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コードネームはセーラーV [Codename wa Sailor V] #1
Codename: Sailor V, Vol. 1
Like Sailor Moon, Minako Aino is a normal 13-year-old schoolgirl until a fateful day when a white cat introduces himself to her and tells her she has the power to transform into the hero, Sailor V. Using a magic pen to transform, Sailor V fights the evil agents of the Dark Agency as she strives to protect the earth.
280 pages, Paperback
First published October 29, 2004
81 people are currently reading
2602 people want to read
About the author
Naoko Takeuchi
217 books2,085 followersNaoko Takeuchi (武内直子) 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.
Takeuchi is married to Yoshihiro Togashi, the author of the YuYu Hakusho series and Hunter × Hunter series.
Please note that anime related books are listed under Kōdansha.
Takeuchi is married to Yoshihiro Togashi, the author of the YuYu Hakusho series and Hunter × Hunter series.
Please note that anime related books are listed under Kōdansha.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 394 reviews
March 23, 2024
The first part of the adventures of Minako Aino - Sailor Venus, from the Sailor Moon anime, known as Sailor V. It is a book that tells the adventures and stories from the life of this sailor senshi. She was the first of all senshi. The manga is drawn beautifully. The illustrations are delicate and sweet. Minako is presented in a beautiful way. I like that are funny situations here. If you want to check out the Sailor Moon series, I recommend reading this book along with the other two.
November 6, 2014
This was my first time reading Sailor V and I absolutely adored it!
It was so much fun reading the story from Minako's POV and getting to know her.
I especially liked:
- the similarities between Minako and Usagi
- Minako's enthusiasm for video games and popstars
- the bickering between Minako and Artemis
Soo excited to read Volume 2!
It was so much fun reading the story from Minako's POV and getting to know her.
I especially liked:
- the similarities between Minako and Usagi
- Minako's enthusiasm for video games and popstars
- the bickering between Minako and Artemis
Soo excited to read Volume 2!
December 26, 2018
Se siente el alma de la historia que un tiempo después sería Sailor Moon. Personalmente no soy la más fan de Minako pero igual es una historia re divertida
September 10, 2017
Review for complete series
I have been an avid manga reader for close to 12 years now and yet I have never had any connection to the Sailor Moon universe; When it was shown on TV in Europe I moved to New Zealand and by the time I went back to Europe Sailor Moon was long gone. With that, I only got my hands on copies of the Sailor Moon manga series about 20 years after its first release.
Sailor V is a lovely prequel to Sailor Moon. I love when stories have crossovers or when characters make a guest appearance. It was always fun discovering Usagi and the others in the odd panel here and there. I believe the Sailor Moon universe was mainly created for a younger audience. For those who are a bit older, it may be more difficult to connect with this story if one, like me, has not grown up with it.
But nonetheless, as long as you do not take it too seriously and pin down everything that does not make sense (after all – it is a magical girl shoujo manga… they hardly ever make much sense) it can be a very enjoyable read. Minako is a nice lead character who is both feminine and strong and always delivers hilarious scenes. Naoko Takeuchi’s artwork is gorgeous. Some years back I did not appreciate older manga style as much as I do these days but I had to stop on so many pages to admire her line art – she always manages to make sure graceful poses for her characters as well as the movement of hair and clothing!
I thought the ending was rather sad despite the overall comedic tone of the manga. Still – I thought it was a lovely setup for its transition to the sequel.
P.S.:
I feel lucky to own the older 3 Volume edition as I find the cover art to be so much nicer.
June 24, 2017
"Menunggu bukan gayaku. Aku yang memutuskan! Aku akan menyerang duluan! Mina akan berusaha!"
"Benar! Aku mengerahkan SEMUA ENERGIKU. Itu membuat perasaanku segar."
"Mina benar-benar full engine, ya."
***
Aku nggak pernah nyangka kalau akhirnya bakal sangat menyukai Aino Minako. Sejujurnya aku dulu sangat meremehkan serial ini. Tapi anehnya aku nggak bisa berhenti menyukainya. Padahal, dulu aku benci dengan cerita remaja cewek yang melulu memikirkan cinta. Buat aku yang dulu semasa sekolah sibuk mengejar prestasi akademik dan nonakademik hal-hal seperti itu sangat asing.
Tapi pada akhirnya aku tahu kenapa aku nggak pernah bisa lepas dari serial ini walau terus mempertahankan hubungan love-hate relationship dengan serial Sailor Moon dan Sailor V. Karena secara alam bawah sadar, diriku yang cewek ini menyukai dinamika perkembangan psikologis cewek yang dialami para tokohnya. Meski aku selama ini menolak dianggap menye, aslinya aku tetap menyukai hal-hal manis, imut, sparkling, obrolan soal cinta, yah hal-hal yang tadinya kuanggap menye itu.
