“Knights of Sidonia” vol. 12 is a rather fascinating sci-fi manga and the more I read it, it’s definitely unique and different as I have never read (or watched) a sci-fi series that is complex but also a fascinating take on the future. There is no doubt that you get a good dose of sci-fi adventure and comedy and in this latest volume, quite a bit of action as well. Recommended!
Image courtesy of © 2014 Fumi Yoshinaga. All Rights Reserved.
MANGA TITLE: Knights of Sidonia vol. 12
BY Tsutomu Nihei (å¼ç“¶ 勉)
FIRST PUBLISHED IN JAPAN: Kodansha
PUBLISHED IN USA BY: Vertical, Inc.
RELEASE DATE: December 2, 2014
A lone seed ship, the Sidonia, plies the void, ten centuries since the obliteration of the solar system. The massive, nearly indestructible, yet barely sentient alien life forms that destroyed humanity’s home world continue to pose an existential threat.
When a state-of-the-art warship is dispatched towards Lem, the system’s sun, her crew is menaced not only by humanity’s nemesis, but by an unwitting Peeping Tom.
The story begins with Tanikaze and company being attacked by the Gauna… but what happened days earlier?
Days earlier as the launch for the tactical defense cruiser “Mizuki” had taken place, the group plans their attacked on a cluster. Meanwhile, someone is spying on the female members during their showers and Tanikaze is accused of being a peeping tom.
Find out what happens in vol. 12 of Tsutomu Nihei’s “Knights of Sidonia”!
What is “Knights of Sidonia”?
From the creator of “Blame!”, “NOiSE” and “Biomega” comes Tsutomu Nihei’s “Knights of Sidonia”.
Originally published by Kodansha for the magazine “Afternoon” and currently in it’s 13th tankobon volume and the first eleven volumes of the series has also been released in the United States courtesy of Vertical, Inc.
Withan anime adaptation of “Knights of Sidonia” having aired on television in Japan during the spring of 2014, a second season currently in production.
“Knights of Sidonia” is set in the distant future during a time when humans have fled Earth after the planet was destroyed by gigantic alien monsters known as Gauna.
Spaceships were created from the remains of the planet and one ship, Sidonia, has developed its own human culture similar to Japan due to the use of human closing and asexual production. While those who are high up of society have been granted immortality.
As the humans of Sidonia wonder if any others have survived on other ships, Sidonia may be the only location of humanity.
Aboard the Sidonia is Nagate Tanikaze, a young man who lives in the underground layer of Sidonia and trains himself to pilot, using an old Guardian pilot simulator and mastering the old equipment. One day, as Nagate goes to the surface, he is selected to become a pilot of the Guardian and does all he can to defend Sidonia from another Guana attack.
In vol. 11 of “Knights of Sidonia”, Nagate and Izana plan to check out a planet that they hope humans can inhabit. But first, they must make sure the Gauna has not infiltrated the planet.
But as the two visit the planet, they run into Teruru Ichigaya, the sole survivor of a colonization expedition on the Planet Lem VII. And a girl with an artificial body created to avoid detection from the Gauna.
But with the death of her crew, she blames Nagate Tanikaze for the Sidonia being attacked by the Gauna. But as the two try to save Teruru, they are attacked by a giant Gauna. Will they survive?
In vol. 12, a short scene shows members of Sidonia under attack by Gauna. As the story then shifts to what took place days earlier, a new Garde Team is created to take on a cluster ship. But what went wrong?
The storyline fast forwards to Tanikaze and company preparing for battle against a huge cluster that is sending many gauna out to attack. The Garde Team is sent to attack the cluster but gauna start to capture and form with the Garde team members.
Can the fighters of Sidonia escape the onslaught of Gauna attacks?
With the latest volume of “Knights of Sidonia”, the storyline is a mix of action but also humor as Tanikaze is being singled out by the female members as a peeping tom, while the female members are in the shower.  And he is about to be punished for doing it, not once, but twice. But is he responsible?
We also get to see the Miazuki Crew Popularity Poll take place on the ship. Who is popular on board? And how will members react to the poll?
The artwork is definitely Tsutomu Nihei’s style , with that has a bit of simplicity scattered in scenes that look quite complex. It’s definitely a style that he is best known for as a mangaka.
Overall, “Knights of Sidonia” vol. 12 is a rather fascinating sci-fi manga and the more I read it, it’s definitely unique and different as I have never read (or watched) a sci-fi series that is complex but also a fascinating take on the future.  There is no doubt that you get a good dose of sci-fi adventure and comedy and in this latest volume, quite a bit of action as well.
Recommended!