WELCOME TO SEPTEMBER MOON!
A 'Sailor Moon' manga a day keeps the September blues away.
I was right: 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 8' is lighter and breezier than 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 7', and it's a good sign.
The Death Busters arc quite literally ends with a bang three quarters of the way through, and we are immediately thrust into the charming, funny, waiting arms of the Dead Moon Circus arc. 'Sailor Moon' is silly and pretty again!
In the name of the Moon, let's get to rereviewing!
So how exactly does the Death Busters arc end?
Pharaoh 90 and his right-hand Daimon Mistress 9 are about to destroy the world from the Omega Area, in Sankakusu, and merge with it to become one with the planet, as the final stage of "Vesselisation", and send it to the Tau Star System as their second home world.
I've learned to roll with the punches completely at this point.
Anyway, as Mistress 9 is possessing Hotaru's body and wanting to rip it apart in her freedom towards "Vesselisation", Hotaru's soul is keeping her in, and protecting Chibi-Usa's soul/"Hoste", and the soul/
"Hostes" of the Inner Sailor Guardians. Hotaru sacrifices herself to save them all, and return Chibi-Usa's "Legendary Silver Crystal". Mistress 9 literally bursts out of her body, and the Daimon joins her Master Pharaoh 90 in sucking Earth into the blackness of the Tao Star System.
Sailor Chibi Moon and Tuxedo Mask, their powers revived by Hotaru, join the battle. Chibi Moon even gains a Legendary Holy Grail of her own, and becomes Super Sailor Chibi Moon. However, no Sailor Guardian but Sailor Moon is strong enough, nor powerful enough, to stop the end. Super Sailor Moon uses her Legendary Holy Grail, renamed the Moon Chalice of lore (?), and with it filled with all nine Guardians' power, she too sacrifices herself, by realising all her light and crystal and moon powers into the enemy.
There's no time to process anything, as immediately afterwards the three talismans activate, and Sailor Saturn is reborn.
Were the Sailors and the world doomed from the start? Is this to be their fate? Is all hope lost?
No, for in the end, Sailor Saturn, the "goddess of death" and "emissary from the abyss of death", fights Pharoah 90 with her Silence Glaive, and she doesn't annihilate the world, but saves it, through sacrificing herself again, in sending the alien darkness monster back to the Tao System. She is the Guardian of destruction and death, but also of rebirth - "With every ending come hope and rebirth".
Silver Millennium's eventual restoration makes sense, then.
Sailor Saturn says Earth can be saved, thanks to Sailor Moon's powers and her destiny to be Neo Queen Serenity of the Silver Millennium of the future Earth. Yeah, of course Sailor Moon survives, and she returns the world to normal, and brings its people back to life, as Serenity, or "the Messiah", as seen in both Usagi's and Mamoru's prophetic dreams.
Sailor Pluto, at Sailor Saturn's insistence in her last request, closes the passageway to the Tau Star System, using her not-forgotten role as a space-time door guardian, and Chronos's daughter (symbolically or literally, I'm not sure).
And right after that, Sailor Saturn/Hotaru is reborn as a baby, and the Sailors Uranus, Neptune and Pluto take it upon themselves to raise her as her parents. They had wanted to kill her, when they saw her as a death-and-void-bringer not meant to exist. Now they will take care of her, and love her, as their innocent baby daughter, who is no longer alone in the world. That is their new mission. One they will do on their own again, as they say their goodbyes to their princess and the Inner Guardians, and leave, far away, promising to return in times of need.
The Dead Moon Circus arc starts with Usagi and the girls getting into high school! Mamoru is a college student! Chibi-Usa's return home to the thirtieth century is disrupted by the arrival of the mysterious and sinister Dead Moon Circus, from a total solar eclipse.
Sailor Moon/Usagi and Sailor Chibi Moon/Chibi-Usa receive new powers and weapons from "Crystal Kaleidoscopes", which were originally toys they got Mamoru to buy for them at the suspicious and sudden Jūban Shopping District festival celebrating the Dead Moon Circus's upcoming performance (I know, roll with it, k?). Sailor Moon has Moon Kaleido Scope, and Sailor Chibi Moon has Chibi Moon Kaleido Scope, and they talk and have wills of their own, apparently. These are granted to them by another mysterious character in this arc - a Pegasus named Helios.
