HomeComics/MangaCOMIC REVIEW | Flying Free In New "Captain Harlock" Adventure

COMIC REVIEW | Flying Free In New "Captain Harlock" Adventure

COMIC REVIEW | Flying Free In New "Captain Harlock" Adventure

Within space and time, only one pirate is brave enough to conquer the stars, and his name is Captain Harlock! Leiji Matsumoto’s iconic creation has taken the manga, anime, and film worlds by storm, reaching out far past the Japanese borders and into international territory. The most interesting place Harlock’s fame has gotten him to was France, who consider him (and Matsumoto, of course) a pop culture icon. It’s why Matsumoto had given his blessing to French comic book author Jerome Alquie to continue his story, in the form of the six-part series Space Pirate Captain Harlock!

Taking place after the events of the main series, Space Pirate Captain Harlock has our titular hero taking on a new threat from the Mazon. Earth is once again under attack, as it’s placed in a never-ending tundra from a Mazon threat coming from the planet’s coldest depths. Despite his banishment from Earth, Captain Harlock and his trusty crew set off to save the planet, as well as keep a promise to the late Arcadia’s creator Tochiro. However, in order to protect Earth this time, Harlock must travel to places that have become the final resting places for many past adventurers.

One of the great things about this new Captain Harlock adventure is how much Alquie captures Matsumoto’s look and feel to the story. From its beautiful visual aesthetics and space opera vibes to the overall message that our anti-hero pushes through, everything about this story feels true to Matsumoto original creation. Granted, it does take a big exposition route with much of the back story to this narrative, but this is only so those new to Captain Harlock can catch up to his mighty adventures. (Those who want to dive fully into the Captain Harlock narrative can rest assure that finding the original series is a lot more easier now than it was a few years back!)

The key theme of finding peace and freedom is present all through Space Pirate Captain Harlock. Even as the likes of Kei, Tadashi, Yattaran, and Mimay stand tall for battle against the Mazon, it’s clear that their quest for total freedom is at the forefront of their minds. Nevertheless, when Mimay is left in a coma after an attack from the ice Mazon Mel and the villainous Talika, the fight for revenge for the sake of peace becomes their main focus. After all, be it literally or emotionally, the crew of Arcadia never leaves a crew member behind!

It’s the fights with the various elemental Mazon where the adventurous side of Captain Harlock come into full swing. From the internal struggle with darkness against Eina to the climactic fiery battle with Monna, these moments are captured with the right amount of tenacity, adrenaline, and even beauty that we’ve come to expect from a Matsumoto story. How Alquie recaptures this magic from the original creator in these moments is something of a marvel, as it gives off the feel of the classic story with just a fresh coat of paint.

However, there’s something a little off regarding Alquie’s overall presentation. One of the things that Matsumoto always made sure to do was let his readers be engulfed by the worlds Captain Harlock visited. These moments gave those flipping through the pages a chance to get a good feel of what these worlds were like, and how massive they were. Alquie, who focuses more on telling the story, forgets to let his readers breathe when a new world pops up onto the pages, making each visit feel a little too rushed for its own good.

Despite this minor hiccup, Alquie’s rendition of Matsumoto’s iconic space pirate feels like a proper continuation, and a damn good one at that! Space Pirate Captain Harlock doesn’t feel so much like a conclusion, but rather a proper continuation of one of manga and anime’s most beloved icons. The only question remains is whether or not the Arcadia will fly once again. Considering how it ends, one must believe that Captain Harlock’s iconic Jolly Roger will flutter onward, until the day everyone can live free under it!

FINAL GRADE:

Promotional consideration provided by Erik Jansen of MediaLab PR. In stores February 23!

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The J-POP king of America, Evan has been bringing the hottest sounds of the Land of the Rising Sun to the English-speaking public since his college radio days. He's also an expert in the gaming, anime, & manga realms, never afraid to get critical when the times call for it. Born & bred in Boston, he achieved his biggest dream yet by making the big move to Tokyo, Japan in Summer 2023! For personal inquiries, contact Evan at evan@b3crew.com. For press/band inquiries, write to us at thebastards@bostonbastardbrigade.com. (Drawing by AFLM of Wicked Anime)