Title: 宇宙のステルヴィア (Stellvia) Vol. 1
Artist: 秋月亮 (Ryou Akitsuki)
Creator: XEBEC
Book Size/Pages: B-6, 194pp., w/o furigana
Original Serialization: Monthly Dengeki Daioh 5/03-11/03
Rating: 2/4
To Purchase

Another manga based on the anime. One of my higher priority comics to read as I have the entire season of Stellvia (The two Japanese box sets) sitting on my shelf waiting to be watched and the only thing stopping me was this (yes, I do buy DVDs even if I have minimal knowledge of the show. It's called taking a chance).

Bonuses include a mini-comic on the book cover under the dust covers and a few 4-panel comics at the end of the book.

My impressions of it is a lukewarm. It seemed like it was a story was about a few young cadets training in space and that's what I got. The character design is from Makoto Uno, the same person who did Love Hina anime, which I like. But besides the pretty pictures, the story seemed a little lacking. A few funny spots here an there, but nothing really to catch my attention, whether good or bad.

1. ようこそ！ステルヴィアに！ (Welcome to Stellvia): 片瀬志麻 (Shima Katase) has always to go to space, despite objections from her mom. . However, she is finally leaving for Foundation 2, Stellvia. She takes a flight on which she meets アリサ・グレンノース (Alyssa Greennorth?) who is somewhat simple minded but becomes her friend. After their arrival, they attend a welcoming ceremony.

2. とまどい Don't mind! (Embarrassments, Don't mind!): Through Alyssa, Shima meets 藤沢やよい (Yayoi Fujisawa) and 栢山晶 (Akira Kayama). They study together and prepare for the piloting training the next day. During the exercises, Shima can't control her ship and tries to hack into the ship's computer system. At the end, she gets slighly reprimanded for her poor piloting ability but her teacher レイラ先生 (Reira) admires her programming abilities. Shima earns the nickname "Shiipon" for her "pon pon" flying ability.

3. ごめんなさ～い (Sorrry): Alyssa had just invited a bunch of classmates to come over to study programming with Shima. However, she leaves and Shima's left with all the cleaning. Upon hearing a knock at the door, she hurls a vacuum attachment hoping to hit Alyssa. Who she hit was a classmate coming over to study, 音山光太 (Kouta Otoyama). While everyone's study degrades in a party, Shima and Kouta diligently work and Shima gets the idea to log into the main server without authorization to get some real data for their project. While logged in, Kouta gets a surprise and presses the keyboard which activates the alarm system in the building.

4.　がんばろ (Do Your Best): Shima screws up another flying exercise. Cut to 3 of the Big Four who talk about a "Great Mission," the purpose of 6 Foundations. Cut back, Shima's friends are worried about her. Kouta gives her a pep talk and Yayoi relates her story and despite having dropped out two years ago, she's back at school.

4. 燃えよしーぽん (Burn it up Shiipon): It's the start of the Astrobowl competition. Shiipon and Kouta practice, but she's still rusty so Kouta gives her some candy to help her relax. Their first competition is against the Big 4, who are all excellent pilots. During the game, all of Shima's mates get defeated except for her (since she didn't involve herself). She takes a candy and eats it, which gets her intoxicated and she defeats her opponents. Turns out that Kouta had given her alcoholic chocolates.

5. ステルヴィア上等（前編） (Stellvia Greatness, First Part): For her excellent work in previous rounds, Shima is on the team for the finals as the goalie. In the first round, she fouls out. That night, she and her friends discuss it over dinner when the opposing team arrives at the same restuarant. They exchange some words and prepare for the challenge the next day.

6. ステルヴィア上等（後編） (Stellvia Greatness, Last Part): Shima wins the game for the home team.

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