Chibi-Usa is visited by Helios, who calls her "young maiden". He wants her to help him "save Elysion", and it "will require the Golden Crystal".
The Dead Moon Circus consists of Zirconia, her eyeball-bat... thing... Zircon (I wonder if she ever rips its heart out for a magic spell, like Kaolinite), the big bad Queen Nehellenia (who is in a dark mirror at the moment, and who wants revenge against "the Kingdom of the White Moon"), the orb-users - the Amazoness Quartet, and their pets-turned-humans - Tiger's Eye, Hawk's Eye, and Fish's Eye.
Mamoru is having chest pains ever since the Circus's arrival, and on glimpsing Helios (Chibi-Usa, Usagi and Mamoru (and maybe Diana) are the only heroes who have seen the Pegasus so far). After Sailor Moon's and Sailor Chibi Moon's battling the Amazoness Quartet's nightmare balls, the Lemures, Mamo-chan collapses.
The volume ends with the Amazoness Quartet granting Sailor Moon's and Sailor Chibi Moon's "wishes", and they switch ages... or their bodies switch ages... Chibi-Usa being over 900-years-old (the manga does remind us of that detail) doesn't factor into this... Usagi is a little kid and Chibi-Usa is a teenager. There, that clears it.
Fun!
Trivial thoughts:
I once said that the Death Busters arc was my favourite of 'Sailor Moon'. Now I'm glad it's over. I mean, how does a story arc get to be more confusing, complicated and convoluted than the Black Moon arc, which has time travel as its main plot point?!
Hotaru's tragic character, and depression, are further explored. Example: '...It's so strange... I'm a disembodied soul, with an alien possessing my body. [...] ...That means I'm dead, right? ...And if that's the case, then why... am I fighting so hard? Father doesn't exist anymore. I don't have anything left. So why... do I still have the power to fight? Was I ever really this strong?'. Despite what everyone thought of her, she matters, she has value, and she doesn't destroy the world, she saves it - for Sailor Moon, Sailor Chibi Moon, and everyone else who loves her. In her final rebirth this volume, she is given another chance at life, at happiness, at family love.
When it seems like Super Sailor Moon dies protecting Earth and everyone she loves, Tuxedo Mask calls her "Usako", which was his pet name for her, until this arc, when he calls her "Usa", which Usagi doesn't like. The love and affection was never lost between them.
On the same page, a tearful Sailor Chibi Moon calls Sailor Moon, "Mama". A sweet moment, though she should know that Sailor Moon is fine, or else she wouldn't exist. All the Sailor Guardians are devastated by the "loss" of their friend, who they love dearly, princess or not.
The eight Sailors' costumes change when Sailor Moon comes back to life, as it were. Not that this matters, since only Sailor Saturn and then Sailor Moon/Neo Queen Serenity save the world.
Sailor Pluto shakes Sailor Chibi Moon's hand upon the Outer Guardians' departure at the end of the Death Busters arc; it is the closest the story comes to acknowledging their past friendship. Along with the "taboo" space-time door on the Tau Star System, and the Chronos mention, the handshake shows that Pluto's past incarnation is not forgotten about, and it is still important to her character, no matter how many times she is reincarnated.
Sailor Neptune gives Sailor Chibi Moon her Deep Aqua Mirror, for the kid to look into and see the Sailor Guardian and princess she will one day become. Everyone's giving gifts to the spoiled Chibi-Usa.
I hope Chibi-Usa's friendship with Hotaru isn't ignored in the future, like how her friendship with Sailor Pluto ended up. In small, subtle panels without words, Sailor Chibi Moon looks in wonder at baby Hotaru (I think... I hope). Is there a further bond to come?
On that note, soul Hotaru's line, "We're both girls, so... this might sound strange... but I get this feeling that
Sailor Chibi Moon and Tuxedo Mask, their powers revived by Hotaru, join the battle. Chibi Moon even gains a Legendary Holy Grail of her own, and becomes Super Sailor Chibi Moon. However, no Sailor Guardian but Sailor Moon is strong enough, nor powerful enough, to stop the end. Super Sailor Moon uses her Legendary Holy Grail, renamed the Moon Chalice of lore (?), and with it filled with all nine Guardians' power, she too sacrifices herself, by realising all her light and crystal and moon powers into the enemy.
