminds me much of the planet we visited back in chapter 2-5, “Giant Cows in Space Pastures”. Tetsuro clearly feels the same way as he references his experience from that chapter! It wouldn’t be a new stop without a little bit of adventure, and that comes as water eruptions from a battle there causes Tetsuro to fall out of the 999, into a giant body of water where giant watermelons are being grown! Tetsuro has a briefly scary experience with a giant worm, but soon meets Forks, who is part of a rebellion on this planet against the machine empire.

As we get deeper into the Andromeda galaxy we continue to get further examples that living humans and mechanized humans are unable to peacefully co-exist with each other. The mechanized empire at one time had a use for this planet, using it to grow and export food. But now that has become too expensive and bugs have eaten too much of the food. Those actual humans on the planet like Forks are rebelling and hope to make the planet their own paradise. Unfortunately for them they aren’t able to succeed and the planet is destroyed by the end of the chapter. Despite the descriptions of the conflict, the most we get out of it is a few eruptions of water and the blast at the end of the chapter that destroys the planet. Matsumoto probably could have elongated the chapter with fighting if he really desired, but decides to skip over that part and stick mostly to exposition.

I have no big complaints with the chapter, but at this point we’re so far into things, there isn’t really anything all that special here either. We’ve seen the concepts explored here in previous chapters. It may be for the best at this point that we are getting pretty close to the end.

Volcanic Disciple

Volcanic Disciple

Manga Chapter 17-3

Manga Chapter Summary:

Aboard the 999, the Conductor tells Tetsuro the next stop has changed a little and to be prepared. They approach a strange shaped planet, which appears as if it is hovering over a circular nebula. Maetel says this array is very rare and she looks forward to going there. The Conductor says he doesn’t think it’s much fun. The layover time here is 24 hours. As they approach the planet, Tetsuro finds the planet covered with mist, with a pattern like a bowling ball. As the 999 descends, Tetsuro spots striped land masses. Small dandelion-hair type objects start floating into the 999. Suddenly the Locomotive declares a strange abnormality has occurred, with every part of the train failing. The train cars start decoupling from each other and falling.

The various train cars collapse into the ground, into a black tar-like substance. Tetsuro and the Conductor watch in horror as the Locomotive stars sinking, eventually going completely under the surface. They worry about Maetel and Tetsuro finds her floating on the substance nearby; soon sinking into it. Tetsuro and the Conductor find that the passenger car is not as heavy as the Locomotive and as such isn’t sinking. Tetsuro stares off to the horizon, not seeing anything there. The Conductor turns his back for a moment and when he returns, Tetsuro is gone, having been drug into the black substance himself. Suddenly a cloaked figure appears on the train car, calling himself Volcanic. Volcanic brings the Conductor with him on a craft, with the Conductor worrying about him leaving the train behind. Volcanic says it’s okay; the train won’t be able to move anyway.

Volcanic brings the Conductor towards his house, a tall structure that is balancing very unstably as if it is about to collapse. Volcanic says this planet has no large land mass and this is actually the most expensive place. The Conductor worries about them falling, but Volcanic says it won’t happen. Volcanic brings the Conductor to an old fashioned room and locks him in! Volcanic says he wants him to live here forever. The Conductor worries about what has happened to Tetsuro and Maetel and also about the house falling over. By looking out the window, the Conductor is able to see the large nebula beneath the planet in the night sky. Meanwhile Tetsuro wakes up in a room with a chain attached to his ankle. A young man wearing a black shirt and sunglasses brings Tetsuro some food and says he wants him to stay here forever. He tells him that Maetel is around 10 kilometers from here and is safe.

At that moment we see Maetel being held in a chamber, with a woman outside tending to her, also wearing sunglasses. The woman claims all Maetel has to do is stay there and live. Tetsuro pulls on the chain until they snap off. He feels as if he has superhuman strength here and easily punches through the walls of the chamber he is in. The young man with him says he’ll be in trouble for something like this happening. Tetsuro spots Maetel nearby; she has riden here on a vehicle with the woman. To Tetsuro’s dismay, Maetel pulls out a gun and shoots the young man in the chest. Maetel claims he has just been knocked out. She says this planet is going to collapse soon. The woman and young man say their father, Professor Volcanic is a great person and Maetel realizes he’s alive, saying Volcanic is a famous person here.

As they continue traveling the planet starts collapsing and falling into the nebula below it. The crumbled bits of the planet start falling into the center of the nebula. They spot the remains of the house and the Conductor asking for help. He is able to jump into the vehicle and they look around for the parts of the 999. The 999 train cars are able to connect to each other and Tetsuro and Maetel get back on. Maetel tells Tetsuro the planet collapsed because of iron-eating insects created by Professor Volcanic. He had originally developed them as a digestive enhancer and sprinkled them over the planet. They were the size of bacteria and ate, dissolved and oxidized metal. Tetsuro thinks of how easy it was to escape his chains and the building he was in as a result. Because of Volcanic, everyone on this planet was able to escape.

We hear Volcanic with his kids in the other train car. The train car they are in detaches from the 999 and floats out into space. Tetsuro’s hand which he used to break out is kept in some bandages. Maetel says it is okay to invent something, but people should be careful to invent something that doesn’t bother people. The narrator concludes the chapter by explaining about the fame of how the planet became powder into the nebula and that the nebula itself disappeared several years later. No one knows what happened to Volcanic and his disciples…

Non-Spoiler Analysis:

This chapter features the 999 going to a rather unique looking planet that floats above a nebula. Upon landing however, things start going wrong. The train car starts falling apart, most likely due to the iron consuming insects. As a result, the 999 sinks and all three of our main characters are quickly separated from each other and locked up by inhabitants of the planet. The insects which caused this predicament in the first place end up being our character’s saving grace too as they are easily able to escape and reunite with each other. We find that those who captured our heroes are all related to one another and they are able to get together on a vehicle and escape into the 999 which reunites as the planet collapses entirely and falls into the nebula.

It unfortunately wasn’t the most interesting storyline to me. The 999 arriving at a planet only for the planet to soon be destroyed is a commonly used plot point and while I wanted to see why each of our characters were separated and locked up, we never really get an answer why. At least things look somewhat interesting in this chapter including the planet from both out of space and while on it. The nearly collapsing house the Conductor is brought into is also an interesting design. I worried for him that it would collapse quite quickly, but he seems to make it out okay until the 999 arrives to rescue him. Volcanic appears throughout the chapter only in a cloak, reminding me of the disguise Captain Harlock used back in chapters 12-4/13-1, “The Pirate’s Time Castle”.