Mission to Mars [Astro Boy] (Manga)

Astro Boy (1952-68), Chapter 007 ‘Mission to Mars’ (火星探検), was originally serialized on a monthly schedule between January 1954 to May1954 in Shonen.

What it’s about?

In this story Astro is appointed Commander of an American exploration mission to the planet Mars by special request of Dr. Manmos. He explains to Ochanomizu that their previous expedition failed when a fight broke out among the crew and the men left some of their crewmates behind. Dr. Manmos feels that a robot Commander is needed to keep human emotions under control for their second expedition and Astro is given the rank of Major for the duration of his assignment. Some of the men are not happy about having a robot in charge, especially Captain Ketchup who protests to Dr. Manmos in person. But Manmos refuses to be dissuaded from his decision and orders the Captain to submit.

In the last minute before take-off a stowaway is discovered disguised in a crewman’s uniform. She turns out to be a young teenage woman named Cabet who wants to go to Mars to find her brother Captain Hars Lencon. Even though Astro wants to put her off before they leave there is no time with less than a minute to go. So she stays but he puts her to work with all the rest of the crew.

Next a strange space ship attaches itself to the outside of their rocket. Astro goes outside and lifts it up flying it away but somebody cuts the safety line that is securing him to their own ship and he begins to run low on energy. Realizing his plight he takes the only chance he has and smashes inside the space ship to search for an energy source. Astro discovers it is an alien space ship and all the aliens on board are apparently dead for dsome unknown reason. Astro uses one of the aliens atomic energy guns to help him get back to his men and brings an alien corpse to show them. Astro talks to Captain Ketchup about what happened when the first mission went into rebellion. Cabet’s brother, Captain Lencon claimed that Martians were planning to invade earth one day and that they should organize defence forces. His Commander didn’t believe him and after a riot Captain Lencom was abandoned on Mars along with all who sided with him. In spite of Astro’s evidence Ketchup laughs and ridicules the idea of a Martian threat.

Later while they prepare their base on Mars they are attacked by an army of robots. They turn out to under the control of Captain Lencon who reveals himself inside the body of one of them when he recognizes his sister. He tells Astro they must leave him and his robots alone or they’ll destroy their rocket and he tells Cabet she must return to earth when Astro’s men leave. Captain Ketchup wants to arrest Lencon and when Astro orders him to back off and let him handle the situation Ketchup rebels. He shoots Astro putting him out of commission and locks Cabet up in Astro’s quarters along with his lifeless body when she tries to prevent him attacking her brother. Ketchup leads some men on a search and discovers a secret factory where Lencon’s robots are at work producing themselves. They surprise Lencon in his bed who says he is building those robots to protect earth from the Martians. Ketchup still refuses to believe and punches Lencon out cold telling his men to take over control of the robots.

In the meantime Cabet discovers a message in a container around Astro’s neck with detailed instructions for repairing him. She succeeds and Astro helps fight the aliens who have begun to attack his men shortly before his revival. Astro follows Captain Ketchup to Lencon’s base with proof of the alien threat. He arrests Ketchup for mutiny and borrows Lencon’s robots to destroy their ships. Astro is about to pilot the main robot that controls the others when a remorseful Ketchup breaks free of his guards and climbs inside in his place. He confesses that it was he who spitefully cut Astro’s lifeline earlier because he hated having to obey a robot’s orders. Defying Astro one last time he leads all the robots in attack against the aliens and wipes them all out perishing himself in the process.

Cabet stays on Mars with her brother as Astro prepares to depart for home. He salutes Captain Ketchup for his heroic sacrifice as they drive past the battleground where he died.

What you should know

There is a short teaser story at the beginning in which Astro helps to capture a gang of hijackers on the plane while he travels to America with Professor Ochanomizu to meet Dr. Manmos.

There is some discrepancy with the name of Cabet’s brother in the English translation. At the beginning he is Captain Lencom but near the end his name changes to Rencom and on one occasion Rencon. No doubt this is merely due to typographical error.

This story was adapted for episode 15 of the 1980’s series “Astro Fights Aliens”. Some differences are in the rank given to Astro and Ketchup. Astro is only Captain instead of Major and Ketchup’s name is also different. He is called Lieutenant Blackstone.