Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Vol. 3

風の谷のナウシカ [Kaze no Tani no Nausicaä] #3

by Hayao Miyazaki (Scriptwriter/Illustrator), David R. Lewis (Translator), Toren Smith (Translator)

An epic fantasy tale written and illustrated by the legendary director Hayao Miyazaki!

In a long-ago war, humankind set off a devastating ecological disaster. Thriving indistrial societies disappeared. The earth is slowly submerging beneath the expanding Sea of Corruption, an enormous toxic forest that creates mutant insects and releases a miasma of poisonous spores into the air. At the periphery of the sea, tiny kingdoms are scattered on tiny parcels of land. Here lies the Valley of the Wind, a kingdom of barely 500 citizens; a nation given fragile protection from the decaying sea's poisons by the ocean breezes; and home to Nausicaä.

Nausicaä finds herself on the edge of despair as she comes to realize the full extent of the ecological destruction that's ravaging Earth. Meanwhile, Queen Kushana of Torumekia plots to lead her troops back to the imperial capital and seize the crown. Nausicaä agrees to join Kushana and her people in the fight against the Doroks and her scheming brothers.

Genres: Manga, Graphic Novels, Comics, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics

150 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Hayao Miyazaki (Japanese: 宮崎 駿) is a celebrated Japanese animator, filmmaker, screenwriter, and manga artist, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of animation. He is the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, the animation studio responsible for producing many of Japan’s most beloved and internationally acclaimed animated films. Over the course of a career spanning decades, Miyazaki has developed a reputation for creating visually rich, emotionally resonant stories that often explore themes such as nature, pacifism, flight, childhood, and the human condition.
Miyazaki was born in Tokyo and developed an early interest in drawing and animation. His father’s work in the aviation industry had a significant influence on him, particularly in fostering his fascination with aircraft and flight, motifs that would become prominent throughout his later works. After studying political science and economics at university, Miyazaki began his professional career in animation when he joined Toei Animation. There, he worked under the mentorship of directors like Isao Takahata, with whom he would later form a lifelong creative partnership.
In his early years at Toei and other studios, Miyazaki contributed to several television series and animated films. He worked as a key animator and storyboard artist, gradually gaining recognition for his storytelling abilities and attention to detail. Among his early projects were contributions to series such as Heidi, Girl of the Alps and Future Boy Conan. His directorial debut in feature films came with The Castle of Cagliostro, a film adaptation of the Lupin III manga series, which already showed signs of his distinctive style and sensibilities.
Miyazaki's breakthrough came with the film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, based on his own manga. The success of that film prompted the establishment of Studio Ghibli, which he co-founded with Takahata and producer Toshio Suzuki. From that point forward, Miyazaki directed and wrote many of Ghibli’s most iconic works, including My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, and Howl’s Moving Castle. His films are known for their hand-drawn animation, strong character development, and philosophical underpinnings.
In 2001, Miyazaki directed Spirited Away, which became one of the most critically and commercially successful animated films of all time. The film received numerous awards and international recognition, including an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It also became the highest-grossing film in Japanese history at the time of its release. The film’s success further solidified Miyazaki’s reputation as a master storyteller and a visionary in global cinema.
Despite announcing his retirement several times, Miyazaki repeatedly returned to filmmaking. His later works, such as Ponyo and The Wind Rises, continued to showcase his evolving themes and storytelling maturity. His most recent project, The Boy and the Heron, marked a highly anticipated return to the director’s chair and once again captivated audiences with its dreamlike visuals and emotional depth.
Miyazaki’s films are often distinguished by their complex female protagonists, environmental messages, and moral ambiguity. Rather than presenting clear-cut villains and heroes, his stories explore the nuances of human behavior and often focus on characters finding their place in the world. Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolades and honors for his contributions to the arts, including lifetime achievement awards recognizing his impact on both Japanese and international cinema.
His legacy continues to influence generations of animators and filmmakers worldwide, and Studio Ghibli remains one of the most respected names in animation.

Reviews

[Diz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nausicaä goes to war in this volume. Despite her reluctance, she is dragged into conflict. The complications and horrors of war are depicted. The stakes are high, which makes the story compelling.

