It’s no secret that Sailor Moon is my favorite manga ever, but I thought I’d review it since the new anime version is coming back, and this is the volume they’ll start off with. (Hence my twentieth rereading of it.) It’s also many readers’ favorite character arc, and there’s a good reason for that. Most of the major relationship drama and focus on Usagi and Mamoru is over, so the story can truly take off, independent and fierce.
We (finally) get the introduction of Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune, the infamous duo. Haruka, a.k.a. Sailor Uranus, is by far my favorite character of this volume. She is a delight—mysterious, seductive, and energizing. One thing I don’t think the 90’s anime captured was Haruka’s magnetic nature, despite her overall mystery and obvious threats. I hope Crystal gets it right. The artwork around Haruka is worth reading the manga over too. You can really see what makes her stand out. But she isn’t the only fantastic character to arrive. Michiru, a.k.a. Sailor Uranus, premieres too, and as usual, she is flawless. Elegantly cold, but with great reason. In her introduction to Sailor Moon, Neptune is emotionally callous, and I’ve always loved that about her considering how beautiful and artistic she is. It’s not the type of personality you expect at all when she begins to speak, and her overall growth in the upcoming stories is heartwarming. The ending of V. 6 bring us another great introduction, but…Oh, that ending! I wish I could say who is involved, but that just spoils it all. A great continuation of a wonderful series and a lovely beginning to The Death Busters arc. (P.S. The new printed volumes come with awesome translation notes in the back as well.)
~SAT
Recommended to: Fans of shojo manga, such as Sailor Moon, Vampire Knight, Maid-sama!. If you’re new to manga, you might like this if you love fantasy, female heroines, female super heroes, and stories relating to the mythology around moon, planet, and stars. And of course I recommend reading the first five before jumping into this one.
Favorite Quote: The gears of fate are already turning.