| Codename: Sailor V | |
Codename: Sailor V (Book 2 cover) |
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| コードネームはセーラーV (Kōdo Nēmu wa Sērā Bui) |
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| Genre | Magical girl, Romance |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Naoko Takeuchi |
| Published by | Kodansha |
| English publisher | Kodansha Comics USA |
| Demographic | Shōjo |
| Magazine | RunRun |
| Original run | 1991 – 1997 |
| Volumes | Original: 3 Reissue: 2 |
| Related Series | |
Codename: Sailor V (コードネームはセーラーＶ Kōdo Nēmu wa Sērā Bui) is a manga created by Naoko Takeuchi. Series revolves around the character, Minako Aino, a cheerful schoolgirl who finds out that she has magical powers that she must use to protect the people of the Earth. This series is the basis for the sequel, Sailor Moon.
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Codename: Sailor V tells the story of Minako Aino, a 13 year old middle school student, who is slightly distracted, out-spoken and dreams about some day finding true love. But soon, her calm and normal life changes when she encounters a talking white cat with a crescent moon on its forehead. This cat introduces himself as Artemis and claims that Minako is a girl with the power to transform into a stronger and more beautiful girl than anyone.
He calls her "Venus" and tells her she has a mission to protect Earth in the name of her guardian planet Venus. To help her with her new mission, Artemis gives her two items, a crescent moon shaped compact and a magical pen. The magical pen allows her to transform into her alter-ego, the sailor-suited beautiful soldier of justice, Sailor V.
Sailor V begins fighting the evil agents known as the Dark Agency, who fight under Danburite's command. He is in charge of sending his many talented idols to enslave the public.
Sailor V has many adventures as a Soldier of Justice, some sparking the envy and admiration of the police force. She also later gained the aid of Saijou Ace, who had for a moment taken her spotlight due to his TV show.
At the end Minako realizes that her duty is more important than romance and discovers her true identity as Sailor Venus, so she has another mission: to find the other sailors, and the moon princess. The series ends, and Sailor V resurfaces in the Sailor Moon manga.
Sailor Moon is the sequel to Codename: Sailor V. When it was proposed that Codename: Sailor V would be adapted as an anime, creator Naoko Takeuchi adapted the ideas from it to fit a team format and created Sailor Moon. Both manga ran simultaneously: Sailor V was published in the magazine Run Run, while Sailor Moon ran in Nakayoshi.[1] Sailor Venus was included in the cast of the Sailor Moon manga and anime series from the first story arc on.
Usagi Tsukino is partly based on Minako, and thus they share some characteristics; however, due to the anime's prevalence in other countries, Minako is sometimes mistakenly considered the "knockoff." Usagi is generally considered slightly less intelligent, somewhat lazier and much less athletic than Minako, while Minako is more graceful and driven but not necessarily possessing foresight. Where Usagi is clumsy and a crybaby, Minako is merely over-dramatic.
The Sailor V manga actually fully concluded some time after the conclusion of the 18-volume Sailor Moon manga. It included cameo appearances by other Sailor Moon characters, including Usagi, Naru Osaka, Ami Mizuno, Makoto Kino, Rei Hino and a shadowy image of the ten Sailor Senshi together, as well as a vision of the Guardian Senshi together in the late Silver Millennium. However, new chapters of the Sailor V manga (which was originally only three volumes long) were published less often than the Sailor Moon manga.
Names are in the Western order, with the given name before the family name.
The only Sailor Soldier to make numerous appearances in Codename: Sailor V is Usagi Tsukino. Ami Mizuno, Rei Hino and Makoto Kino only make one cameo in different chapters.
Narkissos moved about Minako's school and brainwashed the girls there into becoming his slaves so that the Dark Agency might rule Japan. Seemingly a perfectly gorgeous and popular transfer student named Higashi, Minako develops a crush on him and tries to give him a love letter, but either her lack of courage or other obstacles get in her way. When they meet at the Glory Cram School they are paired together for a study lesson. He tells her that her long hair is very ladylike and that she should wear a big red ribbon on back. However when she thinks that Higashi and a girl named Haneda like each other, Minako gives up and decides to find a new guy. When Higashi attacks Haneda, revealing his true form as Narkissos, Minako leaps to the rescue as Sailor V. Once she defeated Narkissos all the girls were released from his power.[2] Later prints of the manga have back ground characters remark on his appearance being similar to Jedite's.