Dan baru setelah aku membacanya lagi di penghujung usia yang sudah kepala 2 ini, aku jadi sadar bahwa Sailor Moon dan Sailor V bisa dibilang justru sangat manusiawi dan membumi. Meskipun tokoh Usagi Tsukino dan Aino Minako bisa dibilang sama sekali bukan tipe cewek ideal (Usagi bodoh dan cengeng, Aino Minako tidak cengeng tapi nilai-nilainya tetap jeblok), tapi dengan mudah kami para gadis bisa menemukan fragmen diri kami dalam tokoh-tokoh remaja perempuan yang ditampilkan pada serial ini.
***
Seperti Sailor Moon, Sailor V dimulai dari ketika tokoh masih menjadi "zero" dengan segala sifatnya yang kasar, berantakan, tapi penuh semangat. Namun, sepanjang cerita berlangsung Aino Minako lambat laun semakin menyadari tugasnya sebagai pelindung bumi dan pembasmi penjahat. Lazimnya remaja perempuan lainnya, ia pun masih suka bermain-main seperti ke game center, nonton konser artis idola, mengejar kakak kelas yang cakep, tapi pada suatu titik tertentu, ia pun bisa bersikap sebagaimana seorang Soldier.
Yang menarik di sini adalah keberadaan kucing Artemis dan sosok tak terlihat yang dipanggil sebagai "boss", yang berperan sebagai mentor Aino Minako selama ia menjalani pelatihan sebagai Soldier. Dengan karakter seperti Aino Minako, ia jelas tidak bisa dipaksa untuk terus serius berlatih dan belajar setiap saat. Artemis sampai berkali-kali frustrasi akibat sifat Aino Minako yang playful.
Tapi dengan bijak akhirnya sang boss menyuruh Artemis "mendidik" Aino Minako via video game Sailor V. Karena sering memainkannya, kemampuan Minako dalam berstrategi dan bertarung pun meningkat pesat. Ini bukan hal yang mengherankan. Aku tahu ada beberapa teman di komunitas otaku yang benar-benar belajar martial arts karena terinspirasi game. Atau menguasai berbagai hal seperti sejarah dan politik karena sering memainkan game-game bertema serupa.
Jika pernah menonton film Ender's Game, maka apa yang dialami Ender dan teman-temannya pun mirip dengan Minako, latihan bertarung dengan game simulasi. Hehehe...
Intinya Artemis dan sang Boss dengan sabar mengikuti alur Aino Minako dan pelan-pelan mengarahkannya ke fokus hidupnya. Dan kurasa harusnya ini yang perlu dipahami oleh orang-orang dewasa agar mereka tidak memaksa anak-anak dan remaja mereka untuk menuruti kemauan mereka dengan jalan paksaan.
Yah, siapa sangka kalau dalam komik kita bisa mendapatkan pelajaran tentang dinamika perkembangan remaja terutama gadis remaja.
Pada akhirnya aku bisa menyimpulkan bahwa Sailor Moon dan Sailor V memang dibuat berdasarkan permasalahan remaja di sana: fenomena idol dan fans, game, budaya pop, perusahaan yang menggerakkan perekonomian dan tren dunia, geng dan kenakalan remaja, tekanan dalam dunia pendidikan, independensi remaja cewek. Dan semua permasalahan itu relevan sampai kapan pun.
Tak heran kalau serial ini bisa begitu awet sampai kapan pun sejak pertama kali dirilis, hingga sekarang sampai versi premiumnya keluar.
"Benar! Aku mengerahkan SEMUA ENERGIKU. Itu membuat perasaanku segar."
"Mina benar-benar full engine, ya."
***
Aku nggak pernah nyangka kalau akhirnya bakal sangat menyukai Aino Minako. Sejujurnya aku dulu sangat meremehkan serial ini. Tapi anehnya aku nggak bisa berhenti menyukainya. Padahal, dulu aku benci dengan cerita remaja cewek yang melulu memikirkan cinta. Buat aku yang dulu semasa sekolah sibuk mengejar prestasi akademik dan nonakademik hal-hal seperti itu sangat asing.
Tapi pada akhirnya aku tahu kenapa aku nggak pernah bisa lepas dari serial ini walau terus mempertahankan hubungan love-hate relationship dengan serial Sailor Moon dan Sailor V. Karena secara alam bawah sadar, diriku yang cewek ini menyukai dinamika perkembangan psikologis cewek yang dialami para tokohnya. Meski aku selama ini menolak dianggap menye, aslinya aku tetap menyukai hal-hal manis, imut, sparkling, obrolan soal cinta, yah hal-hal yang tadinya kuanggap menye itu.
Dan baru setelah aku membacanya lagi di penghujung usia yang sudah kepala 2 ini, aku jadi sadar bahwa Sailor Moon dan Sailor V bisa dibilang justru sangat manusiawi dan membumi. Meskipun tokoh Usagi Tsukino dan Aino Minako bisa dibilang sama sekali bukan tipe cewek ideal (Usagi bodoh dan cengeng, Aino Minako tidak cengeng tapi nilai-nilainya tetap jeblok), tapi dengan mudah kami para gadis bisa menemukan fragmen diri kami dalam tokoh-tokoh remaja perempuan yang ditampilkan pada serial ini.