There's no time to process anything, as immediately afterwards the three talismans activate, and Sailor Saturn is reborn.
Were the Sailors and the world doomed from the start? Is this to be their fate? Is all hope lost?
No, for in the end, Sailor Saturn, the "goddess of death" and "emissary from the abyss of death", fights Pharoah 90 with her Silence Glaive, and she doesn't annihilate the world, but saves it, through sacrificing herself again, in sending the alien darkness monster back to the Tao System. She is the Guardian of destruction and death, but also of rebirth - "With every ending come hope and rebirth".
Silver Millennium's eventual restoration makes sense, then.
Sailor Saturn says Earth can be saved, thanks to Sailor Moon's powers and her destiny to be Neo Queen Serenity of the Silver Millennium of the future Earth. Yeah, of course Sailor Moon survives, and she returns the world to normal, and brings its people back to life, as Serenity, or "the Messiah", as seen in both Usagi's and Mamoru's prophetic dreams.
Sailor Pluto, at Sailor Saturn's insistence in her last request, closes the passageway to the Tau Star System, using her not-forgotten role as a space-time door guardian, and Chronos's daughter (symbolically or literally, I'm not sure).
And right after that, Sailor Saturn/Hotaru is reborn as a baby, and the Sailors Uranus, Neptune and Pluto take it upon themselves to raise her as her parents. They had wanted to kill her, when they saw her as a death-and-void-bringer not meant to exist. Now they will take care of her, and love her, as their innocent baby daughter, who is no longer alone in the world. That is their new mission. One they will do on their own again, as they say their goodbyes to their princess and the Inner Guardians, and leave, far away, promising to return in times of need.
The Dead Moon Circus arc starts with Usagi and the girls getting into high school! Mamoru is a college student! Chibi-Usa's return home to the thirtieth century is disrupted by the arrival of the mysterious and sinister Dead Moon Circus, from a total solar eclipse.
Sailor Moon/Usagi and Sailor Chibi Moon/Chibi-Usa receive new powers and weapons from "Crystal Kaleidoscopes", which were originally toys they got Mamoru to buy for them at the suspicious and sudden Jūban Shopping District festival celebrating the Dead Moon Circus's upcoming performance (I know, roll with it, k?). Sailor Moon has Moon Kaleido Scope, and Sailor Chibi Moon has Chibi Moon Kaleido Scope, and they talk and have wills of their own, apparently. These are granted to them by another mysterious character in this arc - a Pegasus named Helios.
Chibi-Usa is visited by Helios, who calls her "young maiden". He wants her to help him "save Elysion", and it "will require the Golden Crystal".
The Dead Moon Circus consists of Zirconia, her eyeball-bat... thing... Zircon (I wonder if she ever rips its heart out for a magic spell, like Kaolinite), the big bad Queen Nehellenia (who is in a dark mirror at the moment, and who wants revenge against "the Kingdom of the White Moon"), the orb-users - the Amazoness Quartet, and their pets-turned-humans - Tiger's Eye, Hawk's Eye, and Fish's Eye.
Mamoru is having chest pains ever since the Circus's arrival, and on glimpsing Helios (Chibi-Usa, Usagi and Mamoru (and maybe Diana) are the only heroes who have seen the Pegasus so far). After Sailor Moon's and Sailor Chibi Moon's battling the Amazoness Quartet's nightmare balls, the Lemures, Mamo-chan collapses.
The volume ends with the Amazoness Quartet granting Sailor Moon's and Sailor Chibi Moon's "wishes", and they switch ages... or their bodies switch ages... Chibi-Usa being over 900-years-old (the manga does remind us of that detail) doesn't factor into this... Usagi is a little kid and Chibi-Usa is a teenager. There, that clears it.
Fun!
Trivial thoughts:
I once said that the Death Busters arc was my favourite of 'Sailor Moon'. Now I'm glad it's over. I mean, how does a story arc get to be more confusing, complicated and convoluted than the Black Moon arc, which has time travel as its main plot point?!
Hotaru's tragic character, and depression, are further explored. Example: '...It's so strange... I'm a disembodied soul, with an alien possessing my body. [...] ...That means I'm dead, right? ...And if that's the case, then why... am I fighting so hard? Father doesn't exist anymore. I don't have anything left. So why... do I still have the power to fight? Was I ever really this strong?'. Despite what everyone thought of her, she matters, she has value, and she doesn't destroy the world, she saves it - for Sailor Moon, Sailor Chibi Moon, and everyone else who loves her. In her final rebirth this volume, she is given another chance at life, at happiness, at family love.