[Mangrii · Rating 4 out of 5]

La tercera entrega de Nausicaä del Valle del Viento ya es territorio totalmente nuevo para mí. Nos alejamos de la película en una tercera entrega donde empezamos a percatarnos de la verdadera destrucción ecológica que esta significando esta guerra entre Durku y Tormekia. Hay varios momentos clave en esta entrega, de conceptos que preveo importantes de cara a lo que viene en el resto de la serie. Un volumen que reflexiona sobre la guerra (y se centra mucho en ella) y sobre el sufrimiento de los inocentes.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My experience with this was pretty much the same as with the previous volumes.

[Mikayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this one alot, so far a favourite.

[Asami · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an amazing work of fiction! The world building is simply astonishing and the characters are all very well thought out and portrayed. The ending of this volume left me in tears.

I really wish there was a continuation of the movie Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind because the story is so amazing and beautiful more people need to know about it!!!

I read this graphic novel for the Winter Cramathon 2016 and it completed the challenge:
-Read a graphic novel/manga

[Eressea · Rating 5 out of 5]

20250316 12th read
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20231026 11th read
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20201001 10th read
宮老其實很愛畫戰爭場面吧，氣勢磅礡阿
--
保護那烏西卡的瑪尼上人
如果維基用的羅馬拼音沒錯的話是Mani
是摩尼教創始人摩尼的名字
查了一下發現也是北歐神話的月神

這書取的名字還真有意思

2009/03/12 1st read
2016/10 7th read
2018/04 8th read
2019/01/31 9th read

[Juho Pohjalainen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The tale is growing trickier to follow, but not so much that I couldn't grasp it after a bit of thought and the occasional re-read of a page. It remains engaging and entertaining, well-written and -drawn.

[Aline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh Kai 😢

[Starbubbles · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really must say, i prefer the format of graphic novels over manga. it's so much easier to read, mainly it's because the cells are lined up in a linear fashion instead of the typical large triangle, elongated vertical rectangles, along with the square horizontal cells.

anywho- the story has really picked up steam! so glad i checked out the third one from the library! i'm totally going to have to go tomorrow to trade it in for book 4! i'm kind of surprised i like this series so much since it's so focused on war (which is something i steer clear of, even in picking which parts of history to study and read about). nausicaa has this uncanny ability to have people drawn to her, but i love how miyazaki writes in multiple people with the same ability. it's even better to see that they don't always behave in a perfect manner, and people don't agree with all of their decisions. it makes everything more believable, and has a greater pull to draw the reader into the story.

[Raül · Rating 5 out of 5]

El Mestre Yupa i Asbel, fugint de la batalla que ha destruit les tropes de la princesa Kushana de Tolmèkia, acaben en mans d'un estrany i misterios grup d'humans.
Mentre, Nausicaä viatja amb la princesa i alguns supervivents de l'atac. Els seus poders guaridors sorprenen als seus companys de viatge. Prop seu, l'Emperador Benjamí de Dolk manté assetjat un exèrcit tolmekià.

Història èpica i emocionant, que mostra els horrors de la guerra i els valors de l'ecologia i la solidaritat. Preciós dibuix de Miyazaki.

[Elina Mäkitalo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Samat ongelmat ja arvostelut kuin aikaisemmissakin osissa. Ei ole minun juttuni, mutta silti jokin laittaa lukemaan muutkin osat. Kuvat ovat epäselviä kun ovat mustavalkoisia. Suuremmat kuvat ovat parempia niin ei mene niin pieneksi ja sekavaksi kuin pienemmissä. Ehkä hieman liian pitkä tällaiseksi tarinaksi kun vielä on osia jäljellä. Noh katsotaan mitä tuleman pitää, sittenhän sen vasta tietää kun kaikki osat on luettu.

[Milan Konjevic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nije čudo da je Mijazaki postao to što je danas... Ovaj strip je star više od 40 godina, a deluje kao da je juče napravljen; vrhunski fentezi i jedan od najbolje kadriranih stripova IKADA!! Ovo se ne propušta, verujte mi.

[Jake Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

You almost lost me, Miyazaki. But this was the best volume yet. I guess I'll keep reading.

I'll post a complete review at the end of the series.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a little heavy on the battles and a little light on plot, it seemed; nothing seemed like it wasn't necessary for later plot development, it's just that this particular volume was a little dull compared to the ones that came before. It's all even richer and more interesting than the film, though.

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nausicaa focuses herself on the reverence of life. She protects all those who she cares for, and those who she doesn't. There seems to be a general disdain for her acts of care by some characters, but most see her as brave and wonderful. I agree with the latter, and while I think violence has its time and place and this may be an over simplification of revolution, I do appreciate it. To think that a prophecy of someone who is so pure and welcoming is something I wish could exist. In a way, she is utopic as a person.