***
Seperti Sailor Moon, Sailor V dimulai dari ketika tokoh masih menjadi "zero" dengan segala sifatnya yang kasar, berantakan, tapi penuh semangat. Namun, sepanjang cerita berlangsung Aino Minako lambat laun semakin menyadari tugasnya sebagai pelindung bumi dan pembasmi penjahat. Lazimnya remaja perempuan lainnya, ia pun masih suka bermain-main seperti ke game center, nonton konser artis idola, mengejar kakak kelas yang cakep, tapi pada suatu titik tertentu, ia pun bisa bersikap sebagaimana seorang Soldier.
Yang menarik di sini adalah keberadaan kucing Artemis dan sosok tak terlihat yang dipanggil sebagai "boss", yang berperan sebagai mentor Aino Minako selama ia menjalani pelatihan sebagai Soldier. Dengan karakter seperti Aino Minako, ia jelas tidak bisa dipaksa untuk terus serius berlatih dan belajar setiap saat. Artemis sampai berkali-kali frustrasi akibat sifat Aino Minako yang playful.
Tapi dengan bijak akhirnya sang boss menyuruh Artemis "mendidik" Aino Minako via video game Sailor V. Karena sering memainkannya, kemampuan Minako dalam berstrategi dan bertarung pun meningkat pesat. Ini bukan hal yang mengherankan. Aku tahu ada beberapa teman di komunitas otaku yang benar-benar belajar martial arts karena terinspirasi game. Atau menguasai berbagai hal seperti sejarah dan politik karena sering memainkan game-game bertema serupa.
Jika pernah menonton film Ender's Game, maka apa yang dialami Ender dan teman-temannya pun mirip dengan Minako, latihan bertarung dengan game simulasi. Hehehe...
Intinya Artemis dan sang Boss dengan sabar mengikuti alur Aino Minako dan pelan-pelan mengarahkannya ke fokus hidupnya. Dan kurasa harusnya ini yang perlu dipahami oleh orang-orang dewasa agar mereka tidak memaksa anak-anak dan remaja mereka untuk menuruti kemauan mereka dengan jalan paksaan.
Yah, siapa sangka kalau dalam komik kita bisa mendapatkan pelajaran tentang dinamika perkembangan remaja terutama gadis remaja.
Pada akhirnya aku bisa menyimpulkan bahwa Sailor Moon dan Sailor V memang dibuat berdasarkan permasalahan remaja di sana: fenomena idol dan fans, game, budaya pop, perusahaan yang menggerakkan perekonomian dan tren dunia, geng dan kenakalan remaja, tekanan dalam dunia pendidikan, independensi remaja cewek. Dan semua permasalahan itu relevan sampai kapan pun.
Tak heran kalau serial ini bisa begitu awet sampai kapan pun sejak pertama kali dirilis, hingga sekarang sampai versi premiumnya keluar.
September 25, 2011
Minako Aino was an Ordinary Schoolgirl until one day she encountered a talking cat who informed her that she has the power to transform into Sailor Venus, a Pretty Guardian in a Sailor Suit, and fight the forces of Darkness. If this sounds familiar, it should. Sailor V is the predecessor to the more famous Sailor Moon. The two series have a complicated relationship -- SM is effectively a reboot of SV, with Usagi, Luna, Umino and Naru being stand-ins for Minako and her pals, but at the same time, Sailor V is part of the same continuity as Sailor Moon. You can tell when the Sailor Moon manga started because Usagi and Naru appear briefly at Minako's favorite arcade, and of course later on Minako and Artemis transition over to Sailor Moon.
Still, the two series aren't identical. Sailor V is much, much, much -- I cannot stress this enough -- much sillier. The art is hyper-frenetic, with every inch of page covered in action with no time for such niceties as character development or world building. The villain exists to be villainous, and her plan is simply to keep producing more mooks to do the same thing over and over again, no matter how often it fails. And those failures are rather pathetic. There aren't any significant fight scenes. Sailor V just shows up, uses her magical compact to attack the Mook of the Day, and that's it -- the mook never dodges or fights back.
While it's nice to finally have Sailor Venus's backstory in the US, it's sadly disappointing.
Still, the two series aren't identical. Sailor V is much, much, much -- I cannot stress this enough -- much sillier. The art is hyper-frenetic, with every inch of page covered in action with no time for such niceties as character development or world building. The villain exists to be villainous, and her plan is simply to keep producing more mooks to do the same thing over and over again, no matter how often it fails. And those failures are rather pathetic. There aren't any significant fight scenes. Sailor V just shows up, uses her magical compact to attack the Mook of the Day, and that's it -- the mook never dodges or fights back.
While it's nice to finally have Sailor Venus's backstory in the US, it's sadly disappointing.
November 18, 2011
I've never actually read the Codename: Sailor V manga before now, and I don't actually think I ever saw it in stores, but you bet your ass I read the Sailor Moon manga.
