Awakening (Unico #1)
by Samuel Sattin (Author)
An adventure across space and time awaits!
"A spellbinding masterpiece." -- Dav Pilkey, #1 bestselling creator of Dog Man
UNICO tells the incredible story of a young unicorn who, after enraging the evil goddess Venus, is banished from the heavens and forgets all he once was. Saved from oblivion by the kindhearted West Wind, Unico continues to help others, before having to escape Venus again and begin a new adventure.
In this first manga, Unico awakes in a mysterious land and is befriended by a resourceful watch cat, Chloe, who feels protective of the young unicorn. When they find themselves near a small village in the forest, they take refuge with a kindly, but helpless, old woman. To take care of her, Chloe begs Unico to turn her into a human girl, but that act of kindness has unforeseen consequences: Unico's love has awakened Venus and her minion, Byron, who want to destroy them both!
Conceived anew by Eisner-nominated author Samuel Sattin and Eisner-winning artist team Gurihiru, and developed in collaboration with Tezuka Productions, UNICO: Awakening is a groundbreaking reboot of a beloved story by Astro Boy creator Osamu Tezuka, the "God of Manga." With striking full-color artwork and reading left to right in the Western comics style to match the original manga, UNICO is a brilliant manga series featuring storytelling at its best. Join Unico on an unforgettable journey!
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School Library Journal
Gr 4-7--For eons, Unico was swept around the world, befriending and helping others. Now, in this reimagining of Osamu Tezuka's classic manga, the story restarts for a new generation. After a prelude, the little unicorn meets Chloe, an abandoned cat who wishes to become human. While well-intentioned, Chloe has a desire for more, and that brings about the cosmic attention of Unico's nemesis, Venus. This first volume not only retells the "Cat on the Broomstick" arc from Tezuka's original manga, but also sets up a running narrative and establishes the type of themes this series will explore. First up are identity, friendship, and cruelty. True to the source, Sattin introduces kids to heavier topics within the safe zone that is this sweet character and their hopeful outlook. The art, too, retains certain Tezuka characteristics, like the unicorn's bobblehead design and catlike size. Overall though, Gurihiru does update the style to current preferences. The modern setting, dramatic paneling, and mood-oriented palettes bolster the weight of Unico's helpful and heroic deeds. VERDICT A reimagining of a beloved classic that will appeal to fans of heartfelt adventure manga and works like She-Ra and the Princess of Power. An ideal series to help fill the middle grade manga demand.--Rachel Forbes.
Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Kirkus
Plenty of action and outsized baddies keep the excitement level high... The jewel-toned palette and creatively varied panel shapes sustain a high level of visual interest.
ALA/Booklist
With all the energy of an animated cartoon, Gurihiru's eye-catching, cinematic art in a lush color palette offers excellent character design... the epic stakes, rampant magic, and manga feel will likely give this wide appeal.
Review quotes
"A spellbinding masterpiece." — Dav Pilkey, #1 bestselling creator of Dog Man
"With a careful balance of slow beats and whimsical action, Unico: Awakening builds alluring characters and keeps the suspenseful moments coming." — Anime Corner
About Osamu Tezuka:
"Widely considered the most important and influential figure in post-World War II Japanese animation." — The New York Times
"Tezuka... looms like a colossus over Japanese comics and animation." — Publishers Weekly
JUV008010 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Manga
Fantasy
Graphic novels
Quests (Expeditions)
Unicorns
Helpfulness
Cartoons and comics
Fantasy comics
Helping behavior
Graphic novel adaptations
Manga
Venus
