WELCOME TO SEPTEMBER MOON!
On this reread of 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 3' after many long years, I have observed:
There are some plot holes and overcomplications, that I'm sure the translation doesn't do a good enough job explaining. But I don't care - it's dramatic and cosmos-shattering! And big, bright moon protection badassery!
The 'Sailor Moon' manga is so full of love, care, charm, magic, friendship, romance, action, drama, comedy, danger, and high good-vs-evil stakes. It's starry and spectacular.
Things from before do come back, and even play key parts: Sailor Moon's high frequency cries, Mamoru's pocket watch, the stones belonging to the Four Kings of Heaven that Mamoru possesses (and what their purpose is), the extent and use of the power of the '"Legendary Silver Crystal" and how it gets its light back from Mamoru's body, and other details I'm sure I've forgotten about. Mamoru having Usagi's handkerchief, however, doesn't come up again. He never gives it back to her, not even when she returns his pocket watch.
Sailor Venus stabbing and killing Queen Beryl with the sacred legendary sword is such a badass move. Sailor Venus shines as much as Sailor Moon.
How exactly does Sailor Moon use the same sword to stab the evil Mamoru/Endymion, as well as herself? The art is confusing there.
The manga shows Sailor Venus was in love with Kunzite in a past life, mirroring Princess Serenity's love for Prince Endymion, despite them literally being from different worlds. The Act 14 cover art depicts Sailor Venus with Kunzite... and Sailor Mars with Jadeite, Sailor Mercury with Zoisite, and Sailor Jupiter with Nephrite. Nothing like this happens in canon. Were they all lovers in their past lives? It seems as if Serenity's and Endymion's romance was the only one not doomed, after all.
Luna is great in the manga. She cares deeply for Princess Serenity/Usagi/Sailor Moon, and worries about failing her. She is still weakened from her injury from the previous volume, but she keeps going, and doesn't give up. She and Usagi share a special bond and connection.
She is Luna, a talking cat mentor from the moon, but she has a very human personality.
It's also implied that Luna is connected to the Moon Goddess Selene (who is also Queen Serenity here) in some way.
What happens to the sword - the "Sacred Sword of Light" - at the end of the Dark Kingdom arc? Is it ever brought up again? It is so utterly important, especially towards the end, and yet it is suddenly forgotten about?
On the moon, in the Moon Castle in the Moon Kingdom/Silver Millennium, there exists a Chamber of Prayer; it's where a sacred Tower of Prayer is... in the Crystal Tower. The words "moon" and "prayer" are said a lot in this volume, almost as much as "Legendary Silver Crystal". Essentially, prayer is what saves the universe at the end of the arc, more prominently than your typical "power of love and friendship" and "believe in yourself" messages. I'm not sure how I feel about that.
Queen Metalia, the big bad evil-and-darkness-itself-born-from-the-sun, is turned to dust by moon power and prayer, basically. She's a one-note villain with zero character beyond evil, malevolent cosmic force , and she's not worth wasting a thought on. Not compared to Queen Beryl, who is actually interesting, mainly due to her having a human body, presence and backstory.
Like in a classic, conventional, conservative fairy tale, true love's kiss cures everything.
Sailor Moon is given a new transformation brooch/compact mirror on the moon, which stores the "Legendary Silver Crystal". It's Queen Serenity's last gift to her.
The Dark Kingdom arc ends a bit abruptly, after all the epic buildup, payoff and excitement in the climax. The reader is given almost no time to breathe before the Black Moon story arc arrives, via Chibi-Usa falling from the sky. Not even an Act/chapter separates them.
Chibi-Usa's first appearance. Hmm. Hmph. Chibi-Usa is a brat. The kid might have potentially ruined the series if she wasn't cute. Thankfully she doesn't talk much, nor take up much page time, in the manga; unlike the anime, where she definitely overstays her welcome and is annoying as heck. She does not help her case of not being an enemy of Sailor Moon and the Sailor Guardians (aka Princess-turned-Neo-Queen Serenity and her protectors) with all the stuff she pulls.
Chibi-Usa pointing a (toy) gun at Usagi on her introduction is pretty funny, not to mention unexpected, despite logic being flung into space from that moment going forward.
Luna gives the Sailor Guardians new transformation pens - and communicator watches! - at the beginning of the new arc. Nice!
To cheer up Chibi-Usa in his home, Mamoru brings out a hand puppet of Tuxedo Mask. Huh? Since when did he have that? Did he make it himself? WHEN?!
Rei should listen to her own premonitions and instincts more.
Act 15 is about Sailor Mars/Rei. She's wonderful, and the bit where she realises that hanging out with Usagi and the gang has rubbed off on her, causing her maturity to slip in places, surprising the people around her, is hilarious.