Takurou is not really a member of the Dark Agency, just a local pervert otaku who likes female warrior fighting games. Minako encounters him at the Game Center Crown where he flips Sailor V's skirt to examine her panties and ultimately feels the wrath of an enraged Minako.
The idol Pandora is debuting on Channel 44 in a 24-hour idol show. She also plans to give signed CD's to all the boys who come to the studio to support her. She is actually a member of the Dark Agency, and is brainwashing everyone in the city. Minako disguises herself as a policewoman and goes to the station to stop Pandora. She melts the idol with her Crescent Beam attack, leaving her as nothing but a pile of mush.
Petite Pandora is the younger sister of the evil idol Pandora. She is determined to avenge her sister's death by killing Sailor V. The model becomes an instant sensation with her undeniable cuteness and her trademark "world's cutest wink.". Her wink, however, is what she uses to brainwash her victims and turn them into her slaves. She leaves a message for Sailov V at the Police Station threatening to kill her slaves if she doesn't meet her at Shiba park. When Sailor V arrives Petite Pandora is eventually destroyed by Sailor V and the slaves are freed.
The Dark Guys are an idol group made up of triplets. They are actually clones sent by Danburite to aid Fluorite in her plans. Minako and Hikaru are big fans of the group and even buy their CD. However, they belong to the Dark Agency's idol talent, a place who had also employed Pandora and Petite Pandora. They are part of Fluorite's plot to suck up lots of energy by sending out clone idols to do the work. With the Twin Dark and Dark Shizuka-hime, every age group for idol fans is covered. However, Sailor V destroys the clones with her Crescent Beam.
Twin Dark are twin girl idols and younger sisters to the triplet Dark Guys. Like The Dark Guys they are actually clones. Amano is a big fan of these girls. They are destroyed by Sailor V.
She is called the salary man's goddess, the most popular singer for karaoke. She is destroyed by Sailor V.
Fluorite runs the Dark Agency's idol talent section and has Pandora, Petite Pandora, Dark Guys, Twin Dark, and Dark Shizuka-hime all following her command. Narkissos is also under her, though he is not an idol but an undercover transfer student at Minako's school. Fluorite takes orders directly from the shadowy boss, Danburite. She uses idols to collect energy and gain slaves for the Dark Agency so that they might take over the world. However, after much struggling Sailor V finally destroys her.
When Minako goes to the game center, she finds out that the new "Cyberwarrior Girl Luga" game is a virtual reality game and it is so popular that she doesn't get to play it. Her friend Amano gets a copy of the game and lends it to Minako where she hears from her mother that the game is so popular that fights are breaking out about it and her mother tells her it sounds dangerous. The next morning she finds her parents fighting over the game and at school she finds that everyone is obsessed about getting home to play the Luga game. The Boss reveals it's a Dark Agency plot and she eventually gets sucked into the game. Amano plays the game with Minako inside and together they defeat Luga.
She is the representative of the Dark Agency's Hawaiian branch. She gets permission from Danburite to collect energy from the Japanese who are travelling abroad over the summer. She poses as the chief stewardess on the Dark Air System headed for Hawaii. However, when she hears that Sailor V ended up in Greece rather than on her plane to Hawaii, she changes the flight's course. Upon arrival in Greece, Hibiscusy feels the hatred of Sailor V from someone and it turns out to be Wakagi's brother. She transforms him into Aloha Kamen but he is easily defeated when Minako transforms into a skimpy bathing suit. Hibiscusy is quickly destroyed by Sailor V's Crescent Beam attack.
