"Everyone, no matter who, has a world within their heart."
"Everything is always my fault. Everyone gets dragged into my messes because of the power I hold. And battles occur."
"If the Silver Moon Crystal didn't exist, would I never have been born, either?"
Whoa! ‘Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Vol. 11’ begins and ends with a bang. A big bang, if you will. Though I'll knock off a star for the story starting off a bit uneven (the comedy bits are awkward as opposed to cathartic), the end of the volume makes up for it. On the whole, this narrative is so bleak and pessimistic.
The stakes have never been higher. There's no holding back in the Sailor Stars arc, the fifth and final chapter in the shimmering, wonderful saga of the 'Sailor Moon' manga. Main characters die; and the depression and PTSD that Usagi/Sailor Moon goes through is depicted in grave and haunting imagery, reflecting real pain and suffering. As it turns out, the entire galaxy is dying around her as well!
Epic here as epic comes: New mythologies and philosophies are introduced; multiple Sailor Guardians (possessing their own "Sailor Crystals") throughout the Milky Way exist; every living being in the 'Sailor Moon' universe has a soul equivalent of a "star seed"; and the symbolism in the story and themes are more overt than ever.
All the Guardians of the Solar System go to school, join clubs and hold jobs at school (it's endearing to see the not-so-stoic Haruka and Michiru attempting to live as normal high school girls). Usagi gets lonely as more of her friends and loved ones leave her side for various reasons - reasons that come with the emotional baggage of growing up. For once, ever since becoming the Soldier of Love and Justice Sailor Moon, she will learn that she cannot be dependent on other people forever, and her friends ought to enjoy their young lives in high school while they still can...
Fights, battles... the finale will definitely not be safe and conventional, and the heroes of this journey can't go on continuing like they typically did before, no matter how hard they try...
New characters are the Three Lights, aka the Sailor Star Lights, who are Guardians from a planet named Kinmoku, searching for their missing princess Kakyu. The three disguise themselves as a male pop idol group on earth. Then there's Chibi-Chibi, the next mystery child after Chibiusa leaves for the 30th century, who brainwashes Usagi's mother into thinking she is family (which she actually is, but that's spoiler territory). Chibi-Chibi is also the most adorable, cheerful thing ever, more likable than Chibiusa was in her debut. It's nice that Usagi gets along with her right away, when the poor not-yet-woman needs the most comforting, and we'll see why later (at the moment, it’s only revealed that Chibi-Chibi is connected to Princess Kakyu in some way...)
The final enemy is Sailor Galaxia of the empire called Shadow Galactica. She is a Sailor Guardian of destruction - destroying planets and killing Guardians and harvesting their Sailor Crystals all across the Milky Way. Galaxia’s design is unique for a 'Sailor Moon' villain - she is meant to be different from the foes of the past; ruthless, bloodthirsty, and doesn’t waste much time with the monster-of-the-week formula. She appears fully in action whenever she confronts Usagi - showing she is a true threat. Sailor Galaxia means business, and as the (sort-of) last nemesis of Sailor Moon, she could be the best.
Nobody is left out in the final arc, either. Naru, Asanuma, Phobos and Deimos the crows, and Chibiusa in the 30th century; they all make appearances. The events of the past herald devastating havoc in the future of Crystal Tokyo. Luna, Artemis and Diana are as important as ever. They’re even given an origin story: They come from their own mother planet of Mau. The planetary castles of the Solar System are also shown and explained to the reader.
As a side-note, I absolutely love the moment when Minako (Usagi calls her "Mina-P", how sweet) and Rei declare they don't need menfolk, for they have devoted their lives to one girl, Usagi, their princess and future queen of earth. As they say this, they are drawn together - literally and figuratively. They've never looked so serious, and I am officially a Minako/Rei shipper. It's also a tragedy, in light of everything that happens...
Usagi, owner of the most powerful Sailor Crystal in the universe, and preyed upon by the most powerful monster in the universe, is also a human teenage girl. The eleventh volume of 'Sailor Moon' is the saddest, in my opinion, for it shows just how much she goes through - the loneliness, the heartache, the grief, the self-blame for bringing people in danger. No emotional and mental scars are untouched upon. No stone is left unturned.
But I'm glad for it, because I want to see my heroes at their lowest point, and pushed to their limits. I want to cheer as they learn how to overcome the worst obstacles of their lives, to be ever stronger and emerge triumphant, their happy ending earned. In the end, Usagi won't give up still. She won't cry anymore, for hope may be fleeting, but a little of it is there nonetheless. Sailor Moon must save the galaxy, and she has new allies - new comrades she'll have to put her trust in.
Where will this all lead her towards? The end of the universe.
Find out to what end this will come to - a fairy tale? a tragedy? both? - in the twelfth and final volume of the journey of 'Sailor Moon'.
Final Score: 4/5
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