Act 16 is about Sailor Mercury/Ami. She and Rei needed the page time and development, away from Sailor Moon/Usagi for a change. Ami is a well-rounded, three-dimensional girl as well. But if she is a chess champion - one of the best in Japan, in fact - and swimming is also important to her character in this chapter, then why is there no payoff to either of these traits by the end? I wanted to see her play chess with the Black Moon's villain-of-the-week; at the very least, see her fighting in a body of water in a literal sink-or-swim situation. But no; those scenarios were right there, but they're not taken. Sailor Mercury's act/chapter culminates in a typical monster fight. It's kind of a waste of potential. The anime doesn't waste it, from what I can remember.
Furuhata the arcade guy is now in on the secret; he knows who Sailor Moon and the Sailor Guardians are, after being forcedly involved as evil Mamoru/Endymion's brainwashed partner in crime in the previous arc, and after the arcade nearly exploded, due to a battle in the command center, which is right underneath his workplace. Furuhata knowing everything leads to absolutely nothing; I don't think it's ever mentioned again post-acknowledgment in Act 16... or if the guy even shows up again, ever.
Evil Mamoru/Endymion pretended to be Furuhata's "good friend Endo" in the Dark Kingdom arc, following his seemingly obliterating the real Endo. So is the poor, innocent Endo just dead and gone forever, and nobody cares? Not even Furuhata, for his friend, or Mamoru, who wiped out Endo while under Beryl's control? It's weird that that doesn't come back.
Endo and Endymion are similar names. Was that intentional?
Speaking of characters and details making a return, does Furuhata's younger sister Unazuki, who's a fruit parlour waitress, come back after her introduction in Act 15? Mamoru's younger school friend and kōhai, Asanuma, is set up to be important. He is already friends with Makoto, and is admiring yet suspicious of his Mamoru-sempai. He thinks he might be an alien, with his not-so discreet healing powers (Mamo-chan is really not very bright, never mind his academic achievements). According to Makoto, Asanuma's "got
such a man-crush on Mamo-chan!" (I didn't know you were the gossiping type, Makoto). Asanuma might have a crush on Mamoru, though he also admires Rei and thinks she would be better suited as Mamoru's girlfriend instead of Usagi.
Usagi's younger brother Shingo hardly ever appears in the entire series, does he? It makes one wonder why he exists.
Despite the rushing, and often fast pace, the 'Sailor Moon' manga never peaks story-wise.
Phew! That's it for this rereview. There are other points I could make, but I think that's enough for now.
Tune in tomorrow for volume 4's turn.
Happy September Moon!
Final Score: 4.5/5
Original Review:
Picks up where the last volume left off:
Queen Beryl is killed pretty easily and quickly by Sailor Venus's sword. The ominous, shapeless devil, Queen Metalia, appears before the Sailors. This “great ruler” aims to absorb the power of the Legendary Silver Crystal and engulf the earth in total darkness. Sailor Moon sacrifices a possessed Tuxedo Mask, and herself. History seems to be repeating itself; and fate is forever on a loop. Moon and Mask become trapped in crystal - and within the void of oblivion, Metalia. But the long and short of it is: The couple are alive, and with the power of love and support Sailor Moon uses the Legendary Silver Crystal - its source issuing from her heart - at its fullest to seal away Metalia. Thus she saves the world. The Sailor Soldiers and Endymion's guards help out from afar, and true love's kiss revives our heroine. Usagi is presented with the option of becoming queen of a revived Silver Millennium, but the young princess/schoolgirl chooses to remain on earth and live out her normal life for as long as she can, with those she loves. Plus, the arcade center owner, Furuhata, knows the Sailor Soldiers' secret identities now, not that this comes to anything.
End of Arc 1, or the Dark Kingdom Arc.
Arc 2 is the Black Moon Arc. Black Moon are members of a rebellion from the new Moon Kingdom of the future on earth, called Crystal Tokyo. Prince Demande, Rubeus, Saphir and the Metalia-lite Wiseman are at the head of operations. Also making her first appearance, literally falling from the sky, is Chibiusa, a cute but annoying little girl with a sick sense of humour who wants the Legendary Silver Crystal from Usagi. Is she involved with Black Moon? And is she setting out to destroy Usagi and Mamoru's love by coming between them? Really stupid thing to do in light of when the brat's true identity is revealed. Anyway, Black Moon kidnap Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury - cliffhanger! And there's Asanuma, a young student at Mamoru's high school who has a "man crush" on our prestigious male lead.
Another great volume, all around (apart from Chibiusa). With the end of an arc and the start of a new turn, the story once again becomes a little light and goofy. Even Mamoru has his less-than-stoic moments. But it's a necessary catharsis, and a good build-up for darker and more dramatic events to come. The artwork is fantastic, flowing and expressive as always. A sci-fi, aliens-vibe is going on too...
