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4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
With all the remastered art and reiterations of the Sailor Moon IP, it can be hard to remember that this is the blueprint.
Sailor Moon is the woman's Batman. She does everything.She's a princess, and she can fight. She's surrounded by jewels, friends, and pretty dresses, and there's a hot guy in the background helping her out. She can beat up bad guys with gems and high heels. I love that she's so normal. Female main characters nowadays have to be unproblematic and strong and feminine and demure, and Usagi is canoncially a whiney, dumb, spoiled glutton who proudly proclaims that she's happiest napping or playing video games (same).
I have a hard time finding other stories that encompass girlhood so well for me (Guinevere and the Jewel Riders is pretty close and is notably EXTREMELY similar). There's an emphasis on jewelry, dresses, gemstones, going to movie stores, and video games, and it is so aggressively 90's. There's a hidden heir trope, a masquerade ball, fated mates, and an animal familiar. Now does any of that sound wildly familiar, women who've read ANY fantasy YA book this past decade? Yeah, me too.
If Naoko Takeuchi doesn't have a drop of pansexual blood in her body, I will be shocked. And I'm not saying that in a "I'm a lesbian who has to project my queerness onto media" kind of way. I mean, Usagi is blushing and has LITERAL heart eyes when she meets girls she admires, there's a wild amount of adrogeny and cross dressing in this book, and the amount of video essays on youtube about it is kind of wild. What's more, this is book one, and I hear it gets WAY more wild in later books.
The Eternal Editions are clearly the superior publication, and I found the translator's notes in the back super helpful while I'm brushing up on Japanese before a trip (although I think it's hilarious that they had to include notes to explain what videotapes and CD's are to the youngins)
Sailor Moon is the woman's Batman. She does everything.
I have a hard time finding other stories that encompass girlhood so well for me (Guinevere and the Jewel Riders is pretty close and is notably EXTREMELY similar). There's an emphasis on jewelry, dresses, gemstones, going to movie stores, and video games, and it is so aggressively 90's. There's a hidden heir trope, a masquerade ball, fated mates, and an animal familiar. Now does any of that sound wildly familiar, women who've read ANY fantasy YA book this past decade? Yeah, me too.
If Naoko Takeuchi doesn't have a drop of pansexual blood in her body, I will be shocked. And I'm not saying that in a "I'm a lesbian who has to project my queerness onto media" kind of way. I mean, Usagi is blushing and has LITERAL heart eyes when she meets girls she admires, there's a wild amount of adrogeny and cross dressing in this book, and the amount of video essays on youtube about it is kind of wild. What's more, this is book one, and I hear it gets WAY more wild in later books.
The Eternal Editions are clearly the superior publication, and I found the translator's notes in the back super helpful while I'm brushing up on Japanese before a trip (although I think it's hilarious that they had to include notes to explain what videotapes and CD's are to the youngins)
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A fun, silly manga, with lots of Evil Plots foiled by the Power of Friendship and cool costumes. This is the first manga I've read in the magical girl genre, and so far I'm enjoying it. I was not expecting how overtly queer it is - Sailor Moon is equally diverted by pretty faces belonging to any gender. This is amazing and I love it. The art style is a little unsettling at times though - the proportions of the facial features are off in a weird way. I will be reading the next one.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Oh this brought me back! I've actually never read the manga before, but I used to watch the original show all the time!
I love how we are introduced to the guardians, the villains, and all the lore. It's easily digestible and still very interesting without slowing anything down.
Honestly, there isn't much to say about this manga because it's such a classic!
I love how we are introduced to the guardians, the villains, and all the lore. It's easily digestible and still very interesting without slowing anything down.
Honestly, there isn't much to say about this manga because it's such a classic!
So I grew up in the early 90s on anime like Guyver/Ghost in Shell, Akira, and Dragon Ball. I knew Sailor Moon broke into the US market in the mid or late 90's, but I was a boy and back than I wanted MANLY things.
Luckily I've grown past that stage and now rom-coms, and Shojo manga and comics are my shit. So I decided why not give a chance to Sailor Moon. I bought the first four books of Eternal Edition for my wife a couple of years ago and decided to give them a read.
I will say I find it amazing Tekeuchi here created something so simple but ingenious. I want to maybe make a video of it since it's so smart. Taking the Shojo ideas, romance, very sexy men, and a bit of spunky comedy and mix it with battle Shonen and some slight mystery/horror vibes. Simple, easy, and it's SO good.
This volume mostly goes over how Usagi Tsukino, a 14 year old middle schooler becomes the guardian known as Sailor Moon. Through this volume you meet a few other major characters like Sailor Mercury, Sailor Venus, Tuxedo Mask, and so on. This first volume is very much a introduction to the world of Sailor moon while getting some fun fights inbetween.
I enjoyed a lot of the dialogue and overall pacing of the story. Usagi is spunky and fun, with some really cute moments. Her and Chiba (Tuxedo Mask) are a cute couple that you know are destined to be together. The side cast hasn't been flushed out yet but I liked Mercury and of course Luna, the car, even if I felt there's something not right about her.
I would say some of the references and jokes are outdated at this point. Also, while it's enjoyable art it is very simple. And didn't need the couple of panty shots...but I guess if I was 13-18 year old boy (or girl, I see you) I'd like those. But overall least it was rare.
But overall, very enjoyable and laid back fun Saturday morning feel. I'll check out more volumes for sure!
Luckily I've grown past that stage and now rom-coms, and Shojo manga and comics are my shit. So I decided why not give a chance to Sailor Moon. I bought the first four books of Eternal Edition for my wife a couple of years ago and decided to give them a read.
I will say I find it amazing Tekeuchi here created something so simple but ingenious. I want to maybe make a video of it since it's so smart. Taking the Shojo ideas, romance, very sexy men, and a bit of spunky comedy and mix it with battle Shonen and some slight mystery/horror vibes. Simple, easy, and it's SO good.
This volume mostly goes over how Usagi Tsukino, a 14 year old middle schooler becomes the guardian known as Sailor Moon. Through this volume you meet a few other major characters like Sailor Mercury, Sailor Venus, Tuxedo Mask, and so on. This first volume is very much a introduction to the world of Sailor moon while getting some fun fights inbetween.
I enjoyed a lot of the dialogue and overall pacing of the story. Usagi is spunky and fun, with some really cute moments. Her and Chiba (Tuxedo Mask) are a cute couple that you know are destined to be together. The side cast hasn't been flushed out yet but I liked Mercury and of course Luna, the car, even if I felt there's something not right about her.
I would say some of the references and jokes are outdated at this point. Also, while it's enjoyable art it is very simple. And didn't need the couple of panty shots...but I guess if I was 13-18 year old boy (or girl, I see you) I'd like those. But overall least it was rare.
But overall, very enjoyable and laid back fun Saturday morning feel. I'll check out more volumes for sure!
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
watched the anime as a kid sometimes but never really knew the full story. discovered it’s one of the main inspirations for the crescent city books and it of course was added to the research pile. i see so many similarities! and the art is so stunning.