[Tamara Morrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

This was a great continuation of the previous volumes
it felt like alot of build up for later volumes but still a great read and i love Miyazaki's artwork as always.

I can't wait to read more of this series and see what happens next
For anyone who loved the movie this volume starts to really expand the world seen in the movie and introduces new factions and new characters

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Das war das aufwühlendste Ende bis jetzt. Bin weiterhin restlos begeistert über den Einfallsreichtum, die verzwickte Handlung und die vielschichtigen Figuren, allen voran die beeindruckende Titelfigur Nausicaa. Ihr Mut zur Empathie mit Menschen und Natur kommt gerade richtig.
Wieder ein wunderschöner Band aus dieser alten Edition.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pace is really picking up, the sides are murky, war is bad, and I’m here for it. I eventually figure out which princess is on the page (sometimes it’s a prince), and there are several guys that I’m pretty sure are different people. Also lots of people in robes. Graphic novels are hard but I’m working here.

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great segment of this story. A thoughtful portrayal of war and suffering. I enjoyed the development of Nausicaa and Kushama as characters in this volume.

[Jack Syron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghibli action is vastly underrated same with this volume. Holy smokes

[elif sinem]

I see why the film ended where it did.

[Thelonious · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrilling and evocative. Nausicaä confronts and endures the horrors of war.

[Mary Emma Sivils · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another interesting volume! There are some weird religious themes in this series, but I really like Nausicaa, and I'm fascinated by this prophecy that seems to be building up around her!

[Neo Scarlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nausicaä has such incredible willpower, and even Kushana and Kurotawa are growing on me. I adore the worldbuilding so much, and am looking forward to more Ohmu action.

[Emma Bussolotta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of feels like Nausicaä was sidelined until the end--where she totally served. But I really like Kushana's POV. And I'm interested in more Asbel and Ketcha.

[Bibliothecat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for complete series



A thousand years have passed since modern civilization collapsed leaving most animals extinct and humans living under almost medieval conditions. The pollution of the world has raised a toxic forest which none but the giant insects can inhabit. Small kingdoms have formed where the remainder of humanity now lives and where life is filled with fear of the toxics reaching them. Despite the constant decline of the population, humans still wage war against each other in which they use the last technologies that are left from the old world. Young Nausicaä is summoned to the war but decides to take a different path – one that leads her alongside the toxic forest and its insects.

Oh my, where to start? Nausicaä was the first Ghibli (or pre-Ghibli) movie I have seen. I loved it so much that I instantly grabbed all the Ghibli films I could get my hands on. I was skeptical when hearing that the manga it is based on has so much more detail to offer. The movie is absolutely wonderful and I felt I could not ask for more. The first two volumes of the manga show various scenes, perhaps in slightly different order, as seen in the movie. When the movies final scene was shown at the end of the second volume, I was really surprised – after all, there were still five more volumes to go. I was absolutely not prepared for the depth of the world this was opening up to.

The world Nausicaä is set in has its beautiful sides to it but I have never come across a more bleak, harsh and depressing one. It has so much detail to offer with its various kingdoms and their different cultures and customs. As expected of author Hayao Miyazaki, the creatures are incredibly imaginative in their strange and unique way. This holds true for the insects, animals and plants alike. Despite its toxic nature, the toxic forest is actually beautiful – a beauty our main heroine Nausicaä sees. It is also particularly vivid when one has seen its movie adaption. I love Nausicaä’s association of how the toxic spores look like snow.



The Ohmu are wonderful. They are the largest of the insects and seem to act as the toxic forest’s guardians. You get the sense early on that there is something more to them. Although they are not the most expressive, one can easily find an emotional attachment to them and their sacrifices. Any scenes involving Nausicaä with young Ohmu are heart warming.

Nausicaä is an amazing heroine. Although she may appear too perfect at times – I just cannot help but feel that I have never seen a more compassionate and kind-hearted character as her. She has such a big heart that considers even the cruelest. She never winces from the terrible mutilations some of the characters have suffered in this dying world and embraces all. Yes, it can make her seem too good. But it is desperately needed in the setting where this tale takes place.