Sailor Venus is absolutely badass at the end of the Dark Kingdom storyline. So fierce and protective. It's quite a shame she doesn't use her sword in subsequent stories; just the "love-me chain" will do, I guess. Sailor Mars/Rei Hino has a chapter dedicated to her in the beginning of the Black Moon arc. Details about her family, hobbies and past times are made known. It also shows how hanging out with Usagi and the gang has made the beautiful shine priestess more slovenly, like a regular teenage girl - quite contrary to her mature, aloof personality! Like Mamoru, there are many layers to Rei's character - it's so much fun to witness! Sailor Mercury/Ami Mizuno receives similar treatment in the next (and last) chapter. It's lovely that we get to know more about these characters and how they live their lives so differently from one another. They remain friends nevertheless. Sailor Jupiter only gets bit parts to do in the volume, but that'll change soon.
A huge shout-out to Luna also for demonstrating the extent of her dedication to protect Usagi; and her growing, tearful fondness for the girl.
Can't wait to talk about the fourth volume of Sailor Moon's epic adventures in love and justice!
Final Score: 5/5
Usagi's younger brother Shingo hardly ever appears in the entire series, does he? It makes one wonder why he exists.
Despite the rushing, and often fast pace, the 'Sailor Moon' manga never peaks story-wise.
Phew! That's it for this rereview. There are other points I could make, but I think that's enough for now.
Tune in tomorrow for volume 4's turn.
Happy September Moon!
Final Score: 4.5/5
Original Review:
Picks up where the last volume left off:
Queen Beryl is killed pretty easily and quickly by Sailor Venus's sword. The ominous, shapeless devil, Queen Metalia, appears before the Sailors. This “great ruler” aims to absorb the power of the Legendary Silver Crystal and engulf the earth in total darkness. Sailor Moon sacrifices a possessed Tuxedo Mask, and herself. History seems to be repeating itself; and fate is forever on a loop. Moon and Mask become trapped in crystal - and within the void of oblivion, Metalia. But the long and short of it is: The couple are alive, and with the power of love and support Sailor Moon uses the Legendary Silver Crystal - its source issuing from her heart - at its fullest to seal away Metalia. Thus she saves the world. The Sailor Soldiers and Endymion's guards help out from afar, and true love's kiss revives our heroine. Usagi is presented with the option of becoming queen of a revived Silver Millennium, but the young princess/schoolgirl chooses to remain on earth and live out her normal life for as long as she can, with those she loves. Plus, the arcade center owner, Furuhata, knows the Sailor Soldiers' secret identities now, not that this comes to anything.
End of Arc 1, or the Dark Kingdom Arc.
Arc 2 is the Black Moon Arc. Black Moon are members of a rebellion from the new Moon Kingdom of the future on earth, called Crystal Tokyo. Prince Demande, Rubeus, Saphir and the Metalia-lite Wiseman are at the head of operations. Also making her first appearance, literally falling from the sky, is Chibiusa, a cute but annoying little girl with a sick sense of humour who wants the Legendary Silver Crystal from Usagi. Is she involved with Black Moon? And is she setting out to destroy Usagi and Mamoru's love by coming between them? Really stupid thing to do in light of when the brat's true identity is revealed. Anyway, Black Moon kidnap Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury - cliffhanger! And there's Asanuma, a young student at Mamoru's high school who has a "man crush" on our prestigious male lead.
Another great volume, all around (apart from Chibiusa). With the end of an arc and the start of a new turn, the story once again becomes a little light and goofy. Even Mamoru has his less-than-stoic moments. But it's a necessary catharsis, and a good build-up for darker and more dramatic events to come. The artwork is fantastic, flowing and expressive as always. A sci-fi, aliens-vibe is going on too...
Sailor Venus is absolutely badass at the end of the Dark Kingdom storyline. So fierce and protective. It's quite a shame she doesn't use her sword in subsequent stories; just the "love-me chain" will do, I guess. Sailor Mars/Rei Hino has a chapter dedicated to her in the beginning of the Black Moon arc. Details about her family, hobbies and past times are made known. It also shows how hanging out with Usagi and the gang has made the beautiful shine priestess more slovenly, like a regular teenage girl - quite contrary to her mature, aloof personality! Like Mamoru, there are many layers to Rei's character - it's so much fun to witness! Sailor Mercury/Ami Mizuno receives similar treatment in the next (and last) chapter. It's lovely that we get to know more about these characters and how they live their lives so differently from one another. They remain friends nevertheless. Sailor Jupiter only gets bit parts to do in the volume, but that'll change soon.
A huge shout-out to Luna also for demonstrating the extent of her dedication to protect Usagi; and her growing, tearful fondness for the girl.
Can't wait to talk about the fourth volume of Sailor Moon's epic adventures in love and justice!
Final Score: 5/5
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