When it seems like Super Sailor Moon dies protecting Earth and everyone she loves, Tuxedo Mask calls her "Usako", which was his pet name for her, until this arc, when he calls her "Usa", which Usagi doesn't like. The love and affection was never lost between them.
On the same page, a tearful Sailor Chibi Moon calls Sailor Moon, "Mama". A sweet moment, though she should know that Sailor Moon is fine, or else she wouldn't exist. All the Sailor Guardians are devastated by the "loss" of their friend, who they love dearly, princess or not.
The eight Sailors' costumes change when Sailor Moon comes back to life, as it were. Not that this matters, since only Sailor Saturn and then Sailor Moon/Neo Queen Serenity save the world.
Sailor Pluto shakes Sailor Chibi Moon's hand upon the Outer Guardians' departure at the end of the Death Busters arc; it is the closest the story comes to acknowledging their past friendship. Along with the "taboo" space-time door on the Tau Star System, and the Chronos mention, the handshake shows that Pluto's past incarnation is not forgotten about, and it is still important to her character, no matter how many times she is reincarnated.
Sailor Neptune gives Sailor Chibi Moon her Deep Aqua Mirror, for the kid to look into and see the Sailor Guardian and princess she will one day become. Everyone's giving gifts to the spoiled Chibi-Usa.
I hope Chibi-Usa's friendship with Hotaru isn't ignored in the future, like how her friendship with Sailor Pluto ended up. In small, subtle panels without words, Sailor Chibi Moon looks in wonder at baby Hotaru (I think... I hope). Is there a further bond to come?
On that note, soul Hotaru's line, "We're both girls, so... this might sound strange... but I get this feeling that
... destiny brought us together." Ugh! Was the "We're both girls" necessary? What does gender have to do with their special bond? Is this a no-homo moment? Seriously? In this arc that introduces Sailor Uranus/
Haruka and Sailor Neptune/Michiru, and contains Haruka's declarations and teachings that gender doesn't matter. Ugh!
The way that Sailor Uranus/Haruka, Sailor Neptune/Michiru and Sailor Pluto/Setsuna are shown to leave their old lives behind is via three helicopters. Effing brilliant. I wonder which one baby Hotaru is on...
Everything returns to normal, and once again no civilian talks about how their city, and the entire world,
The way that Sailor Uranus/Haruka, Sailor Neptune/Michiru and Sailor Pluto/Setsuna are shown to leave their old lives behind is via three helicopters. Effing brilliant. I wonder which one baby Hotaru is on...
Everything returns to normal, and once again no civilian talks about how their city, and the entire world,
everything, was almost destroyed. And dead or dying people came back to life, apparently. Anything to do with Mugen and Mugenzu is never mentioned again, either. Are the Sailor Guardians ever acknowledged as regular world-saving heroes by the general public in the manga? Are the Sailors ever appreciated, thanked and celebrated? There are official toys made of them, so people know they exist, at least.
Usagi, Minako, Ami, Rei and Makoto are high school students. Minako mentions how happy she is to finally be attending the same school as the others. So she was in a different school from them before; I was a bit confused on that point.
The Inner Guardians make their dreams known upon the solar eclipse; upon the Dead Moon Circus. I'm certain this will come back later on.
Helios the Pegasus (who won't be a Pegasus for long) is set up to be Chibi-Usa's love interest, or "prince"; thus she will finally put her affection towards Mamoru - her future father! - to rest.
The Dead Moon Circus wants to take over the world, from Tokyo, Japan, exactly where the Sailor Guardians are. Of course. They also don't know who Helios is. Interesting...
Luna and Artemis are pushed to the sidelines. They hardly appear, and hardly do anything, and I think this trend will continue onwards, sadly.
Heck, Rei's shrine crows, Phobos and Deimos, reappear, and they do more than the moon cats!
In the thirtieth century, Neo Queen Serenity told Chibi-Usa bedtime stories about Atlantis, pyramids, a cursed diamond, cyborgs, vampires, and a pitch black mirror (foreshadowing Nehellenia). How funny.
