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美少女戦士セーラームーン [Bishōjo Senshi Sailor Moon] #10
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 10
The threat of the Dead Moon Circus is so great that the outer planet Guardians return to fight alongside their compatriots. But with Usagi now coughing up black blood as well, are they too late?
And to make things worse, Queen Nehelenia's servant, Zirconia, casts another curse upon Usagi and Mamoru, sending them both back into childhood. However, Helios whisks away their spirits to Elysion, where they manage to break free and return to their true forms.
After they rejoin their companions, the final showdown against Queen Nehelenia herself begins! Will the Sailor Guardians and Tuxedo Mask manage to save Earth and Elysion before the Queen transforms them into eternal realms of nightmares?
And to make things worse, Queen Nehelenia's servant, Zirconia, casts another curse upon Usagi and Mamoru, sending them both back into childhood. However, Helios whisks away their spirits to Elysion, where they manage to break free and return to their true forms.
After they rejoin their companions, the final showdown against Queen Nehelenia herself begins! Will the Sailor Guardians and Tuxedo Mask manage to save Earth and Elysion before the Queen transforms them into eternal realms of nightmares?
242 pages, Paperback
First published May 21, 2004
About the author
Naoko Takeuchi
198 books2,160 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.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 337 reviews
June 28, 2016
Este es mi arco favorito, el Dream Arc.
Me gusta mucho porque todo lo que pasó anteriormente, culmina en el transcurso de este arco. Además, las Sailor adquieren más protagonismo, con un capítulo dedicado a cada una de ellas. Hasta Mamoru tiene algo especial dedicado en este arco solo para él, al igual que Chibiusa, aunque ella en el minuto en que apareció ya fue importante.
Siempre lo he dicho, éste es mi fav, junto con el segundo arco.
¡Me queda el último! ¡El quinto!
Me gusta mucho porque todo lo que pasó anteriormente, culmina en el transcurso de este arco. Además, las Sailor adquieren más protagonismo, con un capítulo dedicado a cada una de ellas. Hasta Mamoru tiene algo especial dedicado en este arco solo para él, al igual que Chibiusa, aunque ella en el minuto en que apareció ya fue importante.
Siempre lo he dicho, éste es mi fav, junto con el segundo arco.
¡Me queda el último! ¡El quinto!
March 20, 2018
Solo quedan dos tomos lloro
August 27, 2019
Ay, menos mal que cada vez que Sailor Moon está por ser derrotada, digievoluciona :P
Sarcasmo aparte, amé este tomo. 10/10.
Este arco argumental es muy bueno, medio falopa, pero muy bueno. Mil veces mejor que en el ánime (odié esta parte en el ánime, es aburrídisima).
No sé si les perdono el poco protagonismo de Ojo de Pez y cia, pero muy bueno todo lo demás.
Sarcasmo aparte, amé este tomo. 10/10.
Este arco argumental es muy bueno, medio falopa, pero muy bueno. Mil veces mejor que en el ánime (odié esta parte en el ánime, es aburrídisima).
No sé si les perdono el poco protagonismo de Ojo de Pez y cia, pero muy bueno todo lo demás.
February 4, 2024
The manga is different than the anime. And I'm terrified again. This time its Dead Moon Circus. But the lines of the drawings are soft and pretty, which makes this book look fantastic. The cover is pleasing to the eye.
April 19, 2015
These mangas are so cute. I really enjoy them especially when I'm in a reading slump.
April 3, 2018
After being blown away by the arc involving the introduction of Sailor Saturn, I feared that the series would only go downhill from there since that arc was just so perfect, I couldn't see how it could possibly be topped. Unfortunately, that turned out to be the case with this volume.
The Dark Moon plot was all together lackluster and almost a carbon copy of the popular fairytale of Sleeping Beauty. Nothing felt original, the dream/nightmare sequences were confusing and difficult to follow, I often couldn't tell what was happening in the physical world and what was happening in the dreams. While the previous volume made up for a dull, superficial enemy with absolutely superb character development, this volume didn't even have that to hold it together.
The introduction of dwarf planet and asteroid sailor guardians was completely unnecessary and just too much. If every chunk of rock in the universe has a sailor guardian, that really diminishes the power and importance of the planetary guardians. It's a classic case of too many cooks in the kitchen (or too many characters in the book). I didn't like the look of the new guardians, either.
It pains me to give such a harshly negative review on a series I love so much, but the only good thing I can say about this volume is that I was happy it ended this story arc.
The Dark Moon plot was all together lackluster and almost a carbon copy of the popular fairytale of Sleeping Beauty. Nothing felt original, the dream/nightmare sequences were confusing and difficult to follow, I often couldn't tell what was happening in the physical world and what was happening in the dreams. While the previous volume made up for a dull, superficial enemy with absolutely superb character development, this volume didn't even have that to hold it together.
The introduction of dwarf planet and asteroid sailor guardians was completely unnecessary and just too much. If every chunk of rock in the universe has a sailor guardian, that really diminishes the power and importance of the planetary guardians. It's a classic case of too many cooks in the kitchen (or too many characters in the book). I didn't like the look of the new guardians, either.
It pains me to give such a harshly negative review on a series I love so much, but the only good thing I can say about this volume is that I was happy it ended this story arc.
October 16, 2015
Muy bonito.
Me encantó el reino de Mamoru, Golden Kingdom. Él no tenía demasiada historia de vida pasada más que el romance con Usagi, nunca se había explicado cómo era que protegía la Tierra.
Por fin se profundiza más sobre ciertas cosas del Silver Milenium, y eso incluye un momento llamativamente similar a un cuento de hadas popular. Quiero imaginar que fue intencional.
Me emociona (como si fuera una nena de nuevo) ver cómo Sailor Moon se vuelve cada vez más poderosa, y al mismo tiempo me da nostalgia porque ya falta muy poco para que se termine.
La verdad que el manga no puede ser más diferente del primer anime, y me sorprende que no haya habido un spin-off de Chibi-Usa ya grande.
Me encantó el reino de Mamoru, Golden Kingdom. Él no tenía demasiada historia de vida pasada más que el romance con Usagi, nunca se había explicado cómo era que protegía la Tierra.
Por fin se profundiza más sobre ciertas cosas del Silver Milenium, y eso incluye un momento llamativamente similar a un cuento de hadas popular. Quiero imaginar que fue intencional.
Me emociona (como si fuera una nena de nuevo) ver cómo Sailor Moon se vuelve cada vez más poderosa, y al mismo tiempo me da nostalgia porque ya falta muy poco para que se termine.
La verdad que el manga no puede ser más diferente del primer anime, y me sorprende que no haya habido un spin-off de Chibi-Usa ya grande.
July 8, 2013
did you see all the fractured sleeping beauty stuff going in this volume? i'm into it. sleeping beauty's a tricky fairytale for me because i'm drawn to it in a way that keeps me imagining ways to fix it. i think that's probably how a lot of people feel about hades and persephone, if the number of retellings it gets is any indication
anyways what i generally obsess over is the sleeping for a hundred years till the prince kisses her awake bit. it reduces her to passivity and the kind of dude who goes about kissing sleeping strangers does not seem like good husband material, you feel me? (to say nothing of earlier versions where he does more than just kiss. :l waking up to two children a rapist impregnated you with is my idea of a horror story, not the start to a happy ending)
but! sailor moon is great because it's basically like i'll call you your curse and raise you a lol, you think you've got that kind of control over destiny, no one messes with the sailor crew. when we wake up it's through friends and cats! friends who are cats even!
