Codename: Sailor V 1 [ペーパーバック]

I'd heard a lot about the Sailor V manga and let me tell you, it's all true. Not only can you see where Takeuchi started toying around with the character designs for Sailor Moon, but you can also see where some view it as close, but not quite as good as Sailor Moon. (Still worth reading, though!)

First I just have to say that like Sailor Moon, the artwork is gorgeous. It's a little rough in places compared to her later work (especially since the new Sailor Moon), but it's still incredibly fun to look at. The story is also interesting since it's both a standalone manga as well as being linked to the SM universe. I have to warn readers that they should take this manga with a grain of salt as far as how it fits into the SM world since you'll see various things that don't match up with what we know about the Sailor Venus in Sailor Moon. This is because Sailor V was initially released before Sailor Moon was and eventually sparked the idea for what is now her best known series.

The most fun of this volume is to look to see where Takeuchi started playing around with character designs. Minako (Sailor V) was quite obviously a springing board for Usagi, as she shares many of Usagi's characteristics and surroundings, most notably Usagi's parents and a few of her classmates. It's interesting to also see how the story changed over time, as the Sailor Moon series started up not long after Sailor V started up and ran alongside the Sailor V manga. (Sailor V releases started coming out more sporadically.) You can see some of the Sailor Moon characters (most notably Usagi), which was pretty neat.

Translation-wise, this isn't bad. I did spot a grammatical error in the volume and at times it does suffer from awkward translating, it's pretty well done and actually flows a little better than the Sailor Moon translation did. (Possibly due to it being potentially less scrutinized by the fanbase as the SM manga would be.)

This isn't as strong as the Sailor Moon manga is, but it's still very fun and it's a must buy for fans of Sailor Moon. For those who aren't as die-hard? Well, personally my gut reaction is to collect everything and tell everyone else to (hey, I'm a completist), but some might find that this just doesn't grab them as much as the Sailor Moon series does (or vice-versa). For them it might be worth checking out in the bookstore before buying it.

I've still got the original 1993 Japanese graphic novel. A comparison:

- The Japanese version contains the first 6 chapters, this version contains 8
- This version contains some color pages, the original one does not
- This version has improved printing quality over the original, with much nicer details
- This book is about half an inch taller and wider than the original
- The pages are unflipped and many background sounds / signs / etc are left in Japanese. There's translations in the margins, blank areas, and in a list in the back.
- The original character names are preserved

Overall, I'd say this is a BUY for any Sailor Moon / Sailor V fan, even if you still have the originals.

The release date of Sailor Moon vol. 1 and Codename: Sailor V vol. 1 was today, so I rushed in to the bookstore in the Japan Center, San Francisco and I was so happy to see a special stand of these books piled on top of each other with a huge promotional poster. Finally! We've been waiting for this since Kodansha announced it in March! Now for my reviews:

Pretty Guardian-Sailor Moon Volume 1:
The new translated releases of Sailor Moon are indeed better than the "Mixx-takes" that Tokyopop made. Now we expect the characters to retain their original names, as well as honorifics, like Usagi-chan, Ami-san, etc, and no more of Serena, Darien, Rini... Color pages are included too as well as some notes in the back. The manga drawings are enhanced and in the standard manga book format (not the pocket mixx ones) too. In Sailor Moon volume 1, we get the 6 chapters: "Act 1: Usagi, Sailor Moon, Act 2: Ami, Sailor Mercury, Act 3: Rei, Sailor Mars, Act 4: Masqeurade Dance Party, Act 5: Makoto, Sailor Jupiter" and "Act 6: Tuxedo Mask." This book starts out half of the Dark Kingdom Arc and leaving you wondering what's going to happen next with Usagi and Mamoru. Overall, this is a good buy for Sailor Moon and Shoujo manga fans. The translation couldn't be any more accurate, the Japanese sound effects are kept, but translates what it says and we don't have to worry anymore about the pages coming apart! Although, instead of calling Motoki "oni-san" or "oni-chan," they simply call him "bro." That's kinda a head-scratcher though.

Codename Sailor V Volume 1:
For those of you who never got to experience the thrill of reading Sailor V, here's your chance! Before Usagi was Sailor Moon, Minako Aino was Sailor V and lead her own, if not serious and filled with action, comical, girly adventures about wanting to become an idol, TV star, wanting boyfriends, etc. The Sailor V manga's English translation is done in the same manner as Sailor Moon with notes at the end, colorful pages, Crazy words lower-case font and Japanese text with subs. The books includes the chapters: "Vol. 1: The Birth of Sailor V, Vol. 2: Minako in Game Center Crown, Vol. 3: Sailor V arrives! Channel 44 Pandora's ambition, Vol. 4: The Ambition of Pwtite Pandora, Vol. 5: The machinations of the Dark Agency, Vol. 6: Showdown! Sailor V VS Cyber-Girl Warrior Lurga, Vol. 7: Sailor V on vacation-Desire for Hawaii" and "Vol 8: Love on Boulavard-Full throttle turbo"
All the stories in the Sailor V manga are hilarious and more-girl oriented in my opinion.

Overall, these are all good buys. With Sailor V finally on bookshelves in the US and with Sailor Moon completely renewed and retranslated, waiting for the remaining 11 volumes (for Sailor Moon, one more for Sailor V, and 2 more short story books) to come out is something us Moonie fans will be looking forward to.

-Sailor Channel