What do you think?
Rate this book
バビロンまでは何光年?
The self-contained manga by fan-favorite creator Douman Seiman ( The Voynich Hotel ) that won the Seiun Sci-Fi Award! Follow the tale of an Earthling determined to find out why his home planet was destroyed…while sleeping with as many alien girls as possible.It can be pretty lonely being the only member of your species—just ask “Bub”, an amnesic Earthling who woke up in outer space and discovered that Earth had been destroyed. As he travels through multiple universes, Bub must figure out his past, what happened to his home planet, and how to best pick up alien chicks—the human race won’t repopulate itself, after all!
Comic
First published September 19, 2019
4 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 23, 2020
This was...weird. Definitely one of those "I don't think I got it" books; I was off-put by the first few chapters and then confused by the latter half. Usually I can make heads or tails of a book for which I am not the target audience, but...not this time, I guess.
December 20, 2021
I love Douman. Kinda hooked on the vibe.
December 25, 2020
An odd little tale about the last earthling in the universe trying to find out why the earth was destroyed. I really enjoyed the oddball characters, especially the mechanical lifeform (don't call Junkheap a robot). The art style wasn't quite what I expected when I heard about this graphic novel, but it worked quite well with the rather whimsical taly.
November 14, 2022
One of the things I like about visiting my local library is discovering a book I never heard of before and checking it out. I saw this particular book on one of those promotional tables being held on a stand. I was pulled in by the cute, cartoony artstyle, reminded me a bit of early 2000s cartoons and anime (like FLCL and Kaiba). Then, I read the back of the book and the word “Playboy” immediately stood out. In contrast to the cute-sy, almost kid-friendly artstyle, the book was going to be full of sex with aliens and other horny shit. I admit I enjoy a good horny sexcapade if done right. So I bite the bullet and got the book. And now here’s my thoughts on it.
The first pages of “Babylon” made me think this was just gonna be this Earth guy having sex with a bunch of aliens, which would’ve gotten old very fast. Luckily, as the manga goes on, an actual plot starts happening. While at first, I wasn’t particularly engaged with it. I will say, by the end of it, that the manga did utilize clever callbacks and was clearly more planned out than I initially gave it credit for. There is a general mystery that the manga ultimately resolves with a satisfying-enough conclusion. Despite this, I wouldn’t say I really enjoyed this book.
The book had its moments of clever humor like the reveal that Jesus Christ got his powers from alien technology. Also the reveal of why the main character is called Bub. But for the most part, the humor was tired and generic at best. At worst, the manga indulged in some of anime/manga’s grossest tropes including playing SA for humor and even a brief incredibly gross moment of sh***con. Plus I never found the sexual humor to be that clever or interesting which is what really drags the first half of the book.
There were some character growth and interesting aspects to these characters including a main character who can argued as genderqueer as they constantly switch between male and female throughout. However, none of the characters had real distinct personalities and ultimately, I wasn’t that invested in the plot because of it.
Overall, this was a book that I had to force myself to finish. One because it’s a short enough read. Two because I felt the need to complete my 2022 Reading Challenge goal of 10 books by the end of the year. If not for those reasons, I might’ve DNF’d this book. Ultimately, there’s nothing particularly special about this book. I wouldn’t really recommend this book unless you like the artstyle.
The first pages of “Babylon” made me think this was just gonna be this Earth guy having sex with a bunch of aliens, which would’ve gotten old very fast. Luckily, as the manga goes on, an actual plot starts happening. While at first, I wasn’t particularly engaged with it. I will say, by the end of it, that the manga did utilize clever callbacks and was clearly more planned out than I initially gave it credit for. There is a general mystery that the manga ultimately resolves with a satisfying-enough conclusion. Despite this, I wouldn’t say I really enjoyed this book.
The book had its moments of clever humor like the reveal that Jesus Christ got his powers from alien technology. Also the reveal of why the main character is called Bub. But for the most part, the humor was tired and generic at best. At worst, the manga indulged in some of anime/manga’s grossest tropes including playing SA for humor and even a brief incredibly gross moment of sh***con. Plus I never found the sexual humor to be that clever or interesting which is what really drags the first half of the book.
There were some character growth and interesting aspects to these characters including a main character who can argued as genderqueer as they constantly switch between male and female throughout. However, none of the characters had real distinct personalities and ultimately, I wasn’t that invested in the plot because of it.
Overall, this was a book that I had to force myself to finish. One because it’s a short enough read. Two because I felt the need to complete my 2022 Reading Challenge goal of 10 books by the end of the year. If not for those reasons, I might’ve DNF’d this book. Ultimately, there’s nothing particularly special about this book. I wouldn’t really recommend this book unless you like the artstyle.
July 5, 2021
Tiny, strange one off title that starts more of a tropey "last man needs to save the human race by procreating with aliens". It's a galaxy hopping tale that is somewhat Space Dandy esque.
Art was interesting. Most panels were pretty plain background wise, character designs also more flat, but it's this author's style. There was a lot of variation with the aliens and their personalities. The space vehicles also simple, and the style kinda reminds me of old cartoons.
I felt like the Overlordian, a demon like female character introduced early here, was done dirty a bit in this one. She agrees to try and have a baby with our main character (even if the chance of conception was super low), then he leaves her to go seek out other women to impregnate (because the chances are low) leaving her with a potential baby to take care of on her own. The guy ends up going to prison later for 10 years (for driving his space vehicle drunk), so in those years she raised two children on her own with no child support or anything. Then, the author has her die (and while there are some tears shed, they're limited to a very small amount of panels, and the cast move on quick). At the end, the children ask if he can revive the dead mom, and he says no one should have that power, but then he basically resets / revives Earth, so what the heck?
