Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 1 (Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon Renewal Editions, #1)

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Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 1 (Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon Renewal Editions #1)

by Naoko Takeuchi, William Flanagan (Translator)

4.26 of 5 stars 4.26 · rating details · 6,775 ratings · 241 reviews

Usagi Tsukino is a normal girl until she meets up with Luna, a talking cat, who tells her that she is Sailor Moon. As Sailor Moon, Usagi must fight evils and enforce justice, in the name of the Moon and the mysterious Moon Princess. She meets other girls destined to be Sailor Senshi (Sailor Scouts), and together, they fight the forces of evil!

This new edition of Sailor Moo...more

Paperback, 236 pages

Published September 13th 2011 by Kodansha International (first published July 6th 1992)

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Community Reviews

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Jan 07, 2012 Jillian -always aspiring- rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed, manga-worth-checking-out

I don't know if anyone who didn't grow up with Sailor Moon (through their childhood or teen years) can ever really understand the allure of this series, its characters, and its story or feel an impact from all of it. Most of the people I know who are fans fell in love with the series first through the anime (which aired in Japan from 1992-1997 and then very haphazardly in the United States from 1995-2000) and then later discovered the original manga series once the internet came into their homes...more I don't know if anyone who didn't grow up with Sailor Moon (through their childhood or teen years) can ever really understand the allure of this series, its characters, and its story or feel an impact from all of it. Most of the people I know who are fans fell in love with the series first through the anime (which aired in Japan from 1992-1997 and then very haphazardly in the United States from 1995-2000) and then later discovered the original manga series once the internet came into their homes. I'm no different: I probably would never have found out about the manga if I hadn't been browsing Sailor Moon fan sites in 2000 and come across the information (and the "pretty art" from the manga).

To an outsider, Sailor Moon probably seems a bit laughable: fourteen-year old Usagi Tsukino (or maybe, if you're like me, you know her more by her American dubbed name "Serena") is a failing middle-school student who one day comes across a bullied black cat with a bandage over its forehead. When Usagi peels back the bandage, she uncovers a golden crescent moon upon the cat's forehead. This meeting proves to be an unknown catalyst in Usagi's life because soon she will uncover her destiny of fighting evil alongside other girls who share the same destiny...all the while wearing short-skirted sailor suits as their uniforms. (Oh, and there's also a tuxedo-wearing ally who uses roses against his enemies!)

But there's a charm to it all so long as you don't take it so seriously. Sure, rereading the manga (now that it's being rereleased for a new generation of fans to adore) may make me want to deconstruct everything, pick apart the plot, and try to mash it into the logic of my "more mature" brain...but then I would be tainting the memories of the series and characters I have loved since childhood. I don't want to ruin it for myself, so I won't try to force it to fit into my current storytelling standards. I'll just let it be and hope, hope, hope that girls continue to find and love this series. May it empower them.(less)

19 likes · like · see review

Sep 13, 2011 The Holy Terror marked it as to-read

Shelves: fantasy, manga, owned-manga, bought-07-11

This makes me so happy.

10 likes · like · see review

Dec 30, 2011 Lina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: awesome-female-lead, chicklit, created-the-cliche, love-interest-had-a-personality, magical-girl-manga, manga, nostalgia-lit, positive-shojo, re-read-2011, secondary-characters-ftw, shojo

Favorite moment in the volume one manga:

I really enjoyed re-reading volume one of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon and I was able to appreciate it even more as it has been almost six years since I've last read the content in the manga. Sailor Moon Vol. 1 tells the beginning of Usagi's journey as she is told be a cat named Luna that she is destined to protect the Moon Princess and the Earth from the Dark Kingdom. She is joined on this journey by Sailor Mercury, Mars and Jupiter, who are all discover...more

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Jun 07, 2012 Sesana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics, superhumans, romance, favorite-books

This where it all started for me. My interest in manga (and, by extension, western comics) really started watching Sailor Moon early on weekday mornings, getting ready to go to high school. Ah, memories. And yes, Sailor Moon really does hold up to my memories of a fun, romantic, and beautifully drawn manga.

Sailor Moon herself is probably a character you either love or hate. She's flawed, and yet she's given this power that she really doesn't know what to do with. Let's be honest, Usagi is a bit...more

6 likes · like · see review

Jul 18, 2012 Jessica-Robyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, manga-series-vol1, manga-manhwa, superpowers, classics-youth

First, before you do anything else, go and listen to this.

Good, now we can begin all proper and such.