(digression: did you see human!luna this volume, wow, what a hottie. congratulations on your face my friend! how did you get your hair so gorgeous, inquiring minds want to know)
also it's like well if there's going to be magical kisses to be had, it ought to be the princess kissing a prince. who know each other and have already established a baseline of being down with kissing. also magical healing while we're at it
for those who need confirmation: yes, i think helios and rin will be very cute indeed once she's a bit older. she kissed him awake! proper happy making fairytale material, that is
swapping gender roles makes me deeply happy. speaking of, i was super into the storyline mamoru had this volume and the previous one! d'you know how much shonen i've read where the few female characters angst over how their weakness is dragging the team down and vow to do their best to catch up and support their male counterparts? SO MANY. COUNTLESS COUNTLESS TALES. i don't have anything against the idea in itself but when that's what every single girl gets you start wanting to hit authors in the head until they let a girl be strong already. -cough-masashikishimoto-cough- and sailor moon's like, okay but our girls are badass, mamoru ought to have that storyline. thanks naoko takeuchi, you give me much healing :D
3.5 stars
anyways what i generally obsess over is the sleeping for a hundred years till the prince kisses her awake bit. it reduces her to passivity and the kind of dude who goes about kissing sleeping strangers does not seem like good husband material, you feel me? (to say nothing of earlier versions where he does more than just kiss. :l waking up to two children a rapist impregnated you with is my idea of a horror story, not the start to a happy ending)
but! sailor moon is great because it's basically like i'll call you your curse and raise you a lol, you think you've got that kind of control over destiny, no one messes with the sailor crew. when we wake up it's through friends and cats! friends who are cats even!
(digression: did you see human!luna this volume, wow, what a hottie. congratulations on your face my friend! how did you get your hair so gorgeous, inquiring minds want to know)
also it's like well if there's going to be magical kisses to be had, it ought to be the princess kissing a prince. who know each other and have already established a baseline of being down with kissing. also magical healing while we're at it
for those who need confirmation: yes, i think helios and rin will be very cute indeed once she's a bit older. she kissed him awake! proper happy making fairytale material, that is
swapping gender roles makes me deeply happy. speaking of, i was super into the storyline mamoru had this volume and the previous one! d'you know how much shonen i've read where the few female characters angst over how their weakness is dragging the team down and vow to do their best to catch up and support their male counterparts? SO MANY. COUNTLESS COUNTLESS TALES. i don't have anything against the idea in itself but when that's what every single girl gets you start wanting to hit authors in the head until they let a girl be strong already. -cough-masashikishimoto-cough- and sailor moon's like, okay but our girls are badass, mamoru ought to have that storyline. thanks naoko takeuchi, you give me much healing :D
3.5 stars
December 31, 2015
Wir alle tragen einen Stern in unserer Brust, der leuchtet. - Das ist so ein grundlegend schöner Gedanke! Mir gefällt dieser Band ganz besonders gut. Das könnte an den flüchtigen Blick auf Chibiusas Zukunft liegen. Ich mag die ganze Geschichte so richtig gern! <3 :) Deshalb kriegt der Band auch 5 von 5 ☆☆☆☆☆. ;)
March 10, 2023
ATE ATE ATE DOWNNNNNNN! Can’t wait to watch this animated. Like Chibi truly has her own set of soldiers. I wish one day we’ll get a manga saga dedicated to her. But lowkey the way mamoru become the king ate. The amount of differences this manga had alone…… they deserved better.
December 17, 2022
The storyline in this one was a little bit messy and repetitive. And frankly all the powers and designations and such are getting so convoluted. It's entertaining and dramatic, but also things changing so fast was giving me whiplash.
I just wish the pacing would slow down, characters and plots had time to develop and we had time to spend and get to know them all the scouts and characters instead of just watching them go from one battle to the next without a single break in between.
I just wish the pacing would slow down, characters and plots had time to develop and we had time to spend and get to know them all the scouts and characters instead of just watching them go from one battle to the next without a single break in between.
February 24, 2022
Me quedan dos tomos y no entiendo cómo es posible. Este hubiera sido un buen final. Quizá un tomo más, para despedir caminos, ver un poco cómo quedaba pero ¿dos? veremos qué pasa.
December 7, 2025
Representation: Japanese primary, secondary and tertiary characters, lesbian Japanese secondary characters.
Content Warning: death, violence.
Content Warning: death, violence.
June 15, 2017
Another awesome power-up for Sailor Moon, this time with wings! I adore that once again it is the Sailor Scouts friendship that defeats the evil monsters. It's their love for one another, that prompts them to set aside all selfish ambition and weakness, and devote themselves entirely to protecting one another and the world. You can't go wrong when "Love conquers all" is the theme of your story.
"Mamo-chan" and Usagi are so cute and sweet in this volume! I love seeing their devotion to one another. And I'm so stinking relieved that Chibi-Usa has found another object (Helios) for her creepy child-crush. She was weirding me out.
Sailor Saturn is utterly amazing! I just love her character. She's seriously fierce and determined. All the Sailor Scouts are really cool in this volume, and we get to see the cats in their human form for the first time.
I really loved the plot, with the final battle against the Dark Moon kingdom, and the mysteries of Elysium revealed. Really good story line, and very enjoyable! Beautiful artwork too, and I love all the Sailor Scouts pretty dresses.
"Mamo-chan" and Usagi are so cute and sweet in this volume! I love seeing their devotion to one another. And I'm so stinking relieved that Chibi-Usa has found another object (Helios) for her creepy child-crush. She was weirding me out.
Sailor Saturn is utterly amazing! I just love her character. She's seriously fierce and determined. All the Sailor Scouts are really cool in this volume, and we get to see the cats in their human form for the first time.
I really loved the plot, with the final battle against the Dark Moon kingdom, and the mysteries of Elysium revealed. Really good story line, and very enjoyable! Beautiful artwork too, and I love all the Sailor Scouts pretty dresses.
June 18, 2020
This volume concludes the storyline that corresponds with the anime "Sailor Moon SuperS." The four arcs that I've read so far have all followed the same pattern, but the epic conflict always plays out very differently, so it isn't like reading the exact same thing over and over.
As usual, questions come up like "Where are we again? Inside the Earth, on its surface, or in some other dimension?" and they are difficult or impossible to answer. Best to just enjoy, and not worry about that too much. I do like the idea of Chibi-Usa .
As usual, questions come up like "Where are we again? Inside the Earth, on its surface, or in some other dimension?" and they are difficult or impossible to answer. Best to just enjoy, and not worry about that too much. I do like the idea of Chibi-Usa .
November 2, 2014
It was so great to dive back into this world full of magical girls and superpowers and girls fighting for the people on earth.