Codename: Sailor V isn't as good as Sailor Moon (or as my memory of Sailor Moon...we'll find out if I'm just remembering it fondly or not soon), but it's the seed Sailor Moon sprouted from, and comes at the themes Sailor Moon initially tackles from a different angle. For a goofy, episodic manga, I loved it. There was obviously never going to be any big plot payoff (unless you count the fact that you're getting to see Sailor Venus's first year of being a sailor senshi) but it was utterly charming all the same. I just know that, unlike some other books I could name, I felt so cheerful when I was reading it. Minako is such a likable character.
Something must be said about Naoko Takeuchi's drawing style and that something is: guh. She draws her women so beautifully, and every sailor senshi comes out looking so elegant. Which is a great contrast to some of their personalities, particularly Usagi's.
Codename: Sailor V isn't as good as Sailor Moon (or as my memory of Sailor Moon...we'll find out if I'm just remembering it fondly or not soon), but it's the seed Sailor Moon sprouted from, and comes at the themes Sailor Moon initially tackles from a different angle. For a goofy, episodic manga, I loved it. There was obviously never going to be any big plot payoff (unless you count the fact that you're getting to see Sailor Venus's first year of being a sailor senshi) but it was utterly charming all the same. I just know that, unlike some other books I could name, I felt so cheerful when I was reading it. Minako is such a likable character.
Something must be said about Naoko Takeuchi's drawing style and that something is: guh. She draws her women so beautifully, and every sailor senshi comes out looking so elegant. Which is a great contrast to some of their personalities, particularly Usagi's.
August 4, 2020
I really love this short series with Sailor Venus also known as Minako Aino she is my favorite Sailor Senshi and I loved reading about how she became Sailor Venus and her adventures in fighting the evil of the Sailor Moon universe. I really loved the characters especially Minako and Artemis I liked Mina's happy go lucky attitude and how she fights to save the day. I just really like Artemis for how interesting he is an cool talking cat. I really liked the plot it showed how Mina became Sailor V and her adventures in saving the people of Japan one step at a time. So overall I really liked this manga will finish it sometime soon.
January 2, 2022
Del 2015
Yo durante todo el manga.
Pues, qué puedo decir. Mina es mi favorita. La amo. Y todo lo que tenga que ver con este tema siempre le daré mil estrellas. Te amo Naoko, gracias por haber creado tanta belleza T o T
Del 2022
Sigo insistiendo en que Minako es mi personaje favorito. Y sí tiene ciertas similitudes con Usagi. Minako actúa tal cual una niña de trece años y me divierte mucho. Demasiado diría yo. Porque su irresponsabilidad me recuerda a la mía cuando estaba de esa edad. Digo, lo sigo siendo pero ya menos...creo.
Yo durante todo el manga.
Pues, qué puedo decir. Mina es mi favorita. La amo. Y todo lo que tenga que ver con este tema siempre le daré mil estrellas. Te amo Naoko, gracias por haber creado tanta belleza T o T
Del 2022
Sigo insistiendo en que Minako es mi personaje favorito. Y sí tiene ciertas similitudes con Usagi. Minako actúa tal cual una niña de trece años y me divierte mucho. Demasiado diría yo. Porque su irresponsabilidad me recuerda a la mía cuando estaba de esa edad. Digo, lo sigo siendo pero ya menos...creo.
January 26, 2020
Minako es perezosa, de bastante mal carácter, egocéntrica y está más preocupada por los cantantes y las estrellas de tv que por ser Sailor V, pero eso obviamente es parte de lo simpático.
Los villanos y sus mensajes hipnóticos son muy cómicos. En general todas las historias son más de humor que de acción, es una precuela simple para ver qué era de la vida de Mina antes de unirse con el resto del grupo.
Las historias de los capítulos son prácticamente iguales, salvo la del último que me gustó mucho más. Este manga es más un fanservice para quienes nos gusta Sailor Moon que otra cosa, Minako no es mi preferida pero de todos modos está lindo... y me gustan los pequeños guiños hacia Sailor Moon :)
Los villanos y sus mensajes hipnóticos son muy cómicos. En general todas las historias son más de humor que de acción, es una precuela simple para ver qué era de la vida de Mina antes de unirse con el resto del grupo.
Las historias de los capítulos son prácticamente iguales, salvo la del último que me gustó mucho más. Este manga es más un fanservice para quienes nos gusta Sailor Moon que otra cosa, Minako no es mi preferida pero de todos modos está lindo... y me gustan los pequeños guiños hacia Sailor Moon :)
May 16, 2012
Of course I was bound to love this. Sailor Moon was my introduction to manga, after all, and I think I still love Naoko Takeuchi's art best. Codename: Sailor V came first, though this is the first time it's been available (legally, at least) in America. You can definitely see in reading it that it came before Sailor Moon. You can even see the art improve just over the course of this one volume. The story itself is very light and episodic, and Minako is just such a fun character to read. I usually like cheerful characters in manga. It's a fun, quick read, with a couple of very short Usagi cameos.
December 18, 2022
This was a really cute collection of Sailor V stories! The origins. It was kind of interesting to see familiar characters in the background as well.
Also, who's Boss? It can't be Luna because she's the one who calls Artemis Boss and takes directions from him in Sailor Moon. Hmm.