A lot of the characters in this are very "whatever", like they're not too emotional or emotive. Specifically the main character and two other major characters that join halfway through (they're on the cover). Partially this is because of amnesia, but it partially seems like they're purposely like that. It does make the sex escapades seem a little less lecherous that he's doing it to procreate and he's so whatever about it.
Halfway through the story, this changes from being about procreation to learning about the end of the Earth (and more like learning about this guy's final days on Earth). Like much of the book, the final days aren't as interesting or exciting as you'd think, just kind of a "this happened". The story ends with some small hope for the guy and a certain woman, but again, I'd rather the Overlordian been more involved at the end somehow (maybe there's some message about playing god, but he's happy to reverse some things the previous god did, so I don't fully get it).
Art was interesting. Most panels were pretty plain background wise, character designs also more flat, but it's this author's style. There was a lot of variation with the aliens and their personalities. The space vehicles also simple, and the style kinda reminds me of old cartoons.
I felt like the Overlordian, a demon like female character introduced early here, was done dirty a bit in this one. She agrees to try and have a baby with our main character (even if the chance of conception was super low), then he leaves her to go seek out other women to impregnate (because the chances are low) leaving her with a potential baby to take care of on her own. The guy ends up going to prison later for 10 years (for driving his space vehicle drunk), so in those years she raised two children on her own with no child support or anything. Then, the author has her die (and while there are some tears shed, they're limited to a very small amount of panels, and the cast move on quick). At the end, the children ask if he can revive the dead mom, and he says no one should have that power, but then he basically resets / revives Earth, so what the heck?
A lot of the characters in this are very "whatever", like they're not too emotional or emotive. Specifically the main character and two other major characters that join halfway through (they're on the cover). Partially this is because of amnesia, but it partially seems like they're purposely like that. It does make the sex escapades seem a little less lecherous that he's doing it to procreate and he's so whatever about it.
Halfway through the story, this changes from being about procreation to learning about the end of the Earth (and more like learning about this guy's final days on Earth). Like much of the book, the final days aren't as interesting or exciting as you'd think, just kind of a "this happened". The story ends with some small hope for the guy and a certain woman, but again, I'd rather the Overlordian been more involved at the end somehow (maybe there's some message about playing god, but he's happy to reverse some things the previous god did, so I don't fully get it).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2023
If I had to describe what "How Many Light-Years to Babylon?" is like to someone in as few words as possible, I'd say "It's basically Futurama but more unhinged".
I honestly found this manga pretty fun just for how out there and creative it could get at times. It wasn't concerned with making its world believable or trying to draw you in with lovable characters, it just wanted to be weird and crazy. And this definitely won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I enjoyed it.
I was surprised by how much I actually ended up getting invested by the end of the story. I felt pretty emotional at the final panel of the manga, which is crazy considering how stupid and horny it was starting out.
For what it is, I like "How Many Light-Years to Babylon?" Just know what you're getting into before you decide to read it.
I honestly found this manga pretty fun just for how out there and creative it could get at times. It wasn't concerned with making its world believable or trying to draw you in with lovable characters, it just wanted to be weird and crazy. And this definitely won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I enjoyed it.
I was surprised by how much I actually ended up getting invested by the end of the story. I felt pretty emotional at the final panel of the manga, which is crazy considering how stupid and horny it was starting out.
For what it is, I like "How Many Light-Years to Babylon?" Just know what you're getting into before you decide to read it.
February 26, 2025
Una obra que no sabría describir, el humor raro con las situaciones extrañas mientras el último humano trata de preservar su especie.
Las situaciones hilarantes y momentos random son curiosas, los giros por momentos a datos más serios y construcción de personajes y mundos también.
El desenlace de la obra es algo bruto, ya que cuenta muchas cosas de golpe para dar el cierre, si tengo que reconocer que me gustó el último "chiste" / "gag" / "guiño" que sucede al terminar.
Las situaciones hilarantes y momentos random son curiosas, los giros por momentos a datos más serios y construcción de personajes y mundos también.
El desenlace de la obra es algo bruto, ya que cuenta muchas cosas de golpe para dar el cierre, si tengo que reconocer que me gustó el último "chiste" / "gag" / "guiño" que sucede al terminar.
November 4, 2022
Not for me the very first page and their looking for planets to get laid from, the next couple pages they visit a planet with giant women for one of them to use the ship as a vibrator. I just couldn't take it any more when he visits a brothel and goes inside of her what the what man . It's huge in the inside enough to walk in..... No thank you pig fest
June 4, 2025
bit weird but fun enough. the main character having a weird casual gender swap every few chapters was a little woke.
one joke was weird, about possibly ... molesting a child? but the mc didn't actually do it and was disgusted so that means he's still alright in my book. I guess.
one joke was weird, about possibly ... molesting a child? but the mc didn't actually do it and was disgusted so that means he's still alright in my book. I guess.
March 27, 2021
1.5 stars.
June 6, 2022
Seiman has a knack for taking gratuitous sex jokes and—in two cases here—literal toilet humor then injecting the story and characters surrounding them with real charm and heart. There’s not a multitude of depth, but it’s a fun, extremely unique sci-fi short story with an endearing cast.
December 31, 2022
Quirky and fun read
February 24, 2024
3,5 ⭐️
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews