“Pandora Seven” vol. 3 official synopsis from Yen Press: “Searching for the truth behind Pandora's Box, Lia Frontier heads for the Great Shrine of Necromanie—allegedly, where the truth of the entire world is assembled. However, since the rise of Humania, this isolated place has gained a reputation as a cursed land. What new disasters await Lia in this desolate corner of the world?!”
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Read Our Review of Pandora Seven Vol. 1 First If You Are New to the Series
“Pandora Seven” continues to linger outside conventional sci-fi manga with a bizarre mash-up of genres and aesthetics. At the same time, the series carries a nostalgic edge with visuals reminiscent of earlier sci-fi titles; Yuta Kayashima seemingly draws inspiration from Osamu Tezuka regarding character design. Moreover, the sci-fi/fantasy elements of “Pandora Seven” are intricately crafted and expansive for a genre that often favors smaller-scale worldbuilding. This has made the series fascinating to follow from volume to volume, with each entry building on an already unique approach.
Yuta Kayashima's approach places elements of his work within European sentiments towards sci-fi comics, offering a condensed, focused narrative over an episodic approach favored in manga. In addition, “Pandora Seven” poses more philosophical and social quandaries through a wider range of character types/ages (this is not teens in space, even if there are coming-of-age elements within). The way “Pandora Seven” subverts expectations with a distinctly Japanese aesthetic in a story reminiscent of European sentiments makes for a delightfully refreshing experience.
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When any series takes chances, maintaining the same level of intrigue throughout is challenging, especially on one that is this large in scope. This is where volume three of “Pandora Seven” cements Yuta Kayashima as an underrated talent within the sci-fi genre. Here, Lia and her longtime companion/brother Rikkel are focused on a mission to get closer to ‘Pandora's Box' by navigating a high-security facility. This is a switch from the large-scale galactic story that dominated the first two volumes, giving space for character introspection and deeper empathy for the plight of Lia and Rikeel. The volume also adds two new adventures accompanying the two, offering a more diverse dynamic and giving deeper insight into how various species view humans.
The single adventure focus further highlights Kayashima's ability to craft unique scenarios. The group faces dragons traversing through cavern walls, shrinking to navigate a deadly maze, and a wonderfully abstract cliffhanger that makes the wait for volume four a painful realization. Even in scaling down from trotting across the galaxy to a lonely ice planet, Yuta Kayashima injects a sense of wonder into how much content he can transform into an addictively fascinating story within a wholly unique sci-fi landscape.
Like the writing, the artistic direction remains niche, with classic sci-fi designs mingling with modern aesthetics, landing somewhere between the two. It is not a visual feast that will leave readers in awe. Still, the style is oddly nostalgic and comforting, with Yutahara's rather soft and playful alien designs feeding into this sentiment. Regardless, the visual approach remains captivating in a way that compliments the unique story.
“Pandora Seven” is one of those titles that seems set to garner a reverent and dedicated fanbase while being largely unrecognized outside of the few championing it. Notably, the original blend of visuals and narratives will place it out of some people's comfort zone for those wanting a title that focuses on the exuberance of youth and crafting big action sequences. Still, anyone timid about approaching the series should consider giving the work a shot to see how it resonates with them, especially off such a strong third volume.