I especially liked the following about this volume:
- Helios and Elysion
- Eternal Sailor Moon
- the little love story between Chibiusa and Helios
I am now eager to read the last two volumes to finally finish this manga series that I've been loving since I was seven years old.
I especially liked the following about this volume:
- Helios and Elysion
- Eternal Sailor Moon
- the little love story between Chibiusa and Helios
I am now eager to read the last two volumes to finally finish this manga series that I've been loving since I was seven years old.
September 24, 2019
I’m so sad this arc is finished.
The Dead Moon Circus will always be my favourite story of the entire series.
Helios is my boyfriend, Chibi-Usa and Helios are my OTP, I love the Amazon Quartet and Trio... I just love everything about it.
The Dead Moon Circus will always be my favourite story of the entire series.
Helios is my boyfriend, Chibi-Usa and Helios are my OTP, I love the Amazon Quartet and Trio... I just love everything about it.
July 25, 2020
One of my favorite Villains yet!
Loved the plot turn & potential.
Loved the plot turn & potential.
October 26, 2022
Power levels are directly related to the number of ruffles in your skirt
January 30, 2015
2026 REREAD:
WELCOME TO SEPTEMBER MOON!
Is the whole Dead Moon Circus arc a metaphor for growing up and adulthood? I think it is. One of the reasons this fits so well is it's the penultimate arc of 'Sailor Moon'. Amid all the silliness and sweetness, there is a pervasive sort of sadness and bittersweetness to it, as well; lingering, about to pounce.
I also keep forgetting to mention just how funny this arc is. The series blends comedy, drama, action and worlds-and-beyond-saving high stakes so seamlessly and spectacularly.
Anyway, onto 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 10', which I enjoyed immensely on a reread:
The Sailors Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Saturn arrive and save the Sailors Venus, Mercury, Mars and Jupiter from the Amazoness Quartet and the Lemures. Chibi-Usa is at Usagi's sickbed, then upon hearing the awakened Saturn's voice and seeing the assembled Guardians in Neptune's mirror, she comes to their aid as well. Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask join them, despite their accursed illness. To their horror, the nine Guardians can't protect their princess and prince.
A dark moon - the Dead Moon, the Kingdom of Nightmares - and Zirconia and Queen Nehelenia, show up. Zirconia traps the Amazoness Quartet inside orbs, and Sailor Saturn and Sailor Chibi Moon inside mirror shards. Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask are turned into children (as part of their curse, or the Dead Moon's attack...?), and are rescued by Helios and taken to the ruined, cursed Elysion, which is the sacred land at the heart/core of Earth, and where the Golden Kingdom, Prince Endymion's original home, is. The Silver Millennium on the Moon has the "Legendary Silver Crystal" (though is it not in quotations anymore? and is renamed the "Silver Crystal"?) as its sacred gem, and Elysion in Earth has the Golden Crystal as its own sacred gem, and big surprise, it has been inside Mamoru's body the whole time (... really? No reason given for why it never came up before? Not even when a piece of the Silver Crystal was inside him in the first arc?).
Usagi and Mamoru learn they share the same dream, mission and powers, and they are strongest when they are together, and sharing their powers, to protect each other and their friends and family.
Long story short, Helios sends the couple back to the Earth's surface, which has been darkened by nightmares, and he sacrifices himself to crystalize the surface world for its protection, using prayer and "the purifying power of Elysion". It also subsides the black rose curse. The Priest, who was a cursed and caged Pegasus, is gone (for now).
Zirconia infects everyone with terrifying nightmares. With Sailor Planet Power, the Guardians destroy Dead Moon. Sailor Moon follows Zirconia into Nehelenia's dark mirror prison, and rescues Sailor Saturn and Chibi Moon. She is a determined Guardian who is dedicated to protecting Earth, and won't fall for Nehelenia's tricks, not when it comes to saving her loved ones.
Elysion, and therefore Earth, remain accursed in darkness and nightmares, so everyone heads off to Elysion, where the final battle commences. Nehelenia, the queen of darkness, shines some clarity: she is a tyrant from the dark side of the Moon/Silver Millennium, who supposedly cursed the kingdom to fall into ruin long ago because she wasn't invited to the celebration of Princess Serenity's birth ('Sleeping Beauty', much?), and because she's an invader who represents the darkness to the Moon's light. Queen Serenity imprisoned her in a mirror using the Silver Crystal.
Nehelenia rips the Silver Crystal out of Sailor Moon's brooch, claiming to be the new queen of the Moon and the Earth. With the power of love, Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask break their curse, and Sailor Moon gains a new Holy Grail. Filled with the powers of the Solar System Sailor Princesses/Guardians, and Tuxedo Mask and his Golden Crystal, and the transported and transformed-human Luna, Artemis and Diana, she becomes Eternal Sailor Moon - "She who possesses the closest power to the Queen's", according to Diana.
Using the Eternal Tiare, powered by all the Solar System Sailor Guardian Crystal planetary powers (phew what a mouthful!), and the Silver and Golden Crystals, Nehelenia is blasted and sucked back into her mirror prison... and Zirconia is revealed to be her future self (yeah, best not to dwell on that, just go along with it), and she is in the mirror, too.
The total eclipse has truly come to an end. Earth is saved, and in Elysion Sailor Chibi Moon gives Helios, uncursed and human, but lifeless, a kiss that brings him back to life. Well, that and her transformed Silver Crystal, now the "Pink Moon Crystal". He remains humanoid, not a Pegasus anymore - and Chibi-Usa was always his "young maiden", his "Princess Lady Serenity".
Then the Priest of Elysion practically marries Sailor Moon/Serenity and Tuxedo Mask/Endymion, in a coronation ceremony, and their royal power staffs destroy Nehelenia/Zirconia's dark mirror. Elysion is completely restored; it is lush, beautiful and healthy again. Sailor Saturn asks Serenity to free the Amazoness Quartet from their orbs using her Silver Crystal Moon powers, and it is revealed that the Quartet are the Sailor Guardians of planetoids, brainwashed by Nehelenia (more on this in bit).
Helios leads everyone back to the surface world on his "beloved steed, Pegasus!". Both Chibi-Usa and Helios swear to see each other again. Chibi-Usa pledges to herself to one day become a full-fledged Sailor Guardian and "true Lady", with the Quartet as her Guardian and protector team, and Helios as her prince.
The nightmare is over. Everywhere is peaceful once more...
...for now.
Usagi to Mamoru: "My dream is to keep protecting this planet, so that everyone can be happy. [...] ...I want to do that together with you."
Mamoru's dream is the same, and his ambition is to be a doctor, similar to Ami. A doctor as well as the king of Crystal Tokyo and the world, then?
Sailor Saturn/Hotaru and Chibi-Usa still have a bond, thank goodness. Hotaru awoke to carry out her mission... and to fight alongside Chibi Moon. And at the end of the volume, Saturn takes Chibi Moon's hand, in declaring to the Amazoness Quartet, before they disappear to await the day of their true awakening: "We swear to keep the princess safe until then."
The Sailor Guardians of the solar system have new Crystal powers and transformations.
