Codename Sailor V
Manga Review
Kodansha has been the fan pleaser for this year, with re-releasing the Sailor Moon series in its Japanese reissue entirety; it has also pleased English speaking fans greatly for releasing for the first time Codename Sailor V. This is reading that should be done before dipping your toes into the spin off world of Sailor Moon.
If you still continue to ask why or what's the point, then consider this an experience of meeting Minako Aino, the girl behind the mask of Sailor V. If you've seen the anime of Sailor Moon as a back story to Sailor Venus, then wipe your mental slate clean, since the anime is completely different from the manga. The manga came before the anime in this case. The graphic novel originally ran from 1991 to 1997 and was bound in three volumes; Kodansha has condensed it into two volumes.
M ina is quite the athlete and idol-chaser. She is chosen as a justice fighter by a talking white cat. With a transforming pen and disguise weapon Sailor V is similar in episodic plot to other Magical Girl heroine's series, like Saint Tail or Cutie Honey, but if you are familiar with the plot of Sailor Moon, then you get to see energy-sucking villains.
Codename Sailor V has a great deal of foreshadow to the events in Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon. There are not enough ways I can't help but recommend enough for readers or fans of this series to round out their experience with learning as much about the back stories of Sailor Soldiers. So if Codename Sailor V is considered the prequel of a very successful series, then wouldn't you want to learn about the origins?
Reviewed by Linda Yau, February 2012
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon
Manga Review
We're taking over this spot to announce that, after years of being out of print, Kodansha has re-issued Naoko Takeuchi's masterpiece Sailor Moon. Originally released in Japan in 1992, Sailor Moon came to the US in 1997 and follows the trials and tribulations of Usagi Tsukino -- a clutzy young girl who transforms into the super heroine Sailor Moon to combat evil and fight for love and justice -- in the name of the Moon and the mysterious Moon Princess.
 Kodansha has taken the time to perform a stellar job on the manga -- the translation is dead-on accurate, the names have not been changed to protect the innocent, and there's plenty of never-before-seen-in-the-USA cover art, and translations notes to give you more behind the scenes information.
While the manga is quite different from what you may remember of the TV series, this is a plus, as you get to fall in love with these characters all over again as well as discover WHY this manga broke all sales records and spawned one of the most successful anime franchises of all time.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, November 2011
Sailor Moon
Manga Review for the Original TokyoPop Release
It is high time to relive the beauty and magic that is Sailor Moon, but this time, we get to really experience it where it all began... with the manga!
Like the popular anime, Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon is the story of a young girl named Usagi who, with the guidance of a talking cat named Luna, becomes Sailormoon — a fighter for love and justice. Along the way, she is joined by nine other sailor soldiers to fulfill their destiny.
 While the anime devolved into "monster of the episode" which essentially made Sailor Moon out to be Voltron but with Magical Girls, the manga is not nearly as redundant. Also be aware that the personalities here will be a little different, for example, Serena/Usagi isn't quite as much the ditz, here in the manga she's much more serious about her position as leader of the Sailor Scouts.
There are different power attacks that nere made it to the anime, and deeper, more insightful characterizations that the TV show just didn't have time for (and may have been a bit too hentai for TV (i.e. Uranus and Neptune).
While the manga is quite different, this is a plus, as you get to fall in love with these characters all over again as well as discover WHY this manga broke all sales records and spawned one of the most successful anime franchises of all time.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, May 2008
Sailor Moon Super S -
The Complete Series
Anime DVD Review
"In the name of the Moon, I shall punish you" - if you don't watch this super series! Available in its original, uncut story arc, Sailor Moon Super S, all 39 episodes in one super box set of 7 DVDs. For sailor Moon fans, this is a must-have.
Directed by Kunihiko Ikuhara (creator of Utena), this shoujo series has enchanted girls the world over with its empowered female leads and has enticed adolescent males with its long-legged super heroines in short school-girl skirts (Rei Hino.... Mmmmm.) Although the plot centers around annoying Chibi-Usa (Usagi's yet to be born daughter), there's plenty of Sailor Scout action for guys and gals to enjoy.
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, September 2004
Sailor Moon - Season One
Complete and Uncut
(Japanese Language Edition)
Anime DVD Review
Drool, drool, pant, pant! The unreleased version of Sailor Moon is finally on our shores! If you thought the English-dubbed version of the show was cool, watch out! This complete and uncut version is darker, bloodier, and has many more plot twists than what was shown on American TV. Now find out *why* this show has the insane legion of fans it ardently deserves. Be prepared to laugh, be shocked and shed lots and lots of tears.
 This boxed set contains all 46 episodes (some never aired in the US) of the show's first season, as a set of 8 DVDs (with optional English subtitles) packaged in a handsome foil-stamped art-box. Usagi never had a treatment so nice. In the name of the Moon, you shall buy this!
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, October 2003
Sailor Moon and The Scouts: Lunarock
Anime Soundtrack Review
Love it or hate it, there's no denying that Sailormoon has great music. Even the American adaptation had fantastic songs and inspired an audio CD. However, that first CD to come out from the American adaptation of Sailormoon didn't feature any of the Japanese music.
 This new CD tailors more to the hardcore anime fan as it features two Japanese tracks, "Moonlight Densetsu," (the original Japanese opening theme song), and "Ai No Senshi" from Sailor Moon R. Of the five original American tunes, Sailor Moon (Jennifer Cihi) has another single, her peppy battle theme "The Power of Love" (definitely one of the best on the CD). Two other singles are Sailor Jupiter's "Daddy's Girl" (a gentle lament about growing up) and Sailor Mars's comforting "Nothing at All." The final two are the three Sailor Scouts' yeah-yeah trio about boys, "I Want Someone to Love," and Sailor Moon and Mars's musical spat, "Who Do You Think You Are?"
Clearly, the producers of Sailormoon are listening to the fan base by bringing us this new album that includes music from the original series. If you're a fan of Sailormoon this CD is a must-have. It's more balanced than the first CD, and gives you the added bonus of the two Japanese tracks. Who could ask for anything more?
Reviewed by Brian Cirulnick, May 2002
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