Also, who's Boss? It can't be Luna because she's the one who calls Artemis Boss and takes directions from him in Sailor Moon. Hmm.
November 27, 2019
[REVIEW TO COME UPON RE-READING.]
December 16, 2023
I love Minako so much!!
March 4, 2012
~3/5
I had rather low expectations for this. I watched the anime when it was on TV and I was really little, so I don't remember any of it, and I never read it. But then, not too long ago, I watched it online, and was very unimpressed. Really unimpressed. Which made me wary to read the manga. But I've heard a lot of good things about it, and I know that it was big when it first got translated and people were really excited about it coming back, me included. And I'd already decided that I was going to give both series a try, only I'm still not sure for how long.
Now, with those low expectations, I kind of enjoyed the manga. I wasn't all that impressed, and none of it was beyond what I was expecting, but it wasn't bad. Which is actually pretty good, in my book.
We meet Minako Aino, also known as Sailor V. She isn't very smart, is pushy, falls 'in love' with guys way too easily, plays video games a lot, and doesn't really believe the cat when he talks to her. Minako is alright as a character, but I'm not all that attached to her. I think it's mostly how easily she becomes obsessed with things that bothers me, as it does with anyone, in books and not. Also, she was fighting when told, except for at certain points when she would say that she'd never really chosen, or agreed, to fight for them. And she seems exactly like the people she's inadvertently saving, an annoying teenager that would fall for anything people are saying. It might be more cliché, though, if she were to be annoyed by it all originally, though. I don't know which I would prefer.
Pretty much all of the book consists of Minako fighting villains rather easily for a chapter each, most of which (if not all) are from the Dark Agency. One of the villains is a boy from her school, several others are pop-stars, one's a tourist hostess. Except for the last one, where she helps out a guy that she has a crush on and a gang he's involved in. But it kind of bothers me that she's winning so easily, and how she's doing it seems a little... dumb? But, you know, whatever. Don't want to complain or nitpick the logistics too much.
She's also, kind of, rivaling with the police, one of whom hates her and another that admires her. I didn't mind the police, found them (or, the one that admires her) a bit entertaining. We didn't get much of the personality of her friend, except that she's a lot like Minako, but we did get to see a bit from the geeky boy at her school, Amano, who was just alright. I did like Artemis, the cat, for however much we did get of him. Oh, and I noticed the small appearances that Usagi made, which I found interesting. Nice to know that she'd planned that (assuming that she did write Codename: Sailor V first, which I believe she did?).
I'll be reading the next one when I get it, which I'm not sure when that'll be. Soon, maybe? There are only two volumes of Codename, though, right? Since they're in an extended version, or whatever? I hope so, since I haven't heard anything about a third volume being released. And I want to start Sailor Moon, which I already have one volume of, but I want to finish Codename first. It's the prequel, and I like going in order, so it bothered me a bit that Kodansha was releasing them at the same time. But, that's alright.
I'll be reading it, nonetheless, and hope I don't have to skip ahead to Sailor Moon.
[Taken from my blog.]
I had rather low expectations for this. I watched the anime when it was on TV and I was really little, so I don't remember any of it, and I never read it. But then, not too long ago, I watched it online, and was very unimpressed. Really unimpressed. Which made me wary to read the manga. But I've heard a lot of good things about it, and I know that it was big when it first got translated and people were really excited about it coming back, me included. And I'd already decided that I was going to give both series a try, only I'm still not sure for how long.
Now, with those low expectations, I kind of enjoyed the manga. I wasn't all that impressed, and none of it was beyond what I was expecting, but it wasn't bad. Which is actually pretty good, in my book.
We meet Minako Aino, also known as Sailor V. She isn't very smart, is pushy, falls 'in love' with guys way too easily, plays video games a lot, and doesn't really believe the cat when he talks to her. Minako is alright as a character, but I'm not all that attached to her. I think it's mostly how easily she becomes obsessed with things that bothers me, as it does with anyone, in books and not. Also, she was fighting when told, except for at certain points when she would say that she'd never really chosen, or agreed, to fight for them. And she seems exactly like the people she's inadvertently saving, an annoying teenager that would fall for anything people are saying. It might be more cliché, though, if she were to be annoyed by it all originally, though. I don't know which I would prefer.
Pretty much all of the book consists of Minako fighting villains rather easily for a chapter each, most of which (if not all) are from the Dark Agency. One of the villains is a boy from her school, several others are pop-stars, one's a tourist hostess. Except for the last one, where she helps out a guy that she has a crush on and a gang he's involved in. But it kind of bothers me that she's winning so easily, and how she's doing it seems a little... dumb? But, you know, whatever. Don't want to complain or nitpick the logistics too much.
She's also, kind of, rivaling with the police, one of whom hates her and another that admires her. I didn't mind the police, found them (or, the one that admires her) a bit entertaining. We didn't get much of the personality of her friend, except that she's a lot like Minako, but we did get to see a bit from the geeky boy at her school, Amano, who was just alright. I did like Artemis, the cat, for however much we did get of him. Oh, and I noticed the small appearances that Usagi made, which I found interesting. Nice to know that she'd planned that (assuming that she did write Codename: Sailor V first, which I believe she did?).