Sailor Princess Mercury protects and draws power from Mariner Castle on her planet; for Sailor Princess Mars it's Phobos & Deimos Castle on her planet; for Sailor Princess Jupiter it's Io Castle on her planet; Sailor Princess Venus has Magellan Castle; Sailor Princess Uranus has Miranda Castle; Sailor Princess Neptune has Triton Castle; Sailor Princess Pluto has Charon Castle; and Sailor Princess Saturn has Titan Castle. Sailor Chibi Moon has the Crystal Palace of the thirtieth century, and Tuxedo Mask, who is the closest to there being a Sailor Earth in the series (despite being male), has the Golden Palace in Elysion.
Additionally, Sailor Uranus's renewed status is the Protector of the Planet of the Heavens and Guardian of Flight; Sailor Neptune's is the Protector of the Planet of Deep Seas and Guardian of Encirclement (...?); Sailor Pluto's is the Protector of the Planet of Space-Time and Guardian of Reformation; and Sailor Saturn's is the Protector of the Planet of Silence and Guardian of Ruin and Rebirth.
Saturn is no longer misunderstood. She ruminates, upon Silver Millennium's fate and "curse", 'Back then... numerous tragedies lined up like dominoes and led to the fate of ruin. I thought all had been erased and then reborn... but one player had remained behind, here!' (Meaning Nehelenia, who was never reborn on Earth; she remained imprisoned in the mirror by Queen Serenity.)
I loved seeing all ten of the solar system Sailor Guardians gathered and fighting evil together, side by side, and caring for one another, as true friends. The Dead Moon Circus arc might be my new favourite for that alone.
It turns out the Amazoness Quartet are the Sailor Guardians of the four solar system planetoids. They are Sailors Ceres, Pallas, Juno and Vesta, and they had not yet awoken in the Earth's Amazon, before Nehelenia corrupted them and plagued them with nightmares, turning them into her evil minions. Their backstory explains their Amazon jungle aesthetic.
There is foreshadowing of the next and final arc, with talk of everyone originally coming from a cosmos - a cauldron, if you will - of stars at the "far reaches of the galaxy", and everyone possessing stars in their chests.
Eternal Sailor Moon's Eternal Tiare's attack name, after gathering everyone's Crystal power, is, "Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss!!" There are lots that can be read into that, and I love it for how absurd and seemingly random that string of words together is.
A fantastic yet completely understated highlight: Sailor Jupiter punches Nehelenia's mirror, to free Sailor Moon, Chibi Moon and Sailor Saturn. She doesn't use her Sailor powers like the rest do. It's not often I see magical girls in the magical girl genre use their fists and other physical attributes instead of magical accessories. It's awesome. Jupiter is awesome.
Usagi's dream at the beginning of Act 46, of her and Mamoru's domestic bliss, where they look like little kids, and Mamoru is too sweet, submissive and indulgent to Usagi, is an amusing and brief respite from the nightmares and horror.
I don't like the moment where Tuxedo Mask slaps practically all the Sailor Guardians' cheeks to snap them out of their nightmares on the Earth's surface. The only man slapping like, eight superpowered women, when they got too emotional and scared, and it's depicted as a necessary thing? No, don't do that, 'Sailor Moon'. Please. You were doing excellently otherwise. I wonder how Tuxedo Mask got out of the nightmares himself? It's not like he's ever had a strong will.
The flashbacks starring Queen Serenity and baby Princess Serenity are too adorable and precious, and the baby's Guardians - Venus, Mercury, Mars and Jupiter - were children, who tried to protect their queen and princess from the uninvited guest Nehelenia. Cute!
Luna, Artemis and Diana as humans is a delight to see. They don't really do much of anything by the end - they're just there. But still, they look great!
The two Menaeds, Helios's priestesses of the sanctuary in Elysion, appear, but only very briefly. They're doorwomen, really.
I love the art yet again. There are so many drawings of Sailor Moon looking effing badass in fighting stances and poses. The Pretty Guardian of the Moon, love and justice will end you if you are evil and try to take over Earth, make no mistake. And the Act 46 cover art contains a shirtless, nippled Mamoru, sleeping in bed, and holding kitten Diana on his chest, up to his chin. It's too much - I'm going to die of cutenessand sexiness. On the other side of the Moon - the dark side, heh - the Sailors' nightmare sequences of seeing one another die and decay, oozing rot and slime, even in each other arms, is effectively horrifying. 'Sailor Moon' may be a magical girl series aimed at young girls, but it pulls no punches, and respects its audience.
The art is amazing everywhere, I can't stress that point enough.
Continuing on the subject of the art, I have a feeling Takeuchi-sensei really liked drawing Sailor Venus and Sailor Uranus together. They are drawn side by side many times in this volume, in prominent, unmissable panels and positions, even when they don't actually interact. What could be their relationship, besides friendship, I wonder...? Is it merely their joint roles as Guardian leaders - Venus of the Inners, and Uranus of the Outers?
Nehelenia, just like every woman in the series, wanted to marry Prince Endymion. Granted, it was part of her plan to rule both the Moon and the Earth, and their solar system powers, as queen, but it's typical, nevertheless.
The new Holy Grail's design is cool and cute.
There are other things I could add, but I've said enough.
It's time for the final arc, the Sailor Stars arc, starting in volume 11.
Sailor Moon's journey as a Guardian, a princess and a queen is far from finished. Everything is about to change. Everything is about to get much darker than ever before.
Everything comes to an end. And a beginning. Everybody dies. And is reborn. Again.
It's the darkest arc.
Prepare to join me on it, as I reread and rereview the final two volumes of the main 'Sailor Moon' manga canon series.
Until then, have a happy September Moon.
Final Score (for 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 10'): 4.5/5
Original Review:
"We all, every one of us, carry a star inside our chests. In order to realise our dreams... and protect those precious to us... In order to keep fighting... please keep shining on and lending me strength, O star inside my chest!"
A beautiful, dazzling finale.
The Outer Senshi arrive to save the Inner Senshi. Together the eight Guardians must protect their prince and princess, Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon. Dead Moon - the new moon - has enveloped earth into darkness and nightmares. Usagi and Mamoru grow sicker from the curse, and Helios’s spirit transports them to Elysion, deep within the earth, in order to protect them. Sailor Chibi-Moon and Sailor Saturn become trapped in mirror shards by Zirconia.
After a funny dream sequence of Usagi and Mamoru as children living together - reality has no place in a child's dreaming - Helios leads the two of them through Elysion towards the Golden Kingdom - Mamoru/Prince Endymion's kingdom in his past life. Menaeds encased in crystal are protected from Dead Moon's curse on the once-sacred land. Usagi and Mamoru share the same destiny, the same power, the same dream of protecting people together. The same similar crystal gems. Usagi figures out that since her Legendary Silver Crystal lives inside her, Mamoru's Golden Crystal must live inside his body. They give each other strength, as they've always done. Queen Nehelenia, Dead Moon's ruler and dark counterpart to Queen Serenity, finds them out after Usagi tries to break Helios's body free from imprisonment. He sends the couple back to the surface, now having it in them to defeat the enemy. Upon further prayer, the Priest of Elysion sends his land's purifying crystals to the surface of a darkened earth - at the cost of his life.
