Powerful, climactic stuff!
Mamoru is sick, and soon coughs up black blood. Usagi and Chibiusa, having switched physical sizes, comprehend inner and outer problems all around them, what with the Dead Moon Circus spreading their influence everywhere. (There's a moment of self-awareness where the Inner Guardians mistake the grown-up Chibiusa for Black Lady. Yet, Chibiusa frantically wonders, "Who's Black Lady?" She really doesn't remember being her evil alter ego in the Black Moon arc? There wasn't any indication of this before). Anyway, the two revert back to normal after transforming into Super Sailor Guardians in the next battle. Chibiusa's Pegasus, Helios, is desperate for help from a young maiden - mainly to find the Golden Crystal. She develops feelings for Helios: Is he her new prince? In the middle of the story he finally reveals himself as the Priest of Elysion - a land which protects the earth from deep within its heart. Helios, Mamoru the prince/Guardian of earth, the earth itself, and Elysion are all connected. Due to Dead Moon destroying dreams, spreading darkness and imprisoning Helios in their new moon (no longer inhabiting the extinct Silver Millennium), the linked four are dying. His strength to appear in spirit gone, Helios vanishes, his last words a declaration that both the Legendary Silver Crystal and the mysterious Golden Crystal are the only forces that can drive out Dead Moon's darkness and death. No matter how much Mamoru tries to steer Usagi away from him, feeling himself a constant burden and a danger to her in his sickness, she vows to stay by his side always - for that is her dream.
Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Venus each get chapters of their own where they are confronted by what their dreams really mean, and by their deepest insecurities. They are conflicted with their individual desires and their shared Sailor destiny to fight evil and protect the Moon Princess Serenity. Each Guardian meets a "mini-me" - a "mini-me" who calls her “princess” - of her own during her battle and new transformation. Each of them looks up to the Sailors Uranus, Neptune and Pluto for guidance (i.e. like Chibiusa, learning how to be an adult). Tensions rise, and as the girls continue to feel useless - unable to transform ever since the eclipse which brought Dead Moon to earth - they fight alone. Teamwork suffers, and the relentless enemy gains the upper hand.
Meanwhile, the sorely-missed Outer Solar System Guardians live a quiet, peaceful and productive life raising a rapidly-aging Hotaru. It's only a matter of time before she awakens again, and lets the Outers know what they've felt is their mission all along: It's the same as the Inners', to protect their Princess Serenity, for the future Silver Millennium.
Artemis gives Minako the power to transform into Sailor Venus, but the Amazoness Quartet seem unstoppable. No power seems strong enough to defeat these parasites.
Chibiusa and Diana are concerned for Mamoru. And for Usagi, who has started coughing...
Phew! There is a lot going on!
I love the Guardians' character development the most. Intelligent, sweet Ami with her dreams in medicine, whilst still coping with her parents' divorce and feeling that they think she's always too busy studying to care about them. Serious, aloof Rei wants to be a shrine priestess, and is constantly under pressure to fit into gendered traditions and get married and settle down. Lonely but ambitious Makoto has many dreams, and doesn’t know how to prioritize each one realistically. And the bubbly Minako wishes to be an idol, and this becomes more potent when, as the only Inner Guardian left who cannot transform (something only Artemis, Luna and Diana know about), she feels she's failed as a leader and protector. Her bond with the brave Artemis gets a spotlight. Nice to know she is grateful for everything he's done for her, too. The Guardians learn to overcome their weaknesses, and know they are not alone in their confusion about what it means to achieve their dreams. It’s a good metaphor for growing up.
Plus, Chibiusa is heartbroken at the possibility that she isn't the grown, beautiful maiden Helios is looking for. Despite their constant bickering, she looks up to Usagi, and is also jealous of her for being so powerful and lovely a saviour as Sailor Moon, even though she is her future mother. Chibiusa's inferiority complex is explored further in this arc, and thank heaven she is given her own prince to fawn over instead of her future father, Mamoru. When in the body of an adult, it's easier to see that she can be a brave woman sometimes, in the face of so many traumatising things happening.
Usagi, as she grows older, does start thinking about taking her relationship with Mamoru to "the next level" - which in the beginning is very awkward when she is in the body of a child. Like her love life, Usagi Tsukino is maturing, along with the 'Sailor Moon' series with its more complex storylines and artwork. Near the end, when it appears she might have been infected by Mamoru's curse, it is genuinely terrifying. A perfect cliffhanger!
I would talk about the character journeys the Outer Senshi go through in this volume, but that would take far too long. I'll only say that their development is as inspiring and thoughtful as that of the main characters. They have their own professions as well as a child to bring up, and now they're called to be Sailor Soldiers once more. What lives these ladies lead! Plus, little Hotaru/Sailor Saturn knows poetry.
Bigger, badder villains; increasingly intense action, suspense, character background and depth; more excitement. What more could any 'Sailor Moon' fan want? The Dead Moon Circus arc is turning into a fairy tale in the Brothers Grimm sense. Even though Death Busters is my favourite arc, it still feels like the series keeps getting better and better. The love is brimming; I can't wait to get into the tenth volume.
Wow, ten already! I'm positively flying through these reviews!
Final Score: 5/5
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