Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon Manga

Genre: Shoujo / Magical Girl
General Audience
Credits: 1992-1997. Naoko Takeuchi. Nakayoshi comics.

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Firesenshi's Description:
Usagi Tsukino was a normal 14 year old girl until she met Luna, a mysterious cat with a strange symbol on its forhead. The feline gave her a magical brooch that allows her to transform into Sailormoon, the soldier for love and justice. Meeting with other sailor soldiers who have awakened in the present time, another mysterious person appears, calling himself Tuxedo Kamen (Mask) who always protects her whenever she fights enemies sent by an enemy called Queen Beryl.

In the later parts of the manga, the sailor soldiers fight other enemies that come from the Dark Moon, the Deathbusters and finally the strongest sailor soldier Galaxia.

(18 tankubons)

NOTE: This description was written sometime in 2001 and was recorded in the classic Otaku Fridge as ??.??.2001. Unfortunately the database would not accept non-numerical values, so this review is now dated January 01, 2001 by default.

The manga with a huge difference from the anime >>> by firesenshi
Most anime try to be as faithful to the manga as viewers expect them to be. The transition from the manga to the screen would automatically have differences in the same way that translating literature to films would have those differences, but none would expect a lot of changes in the storyline as Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon.

For one, the manga is more fast-paced and there aren't any monsters-of-the-day themes. Granted that there are fillers in the BSSM anime that were done since some tankubons weren't finished yet, the anime still lacks the romance of the manga, of which Naoko Takeuchi is known for. Guys beware... this is shoujo in all aspects -- from the shortened, skin-tight versions of the sailor school uniforms to the long flowing gowns and "airborne" hairstyles.Much of the shoujo aspect that deals with romance is in here IMMENSELY dealing with the subject of "destiny" between Usagi and Mamoru. The first tankubons of the manga where Usagi and Mamoru keep fighting not knowing either one was Sailormoon and Tuxedo Kamen who they vowed to protect is one exciting love story you wouldn't want to miss. Later on, they are all over each other though, you'd want to skip those few pages.

The second one, there are a lot of changes in the personalities of the sailor senshi. The most astonishing one being Rei, who is totally indifferent and doesn't care about the men who court her constantly against her bubbly, boy-crazy anime counterpart. Another is Minako, the original Sailor-V, Naoko's first manga before Sailormoon, wherein it is clearly shown she is the leader. If you are a fan of other senshi besides Usagi (and there are quite a number of us), you'll definitely have to read the manga.

The story itself is nothing groundbreaking. It's light, romantic and extremely funny that its own dose of charm makes this one the ultimate magical girl story. You'll love the characters and love how Naoko draws them. The art is really beautiful.

Individual Rating: Art 8; Story 10; Characters 10