Magnificent artwork takes over as the excitement is truly set in motion. Nightmare battles, Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask shining, and the other Guardians fighting alongside them (Sailors Uranus, Neptune, Mercury and Jupiter especially have their brief but badass moments). Sailor Moon also frees Chibi-Moon and Saturn; the latter goes on to collect the orbed souls of the Amazoness Quartet. All the heroes travel to Elysion for the final showdown. The Menaeds, priestesses of the sanctuary of the Golden Kingdom, have awakened.
It's Sailor Moon versus the vicious and insane Queen Nehelenia (as someone who could possibly be the true queen of the Silver Millennium, and the dark side of the moon of shadows, whilst Serenity is the queen of the moon of pure light, Nehelenia is definitely more interesting than Queen Beryl.) There is a 'Sleeping Beauty'-inspired story of Nehelenia cursing the old Silver Millennium to fall, over not being invited to baby Princess Serenity's birth celebration. The dark queen rips the Silver Crystal from Sailor Moon's chest, and obtains the power to rule the universe. But with the power of love, Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon use their inner light to incapacitate Nehelenia.
A coronation of destiny takes place - even Luna, Artemis and Diana are transported to the group, and in grand human forms! With the power (I’m using that word a lot, aren’t I?) from each of the Guardians' mother planet castles sent to the Holy Grail, Sailor Moon is upgraded into Eternal Sailor Moon (awesome). Together with everyone's protective power, she seals Queen Nehelenia inside her own mirror of darkness. It is also revealed that Zirconia, the spirit guide and servant of Dead Moon, is actually Nehelenia's future self. It isn't explained how this came to be. Shame.
Earth and Elysion are back to normal - all long nightmares and curses lifted. Sailor Chibi-Moon heals Helios with a kiss, then her own Silver Crystal turns into the Pink Moon Crystal. Helios is Chibiusa's prince, and the Amazoness Quartet - Pallas, Ceres, Juno and Vestas - are her awaited Sailor Guardians awakened too soon by Nehelenia, and were manipulated into her nightmare slaves. Sailor Saturn swears to protect Chibi-Moon until she becomes a full-fledged Guardian like Sailor Moon, which is really sweet, and shows what true friends these girls have become, through hell and back.
Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask transform into the queen and king of the Silver Millennium, and banish the darkness of Dead Moon - the new moon’s eclipse - for good. In farewell, Helios rides on his Pegasus back to Elysion to continue praying for everyone's collective safety.
Dreams can come true. Girls can become powerful ladies. Destiny can make queens and warriors out of little princesses.
Darkness and Light coexist - even within people's own hearts, like stars...
I've summed up pretty much everything there is to know about this volume. It's all action, action, action! And every page is glorious. Additionally, I love that Queen Serenity's presence - as both a tough, regal monarch and a loving, protective mother - still holds great significance to the story.
Sailor Moon is braver, more determined and knowledgeable than ever, too. The future queen and mother is everyone’s light, in spite of always needing their help and combined power - especially from the man/prince she loves - to save the universe.
The ending to the Dead Moon arc is spectacular; while nonetheless feeling complete on its own, it serves as a perfect prelude to the final arc of 'Sailor Moon'.
Join me next time for the beginning of the end with the eleventh volume: The Sailor Stars arc, the darkest yet.
Final Score: 5/5
WELCOME TO SEPTEMBER MOON!
Is the whole Dead Moon Circus arc a metaphor for growing up and adulthood? I think it is. One of the reasons this fits so well is it's the penultimate arc of 'Sailor Moon'. Amid all the silliness and sweetness, there is a pervasive sort of sadness and bittersweetness to it, as well; lingering, about to pounce.
I also keep forgetting to mention just how funny this arc is. The series blends comedy, drama, action and worlds-and-beyond-saving high stakes so seamlessly and spectacularly.
Anyway, onto 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 10', which I enjoyed immensely on a reread:
The Sailors Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Saturn arrive and save the Sailors Venus, Mercury, Mars and Jupiter from the Amazoness Quartet and the Lemures. Chibi-Usa is at Usagi's sickbed, then upon hearing the awakened Saturn's voice and seeing the assembled Guardians in Neptune's mirror, she comes to their aid as well. Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask join them, despite their accursed illness. To their horror, the nine Guardians can't protect their princess and prince.
A dark moon - the Dead Moon, the Kingdom of Nightmares - and Zirconia and Queen Nehelenia, show up. Zirconia traps the Amazoness Quartet inside orbs, and Sailor Saturn and Sailor Chibi Moon inside mirror shards. Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask are turned into children (as part of their curse, or the Dead Moon's attack...?), and are rescued by Helios and taken to the ruined, cursed Elysion, which is the sacred land at the heart/core of Earth, and where the Golden Kingdom, Prince Endymion's original home, is. The Silver Millennium on the Moon has the "Legendary Silver Crystal" (though is it not in quotations anymore? and is renamed the "Silver Crystal"?) as its sacred gem, and Elysion in Earth has the Golden Crystal as its own sacred gem, and big surprise, it has been inside Mamoru's body the whole time (... really? No reason given for why it never came up before? Not even when a piece of the Silver Crystal was inside him in the first arc?).
Usagi and Mamoru learn they share the same dream, mission and powers, and they are strongest when they are together, and sharing their powers, to protect each other and their friends and family.
Long story short, Helios sends the couple back to the Earth's surface, which has been darkened by nightmares, and he sacrifices himself to crystalize the surface world for its protection, using prayer and "the purifying power of Elysion". It also subsides the black rose curse. The Priest, who was a cursed and caged Pegasus, is gone (for now).
Zirconia infects everyone with terrifying nightmares. With Sailor Planet Power, the Guardians destroy Dead Moon. Sailor Moon follows Zirconia into Nehelenia's dark mirror prison, and rescues Sailor Saturn and Chibi Moon. She is a determined Guardian who is dedicated to protecting Earth, and won't fall for Nehelenia's tricks, not when it comes to saving her loved ones.
Elysion, and therefore Earth, remain accursed in darkness and nightmares, so everyone heads off to Elysion, where the final battle commences. Nehelenia, the queen of darkness, shines some clarity: she is a tyrant from the dark side of the Moon/Silver Millennium, who supposedly cursed the kingdom to fall into ruin long ago because she wasn't invited to the celebration of Princess Serenity's birth ('Sleeping Beauty', much?), and because she's an invader who represents the darkness to the Moon's light. Queen Serenity imprisoned her in a mirror using the Silver Crystal.
Nehelenia rips the Silver Crystal out of Sailor Moon's brooch, claiming to be the new queen of the Moon and the Earth. With the power of love, Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask break their curse, and Sailor Moon gains a new Holy Grail. Filled with the powers of the Solar System Sailor Princesses/Guardians, and Tuxedo Mask and his Golden Crystal, and the transported and transformed-human Luna, Artemis and Diana, she becomes Eternal Sailor Moon - "She who possesses the closest power to the Queen's", according to Diana.
Using the Eternal Tiare, powered by all the Solar System Sailor Guardian Crystal planetary powers (phew what a mouthful!), and the Silver and Golden Crystals, Nehelenia is blasted and sucked back into her mirror prison... and Zirconia is revealed to be her future self (yeah, best not to dwell on that, just go along with it), and she is in the mirror, too.