Chibi-Usa demonstrates development and maturity when she reflects on whether it is a good time for her to go back home, and whether she is a full-fledged Sailor Guardian and protector yet; especially, currently, in light of Helios and his calls for help.
Also, she tells Usagi and Mamoru that it won't matter if she doesn't return to the thirtieth century on the exact day she said in her letter to her mother, as that day is April 1st, and Neo Queen Serenity might think it's an April Fool's joke and won't take it seriously anyway - "It is Mama after all!". This doubles as an insult to Usagi, who takes it maturely (and maternally), by replying, "In return, Chibi-Usa, to keep [your parents]
Usagi, Minako, Ami, Rei and Makoto are high school students. Minako mentions how happy she is to finally be attending the same school as the others. So she was in a different school from them before; I was a bit confused on that point.
The Inner Guardians make their dreams known upon the solar eclipse; upon the Dead Moon Circus. I'm certain this will come back later on.
Helios the Pegasus (who won't be a Pegasus for long) is set up to be Chibi-Usa's love interest, or "prince"; thus she will finally put her affection towards Mamoru - her future father! - to rest.
The Dead Moon Circus wants to take over the world, from Tokyo, Japan, exactly where the Sailor Guardians are. Of course. They also don't know who Helios is. Interesting...
Luna and Artemis are pushed to the sidelines. They hardly appear, and hardly do anything, and I think this trend will continue onwards, sadly.
Heck, Rei's shrine crows, Phobos and Deimos, reappear, and they do more than the moon cats!
In the thirtieth century, Neo Queen Serenity told Chibi-Usa bedtime stories about Atlantis, pyramids, a cursed diamond, cyborgs, vampires, and a pitch black mirror (foreshadowing Nehellenia). How funny.
Chibi-Usa demonstrates development and maturity when she reflects on whether it is a good time for her to go back home, and whether she is a full-fledged Sailor Guardian and protector yet; especially, currently, in light of Helios and his calls for help.
Also, she tells Usagi and Mamoru that it won't matter if she doesn't return to the thirtieth century on the exact day she said in her letter to her mother, as that day is April 1st, and Neo Queen Serenity might think it's an April Fool's joke and won't take it seriously anyway - "It is Mama after all!". This doubles as an insult to Usagi, who takes it maturely (and maternally), by replying, "In return, Chibi-Usa, to keep [your parents]
from worrying... let's get up early and have you go home first thing tomorrow morning, okay?! And once you get home, make sure you explain everything and apologize to your Mama!" Chibi-Usa respectfully agrees... and then both of them beg Mamoru for the favour of letting them sleep over at his place. Ah, families!
I can't wait to see how the characters of Tiger's Eye, Hawk's Eye, and Fish's Eye will be played out. They look like a hilarious bunch.
Furuhata and his sister Unazuki return... for one tiny panel on page 208. Wow. They've moved up in the world, haven't they?
I cannot praise the art enough. It continues to be beautiful, and astoundingly emotional and expressive, with moments and pages that perfectly depict just how important a situation is. Almost every page of volume 8 is iconic and gorgeous. The same goes for the cover art - every single cover art - and every outfit Naoko Takeuchi draws the Sailor Guardians in, plus their chibi art.
Next up, the Dead Moon Circus arc plays on in volume 9!
Happy September Moon!
Final Score: 4.5/5
Original Review:
"With every ending, come hope and rebirth."
Hooray I'm halfway there! Now onto the eighth volume of the adventures of 'Sailor Moon'.
What a beautiful volume. I swear the artwork is lovelier and more articulate here.
The Death Busters arc ends with the aliens Pharaoh 90 and Mistress 9 merging in a pool of blackness to engulf the world and send it to their Tau Star System. Sailors Uranus, Neptune and Pluto create wards around their city to contain the enemy. Hotaru, lamenting the loss of her father and her friends, but not giving up the strength she still possesses, sacrifices herself to save the souls of the other Guardians and Chibiusa's Legendary Silver Crystal from Mistress 9, who literally bursts from Hotaru's body to join her Master Pharaoh 90. Chibiusa gains a second Holy Grail of her own and becomes Super Sailor Chibi-Moon (what a mouthful!). Super Sailor Moon, with the fate of the world once again in her hands, and everyone else having used up all their power for the Moon Chalice of lore, sacrifices her own life to defeat Pharaoh 90. With her disappearance, Sailor Saturn, the Goddess of Death and Ruin, is awakened. She is to swing down her Silence Glaive to destroy Pharaoh 90 and the world, but Sailor Moon/Neo-Queen Serenity/the Messiah's presence means that Earth can be saved after all. Sailor Pluto uses her Door into space and time to seal up the enemy and Sailor Saturn. Serenity bathes the world in light, returning everything to normal. And Sailor Saturn/Hotaru is reincarnated into a baby. Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, who had spent the whole arc wanting to kill her, make it their new mission to raise the child, to give her a family she never had. They leave - along with their civilian identities - promising to meet the other Guardians - their friends - again someday.
