Unico - Vol. 2

Unico #2

by Samuel Sattin (Writer), Gurihiru (Illustrator), Osamu Tesuka (Creator)

Unico fliegt wieder
Das kleine Einhorn Unico hat die Gabe, die Menschen glücklich zu machen. Doch das erregt die Eifersucht der Göttin Venus. Zornig verbannt sie Unico aus dem Himmel und befiehlt dem Westwind, Unico durch Raum und Zeit zu tragen, bis er vergisst, wer er einst war. Aber Westwind hat Mitleid und bringt Unico zu den Menschen.
Gibt es überhaupt Menschen in der öden Fabrikstadt, in der Unico sich dieses Mal wiederfindet? Doch! Die findige Maus Garapachi bringt Unico zu dem Mädchen Chiko und ihrem Großvater, den einzigen menschlichen Seelen in dieser Stadt. Denn in der Fabrik ist eine finstere Macht am Werk, die alles Lebendige auslöschen will.
Kann Unico Chiko und ihren Opa retten? Kann der Westwind Unico retten?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Comics, Fiction, Manga, Middle Grade, Childrens

224 pages, Paperback

First published June 3, 2025

About the author

Samuel Sattin is an American writer. His books include the multi-volume Unico series for Scholastic Graphix, Buzzing, Side Quest, The Silent End, and (as co-author) both A Kids Guide to Anime and Manga and The Essential Anime Guide: 50 Iconic Films, Standout Series, and Cult Masterpieces. He has also adapted the Academy Award-nominated films WolfWalkers, Song of the Sea, and The Secret of Kells to the graphic novel format. He graduated with an MFA in comics from the California College of the Arts and works as a studio writer for Schulz Creative Associates, aka Snoopy Central. Samuel resides with his wife in Northern California, and travels frequently to Japan.

Reviews

[Allyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t wanna wait for the third book! Grrrr

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one better than the first book in the series. I love Unico so I am excited to see his stories come to life for a new generation...but I still enjoy the original stories better. I'm undecided yet on how they seem to be bringing in characters from the first volume...but I'm willing to give that a chance and look forward to seeing how things come together in the next volume.

[Tricia]

This is for Abigail 🫡

[Jona Litjens❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,75 ☆

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I sort of like this better than the first volume BUT still have some reservations about giving it to the niece I mentioned in my review for the same. I don't remember how "bad" the hunter scenes were I had described before, but since finding out she likes the Wings of Fire series... MAYBE it won't be too "scary" for her? I might see how she likes this one, then.

"Why would you give her book 2 without book 1?" She started Wings of Fire from the NEWEST book and is reading the older ones as the library gets them in, and also she loved PAWS 4 without having read the first books. Why not? It'll take me less effort than hunting down book 1 again, and it's for her homework anyway (20 minutes of reading per day, graphic novels count!).

That said, I still don't LOVE this series; this volume definitely starts in the middle, occasionally referring to things that happened in book 1, but mainly focusing on how Unico is once again in a completely unfamiliar place—with amnesia—and has the Goddess of "Everything and Everyone Else Around Me Must Be Uglier Than I Am Because That Makes Total Sense" out to kill him, because reasons. This time, Unico meets and is saved by a talking mouse (Garapachi), who explains how where they live has been turned into a toxic dumping grounds that will slowly kill them, but they can't leave. Garapachi introduces Unico to Chiko, a sickly girl who forms the basis for "Mother's" toxic domain, and from there Unico attempts to save Chiko. Stuff happens—including Chiko giving Garapachi CHEESE, UGH—and the story ends on a cliffhanger with the West Wind locating Chloe the Cat to get her and Toast to help save Unico.

Also, how is the "last" fey royal only a PRINCE. By default, he should be KING!

Thoroughly "book 2" material. At least the PAWS books can more or less be read individually without losing too much!

I mean, I'm still going to read Unico, if for no other reason than the art is GORGEOUS. I just don't find myself as such wanting to keep it around vs. hand it off to a potential new fan. (Maybe you??)

[Tracy Lander · Rating 5 out of 5]

The children at school are going to love me!

Unico is back. Whilst the West Wind is trying to get him to safety, a storm brews up and he is ripped from her hands.
When the storm subsides she needs to find him but where? And she isn't the only one looking!

Unico lands in an oddly dark street, with no one around. He sees a cloaked figure, but it disappears down a drain. A mouse tells him not to be so loud! He tells Unico he is a unicorn - because Unico seems to have lost his memory. The mouse called Garapachi takes him home - his family Ozuko (wife) and four mouselings have little. Garapachi takes him to see Chiko, a littel girl who lives in the house with her Grandpa. Chiko is very ill. She gives them as much food as she can.

But they are all controlled by 'Mother'. She is a machine that wants to control everyone and everything in their land. Can Unico help break free? What is 'Mother' and why does she want to control them?

Really like this series. I am by no means a graphic novel specialist, but the story and the graphics are so good. Out now.

[Snarhooked · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first experience of Unico, although I have learned it is based on the original manga. As this is the second in the series of the graphic novel adaptation I did wonder if I would be able to pick everything up. I needn't have worried - there is a character page at the start of the book and I felt I soon understood what was going on. It helps that Unico himself seems to have amnesia and the reader learns alongside him as he experiences flashbacks.

There seemed to be quite a few pop culture nods in the artwork such as the hyenas from the Lion King and FNAF. Just something to look out for, I am sure there are more that I missed.

I prefer text stories to graphic novels but I did enjoy this and can see it being popular with my students.