The total eclipse has truly come to an end. Earth is saved, and in Elysion Sailor Chibi Moon gives Helios, uncursed and human, but lifeless, a kiss that brings him back to life. Well, that and her transformed Silver Crystal, now the "Pink Moon Crystal". He remains humanoid, not a Pegasus anymore - and Chibi-Usa was always his "young maiden", his "Princess Lady Serenity".
Then the Priest of Elysion practically marries Sailor Moon/Serenity and Tuxedo Mask/Endymion, in a coronation ceremony, and their royal power staffs destroy Nehelenia/Zirconia's dark mirror. Elysion is completely restored; it is lush, beautiful and healthy again. Sailor Saturn asks Serenity to free the Amazoness Quartet from their orbs using her Silver Crystal Moon powers, and it is revealed that the Quartet are the Sailor Guardians of planetoids, brainwashed by Nehelenia (more on this in bit).
Helios leads everyone back to the surface world on his "beloved steed, Pegasus!". Both Chibi-Usa and Helios swear to see each other again. Chibi-Usa pledges to herself to one day become a full-fledged Sailor Guardian and "true Lady", with the Quartet as her Guardian and protector team, and Helios as her prince.
The nightmare is over. Everywhere is peaceful once more...
...for now.
Usagi to Mamoru: "My dream is to keep protecting this planet, so that everyone can be happy. [...] ...I want to do that together with you."
Mamoru's dream is the same, and his ambition is to be a doctor, similar to Ami. A doctor as well as the king of Crystal Tokyo and the world, then?
Sailor Saturn/Hotaru and Chibi-Usa still have a bond, thank goodness. Hotaru awoke to carry out her mission... and to fight alongside Chibi Moon. And at the end of the volume, Saturn takes Chibi Moon's hand, in declaring to the Amazoness Quartet, before they disappear to await the day of their true awakening: "We swear to keep the princess safe until then."
The Sailor Guardians of the solar system have new Crystal powers and transformations.
Sailor Princess Mercury protects and draws power from Mariner Castle on her planet; for Sailor Princess Mars it's Phobos & Deimos Castle on her planet; for Sailor Princess Jupiter it's Io Castle on her planet; Sailor Princess Venus has Magellan Castle; Sailor Princess Uranus has Miranda Castle; Sailor Princess Neptune has Triton Castle; Sailor Princess Pluto has Charon Castle; and Sailor Princess Saturn has Titan Castle. Sailor Chibi Moon has the Crystal Palace of the thirtieth century, and Tuxedo Mask, who is the closest to there being a Sailor Earth in the series (despite being male), has the Golden Palace in Elysion.
Additionally, Sailor Uranus's renewed status is the Protector of the Planet of the Heavens and Guardian of Flight; Sailor Neptune's is the Protector of the Planet of Deep Seas and Guardian of Encirclement (...?); Sailor Pluto's is the Protector of the Planet of Space-Time and Guardian of Reformation; and Sailor Saturn's is the Protector of the Planet of Silence and Guardian of Ruin and Rebirth.
Saturn is no longer misunderstood. She ruminates, upon Silver Millennium's fate and "curse", 'Back then... numerous tragedies lined up like dominoes and led to the fate of ruin. I thought all had been erased and then reborn... but one player had remained behind, here!' (Meaning Nehelenia, who was never reborn on Earth; she remained imprisoned in the mirror by Queen Serenity.)
I loved seeing all ten of the solar system Sailor Guardians gathered and fighting evil together, side by side, and caring for one another, as true friends. The Dead Moon Circus arc might be my new favourite for that alone.
It turns out the Amazoness Quartet are the Sailor Guardians of the four solar system planetoids. They are Sailors Ceres, Pallas, Juno and Vesta, and they had not yet awoken in the Earth's Amazon, before Nehelenia corrupted them and plagued them with nightmares, turning them into her evil minions. Their backstory explains their Amazon jungle aesthetic.
There is foreshadowing of the next and final arc, with talk of everyone originally coming from a cosmos - a cauldron, if you will - of stars at the "far reaches of the galaxy", and everyone possessing stars in their chests.
Eternal Sailor Moon's Eternal Tiare's attack name, after gathering everyone's Crystal power, is, "Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss!!" There are lots that can be read into that, and I love it for how absurd and seemingly random that string of words together is.
A fantastic yet completely understated highlight: Sailor Jupiter punches Nehelenia's mirror, to free Sailor Moon, Chibi Moon and Sailor Saturn. She doesn't use her Sailor powers like the rest do. It's not often I see magical girls in the magical girl genre use their fists and other physical attributes instead of magical accessories. It's awesome. Jupiter is awesome.
Usagi's dream at the beginning of Act 46, of her and Mamoru's domestic bliss, where they look like little kids, and Mamoru is too sweet, submissive and indulgent to Usagi, is an amusing and brief respite from the nightmares and horror.
I don't like the moment where Tuxedo Mask slaps practically all the Sailor Guardians' cheeks to snap them out of their nightmares on the Earth's surface. The only man slapping like, eight superpowered women, when they got too emotional and scared, and it's depicted as a necessary thing? No, don't do that, 'Sailor Moon'. Please. You were doing excellently otherwise. I wonder how Tuxedo Mask got out of the nightmares himself? It's not like he's ever had a strong will.
The flashbacks starring Queen Serenity and baby Princess Serenity are too adorable and precious, and the baby's Guardians - Venus, Mercury, Mars and Jupiter - were children, who tried to protect their queen and princess from the uninvited guest Nehelenia. Cute!
Luna, Artemis and Diana as humans is a delight to see. They don't really do much of anything by the end - they're just there. But still, they look great!
The two Menaeds, Helios's priestesses of the sanctuary in Elysion, appear, but only very briefly. They're doorwomen, really.
I love the art yet again. There are so many drawings of Sailor Moon looking effing badass in fighting stances and poses. The Pretty Guardian of the Moon, love and justice will end you if you are evil and try to take over Earth, make no mistake. And the Act 46 cover art contains a shirtless, nippled Mamoru, sleeping in bed, and holding kitten Diana on his chest, up to his chin. It's too much - I'm going to die of cuteness
The art is amazing everywhere, I can't stress that point enough.
Continuing on the subject of the art, I have a feeling Takeuchi-sensei really liked drawing Sailor Venus and Sailor Uranus together. They are drawn side by side many times in this volume, in prominent, unmissable panels and positions, even when they don't actually interact. What could be their relationship, besides friendship, I wonder...? Is it merely their joint roles as Guardian leaders - Venus of the Inners, and Uranus of the Outers?
Nehelenia, just like every woman in the series, wanted to marry Prince Endymion. Granted, it was part of her plan to rule both the Moon and the Earth, and their solar system powers, as queen, but it's typical, nevertheless.
The new Holy Grail's design is cool and cute.
There are other things I could add, but I've said enough.
It's time for the final arc, the Sailor Stars arc, starting in volume 11.
Sailor Moon's journey as a Guardian, a princess and a queen is far from finished. Everything is about to change. Everything is about to get much darker than ever before.