I feel like this should be a review in two parts. The nostalgia from my early childhood and the reality of the volume itself.

Part ONE:

Back in the days long, long before I knew what anime or manga were, I was but a baby. A baby that really liked watching cartoons. Sailor Moon was a show that I would catch on TV every so often, during the days before I had to attend kindergarten. Sailor Moon was...more

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Sep 27, 2012 Yukino rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: miei, 2010

ATTENZIONE LE SAILOR SONO TORNATE

Sapevo che doveva uscire ma quando l'ho visto in edicola (si la mia è la versione da edicola ma non c'era e non ho resistito a caricarla lo stesso in libreria!) non ce l'ho fatta...l'ho presa subito! e ho fatto bene perchp alle 9 di mattina era la penultima copia!!!(poi ho preso anche l'ultima per unami collega) tutto questo per dire che non erol'unica ad attendere con ansia le guerriere Sailor! e poi quest'edizione rivista e corretta :finalmente i nomi sono tutt...more

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May 04, 2013 Aoife rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sailor Moon possesses a certain quality that seems to be disappearing from Shoujo manga. Arguably, this trait is feminism.

Usagi is the hero. Let's be clear on this. The childish, untrained, untested, (unwilling!! and newly awakened guardian of justice is the hero in this story. Not the love interest. The frills, accessories and miniskirts do not negate this. (On that point, does Takeuchi draw in any panty shots? The answer is thankfully no.)

Tuxedo Mask serves as a romantic interest, emotional su...more Sailor Moon possesses a certain quality that seems to be disappearing from Shoujo manga. Arguably, this trait is feminism.

Usagi is the hero. Let's be clear on this. The childish, untrained, untested, (unwilling!! and newly awakened guardian of justice is the hero in this story. Not the love interest. The frills, accessories and miniskirts do not negate this. (On that point, does Takeuchi draw in any panty shots? The answer is thankfully no.)

Tuxedo Mask serves as a romantic interest, emotional support and occasional dude-in-distress. While he gains some abilities later on in the series Tuxedo Mask never usurps the role of the hero.
He contributes in the ways he can and builds a healthy relationship with Usagi. (Let's be fair on that point, restoration of pre-incarnation memories of your affair will help jump start that.)He's miles away from the controlling, aggressive 'heroes' that seem to be on the rise in girls' comics.

So, who goes out to battle the villain and saves the day through an epic class of wills?
Sailor Moon.
Does she ask for permission or worry what her love interest will think about putting herself in danger? Nope, not once.

As a kid I loved that, for once, the girls could lead things. They were in charge and fighting for justice. Mamoru is vital, particularly as a source of inspiration to Usagi, but he knows his limits. He encourages Usagi to fight and use her powers. It's nice to see a reversal of this trope when it's usually 'No, women cannot fight. Get back in the kitchen' or having the sole female fighter taken out of the fight early on. Instead it's a more poetically phrased 'You can do it!! I believe in you!'

Make no mistake, Sailor Moon is rough. Despite all the glitz and accessories the body count is high. There's blood and cuts against different opponents. People, leading characters die fairly frequently. The girls are our superheroes and they are on the frontlines fighting with everything they've got.

As for the costumes and glitz, why not? If our girls are going to lay their lives on the line, which they outright state in a later volume, why shouldn't they have a few accessories. ;)(less)

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Mar 17, 2013 Cassandra Miller rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favourites, manga

EEEEEEEE!!!!!
I am still so happy that the "Sailor Moon" manga is being re-released, in it's original glory!

I first started reading "Sailor Moon" back in highschool, an older manga copy that had been released in the 80's, this meant that a lot of the original water colour paintings (which are beautiful) by Naoko Takeuchi were not included in the English transtation. The other thing I hated about the 80's translation were the English names. I mean, I guess they are fine, but I always preferred th...more

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Mar 11, 2013 Jenny Stanfield rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels, manga

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I'm going to suppress my childhood nostalgia for the English dubbed anime series I was in love with as a child, and try to give Sailor Moon: Pretty Guardian Vol.1 a review strictly based on what's on the page.

This is my first real foray into manga. I'm a huge western comics and graphic novel fan, but I've never really known where to start with manga or even how to read it! So when a friend suggested starting out with the Sailor Moon series, I decided to give it a shot.

