Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon 7 (click for source)
by Gemma Williams
Volume Seven of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon is hosted by the mysterious yet powerful Sailor Uranus. There has been some confusion around this new character during the latest story arc, but it appears as though her secrets are finally being revealed in this latest book.
Some old characters are returned to the reader along with the newbies. Usagi and the other scouts are taking more of a back seat to the story, as big things are unfolding that will leave the reader genuinely concerned for the safety of some of their favourite characters.
Volume Seven of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon is hosted by the mysterious yet powerful Sailor Uranus. There has been some confusion around this new character during the latest story arc, but it appears as though her secrets are finally being revealed in this latest book.
Some old characters are returned to the reader along with the newbies. Usagi and the other scouts are taking more of a back seat to the story, as big things are unfolding that will leave the reader genuinely concerned for the safety of some of their favourite characters.
Sailor Moon (click for source)
The story in volume seven has been the strongest yet out of all of the books so far. It appears to have taken an exciting twist which leads it away from the repetitive narrative seen beforehand, as it finds its own legs full of danger, suspense and intrigue. Sadly, there are some features that remain the same. Aliens are wanting to reanimate their Grand Master and minions are used to attack the Sailor Guardians while they try to steal the legendary Silver Crystal, which is much more powerful than their own crystal. Crystals, if used in the right way, can really help to enhance a story and the direction it takes, but I am fed up of reading about these crystals which are also highly overestimated when they’re seen in action.
Sailor Moon gets a ‘power up’, a new form of transformation. This is blurring the lines between comic and gaming again, pushing the series further into ridiculousness. All this ‘power up’ does is gives her more hearts on her outfit and a new attack with a cheesy name. The Sailor Guardian’s attacks have the worst names, like Rainbow Moon Heart Ache, and seem to fix all problems, no matter how big or small. This series was supposed to be about giving girls power, but could it not have been achieved with less childishly named attacks, and less stereotypically feminine outfits, decorated with hearts, stars and flowers, to name but a few.
Sailor Moon gets a ‘power up’, a new form of transformation. This is blurring the lines between comic and gaming again, pushing the series further into ridiculousness. All this ‘power up’ does is gives her more hearts on her outfit and a new attack with a cheesy name. The Sailor Guardian’s attacks have the worst names, like Rainbow Moon Heart Ache, and seem to fix all problems, no matter how big or small. This series was supposed to be about giving girls power, but could it not have been achieved with less childishly named attacks, and less stereotypically feminine outfits, decorated with hearts, stars and flowers, to name but a few.
Sailor Mercury (click for source)
This volume has been my favourite one out of the series so far. The build up to the end of the story arc began halfway through the book and spent a lot more time setting the scene, and the dire atmosphere can be felt through the pages. Sailors Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Venus are finally explored in a little more depth, as they are separated from Sailor Moon and are being manipulated into turning against her by reminding them, and finally telling the reader, what the girls’ dreams are and the extent of what they are giving up to protect their Princess. This has been an issue since the beginning of the series. The Guardians surrendered their lives, and apparently their personalities, to serve Sailor Moon, so the best bit by far of the entire series was learning more about these characters witnessing their weaknesses.
The series has a lot of flaws, but it was created in the 90s so it was a different time. The story is fast paced, sometimes a bit too much, but engaging. It just keeps getting better with each volume, so I have high hopes for the remaining few instalments.
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