Welcome back, fellow *robotics* lovers! I, Eno, am back for some more reviewing and *notes*-taking. If you missed my Volume 1 review, be sure to give it a look!
Today, I offer you a trip back to Tanegashima—not literally—so strap in, and let’s go!
Please note that just like last time, a complimentary digital copy of Volume 2 was provided to us by the publisher, which has not influenced the opinions expressed in the review in any way.
An Abandoned Hangar Filled with Good Writing
The second volume is where we start getting to the meat of the setup portion of Robotics;Notes’s story. It’s a given that these chapters are also packed with more information.
The Science Adventure series is particularly known for its lengthy and heavy scientific and technical information dumps. These parts of the story are really crucial to the credibility of the work, and are perhaps where localization is the hardest, but also the most important. But once again, thanks to the translator Andrew Hodgson’s hard work, they’ve been properly adapted for the English audience and are as engaging as one would expect. It’s also nice to see that community-favored terminology has been retained, keeping things consistent between this translation and other SciADV visual novel localizations.
Volume 2 begins to introduce us to some of the characters’ backstories, including their past traumas. But the way it goes about this is tasteful; when there are tonal shifts, you can be sure they’re tactfully handled and smooth in transition. One page, you might be reading a goofy interaction between Kaito and Frau—then, just a few pages later, you’re learning about Subaru’s family issues. But the shift is never jarring; it’s always just right. I think this aspect of a story can be important to its impact on the reader, and it’s an easy thing to fumble, so I’m glad that’s not been the case with this manga.
The cast’s personalities also shine bright, continuing a positive trend from Volume 1. They feel just as they ought to, and are strong reflections of their personalities in the Japanese source—another point in favor of the excellent writing and top-tier localization. And while certainly, space constraints mean the manga inevitably introduces some small holes in the original story, I feel the strong characterization in Volume 2 really helps to patch over these problems, which would otherwise be jarringly noticeable.
On that note… much like last time, I’m worried about where this volume ends compared to the breadth of the overall story. With two of three volumes out of the way, we end at around 40% of the plot covered, which could mean a rushed ending. I’d hate for the manga to suffer the same fate as the anime adaptation and not properly stick its landing.
Constellations, Karate, Artificial Intelligence, and “Please Take a Shower”
Last time around, we talked about Akiho and Kaito, but they aren’t the only members of the Robotics Club. While most of them were already more or less introduced in the first volume, Volume 2 is where Subaru, Junna, Airi, and Frau get some real time in the spotlight. Much like the main duo, their personalities genuinely shine through the pages—both visually and in their dialogue.
It’s true that most of their day-to-day interactions have been glossed over for the sake of, well, the manga having enough space to cover the story, but their most important moments have nonetheless been carried over with the utmost care. You may not get every instance of Akiho begging Subaru to join the club, the buildup to Junna joining the club in the earlier chapters, and a few more of Kai’s interactions with Irei, but what’s essential to the core of Robotics;Notes is there. Subaru’s identity anxieties, Junna’s confidence issues, the reason for Frau’s isolation, and the mystery surrounding Airi—it’s all there, set up and handled as confidently as in the source.
Giant robot, roll out.
Robotics;Notes Volume 2 is a very solid continuation of the Robotics Club’s ongoing saga. I’m admittedly slightly more mixed on it than I was Volume 1, due to the differing accelerations and decelerations in pacing, but at the end of the day, it is still Robotics;Notes as I remember it. Asakawa’s perfect balance between comedy and drama has yet to waver—it’s just as engaging as it was in Volume 1, which keeps things enjoyable if nothing else. The last volume is just on the horizon, and though a part of me is still a bit apprehensive about how things will end at this rate, I trust the material that’ll get Gunvarrel Ankh Striked out for lack of space at least won’t be the most critical to the narrative. With all that said, thank you for reading; see you soon for the conclusion of this wonderful story.
9/10
As the story progresses and the stakes rise, the Robotics;Notes manga maintains its course toward a wonderful blue sky. The localization remains as stellar as ever, even as the infodumps steadily get denser and more involved. The presentation, too, remains a treat you simply must experience.
On the other hand, the skip-overs do start to reveal cracks in the narrative—half the original story’s content is yet to be adapted with only one volume remaining to adapt it. How the pacing is being handled may also be up for debate. But all in all, Volume 2 is another strong foray into the Robotics;Notes world that should not be missed.
Robotics;Notes Volume 2 is out now via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Crunchyroll, and Waterstones. Volume 3 is expected to launch on March 5, 2024. Learn more about the series on UDON Entertainment’s official website.
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