A really powerful, unknown gang has shown up and they have been starting fights all over the place. Some people suspect it is Saitou and his gang, but in truth, they are agents of the Dark Agency. While they pick fights, they soak up fighting energy from the thugs. When the thugs have no power left, they are brainwashed and used as puppets. Vivian is the one leading this gang. She claims she is the president of the Dark Agency and is settling things in Tokyo. Vivian is destroyed by Sailor V.
She first appears close to Valentine' Day selling Rainbow Chocolates. Girls have been eating the chocolates and gaining weight. deVleene then hands out fliers advertising for health camp Spa deVleene, where girls can get their ideal proportions, but it is all a trap. She is collecting the energy from them during this time and when they eat more of her chocolates, they will come back for more help. None of the girls that visit Este de Brine lose any weight either and are instead tricked by magical mirrors. When the girls hand out the Rainbow Chocolates for Valintine's day the weight gain spreads to the boys too. Soon the entire town has gained weight being pudgey is the new "in" body shape. Minako later sneaks into the Este de Brine building with Wakagi and confronts deVleene. deVleene uses "Rainbow Chocolate Attack" and attacks Sailor V with chocolate, but V defeats her with "Crescent Slender Beam." Upon her defeat the entire Este De Brine building collapses on top of Sailor V.
The Kaitou Ace craze is making girls want to be pretty. They are told at they can become beautiful heroines at the "Fashion Building Heroine". Liquid Fande is in charge of Cosmetics on the first floor, Water Fande is in charge of Wardrobe on the second floor, Powder Fande is in charge of Tableware on the third floor and Solid Fande is in charge of Customer Service and Tour Conduct on the fourth floor. After shopping, the girls are brainwashed by their free gifts and are told that to become beautiful heroines, they have to defeat Sailor V. The crowd finds Sailor V at the live taping of Kaitou Ace's show and attack. The Fande women arrive and Sailor V battles, but as she hasn't charged her compact, the power is low and she cannot attack. Kaitou Ace comes to the rescue and defeats them. All three are really part of the same woman, Fande. Their names are a reference to different types of foundation.[6]
Nyan-Nyan is the oldest sister of three siblings (Nyan-Nyan, Wan-Wan, & Chuu-Chuu). She is the first to attack out of the trio. Her plan is to suck out the energy from the people at the athletics festival. She has the ability to turn herself into a cat and she happens to come across Sailor V who defeats her before she can cause too much trouble.
He is the second of the three animal siblings. While he does have an energy stealing scheme, he is more interested in revenge for his older sister. He disguises himself as a little black dog (who is bought by Marie-sensei) and named Luna-chan. Since he looks so much like a cat, Artemis starts to develop a crush on little Luna-chan. After some time Luna-chan attacks and transforms back into Wan-Wan. Sailor V defeats him and all is safe once again.
The last of the animal siblings and a mosquito type woman. She dresses as a handsome doctor who is taking blood at the hospital in a plot to drain all the blood from Japan. Minako discovers that the cute doctor is actually the enemy and forces him to reveal his real identity as Chuu-Chuu. Sailor V defeats the woman with her "Diphenhydramine Combo! Venus-Brand Mosquito Repellent Incense Typhoon!!" She calls out to her siblings as she reverts to an insect and falls to the floor dead.
This villain's plot is to take energy from all the people who sang karaoke. With their raised levels of enthusiam she is sure she will succeed. She places special energy sucking microphones throughout Roppongi's karaoke places. However, she doesn't count on Artemis giving Sailor V a new item, the Venus Mike, or V using her "Venus Ten Billion Volt Rock 'N' Rouge!!" to destroy the enemy.
She discovers Minako's real identity as Sailor V. She works closely with Danburite and she calls herself the beautiful heart of the Dark Kingdom. Her plan is to take over the Chinese people under the company identity of Avex Trax Productions. She is defeated by V's "Venus Love Megaton Shower!" attack.
Always cloaked in the shadows, Danburite leads the members of the Dark Agency. He serves under the Shitennou and in his past life was Adonis. In the final volume of the series, Danburite reveals himself to be none other than Minako's love interest, Phantom Ace. She discovers his identity during a joint Japanese-Chinese movie called The Chinese Princess Story. It is here that the Agency's name is discovered to be part of the Dark Kingdom. He reports back to Kunzite.