Everything comes to an end. And a beginning. Everybody dies. And is reborn. Again.
It's the darkest arc.
Prepare to join me on it, as I reread and rereview the final two volumes of the main 'Sailor Moon' manga canon series.
Until then, have a happy September Moon.
Final Score (for 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 10'): 4.5/5
Original Review:
"We all, every one of us, carry a star inside our chests. In order to realise our dreams... and protect those precious to us... In order to keep fighting... please keep shining on and lending me strength, O star inside my chest!"
A beautiful, dazzling finale.
The Outer Senshi arrive to save the Inner Senshi. Together the eight Guardians must protect their prince and princess, Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon. Dead Moon - the new moon - has enveloped earth into darkness and nightmares. Usagi and Mamoru grow sicker from the curse, and Helios’s spirit transports them to Elysion, deep within the earth, in order to protect them. Sailor Chibi-Moon and Sailor Saturn become trapped in mirror shards by Zirconia.
After a funny dream sequence of Usagi and Mamoru as children living together - reality has no place in a child's dreaming - Helios leads the two of them through Elysion towards the Golden Kingdom - Mamoru/Prince Endymion's kingdom in his past life. Menaeds encased in crystal are protected from Dead Moon's curse on the once-sacred land. Usagi and Mamoru share the same destiny, the same power, the same dream of protecting people together. The same similar crystal gems. Usagi figures out that since her Legendary Silver Crystal lives inside her, Mamoru's Golden Crystal must live inside his body. They give each other strength, as they've always done. Queen Nehelenia, Dead Moon's ruler and dark counterpart to Queen Serenity, finds them out after Usagi tries to break Helios's body free from imprisonment. He sends the couple back to the surface, now having it in them to defeat the enemy. Upon further prayer, the Priest of Elysion sends his land's purifying crystals to the surface of a darkened earth - at the cost of his life.
Magnificent artwork takes over as the excitement is truly set in motion. Nightmare battles, Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask shining, and the other Guardians fighting alongside them (Sailors Uranus, Neptune, Mercury and Jupiter especially have their brief but badass moments). Sailor Moon also frees Chibi-Moon and Saturn; the latter goes on to collect the orbed souls of the Amazoness Quartet. All the heroes travel to Elysion for the final showdown. The Menaeds, priestesses of the sanctuary of the Golden Kingdom, have awakened.
It's Sailor Moon versus the vicious and insane Queen Nehelenia (as someone who could possibly be the true queen of the Silver Millennium, and the dark side of the moon of shadows, whilst Serenity is the queen of the moon of pure light, Nehelenia is definitely more interesting than Queen Beryl.) There is a 'Sleeping Beauty'-inspired story of Nehelenia cursing the old Silver Millennium to fall, over not being invited to baby Princess Serenity's birth celebration. The dark queen rips the Silver Crystal from Sailor Moon's chest, and obtains the power to rule the universe. But with the power of love, Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon use their inner light to incapacitate Nehelenia.
A coronation of destiny takes place - even Luna, Artemis and Diana are transported to the group, and in grand human forms! With the power (I’m using that word a lot, aren’t I?) from each of the Guardians' mother planet castles sent to the Holy Grail, Sailor Moon is upgraded into Eternal Sailor Moon (awesome). Together with everyone's protective power, she seals Queen Nehelenia inside her own mirror of darkness. It is also revealed that Zirconia, the spirit guide and servant of Dead Moon, is actually Nehelenia's future self. It isn't explained how this came to be. Shame.
Earth and Elysion are back to normal - all long nightmares and curses lifted. Sailor Chibi-Moon heals Helios with a kiss, then her own Silver Crystal turns into the Pink Moon Crystal. Helios is Chibiusa's prince, and the Amazoness Quartet - Pallas, Ceres, Juno and Vestas - are her awaited Sailor Guardians awakened too soon by Nehelenia, and were manipulated into her nightmare slaves. Sailor Saturn swears to protect Chibi-Moon until she becomes a full-fledged Guardian like Sailor Moon, which is really sweet, and shows what true friends these girls have become, through hell and back.
Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask transform into the queen and king of the Silver Millennium, and banish the darkness of Dead Moon - the new moon’s eclipse - for good. In farewell, Helios rides on his Pegasus back to Elysion to continue praying for everyone's collective safety.
Dreams can come true. Girls can become powerful ladies. Destiny can make queens and warriors out of little princesses.
Darkness and Light coexist - even within people's own hearts, like stars...
I've summed up pretty much everything there is to know about this volume. It's all action, action, action! And every page is glorious. Additionally, I love that Queen Serenity's presence - as both a tough, regal monarch and a loving, protective mother - still holds great significance to the story.
Sailor Moon is braver, more determined and knowledgeable than ever, too. The future queen and mother is everyone’s light, in spite of always needing their help and combined power - especially from the man/prince she loves - to save the universe.
The ending to the Dead Moon arc is spectacular; while nonetheless feeling complete on its own, it serves as a perfect prelude to the final arc of 'Sailor Moon'.
Join me next time for the beginning of the end with the eleventh volume: The Sailor Stars arc, the darkest yet.
Final Score: 5/5
July 6, 2021
Un tomo muy bonito que cierra otro arco en esta historia.
Amo mucho a Helios y me encantó ver mucho de él en estas páginas ✨
Amo mucho a Helios y me encantó ver mucho de él en estas páginas ✨
May 11, 2024
Lo mejor de este tomo es que termina el arco del Dead Moon Circus. Ha sido infumable.
October 11, 2021
Cerramos un arco maravilloso con las diez guerraras unidas. Mucha acción y un no parar. Me gusta mucho ver como tanto las heroínas como las villanas son mujeres, el poder se reparte entre ellas. Mola mucho eso. A ver que trama deparan los dos últimos tomos. ¡A por el úndecimo!
October 22, 2014
There's a lot going on in this volume. We finally learn more about Helios and Elysion. (I also want to take a moment and just say that Usagi and Mamoru were super cute in her dream.) Then there's a big fight and everyone gets sucked into nightmares (which were quite creepy) until Tuxedo Masks gets them all to snap out of it...by slapping them. Eventually Sailor Moon goes into the mirror and meets Queen Nehelenia (I noticed they spelled it with only one "L," though I've usually seen it spelled with two). After she rescues Saturn and Chibi-Moon, everyone eventually transports to Elysion to fight. We get a big, long flashback and basically we find out that Nehelenia's pissed because she didn't get invited to Princess Serenity's party and then she put a curse on the Princess and the Silver Millenium and this is basically the plot of Sleeping Beauty. I felt a little "eh" about the whole thing, to be honest. Though I did really like seeing everyone's Princess forms.
But can I just take a minute to talk about how weird human-Artemis's clothes are? I mean, like, why is there a little circle to show his bellybutton? And what's with all the weird straps that look like they belong to a garter belt? Okay, I'm done.
And, of course, it is always cool to see a new incarnation of Sailor Moon, this time we see Eternal Sailor Moon. I've always thought this was the most beautiful version of her fuku. I also loved seeing Mamoru release the power of the Golden Crystal, along with the other senshi's crystal powers, to help create her new form.