[myles ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

UNICO I LOVE YOU FOREVERRRRRRRR

ok srs thoughts time: enjoyed this one just as much as the first even though i had to wait over a year for it (and will have to wait another year for the next one 💔). i’ve never seen the second unicorn movie but i do know the basics of its plot & because of that i was pleasantly surprised how in this second novel the plot didn’t reference it at all & instead went in a more original direction instead of paying homage to the og 80s movies. this did make the introduction of so many new characters a tad bit overwhelming but they were all enjoyable so i didn’t mind. also really loved the setting & the whole human tech vs natural world set up they had going on. the furry fey were also a nice touch lol.

[lili_livreuse · Rating 4 out of 5]

J’attendais impatiemment cette suite et une fois encore j’ai adoré ! Non seulement les dessins sont magnifiques et adorables mais l’histoire devient de plus en plus prenante !
Ce tome-ci est un peu plus sombre que le premier. L’auteur parvient encore à parler de problèmes sociétales (encore présent à l’heure actuelle) et il le mène vraiment bien. On montre encore une fois le mauvais côté de l’humanité mais toujours avec une note d’espoir pour le futur.
Les nouveaux personnages qui s’ajoutent étaient intéressants aussi. La petite souris et sa famille (j’ai trouvé les souriceaux tellement adorables), le papy et la petite fille et puis aussi les fae.
Hâte de découvrir la suite des aventures d’Unico

[Deke Moulton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Único is just too pure for this world. Which I guess works because this graphic novel takes place in another world— it got a bit overwhelming with so many new charters who talk about a LOT (tons and tons if exposition and character/species names being dropped constantly to the point of feeling exceedingly lost). I sort of skimmed the last bit of the book because I just got way too overloaded. There’s gods and goddesses with secret pasta and relationships with characters that they name drop a bunch of stuff without any knowledge what any of it is… but Unico was very sweet to spend time with.

[Anna Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute fantasy story that brings me back to watching Unico VHS tapes rented from the video store as a kid. The art is really vibrant and expressive, the story has some interesting themes--the format of "stuff happens, Unico remembers a few things, Unico has to flee to an entirely new place again" makes it hard to care as much about the new characters introduced here, though. Will still definitely be picking up the next book when it comes out in 2026!

[Rachel Feeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second volume brings Unico's signature pluck and spirit to a whole new world and cast of characters. The mouse family is adorable, and the minions patrolling town are the right amount of sinister spooky for the semi-urban dystopian backdrop. While I missed Chloe the cat and others from the first volume, it hints that she'll return in future volumes, and I soon came to love the new faces (particularly the fey - think mystical ninja foxes). I love the blend of scifi and fantasy elements, with Unico's magical powers and the colorful fey fighting against both metal drones and an alien on a giant moth from the depths of space

The conflict with Venus and her chosen hunter lurks like an ominous cloud, but it's not the main focus. It seems that Unico has many adventures ahead, so we may not be getting many answers on the celestial side any time soon.

**Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to review with YA Books Central. See YABC for more reviews!**

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was really cool. I liked all the characters and the hob creatures looked and they reminded me of the hyenas from the lion king. lol Especially the one who looked derp and laughed. I liked the prince and I liked the idea of mother being corrupt and driven crazy cause she was made for something and then messed with to do another task, which caused her to be crazy and such.

I just wish it wasn't so long between stories. Cause I just want to read more at the end.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peak

too much cliffhanger tho. Like they edged us with the lizard man, hes ON THE BACK OF THE BOOK, yet he essentially is an end credits character. Cool that the cats are back.

rip mother tho kinda looks like one one and kinda similiar to one one from infinity train like when he starts destroying the turtle world becaues hes programmed to fix things

[Petr Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hunted is a relentless thriller that plunges you into a world of survival and vengeance. Sattin’s tight pacing and dark twists grip you from page one every chapter feels like a pulse-pounding battle for life.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was just as fantastic as the first one! These are just so beautifully illustrated and I absolutely love seeing Unico's new adventures. Also, the mouse family in this one was adorable.

Can't wait for the next one!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I liked this volume even more than the first. The story continues from where we left off, with a new cast of characters. The artwork is beautiful once again, and the story is charming. I can't wait for the next volume.

[S46354595 · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's growing on me for sure.

[Echo · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the first book echoed some of the storylines from the movies, this one was a whole new adventure. I really enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to seeing where things go from here.

[Arlene Avilez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dudes, I am in love with the Prince's design! He's so beautiful and fluffy!

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the direction the retelling is headed.

[Kennedy Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art in this series is so beautiful and unique. (I loved the moth-gryphon creature). So much of it reminds me of Studio Ghibli movies.

[Wyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can tell Tezuka had a hand in this because the adult rats are as sexy as they can possibly be for a juvenile-age comic.

[Chris Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than first book. Would make good animated series. But the hobs were a bit too much like Lion King’s hyenas for my liking…

[Teresa Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The excellent adventure continues. I am looking forward to the next one.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5! I still had some issues, but this one is better than the first! Loved the mouse family and the art is still wonderful.

[Annemaria Cummings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute little graphic novel that my 9-year-old insisted I needed to read. Pretty pictures, nice story.

[James Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story that was resolved while moving the greater mystery/story forward. Looking forward to Volume 3.

[Adam Sequoyah · Rating 2 out of 5]

MPA ratings: G

[sol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so excited to hopefully finally see Unico’s story finished, even if not by Tezuka. I can tell the current writing crew deeply cares for Unico 🩷