I'll be reading the next one when I get it, which I'm not sure when that'll be. Soon, maybe? There are only two volumes of Codename, though, right? Since they're in an extended version, or whatever? I hope so, since I haven't heard anything about a third volume being released. And I want to start Sailor Moon, which I already have one volume of, but I want to finish Codename first. It's the prequel, and I like going in order, so it bothered me a bit that Kodansha was releasing them at the same time. But, that's alright.
I'll be reading it, nonetheless, and hope I don't have to skip ahead to Sailor Moon.
[Taken from my blog.]
April 13, 2020
Having been a fan of Sailor Moon for many years, I was so excited when I learned the manga was getting a new English version by Kodansha Comics and especially the prequel series, Codename: Sailor V. Sailor Venus' adventures prior to joining the main group are not often talked about, so I was looking forward to reading it.
You follow the protagonist Minako Aino, a 13-year-old middle school student who lives in Tokyo, Japan. She learns she is a magical hero known as Sailor V, codename for her real hero name: Sailor Venus. She fights daily battles against the villainous organization called the Dark Agency while trying to juggle her school life and social life at the same time.
For those who have read the Sailor Moon manga before, it follows the same kind of episodic format, at least for this first volume. It feels fresh though thanks to Minako Aino, the protagonist, and how her personality differentiates from that of Usagi Tsukino. She's not a klutz or a crybaby. She's athletic, strong-willed, and determined. She know what she wants and does everything in her power to get it, even if it may get her into trouble. Her interactions with Artemis, her own cat guide, are different as a result.
For those who like to decide on manga based on art style, I think you will find the quality to quite good. Naoko Takeuchi's style comes off as simple yet detailed, capable of portraying her characters as adorably cute or serious without deterring from from the story or pulling you out of it. Action scenes are well-drawn and it are easy to follow. The colours of the cover and first six pages (which are full-coloured) are warm and vibrant.
While I wouldn't necessarily called this a required read, I would recommend it for fans of the series and those who want to get a better grasp of Minako/Sailor Venus' character and what drives her.
You follow the protagonist Minako Aino, a 13-year-old middle school student who lives in Tokyo, Japan. She learns she is a magical hero known as Sailor V, codename for her real hero name: Sailor Venus. She fights daily battles against the villainous organization called the Dark Agency while trying to juggle her school life and social life at the same time.
For those who have read the Sailor Moon manga before, it follows the same kind of episodic format, at least for this first volume. It feels fresh though thanks to Minako Aino, the protagonist, and how her personality differentiates from that of Usagi Tsukino. She's not a klutz or a crybaby. She's athletic, strong-willed, and determined. She know what she wants and does everything in her power to get it, even if it may get her into trouble. Her interactions with Artemis, her own cat guide, are different as a result.
For those who like to decide on manga based on art style, I think you will find the quality to quite good. Naoko Takeuchi's style comes off as simple yet detailed, capable of portraying her characters as adorably cute or serious without deterring from from the story or pulling you out of it. Action scenes are well-drawn and it are easy to follow. The colours of the cover and first six pages (which are full-coloured) are warm and vibrant.
While I wouldn't necessarily called this a required read, I would recommend it for fans of the series and those who want to get a better grasp of Minako/Sailor Venus' character and what drives her.
April 25, 2012
Let me start by saying that I absolutely adore the Sailor Moon series. It's been an obsession ever since the show was on when I was younger. I love all the new manga with the updated translations. So when I heard the Sailor V manga that wasn't released in the US was going to be translated, I was super excited. However, this really feel flat for me which is really disappointing. I was hoping to see more of Minako as an individual character, but she just seemed like a carbon copy of Usagi except with a big affinity for idols. I know in the shows, Minako and Usagi are very similar but honestly they were practically the same people in this manga installation. I liked the random appearances of Usagi and Rei throughout the story, and it was nice to see the back story before the first Sailor Moon starts up but I wish it had had more of the Sailor Moon magic to it.
February 7, 2015
It was great to finally read the precursor to Sailor Moon! Reading this volume, I could really tell that Naoko Takeuchi definitely was planning Sailor Moon as she was writing Sailor V, what with the cameo appearances from Usagi and Naru, and also Rei.
Sailor V is a pretty worry-free character. She's bright and cheery, a young girl who's too obsessed with idols and doesn't really train once she becomes a "guardian of justice." Her adventures are somewhat nonsensical but in this book it all works. I find it personally amusing that Sailor V's solutions to most initial problems is a kick to the face.
I'd wondered how well this sort of material would hold up, since the last time I'd read Sailor Moon I was in high school, but I really enjoyed it and was easily drawn in.
Sailor V is a pretty worry-free character. She's bright and cheery, a young girl who's too obsessed with idols and doesn't really train once she becomes a "guardian of justice." Her adventures are somewhat nonsensical but in this book it all works. I find it personally amusing that Sailor V's solutions to most initial problems is a kick to the face.