Does anyone else find a lot of their battle phrases to be really weird? Most of them are okay, but Eternal Sailor Moon's new battle cry is one of the strange ones: Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss. Ooookay...
Also - was Zirconia basically the true form on Nehelenia? She wound up looking like her, and we never found out what really happened to Zirconia...Weird.
It was fun to see the true form of the Amazonness Quartet. I already knew what it was, but it was still exciting to see the other reactions to the reveal. I also liked the little flashback to little Princess Serenity talking to Queen Serenity after a bad dream. I sometimes wish we had more stories from back then. It also occurred to me (not for the first time) that they never have said anything about Princess Serenity's father. I wonder who he was and what happened to him...
Anyway, this was a nice conclusion to the Dream Arc. There was so much beautiful art in this volume. Not just in the story itself, but the art at the start of each act. One of my favorite pictures was used before Act 46, Dream 8, with Usagi, Chibi-Usa, Mamoru and Diana sleeping. You can see it here if you're not familiar with it. Of course it's not in color in the book, but still, it's beautiful. The princesses are also drawn beautifully, as well as Menaeds, the Elysion priestesses. I know other sites spell their name differently, but the translation notes gave a great explanation as to why it was spelled this way.
Speaking of translation notes...remember how volume 9 had panel numbers in the translation notes? Well, issue 10 doesn't have them. So much for a new, neat addition. Ah well, at least this volume had them!
I did consider dropping my review down to 4 stars because I felt like the whole Sleeping Beauty storyline was cliché and unoriginal. However, I eventually decided that I'm just so excited to read the manga, and that it's just so beautifully illustrated that I could forgive a bit of cliché in the storyline. I admit that I'm biased.
But can I just take a minute to talk about how weird human-Artemis's clothes are? I mean, like, why is there a little circle to show his bellybutton? And what's with all the weird straps that look like they belong to a garter belt? Okay, I'm done.
And, of course, it is always cool to see a new incarnation of Sailor Moon, this time we see Eternal Sailor Moon. I've always thought this was the most beautiful version of her fuku. I also loved seeing Mamoru release the power of the Golden Crystal, along with the other senshi's crystal powers, to help create her new form.
Does anyone else find a lot of their battle phrases to be really weird? Most of them are okay, but Eternal Sailor Moon's new battle cry is one of the strange ones: Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss. Ooookay...
Also - was Zirconia basically the true form on Nehelenia? She wound up looking like her, and we never found out what really happened to Zirconia...Weird.
It was fun to see the true form of the Amazonness Quartet. I already knew what it was, but it was still exciting to see the other reactions to the reveal. I also liked the little flashback to little Princess Serenity talking to Queen Serenity after a bad dream. I sometimes wish we had more stories from back then. It also occurred to me (not for the first time) that they never have said anything about Princess Serenity's father. I wonder who he was and what happened to him...
Anyway, this was a nice conclusion to the Dream Arc. There was so much beautiful art in this volume. Not just in the story itself, but the art at the start of each act. One of my favorite pictures was used before Act 46, Dream 8, with Usagi, Chibi-Usa, Mamoru and Diana sleeping. You can see it here if you're not familiar with it. Of course it's not in color in the book, but still, it's beautiful. The princesses are also drawn beautifully, as well as Menaeds, the Elysion priestesses. I know other sites spell their name differently, but the translation notes gave a great explanation as to why it was spelled this way.
Speaking of translation notes...remember how volume 9 had panel numbers in the translation notes? Well, issue 10 doesn't have them. So much for a new, neat addition. Ah well, at least this volume had them!
I did consider dropping my review down to 4 stars because I felt like the whole Sleeping Beauty storyline was cliché and unoriginal. However, I eventually decided that I'm just so excited to read the manga, and that it's just so beautifully illustrated that I could forgive a bit of cliché in the storyline. I admit that I'm biased.
October 1, 2018
I love the Dream Arc. I just love love love the Dream Arc. It might top my love for the Death Busters Arc at this point.
I also love Naoko Takeuchi‘s artwork unconditionally.
There is just something so magical about this manga that just sucks you in even if you know the story. It’s still enchanting and refreshing.
The conclusion to the Dream Arc is something of epic sorts. From the Outer Senshis showing up, Chibiusa and Hotaru reuniting, all Senshis fighting together, Luna, Artemis and Diana becoming human (Diana and Chibi-Chibi look oddly similar, right?) the reveal of the new Senshis and the big showdown, everything is brilliant.
I also think the Sleeping Beauty parallel with Nehelenia and Serenity is a very nice and well done twist.
And if you only know the old Anime, you be happily surprised that Mamoru is actually useful in this version. And it’s awesome. Usagi and Mamoru prove again why they are one of Anime’s power couples.
Speaking of, as weird as I still think the whole Chibiusa/Helios story started out, it is really adorable and he is a great character.
I know there is still the Sailor Stars Arc, but honestly, if that would have been the conclusion to the story it would have been a fantastic ending. But hey, more time with the girls is more than fine.
I also love Naoko Takeuchi‘s artwork unconditionally.
There is just something so magical about this manga that just sucks you in even if you know the story. It’s still enchanting and refreshing.
The conclusion to the Dream Arc is something of epic sorts. From the Outer Senshis showing up, Chibiusa and Hotaru reuniting, all Senshis fighting together, Luna, Artemis and Diana becoming human (Diana and Chibi-Chibi look oddly similar, right?) the reveal of the new Senshis and the big showdown, everything is brilliant.
I also think the Sleeping Beauty parallel with Nehelenia and Serenity is a very nice and well done twist.
And if you only know the old Anime, you be happily surprised that Mamoru is actually useful in this version. And it’s awesome. Usagi and Mamoru prove again why they are one of Anime’s power couples.
Speaking of, as weird as I still think the whole Chibiusa/Helios story started out, it is really adorable and he is a great character.
I know there is still the Sailor Stars Arc, but honestly, if that would have been the conclusion to the story it would have been a fantastic ending. But hey, more time with the girls is more than fine.
January 5, 2017
Wow that was even better than the previous volume. The battle against Queen Nehelenia was intense. It was interesting to see Luna, Artemis, and Diana in their human forms; Luna is even more gorgeous as a human. I was happy with the conclusions for all the characters even the Quartet. This was one of the most satisfying endings of the sailor moon manga but considering there's two more volumes to go and that this last battle was intense enough, that makes me a little scared of what's about to happen next. O.O
May 24, 2022
OHHHHH I love the really cool ending scene at the end of this arc too! Especially when all of the senshi harness their powers together, and with the power of friendship they defeat Queen Nehelenia and free Helios. I know that in this arc Chibi-Usa was given a prince charming (kind of) with Helios, but I gotta admit that she and Hotaru would be cute together when when they grow up haha. Am I the only one? Maybe but who cares, I do enjoy this series and I will be excited to watch this arc as well as the Cosmos arc get animated or reanimated. :)
July 6, 2014
Beautiful artwork, as always, but I felt like a lot of panels in this volume didn't flow well. Many scenes would jump to other locations or characters, or memories, and it wasn't always clear when a shift had happened. This volume felt more disjointed than the rest.
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