Next, the circus is coming to town! Be careful what you wish for, this is the Dead Moon Circus arc, which in contrast to the previous, darker sci-fi storyline, has the lighter touch of a fairy tale. Chibiusa's training journey is complete, or is it? Her return home to the 30th century has been delayed by the arrival of a solar eclipse - plus a Pegasus pleading for her help, and a circus group that emerged from the eclipse (headed by Zirconia, once called "granny" by the Amazoness Quartet, ehh... and this is only the start of this arc's weirdness). The Inner Guardians are now high school students, and are closer to realising their dreams for the future. Usagi finds it is easier to be a child while Chibiusa, now 903-years-old, wants to grow into a proper lady already! After a battle with the Circus's nightmare orbs, Lemures, where the two Sailor girls gain new powers from Crystal Kaleidoscopes with minds of their own (don't ask), Mamoru collapses from a mysterious cause of pain. Sailor Moon and Chibi-Moon transform back into their civilian selves - and suddenly they've switched ages!
These story arcs do flow nicely, like a dream, only more coherent. The action is full of more power-ups than 'Dragonball Z', but it is exciting and tense: you care about everyone involved. The character development is awesome - some pieces are more sympathetic than others, but are carefully planned out and add weight to the emotions of all in this beautiful assemble. The humour is excellent - Chibusa’s April Fool's hindsight joke in her letter to the future is a master stroke.
Even if in some places the story and character arcs are rushed and don't make much sense - like the Outer Senshi adopting baby Hotaru and leaving the others - the emotional outlet and residue are present 'til the end. The characters are so full of life and wonder, and the reader knows the missing Guardians will come back soon, for more instances to shine afresh!
Usagi remains her lovable self, for the most part. Now a high school student, she knows she'll have to mature quicker. Her self-sacrifice at the end of the Death Busters arc, and her revival as a Messiah of Light, further prove her worth as a hero. She's earned everything she's received, everything she's ever fought for; she's a pure, true friend to all. No doubt she inspires others, such as Chibusa and Hotaru, who were pitiful and lonely before they met Sailor Moon; now they're hopeful, self-sacrificing heroes as well. If Usagi can save the world loads of times with the power of love and justice, she can handle high school. While a little naïve and childlike still when it comes to Mamoru, she can also be like Ami and calculate and take a potential threat of an enemy very seriously.
One small note: Before she fades away, having returned Chibiusa's soul back into her body, Hotaru says destiny must have brought the both of them together - adding that this sounds strange because they're girls. Uh, okay... Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune are girls, right? I thought that gender had no meaning when it comes to love and destiny in this series. Or is this an example of Hotaru's naivety? Well, either way, she and Chibiusa are delightfully cute together.
Volume 9, here I come!
Final Score: 5/5
I can't wait to see how the characters of Tiger's Eye, Hawk's Eye, and Fish's Eye will be played out. They look like a hilarious bunch.
Furuhata and his sister Unazuki return... for one tiny panel on page 208. Wow. They've moved up in the world, haven't they?
I cannot praise the art enough. It continues to be beautiful, and astoundingly emotional and expressive, with moments and pages that perfectly depict just how important a situation is. Almost every page of volume 8 is iconic and gorgeous. The same goes for the cover art - every single cover art - and every outfit Naoko Takeuchi draws the Sailor Guardians in, plus their chibi art.
Next up, the Dead Moon Circus arc plays on in volume 9!
Happy September Moon!
Final Score: 4.5/5
Original Review:
"With every ending, come hope and rebirth."
Hooray I'm halfway there! Now onto the eighth volume of the adventures of 'Sailor Moon'.