Phantom Ace (最上A Saijō Ēsu) was a love interest of Minako's in Codename: Sailor V. He was an idol who appeared after an evil plot to make girls gain weight. He helped the girls of Tokyo to lose weight, had his own TV show, and fights alongside Sailor V (like Tuxedo Mask would later help Sailor Moon). His real name is Saijou Ace. He is similar to Tuxedo mask. His main attack is throwing playing cards, and has the named attack "Delicious Four Card Shot"
It is later revealed that he is Danburite, who serves under the Shitennou. In the Silver Millennium, he was Adonis, a lowly foot-soldier posted to Venus. He saw Princess Venus and fell in love with her, but his love was hopeless. He was talented at giving "Love Readings" involving playing cards, predominately the Aces of the four suits. In his final death scene against Sailor V he foretells that her love shall forever remain hopeless, dooming her and at the same time leaving her path open to put her mission before romance without hesitation.
Codename: Sailor V was created by Naoko Takeuchi in 1991,[7] though finalised chapters ran from May, 1993 to March, 1994 in Kodansha's Run Run magazine, with its last chapter reappearing in 1997. Three bound volumes were created in the series, spanning the 15 chapters of Sailor V. The manga was later re-released in 2004 in Japan compiled into two deluxe manga editions with restored artwork and dialogue by Naoko Takeuchi.[8][9]
Kodansha Comics USA has released the deluxe editions of the manga in English in association with Random House, along with the re-printing of the Sailor Moon manga.[10] Volume 1 of both series was released on September 13, 2011, and Volume 2 on November 15, 2011, completing the Sailor V series in America. This marks the first time the Sailor V series has been published in English, as it wasn't a part of Tokyopop's original release of the Sailor Moon manga in North America.[10][4][11]
Codename: Sailor V has been published in French and Spanish by Glenat,[12][13] in German by Egmont Manga & Anime,[14] in Italian by Star Edizioni, serialised in its Amici manga magazine, and later by GP Publishing,[15][16] and in Polish by JPF.[17]
An OVA series was rumored, but never came to fruition, the Sailor Moon anime being created instead.[18]
For the week of 11 September 2011 - 17 September 2011, Codename: Sailor V was second on The New York Times Manga Best Sellers list, behind the first volume of Sailor Moon.[19][20] The following week, it was again second on the list behind the first volume of Sailor Moon.[21][22] The week after that, it slipped to third place.[23][24] For the week of 9 October - 15 October, it reappeared at eighth place,[25][26] the next week appearing at ninth.[27][28] For the week of 6 November - 12 November 2011, the first volume appeared at #2 on the list, above Sailor Moon for the first time.[29][30] The following week, the second volume of Codename: Sailor V appeared at #2 on the list, and the first volume did not appear.[31][32] For the week of 20-26 November, the second volume placed third on the list.[33][34] On the BookScan Top 20 Graphic Novels of November 2011, the second volume placed third, and the first volume placed thirteenth.[35]
Brigid Alverson described Codename: Sailor V as feeling like a rough draft of Sailor Moon.[36] Ed Sizemore felt Sailor V had less character development than Sailor Moon, feeling that this was not a drawback.[11] Sean Gaffney notes that unlike Usagi, Minako performs her missions alone, and describes the tone of the manga as an " action comedy".[3] Rebecca Silverman notes that most of Sailor V is episodic, but feels it is worth reading due to the insights it gives into Minako's character, and the groundwork it lays for Sailor Moon.[4] Katherine Dacey feels that while an adult may see the series as "repetitive, hokey, and poorly drawn", a child would see it as an "appealing fantasy in which an ordinary girl can assume a new, powerful identity" to defeat bullies and evil. Dacey sees Codename Sailor V's strength as being Minako's enthusiastic character.[37] Matthew Warner sees the book as being a "lighthearted spoof" of magical girl titles.[38]
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