The manga introduces a large cast which allows multiple points of view and is therefore not constantly fixed on Nausicaä. The main cast is a colourful mix as rarely seen in manga; they come in all shapes and sizes and we get representatives from all age groups. While my personal favourites do not get as many scenes as I would have liked (Asbel!!), all characters are so engaging that it almost does not matter. There is not a single boring moment in this epic story.

Also, unlike the movie, I was sorry and almost surprised to see so much death. On one hand, it is to be expected given the tales circumstances. But having seen the movie – I was shocked to see some of the different fates our main cast met while they received their ‘happy ending’ in the film version. I was mighty glad I had my cats around me when reading the final volumes for I was crying bitter tears (something not even all the deaths in Harry Potter have caused me to do). The story was also never short of surprises. You thought you had it figured out and then there is another unexpected twist.

However! Just like anything else - Nausicaä has its flaws as well. My only issue with this manga series was the actual format. The good thing about it was that the print was in sepia – a nice change from the usual black and white manga. But there were other things that set it apart from other manga which did not agree so well with me; the books are about twice the size of a usual manga. That could be a good thing – but I did not feel that the large space was used wisely. One could have had wonderfully large and detailed panels. But in the end, there were only few. The panels were about the same size, or even smaller than a regular manga’s would be and it sometimes made reading tough and long. The panel layout was generally more like that of western comics. That, however, is a mere personal taste for some might love just that aspect of it. But I think I would have preferred more volumes with larger panels rather than 7 volumes with mini panels.

Anyway! Now that I have seen the movie and read the manga it was based on, I have to agree that there is an incredible lot more to the manga compared to the movie. Nevertheless, the movie is wonderful in its own right. It is slightly more light-hearted and shorter which makes it the better of the two if you are looking for pure entertainment. It also brings more colours to the world and therefore gives you a better image of the toxic forest and all the creatures. It captures most of the manga’s messages and brings them across nicely – simpler, yes – but it is still a very rewarding movie to watch. If you have not watched it – be certain to do so! And if you have not read the manga – be sure to read them as well! I think seeing the movie before reading the books is a nice order but either way works. This is one of the very few manga that I would happily recommend to any non-manga fan without worrying that it might not appeal to them. But then, Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki have never been the most typical ‘manga’ in my mind anyway.

Whether movie or manga - Nausicaä is a most astonishing tale that has just completely blown me away. Now, I think I shall leave for another round of tears.

[Mladoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dans ce tome 3, on en apprend plus sur l'empire dork et l'assemblée des bonzes. Cet empire est mené par un chef religieux, maintenu en vie par un procédé mystérieux. Nausicaä s'allie avec la princesse Kushana lors d'un assaut contre l'empire dork afin de pouvoir sauver les prisonniers de guerre dorks.

Un tome palpitant, fort en rebondissements, émouvant notamment la fin de la bataille. La question reste en suspens, où Nausicaä va-t-elle aller maintenant que les bonzes voient en elle l'être vêtu de bleu annoncé par la légende ? L'étau se resserre autour de Nausicaä toujours plus courageuse et sensible à la souffrance qui l'entoure. Des personnages très étoffés, la princesse Kushana apparaît sous un jour nouveau, un peu plus humaine, disons qu'on arrive à lui trouver des raisons d'agir comme elle le fait. J'ai hâte de voir la suite.

[Mercè · Rating 4 out of 5]

Se nota que la historia ya va por la mitad. Es como una bola de nieve que cada vez se va haciendo más y más grande y es indudable que algo épico va a suceder. En este tomo se notan las ganas de ver el desenlace constantemente. Quieres ver que va a pasar a cada momento y vas pasando páginas sin darte cuenta.
Además ya empieza a haber muchas explicaciones clave, lo cual solo hace que mejorar el libro.
Lo mejor son las estrategias bélicas y la manera como lo explican. No se hace para nada aburrido.
Creo que me voy situando con esto de identificar los bandos.

[Nadya Booyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first watched Warriors of the Wind, I fell in love with the story (I even have it on VHS). Then they remade it and the story changed. I loved it even more. But the graphic novels are far beyond my expectations. I am not use to reading GN, much less reading from right to left, so this is a wonderful challenge.
I am very happy that I have taken the time to read the novels though, as the story is so much deeper than just the anime.

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Art remains super cool. The story remains mostly impenetrable. It really feels like there is a story in there somewhere. Certainly too many ideas. Reading this feels a little like a torture marathon - certainly it isn't all that easy to read.