To begin with, the illustra...more

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Mar 09, 2013 Sarah Maddaford rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: belton, cats, demons, fantasy, first-in-series, manga, modern, mythology-misc, mythology-japanese, romance, young-adult, transformation

I have to admit that I went into this book a bit skeptical. I watched the series on American TV when I was a kid and was disappointed to find out how much they edited and cut when I found the subtitled version as a teenager. I never picked up the original manga because I kept hearing it was butchered just as badly. When I heard they were re-releasing the series and that the translators were not going to censor things (we hope), I decided to see if the teens at my library would get as much enjoym...more

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Jan 09, 2013 Alice rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: séries-en-cours

Mlle Alice, pouvez-vous nous raconter votre rencontre avec Sailor Moon?

"Je me suis remise aux mangas depuis quelques temps et j'en ai déjà repéré tout un tas qui me tentent grandement. Celui-ci en faisait partie même si je me demandais si ça ne serait pas trop "bébé", lorsque j'ai eu la chance de l'obtenir à l'occasion de la dernière Masse Critique Babelio."

Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...

"Usagi Tsukino est une adolescente de 14 ans ordinaire, qui aime manger, dormir et geindre! J...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Neha rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: manga

Ah, Sailor Moon--a childhood treat for many, many young girls and even boys. The story for Sailor Moon makes me giggle now as I realize how amazingly garish and girly it is.

This is the first volume of the newly re-designed issues. I must say that I really love these new editions. The art is beautiful and clean. Just looking at the style makes my heart flutter with appreciation. They are fabulously made.

Now, reading this series, as an adult I laugh. There is a lot of fluff and girly enthusiasm....more

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Oct 17, 2012 Naty rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics, manga, scifi-fantasy

This is the only shoujo series I ever really liked, and even all these years later, I still like it. I love the cheesiness and the melodrama and the monster flavor of the week. I think I like it above all it's imitators because it was the first shoujo sentai I was exposed to, and at that point in the 90s when it first started airing on American tv, I hadn't seen anything like it before. All the magical girl stuff I saw after this seemed like it was trying to be Sailor Moon but always falling sho...more

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Sep 06, 2012 Arleen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Sailor Moon was one of my earliest introductions to the world of anime and manga, as with countless of other little kids in the 90s. Now, the one thing that's important when going into the Sailor Moon manga for the first time, is that it is NOT to be compared to the anime. They are two different things and should be treated as such in terms of story. This contains the original story and characters that Naoko Takeuchi created, which in many aspects vary greatly from the anime story line. Not only...more Sailor Moon was one of my earliest introductions to the world of anime and manga, as with countless of other little kids in the 90s. Now, the one thing that's important when going into the Sailor Moon manga for the first time, is that it is NOT to be compared to the anime. They are two different things and should be treated as such in terms of story. This contains the original story and characters that Naoko Takeuchi created, which in many aspects vary greatly from the anime story line. Not only did Ms. Takeuchi have an essentially non-existing role in the anime, but both the manga and the anime were being produced nearly simultaneously, with the manga volumes out first, with the new episodes and seasons following soon after. It's important to remember that this is what inspired the anime, and to know one media of Sailor Moon does not mean you know the others.

Now, when it comes to the story line, I love it. It's definitely a classic in the Magical Girl genre and rightfully so, with great characters and a plot that makes you want to read and find more about the lives of Usagi and the other Senshi as they balance normal life with fighting evil forces (in this volume, the Dark Kingdom) out to take over the world. The art work is good as well, with Naoko's talent noticeably improving over time with each volume.

The one problem I have with this re-release is the translation. The dialog feels really unnatural and strange in some instances. There are also some grammar mistakes that sort of hinder the reading process. Lastly, honorifics (-san, -chan, -sama etc.), I feel, should not be included when translating Japanese text (an entirely different matter to be discussed in another time/place) and this release, as with the rest of today's manga, leave them in. So, while I loved revisiting Sailor Moon in her early adventures in this new re-release, I think the translation could have been done better to be truly accurate and carry the same tone and feeling that the original manga showed 20 years ago.

Other than that, if you're new to the Sailor Moon universe, this is a good way to get yourself introduced to the series. (less)

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Aug 13, 2012 Rachel Searcey rated it 4 of 5 stars

I am VERY late getting to Sailor Moon! I never watched the anime or anything. I picked this up at the library, thinking it was a reboot or something, only to find that it's the original! It's been nicely printed and newly translated (more accurate from my understanding).
I was skeptical at first because the first half is definitely aimed at children- overly simplistic plot, obvious merchandise placement (wands, tiaras etc), silly girls in love with boys they won't talk to, mediocre art, etc etc....more

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Jul 02, 2012 Sendusia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved the original anime series back when I was still a six year old kid living in Canada. I'm not normally into anime or manga, for that matter, but for some reason, Sailor Moon is just so appealing to me.

