Spacewalking with You, volume 1

 

Rating: 4 stars for normalizing male communication and divergent thinking, as well as being kind as a superpower. 

My thoughts:

I can see how this series, by debut artist Inuhiko Doronoda, is so popular in Japan. In this hostile world, this manga about two high school boys is about kindness, friendship, and mental health. It reminds me of the K-drama series with the neurodivergent lawyer on Netflix titled "The Extraordinary Attorney Woo." People are afraid of Kobayashi because he just has a mean face and scary attitude, bit he is hiding his learning difficulties by a "too cool for school" attitude. When Uno, an overly excitable, neurodivergent kid starts at the school, for reasons unbeknownst to Kobayashi, he keeps him from being bullied and they become unlikely friends.

Uno teaches Kobayashi about his coping strategies and his space metaphor about having a tether (his notebook) seems to hit Kobayashi as a powerful tool that may help him. 

It is a touching story of male platonic friendship and being ok about being different.

From the Publisher:

Kobayashi just can’t focus--not on studying, not on work--and the adults in his life think he's in danger of becoming a worthless dropout. Then, one day, a strange new presence arrives in his class: an energetic and naive kid named Uno. Kobayashi saves Uno from getting scammed, and that close encounter launches a new friendship. Uno's definitely a space cadet, but Kobayashi can't help admiring the way he floats through life, and before he knows it, he might start feeling his feet lift off the ground, too...

This hilarious and inspiring manga series from debut artist Inuhiko Doronoda was nominated for the 17th Manga Taisho Award and broke 600,000 readers in Japan!

Publication Information:

Author/Illustrator: Inuhiko Doronoda

Publisher: Kodansha Comics (May 27, 2025)

Paperback: 224 pages