Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Volume 1

Manga
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Volume 1
By Chris Zimmerman
October 4, 2011 - 12:53

Kodansha Comics
Writer(s): Naoko Takeuchi
Penciller(s): Naoko Takeuchi
Letterer(s): North Market Street Graphics
ISBN: 978-1-935-42974-6
$10.99 US

Sailor Moon is synonymous with anime. Naoo Takeuchi’s second entry in magical girl genre sparked a worldwide phenomenon that produced numerous media ventures including anime, CDs, radio dramas, films, video games, card games, toys, and a live action series. The manga was licensed by Mixx Entertainment for US distribution while the anime was released by Saban. Both featured heavy editing, in some cases changing the character’s personalities entirely, enraging those who were familiar with the franchise prior to its introduction to the States.

For the uninformed, Sailor Moon follows the adventures of 14-year-old Usagi. After finding a talking cat named Luna that possesses magic powers, she is transformed into Sailor Moon. Soon she is joined by other girls who demonstrate similar powers as-well-as a mysterious masked man dubbed Tuxedo Mask. Together, they face down evil forces that wish to subjugate the world. This first volume spends the majority of its pages introducing the characters and establishing their personalities. Being the early chapters, some familiar faces are still absent by the end of the first volume and the romantic elements are light.

The anime played on Cartoon Network’s Toonami block and attracted new fans to the franchise with its mix of action, romance, and humor along with a message of female empowerment. However, seemingly at the height of its popularity, the licenses lapsed and Sailor Moon vanished from America. Takeuchi and company opted to refrain from allowing the franchise outside of Japan. The manga and DVDs went out of print and sold on secondary markets for prices far beyond their suggested retail.

However with Kodansha’s entry into the American market, Sailor Moon’s revival became a reality. Returning with a new translation and volumes that mirror the Japanese special editions, Kodansha’s efforts should be embraced warmly by fans upset by Mixx’s handling of series.

Gone is the name “Bunny”, replaced instead by the traditional Usagi. The manga no longer has mirrored pages, returning to artwork and reading format to the proper right to left orientation common in Japan. This is the purest the manga has ever been and definitely worth the second dip for those who already have the previous editions.

The artwork is basic for the genre, focusing on women with sparkling eyes and long slender legs. The pages are cluttered with layouts that look like a mash-up of sketches and finished panels to convey transformations and action sequences. There are instances where the art has been touched up to accommodate the technological advances since the series’ original publication, though these are minor and easily overlooked.

Sailor Moon is a pillar of anime and an essential addition to every fan’s library. Whether you are new to the franchise looking to discover Sailor Moon for the first time or a long time follower seeking to rekindle their love for the series, these new editions from Kodansha are an easy recommendation.

Rating: 8.5/10