What a beautiful volume. I swear the artwork is lovelier and more articulate here.
The Death Busters arc ends with the aliens Pharaoh 90 and Mistress 9 merging in a pool of blackness to engulf the world and send it to their Tau Star System. Sailors Uranus, Neptune and Pluto create wards around their city to contain the enemy. Hotaru, lamenting the loss of her father and her friends, but not giving up the strength she still possesses, sacrifices herself to save the souls of the other Guardians and Chibiusa's Legendary Silver Crystal from Mistress 9, who literally bursts from Hotaru's body to join her Master Pharaoh 90. Chibiusa gains a second Holy Grail of her own and becomes Super Sailor Chibi-Moon (what a mouthful!). Super Sailor Moon, with the fate of the world once again in her hands, and everyone else having used up all their power for the Moon Chalice of lore, sacrifices her own life to defeat Pharaoh 90. With her disappearance, Sailor Saturn, the Goddess of Death and Ruin, is awakened. She is to swing down her Silence Glaive to destroy Pharaoh 90 and the world, but Sailor Moon/Neo-Queen Serenity/the Messiah's presence means that Earth can be saved after all. Sailor Pluto uses her Door into space and time to seal up the enemy and Sailor Saturn. Serenity bathes the world in light, returning everything to normal. And Sailor Saturn/Hotaru is reincarnated into a baby. Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, who had spent the whole arc wanting to kill her, make it their new mission to raise the child, to give her a family she never had. They leave - along with their civilian identities - promising to meet the other Guardians - their friends - again someday.
Next, the circus is coming to town! Be careful what you wish for, this is the Dead Moon Circus arc, which in contrast to the previous, darker sci-fi storyline, has the lighter touch of a fairy tale. Chibiusa's training journey is complete, or is it? Her return home to the 30th century has been delayed by the arrival of a solar eclipse - plus a Pegasus pleading for her help, and a circus group that emerged from the eclipse (headed by Zirconia, once called "granny" by the Amazoness Quartet, ehh... and this is only the start of this arc's weirdness). The Inner Guardians are now high school students, and are closer to realising their dreams for the future. Usagi finds it is easier to be a child while Chibiusa, now 903-years-old, wants to grow into a proper lady already! After a battle with the Circus's nightmare orbs, Lemures, where the two Sailor girls gain new powers from Crystal Kaleidoscopes with minds of their own (don't ask), Mamoru collapses from a mysterious cause of pain. Sailor Moon and Chibi-Moon transform back into their civilian selves - and suddenly they've switched ages!
These story arcs do flow nicely, like a dream, only more coherent. The action is full of more power-ups than 'Dragonball Z', but it is exciting and tense: you care about everyone involved. The character development is awesome - some pieces are more sympathetic than others, but are carefully planned out and add weight to the emotions of all in this beautiful assemble. The humour is excellent - Chibusa’s April Fool's hindsight joke in her letter to the future is a master stroke.
Even if in some places the story and character arcs are rushed and don't make much sense - like the Outer Senshi adopting baby Hotaru and leaving the others - the emotional outlet and residue are present 'til the end. The characters are so full of life and wonder, and the reader knows the missing Guardians will come back soon, for more instances to shine afresh!
Usagi remains her lovable self, for the most part. Now a high school student, she knows she'll have to mature quicker. Her self-sacrifice at the end of the Death Busters arc, and her revival as a Messiah of Light, further prove her worth as a hero. She's earned everything she's received, everything she's ever fought for; she's a pure, true friend to all. No doubt she inspires others, such as Chibusa and Hotaru, who were pitiful and lonely before they met Sailor Moon; now they're hopeful, self-sacrificing heroes as well. If Usagi can save the world loads of times with the power of love and justice, she can handle high school. While a little naïve and childlike still when it comes to Mamoru, she can also be like Ami and calculate and take a potential threat of an enemy very seriously.
One small note: Before she fades away, having returned Chibiusa's soul back into her body, Hotaru says destiny must have brought the both of them together - adding that this sounds strange because they're girls. Uh, okay... Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune are girls, right? I thought that gender had no meaning when it comes to love and destiny in this series. Or is this an example of Hotaru's naivety? Well, either way, she and Chibiusa are delightfully cute together.
Volume 9, here I come!
Final Score: 5/5
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