Reading the original manga series, which inspired the anime series, is pretty interesting. I loved how you get more of a background story of each of the characters that actually connects to the original anime.

The Sailor Scouts get introduced rather quickly and the storyline between Serena a...more

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Jun 14, 2012 Ilaria rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sono tornata bambina!!! ^_____________^
Quant'è bello!! *.*
Allora, considerando che è il mio primo manga in assoluto, tanto che mi chiedevo:"Ma perchè la copertina sta alla fine anzichè all'inizio?", inizio a leggere (dalla fine,che credevo l'inizio e non ci capivo nulla!!), finalmente poi si accende la lampadina: si legge alla giapponese,da destra a sinistra!! Alla buonora! Quanto sono scema!! -_-" L'importante è che ho capito come funziona. XD
Per quanto riguarda la storia, in effetti (e anche...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, children-s, fantasy, manga-and-graphic-novels

I have such nostalgia for this series. I sorta grew up with it, along with all my closest friends (even though we were in high school when it came out here). It was my first gateway drug into anime and manga - a real classic.

I was so excited to see the new covers for the Japanese re-release a couple years ago, and then I was even more excited to see that Kodansha had made the leap to re-release it here (with a better translation and unflipped artwork!!). The manga industry in the US has evolved...more

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Dec 29, 2011 Cat Crawfield rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Inhalt:
Usagi Tsukino ist 14 Jahre alt und besucht wie jedes andere Mädchen in ihrem Alter die Mittelschule. Sie ist furchtbar tollpatschig, verschläft ständig und ist eine Heulsuse.
Als sie wieder einmal verschläft und zu spät zur Schule kommt, trifft sie unterwegs auf ein süßes, schwarzes Kätzchen mit einem Pflaster auf der Stirn. Nachdem Usagi dieses entfernt hat, wird eine kahle Stelle im Fell sichtbar – sie hat die Form eines Halbmondes.
Sowohl im Spielcenter nach der Schule, als auch in der N...more

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Dec 26, 2011 Nicole Politi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Usagi is a normal 14-year-old girl, albeit a little scatter-brained but a fun-loving, video game junkie and all around great friend nonetheless. Until she meets Luna, a black cat with a band-aid on her head. When Usagi (aka Bunny) rescues Luna from some tormentors and removes the band-aid, Luna recognizes her as Sailor Moon, the guardian of the Moon sworn to protect the Moon Princess and help retrieve the Legendary Silver Crystal. Yes, Luna is a talking cat. Dark forces are gathering in Tokyo an...more

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Nov 21, 2011 Mel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Maybe it's the nostalgia that made me give this a perfect score (in fact I'm sure it is), but goddamn this is an awesome manga. I think maybe my feelings on this particular volume aren't as strong as they'll be when I get further into the story because at this stage it's still very episodic. The first three chapters essentially do the same thing: the first introduces Sailor Moon, the second Sailor Mercury, and the third Sailor Mars. The story only starts to hit its stride halfway through the vol...more

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Sep 26, 2011 Sean O'Hara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: j-lit, manga, mahou-shoujo

Most of you probably remember Sailor Moon as a rather silly cartoon series from the mid-90s. And you're probably looking at me wondering, "Why is he reading a stupid kid's comic?" What you have to understand, though, is that what aired in the US was a bowdlerized dub of a series that was itself heavily watered down from its source material. Among the more notable offenses, the American dub handwaved away all the deaths in the series, turned one gay male character into a straight woman, turned a...more

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Sep 19, 2011 Sakura rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: action, comedy, mahou-shoujo, romance, shoujo, strong-heroine

Probably the most well-known mahou shoujo (magical girl) series there is, Sailor Moon is definitely one of those manga that everyone should read (and own as well). Here in this new omnibus edition by Kodansha USA, it has been renamed to match with the live-action series Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (it's also the same name as the new editions in Japan as well).

For those who have grown up watching the Sailor Moon anime series and/or are into mahou shoujo series, would definitely feel at home with...more Probably the most well-known mahou shoujo (magical girl) series there is, Sailor Moon is definitely one of those manga that everyone should read (and own as well). Here in this new omnibus edition by Kodansha USA, it has been renamed to match with the live-action series Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (it's also the same name as the new editions in Japan as well).

