As the book continues Mitsu gets in good with the Guild his father used to work for. He's quickly put on the job and finds himself outside wiping windows for clients and seeing Earth in all its glory. He eventually discovers something about his father's death that he didn't realize before, and, beyond that, he gets to know the rest of the Guild members. Some of them are supporters of his; others are friends of his father; and there are some who just plain hate his guts. Mitsu has to deal with all this while his life is overshadowed by the death of his old man.
Through the course of this first volume Mitsu goes on a few cleaning assignments, including one where the guy wants water placed over the window to simulate being under the ocean. There's a solid bit of reasoning behind it, but it's not revealed until later in the storyline. There's also an inspector brought into play later in the book, and the character seems to be of importance to the story. I suppose we'll find out more in the next installment.
Aesthetically the book stands out, thanks largely in part to Iwaoka's unique art style. Everything is smallish (almost chibi style) and people in particular look shrunken compared to their environment. That's probably a deliberate statement on living in the apartments. The lower levels are more compact while the upper levels are more open, leaving readers to assume the upper class leads emptier lives. There's some incredible detail here, and the backgrounds all have nice definition and depth.
Saturn Apartments is a fascinating read that is richly layered. The characters are the standout element of this book, however, and the development of both main and secondary characters is simply amazing. Mitsu is a deep character, and he feels right at home in the world. It seems as though the apartments were created around him, and that's really a good thing. This gives readers the sense of connection with the character and he really defines the tone of the series. If you're looking for a manga that is unlike any other, Saturn Apartments is a sure ticket.
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