I'd wondered how well this sort of material would hold up, since the last time I'd read Sailor Moon I was in high school, but I really enjoyed it and was easily drawn in.
January 2, 2020
I didn't know this prequel series to Sailor Moon existed until many years after I was sucked into the fandom. As a massive Sailor Moon fan, I NEEDED to read it. It's very clear that it was created before Sailor Moon - the art style isn't as clean, there are a LOT of characters that are VERY similar to those in Sailor Moon, and many of the story elements are in the same vein.
This wasn't as good as I had hoped, mainly because of the repetitive storylines in such a brief series, but considering it was created and published by a 14 year-old, it's also an astonishing piece of work. Definitely recommended for any avid Sailor Moon fans who want to get a little bit more of the origin story.
This wasn't as good as I had hoped, mainly because of the repetitive storylines in such a brief series, but considering it was created and published by a 14 year-old, it's also an astonishing piece of work. Definitely recommended for any avid Sailor Moon fans who want to get a little bit more of the origin story.
March 3, 2020
Sagas manga leídas: ''Sailor Moon'', y ''Sailor V'', de Naoko Takeuchi. Glénat, edición española. 18 y 3 tomos. Heroínas, superheroínas, magical girls, cómic, aventuras, acción, romance...
Otro de los mangas que compré en cuanto se editaron en España.
La serie de televisión la descubrí, en verdad, después...
El dibujo es precioso, detallado, divertido y elegante... Entre el manga clásico y moderno de hace una generación.
Debo aclarar que antes que ''Sailor Moon'', va ''Sailor V''. Una especie de 'episodio piloto' de 3 tomos, que ya avanza la trama de la serie.
Quizás inspirada en una época en la que las mujeres se hartaron de ser consideradas las 'segundonas' en un mundo más bien lleno de mallas masculinas...
En un Japón rodeado de seres malvados, unas estudiantes con traje de marinera, nos van a demostrar de lo que son capaces entre familia, amigos, colegio, chicos monos, gatos misteriosos, videojuegos, y que no se nos olvide el almuerzo... para que triunfen la paz, la justicia, la amistad y el amor.
Aparecerán muchos personajes, con una historia personal cada uno: los buenos y los malos.
La luna, siempre presente, nos mostrará sus varios rostros y secretos...
Buenos que se transforman en malos y extraños que se transforman en familia. Y máscaras que ocultan rostros que a veces no pueden ocultar el amor.
¿Quién no conoce ''Sailor Moon''?
***Edición leída: Glénat, española.
Otro de los mangas que compré en cuanto se editaron en España.
La serie de televisión la descubrí, en verdad, después...
El dibujo es precioso, detallado, divertido y elegante... Entre el manga clásico y moderno de hace una generación.
Debo aclarar que antes que ''Sailor Moon'', va ''Sailor V''. Una especie de 'episodio piloto' de 3 tomos, que ya avanza la trama de la serie.
Quizás inspirada en una época en la que las mujeres se hartaron de ser consideradas las 'segundonas' en un mundo más bien lleno de mallas masculinas...
En un Japón rodeado de seres malvados, unas estudiantes con traje de marinera, nos van a demostrar de lo que son capaces entre familia, amigos, colegio, chicos monos, gatos misteriosos, videojuegos, y que no se nos olvide el almuerzo... para que triunfen la paz, la justicia, la amistad y el amor.
Aparecerán muchos personajes, con una historia personal cada uno: los buenos y los malos.
La luna, siempre presente, nos mostrará sus varios rostros y secretos...
Buenos que se transforman en malos y extraños que se transforman en familia. Y máscaras que ocultan rostros que a veces no pueden ocultar el amor.
¿Quién no conoce ''Sailor Moon''?
***Edición leída: Glénat, española.
June 3, 2024
Sailor V es un clásico que debe de leerse si les gusta la demografía del shoujo. Es el título que popularizó las magic girls: chicas de la escuela que adquirían poderes y que pasaban aventuras. Aunque claramente era algo que, probablemente ya se había visto, la manera en que lo contó Naoko Takeuchi, revolucionó totalmente el genero. En los años 90 hacia los 2000, comenzamos a ver toda clase de historias al rededor de chicas que conseguían poderes y pasaban por aventuras.
Este título en particular es un poco confuso en cuanto a la continuidad y, es difìcil no compararlo con Sailor Moon. Sailor V tiene muchas similitudes con Sailor Moon. Minako comparte mucho rasgos de personalidad con Usagi. A su vez, algunas de las cosas que suceden en Sailor V se puede percibir que sirvieron como inspiración para darle sentido y continuidad a Sailor Moon.
Lo que no podemos ignorar es el dibujo tan hermoso de Naoko Takeuchi. Sus personajes tienen los rasgos muy finos, el detalle en la ropa es visible y es totalmente claro que antes Naoko tenía el hobby de diseñar ropa en su tiempo libre. Es esa clase de arte que te gustaría emular cuando estás aprendiendo a dibujar.