For those who have grown up watching the Sailor Moon anime series and/or are into mahou shoujo series, would definitely feel at home with the manga. Obviously there are some differences between the manga and the anime (such as pacing and of course the original Japanese names of the characters), but as someone who absolutely adores Sailor Moon, it does not distract from the experience - rather it kind of enhances it a bit. I kind of feel like I'm being introduced to Sailor Moon again for the very first time :)

For those who aren't familiar with mahou shoujo, it's basically similar in concept to the Power Rangers in some way. You have a female character who transforms into a masked/suited hero who goes around fighting bad guys, saving the world, etc. For those not used to it, it is kinda "cheesy" in some way, yet it is a formula that seems to work no matter how repetitive it may seem. I guess you can say it's just one of those genres that you'll either really love or hate. But one thing to keep in mind is that these types of series are fun and allow a kind of "escape" for the reader. Especially those familiar with Sailor Moon, going through the manga is like one big nostalgia trip.

Pros:
- Updated edition with about 2 volumes per manga book, new cover designs, updated art and colored pages, plus much better translation (at least compared to Tokyopop's versions).
- Pure fun that kind of gets to the little girl in everyone (it never tries to be anything that it isn't).

Cons:
- Some awkward translations here and there (hey nobody's perfect).
- Art feels somewhat old and is kind of different from the anime (if you were expecting it to look more like the anime).
- Pretty "cheesy" like most mahou shoujo - offers very little that would attract a new fan who wasn't already into Sailor Moon or familiar with mahou shoujo.
- Main character is kind of a "bubbly/crybaby airhead" which kinda makes you like the other characters more.(less)

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Sep 17, 2011 Bianca Woods rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: comic, finished-in-2011, manga, own

Sailor Moon, despite not remotely being the greatest manga ever written, is the reason I got into anime and manga in the first place. It holds a special place in my heart, and so I'll be honest and admit I'm not the most objective person to review it.

Like the Sailor V manga, the storytelling and art start off weak in this volume, although by the end the writing improves somewhat. Takeuchi lazily borrows character designs from Sailor V for several characters, which is all the more glaring since K...more

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Sep 13, 2011 Chibineko rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: addicting, aliens, awesomeness, butt-kicking-heroines, comics, cool, cool-as-heck, dark, fantasy, funny, graphic-novel, magic, manga, must-buy, romance, superheroes, kodansha, sailor-moon

Ever since the ill fated Mixx/Tokyopop lost their license to the series I've been hoping that Sailor Moon would eventually hit these shores again and they have. Happy day!

Fangirl gush aside, I really enjoyed this volume. The artwork is gorgeous, which is what you'd expect for a mangaka of Takeuchi's caliber. It's interesting to flip through the pages and let my eyes slide over the illustrations.

The translations are a little awkward at times, though. One of the things that Kodansha really hyped...more

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Jul 31, 2012 A. King rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the reprint and reissue of a manga that helped to shape modern manga, and is considered to be one of the standards. It shaped Mahou Shoujo manga into what it is today. It is one of the all-time most influential manga, alongside other series like Dragonball, Ranma, Cutey Honey and Miyazaki.

I am in my mid-20s. This reprint brings back such strong feelings and such nostalgia that it could almost reduce me to tears. The anime was what was exposed to me when I was an 8 year old back in 1995,...more

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Mar 19, 2012 Naomi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sailor Moon is the show I grew up with, so naturally when they released second editions in English, I admit I had to have them. Sailor Moon is the first anime I ever saw, the first one that I fell in love with. Shortly after it was Cardcaptors, and I have all the Card Captor Sakura mangas, so it was only natural to add Sailor Moon to my collection.

I do have to admit I am kind of disappointed, I thought that the first volume was annoying because they're looking for the Moon Princess, but they obv...more

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Feb 27, 2013 Briana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Note: I have seen the Sailor Moon anime, but this is the first time I have read the manga, or really any manga for that better.

Takeuchi fills her book with beautiful illustrations that are truly half the pleasure of reading. Her work is detailed, elegant, and expressive—absolutely captivating. Looking closely always reveals something new in her drawings.

Plot-wise, the book falls only a little bit shorter in execution. Events happen very quickly from episode to episode, so it can feel as if there...more

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Feb 23, 2012 Chris Lemmerman rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sailor Moon was probably the first anime I watched, and yet it had never occurred to me to read the manga. With these new printings now available, what better time to do it than now?

