Galaxy Express 999, Vol. 1

In the distant fututre, ayoung boy named Tetsuro steals a boarding pass to a train called the Three-Nine. After emabarking, he meets a woman named Maetel, who bares a striking resembelance to his deceased mother. A grand journey begins that will take Tetsuro to the edge of the universe and back. He will meet many friends and enemies in his journey of wonder.

Despite the artwork which will turn off fans of superhero-style comic books, Galaxy Express has a style unto its own that needs to be appreciated by a more mature reader. The story is excellent, the social commentary is superb, my only problem is the SLOW release schedule. This book easily ranks equally alongside the other great (translated) mangas of our times, including Nausicaa, Lone Wolf and Cub, Dominion, and Adolf... Buy this book!

Here's a summery of the 18 volumes, NO spoilers^_~"You think Tetsuro Hoshino has seen the last of the Gallaxy Express? Starting where the 2 part movie left off, Maetel sets Tetsuro back on the path to Manhood (NOTE, he is VERY young) & the trail of goals, making new friends & discovering the ones he'd thought gone, learning the harsh lessons of reality in the endless sea of stars. Mysteries come to light, only to be darkened by a new challenge or question or an old memory, & the entire gallaxy asks only of Tetsuro to survive & NEVER to forget.Leiji Matsumoto, the creator, is second in popularity only to Hayao Miyazaki (Kiki, Totoro, Laputa, Lupin), & has one many awards for his interconnecting series. This is one the whole family should watch because it's sincere, complex, inovative, provocative, dramatic, & contemplative above everything else. It's a helluva good story/plot that makes you think about the facts of life & its challenges. It has nothing corny or cliche, a literary masterpiece(despite the craappy artwork). It teaches about achieving goals, following hopes & dreams & beliefs, finding ones purpose in life, & keeping promises.Personally, I wouldn't trade MY collection if you offered me 3 times what the whole set is worth^o^His writings are like.......Pringles. "Once you pop, you can't stop."

Upon first seeing serial installments of GE999 in Animerica, Ithought it looked a little silly, but decided to buy a mange so i could read the whole story. I'm hooked. In one afternoon, the book managed to push Ghost in the Shell and Nausicaa out of my top spot for manga. Not to slight either, but Galaxy Express is even more mystical and captivating than even Nausicaa was. The quirky artwork only lends character. It's the storyline that is so brilliant. most of the time it moves at a slow deliberate pace, with the mother-figure Maetel cluing in the reader and wide-eyed Tetsuro at the same time. Its sorrowful plot twists and interludes left me craving more. I'm certain I'll buy the next book. Without a doubt, this is the finest manga I have ever read. Its complexity is admirable.

G.E 999 is the best animation ever also,I think this is matsumoto's masterpiece I can recommend this book to you with pleasure I'm sure that you'll like this exhibit after reading and you can't escape from the never ending mysteries of this exhibit