Me parece que es una lectura para apreciar el surgimiento del boom de la demogradía shojo y ver cómo surgió la idea de Sailor Moon.
Este título en particular es un poco confuso en cuanto a la continuidad y, es difìcil no compararlo con Sailor Moon. Sailor V tiene muchas similitudes con Sailor Moon. Minako comparte mucho rasgos de personalidad con Usagi. A su vez, algunas de las cosas que suceden en Sailor V se puede percibir que sirvieron como inspiración para darle sentido y continuidad a Sailor Moon.
Lo que no podemos ignorar es el dibujo tan hermoso de Naoko Takeuchi. Sus personajes tienen los rasgos muy finos, el detalle en la ropa es visible y es totalmente claro que antes Naoko tenía el hobby de diseñar ropa en su tiempo libre. Es esa clase de arte que te gustaría emular cuando estás aprendiendo a dibujar.
Me parece que es una lectura para apreciar el surgimiento del boom de la demogradía shojo y ver cómo surgió la idea de Sailor Moon.
February 14, 2021
So basically this manga is the prequel to the original Salior Moon series. We have a 13 year old girl named Minako Aino who is your typical school girl, always wanting a boyfriend and basically kicks weak-ass villains. This manga in my opinion didn't particularly age well considering that the art is rather off and for god sake, the author was quick enough to push Aino into having a "bad boy" boyfriend like WTF?????????? Yeah Ill just skip this one and continue with the orgninal series where its not really "fast paced".....................
November 26, 2018
Currently I am viewing an episode a day of the Sailor Moon cartoon from the 90’s. I read the first volume and LOVED it! Once I found out this was made before that series I decided to “backtrack” and read these before moving further with the Moon volumes.
This book is super fun and extremely enjoyable! So much that I could have easily read it in one sitting if I didn’t have to stop to leave for prior engagements. Takeuchi has a way of writing/illustrating Venus/Minako that gives her way more character and personality than what she has in the anime. Very excited to move onto volume 2 but will be saddened a bit to know that her story (as the lead) ends there.
This book is super fun and extremely enjoyable! So much that I could have easily read it in one sitting if I didn’t have to stop to leave for prior engagements. Takeuchi has a way of writing/illustrating Venus/Minako that gives her way more character and personality than what she has in the anime. Very excited to move onto volume 2 but will be saddened a bit to know that her story (as the lead) ends there.
April 13, 2019
A pesar de que es cierto de que la Mina del manga es más inmadura, egoísta y cascarabias que la del anime, me parece un número bastante gracioso. Como siempre, Artemis siendo la voz de conciencia de Mina, y el pobre a veces pasando páramos por culpa de ella. A pesar de todo, muy divertido y no puedo dejar de emocionarme cada vez que la veo transformarse en Sailor V.
No puedo dejar de identificarme con ella en varias cosas: hambrienta, enamoradiza,dormilona y cascarrabias :D
No puedo dejar de identificarme con ella en varias cosas: hambrienta, enamoradiza,dormilona y cascarrabias :D
January 15, 2021
Minako Aino is a student that could only be described as "mediocre-" however, she's a much better athlete and an even tougher girl. After an incident involving almost crushing a cat under her sneakers in gym class, she learns from that same cat, Artemis, that's she's Sailor Venus (Codename: Sailor V). After discovering this, she goes around fighting crime and taking out bad-guys, angering the police as she's doing "their job." She later learns some more about herself and what she's meant to do, and leaves her old love behind to fight more and eventually learn about her "true duty."
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Summary aside, it's a pretty great manga. In the main Sailor Moon series, Mina is probably my favorite character, so after reading her books I learned more about how the immature Minako was shaped into the serious and well-respected Sailor Venus in the main series. It's a pretty fun and light-hearted read, and that goes with the second one (and third as well if you're reading the original print).
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Summary aside, it's a pretty great manga. In the main Sailor Moon series, Mina is probably my favorite character, so after reading her books I learned more about how the immature Minako was shaped into the serious and well-respected Sailor Venus in the main series. It's a pretty fun and light-hearted read, and that goes with the second one (and third as well if you're reading the original print).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 22, 2018
I think I enjoy the main Sailor Moon story line more but it's great being able to see Sailor V before she meets everyone. Artemis is hilarious & of course the best part. Mina is a ton of fun and I can't wait to continue with volume 2.
December 12, 2019
Spiritose, carine, leggere e divertenti, le storie di Minako prima di unirsi alle altre guerriere Sailor mi sono piaciute tantissimo e sono state un ottimo modo per uscire da uno spaventoso blocco del lettore. Unico difetto: un po' ripetitive.
June 2, 2017
Dulu pernah baca punya kakak gue, kalau nggak salah 3 jilid. Versi premium 2 jilid aja yah. Karakternya agak berubah ya masuk ke komik SM.
July 17, 2017
Buena historia, vamos por el #2.
Los cameos han sido de lo mejor <3
Los cameos han sido de lo mejor <3
May 2, 2018
Interesting to see Venus' beginning, but not as good as Sailor Moon (the main series I should say) was. Only reading the next volume for complete sake.
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