This first volume charts the story of Usagi Tsukino as she becomes Sailor Moon and gathers together her friends Sailors Mercury, Mars and Jupiter as they search for the Moon Princess and the Legendary Silver Crystal, whilst battling the minions of the Dark Kingdom. Aiding them from the shadows is Tuxedo Mask, a myste...more

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Jan 20, 2012 Belle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review and more are also on my blog, http://bellesbookshelf.blogspot.com/

I've been wanting to try manga for awhile so it's probably appropriate that my first foray into the genre was with Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, considering that Sailor Moon was my first experience with anime. While it's probably on the younger side for me these days, it was a non-intimidating way to break into manga, and still a lot of fun to read - especially coz it got bonus points for nostalgia.

If you're not familia...more This review and more are also on my blog, http://bellesbookshelf.blogspot.com/

I've been wanting to try manga for awhile so it's probably appropriate that my first foray into the genre was with Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, considering that Sailor Moon was my first experience with anime. While it's probably on the younger side for me these days, it was a non-intimidating way to break into manga, and still a lot of fun to read - especially coz it got bonus points for nostalgia.

If you're not familiar with Sailor Moon (where were you in the 90s?!), it's about a young girl named Usagi (Serena in the US version of the anime) who discovers she's a guardian of the moon and the leader of a group of butt-kicking sailor scouts whose mission is to find and protect the "Legendary Silver Crystal" and the moon princess. Exactly what their background is and why this is their mission isn't explored in this volume, and the girls don't really question it themselves. But that's understandable, considering how much does happen within the pages; in quick succession, Usagi discovers Luna the talking cat and finds out she's Sailor Moon, locates Ami (Sailor Mercury), Rei (Sailor Mars) and Makato (Sailor Jupiter) and defeats a few of the nasty Kings of Heaven while she's at it. And let's not forget her many hate-fuelled encounters with Mamoru (a.k.a. Darien from the US anime) and her even more numerous love-driven interactions with his alter-ego, Tuxedo Mask.

I have to say, I was surprised at just how quickly everything happened - while the manga was initially identical to the anime, the plot developed much more rapidly on the page than in the show, which I wasn't expecting. I didn't really miss the padding, though, coz, being familiar with the story, I was kinda impatient to get to the action. There's plenty in this volume, but the main focus is on setting up the characters and introducing important plot points. I'm keen to pick up the rest of the series to see how everything pans out (although I kinda sorta already know, but hey, it's a new way of experiencing the story - plus, NOSTALGIA!).

Speaking of nostalgia - or perhaps lack thereof in this instance - I'd forgotten just how much of a whiny little so-and-so Serena Usagi is. It can get pretty annoying at times, although it does make her transformation into Sailor Moon all the more potent. My favourite character was definitely Rei; she's a straight-up biatch and it's awesome (though you'd think with all that meditating she'd be a bit calmer). I also enjoyed the fact that Tuxedo Mask is still a bit of a mystery and Usagi is unsure about whether he's a friend or foe; it kinda reminded me of the early days dynamic between Buffy and Angel (again, awesome).

Of course, one of the big drawcards with Sailor Moon is that it's oh-so-pretty (it's right there in the title!). The girls fight evil, but they do so while looking fierce in every sense of the word. Their jewellery and cute accessories all turn into weapons, which is way cooler than anything Spiderman has to offer. The illos are exactly what you expect - super cute and fun, if a little overcrowded. I did find it a tad disconcerting to read right-to-left initially, but it doesn't take long to get used to, and the translation notes at the end were really insightful. By the time I finished reading, I felt, like, so cultured and shit. Yeah, from reading Sailor Moon. That's how awesome I am.*

*May or may not be sarcasm.(less)

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About Naoko Takeuchi

Naoko Takeuchi (武内直子, Takeuchi Naoko) born March 15, 1967, a manga artist (mangaka), lives in Tokyo, Japan. Takeuchi's works have a wide following among anime/manga fans. She has become a well-known mangaka worldwide. Her most popular work, Sailor Moon, rose to become one of the most recognized manga/anime figures to date.

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Trivia About 美少女戦士セーラームーン 1

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title link	preview: Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 1
avg rating	preview: Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 1 Goodreads rating: 4.26 (6775 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10862575-pretty-guardian-sailor-moon-vol-1?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320565996l/10862575.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10862575-pretty-guardian-sailor-moon-vol-1?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 1 by Naoko Takeuchi[/url]

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 1 (Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon Renewal Editions #1)

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