Revisiting the Tokyopop Manga

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foenyanko

Solaris Luna
Sep 21, 2010
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If we knew the address of the original site, Wayback Machine could probably at least give us an idea of the content and layout. Maybe the url is printed in the JP manga that released back then (assuming someone doesn't already know what it is, lol.)
 
Sep 6, 2014
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The end of volume 10 features a bunch of "top ten" lists, so here's my commentary on them:



I'm surprised they translated this accurately instead of changing it to something like, "It's been really popular in America too! Thank you Mixxers!" (Also, it was reported in the September '95 issue of Nakayoshi that the manga was coming out in England, yet here Naoko says America. Either way, it wouldn't come out for another 3 years. I wonder what happened. Would love to know what publisher they were in talks with back then.)



1) Too bad Naoko practically never does interviews anymore. (Maybe she'll do one right before Eternal comes out?)
2) Are there any screen grabs of what the original Sailor Moon website looked like?



Why did you never give us a Sailor Sun then, Naoko???



The inspiration for Crysternal?



1) When Naoko's art is good, it's really good (IMO), but mostly it's...still not as bad as Crysternal
3) She says she wants to draw Sailor Moon more often... If only she still felt this way. :(
5) I bet she regrets Crysternal even more.
9) His name is actually Franck Sorbier. I'd love to see a Sailor Moon-inspired collection from him (or an official collaboration).



--- Maybe spend a little longer than 5 seconds drawing Artemis. It shows.
--- Her favorite scene is Tuxedo Mask kissing passed out Usagi in Act 4.

(Full album playlist)

They should get him to do the soundtrack for the Stars arc movies. :lol:
I’m impressed Mixx kept the reference to episode 34 since it would be episode 30 for Americans.

Then again I doubt anyone working at Mixx even watched the dub so...
 

Memento

Stella Nova
Mar 8, 2012
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VOLUME 11.

PRINCESS KAGUYA'S LOVER (Part 1)



*screams*
(Also, please note that Naoko spelt Haruka's last name "Tenoh," which is the spelling they used last time, but I guess we're back to "Tenou" now.)



A taxi? What's the matter? Sold your helicopters to pay your rent that month?



But...we're at the arcade...not the parlor... (Or maybe we are at the parlor and Naoko used the arcade marquee panel by mistake?)



Why are Mina and Lita celebrating their birthdays together? They're more than a month apart, and it isn't even December yet (as established a few pages later). Furthermore, Setsuna's birthday is only a few days after Mina's, so why isn't she celebrating her b-day with them, too?



This makes it sound like Luna and Artemis have their own places, rather than live with Bunny and Mina respectively.



First of all, warm cake is disgusting. Secondly, Lita had to bake her own shared birthday cake? Poor Jupes :(



I feel a strong, visceral hatred for Luna calling Artemis "Art." (I do appreciate that Naoko brought back this backstory detail from Act 1.)



I hope every single one of these brats died a slow and painful death.



1. What is wrong with Himeko's leg?
2. I wish Himeko and Kakeru would have popped up in another chapter/side story. They're really nice characters and it would have been fun to hear from them again, even if only in little newspaper headline Easter eggs or something.



Kakeru has FIVE doctorates and he's not even 30 yet? Amy's got some competition.



Is this meant to imply that Kaguya was responsible for the dinosaurs' going extinct? (Also, insert Space Force joke here.)



Wait a minute, wasn't that the plot of the R movie...?



I don't know; maybe it's been 100 million years since the last comet?



Inky, Muffin, or Fuzzball: What should Luna be renamed in the next reboot? Text your choice to BALDSPOTKITTY now.



I mean, it's not, but okay.
 
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Sep 6, 2014
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I’m somewhat surprised Amy kept her Japanese surname. I’d say Anderson was only uttered all of once in the DiC dub and we know Mixx doesn’t care much for consistency but their novels did use Amy Anderson so somewhat at Mixx definitely got the memo.

Teno, Tenoh, and Tenou are also accurate Afaik but against consistency would be nice
 

Memento

Stella Nova
Mar 8, 2012
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PRINCESS KAGUYA'S LOVER (Part 2)



I wonder if this is meant as an homage to this early illustration where Luna's wearing a bow.



It would have made more thematic sense to put the second Rini's Picture Diary side story in this volume and Casablanca Memories in volume 10. (Chibiusa's Picture Diary #2 and the Princess Kaguya side story are back to back at the end of volume 6 of the Eternal Edition.)



There's some weird kind of art and/or dialog error going on here. Either that or Mina has moved in with the Tsukinos.



I don't see the connection, but you do you.



1. Luna's allergy to citrus would make a great trivia question.
2. Does the whole family share the same bath? "It's citron tonight" suggests that Bunny just took a bath in citron-scented water (or whatever) and then left the tub full for the next person.



Girl, what? No. No no no no. That's a sign he's a bad boyfriend who takes you completely for granted. Raise your standards, please!



In today's episode of Sailor Moon Out of Context: Luna's pill addiction.



Or Amy's mother who, ya know, is actually a doctor.



Are you not on Earth right now, or?? (Seriously, did Tokyopop employ no proof-readers???)



Literally not a single character in this series understands consent.



This is very cute. This is very funny. This is very stupid.



Isn't this a Twilight Zone episode?



Actually Luna, I'd say it's that bush you're hiding behind that's disappeared...



Apart from Setsuna's very brief stint as an assistant at the Tokyo Bay Observatory, I'm surprised none of the main characters in this series is an astronomer (aspiring or otherwise).



Kakeru is 30. Himeko is 22. These children are not 8 years apart.



I mean, if you're Elon Musk or Richard Branson, then yeah, I guess.
 

Memento

Stella Nova
Mar 8, 2012
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PRINCESS KAGUYA'S LOVER (Part 3)



I know that's a choker, but it makes it look like Bunny is either a doll or recently had her head chopped off.



(Reversed) hiragana left untranslated, oops.



Look at Lita being all astronomically correct and sitting at the Outers' table.



So...does everyone else still get presents, too, or do you only give presents to one person a year?



On every single level the implications of this are deeply disturbing.



Why is it that so many characters in this series have dead parents?



I guess I'll comment on this now... I know that '90s anime Usagi and manga Usagi aren't the same, but '90s anime Usagi would have befriended this lonely Kaguya, not blasted her. Assuming the musical is still on for next year, I wonder if they'll change the ending so that Kaguya gets redeemed instead of obliterated.



1. Chic
2. Surprised Bunny even knows about the Ministry of Science
3. Why does she swap the compact from her left to her right hand between panels?



I guess the moon is a planet now.



What even is Himeko that she's heard of Sailor Moon, but doesn't recognize her on sight?



I don't know why, but this panel is killing me softly.



I wish more "civilians" got to interact with the Sailors... *sigh*



I like how the mirror is a teleportation and apparently group transformation device, but is there any reason they had to do this at the arcade? Were they in the secret base?



Once again you've let an invader from outside the Solar System get by you, and your response isn't to even use your strongest attacks? You are all fired.



Oh Kaguya, don't you know breaking mirrors is seven years' bad luck?



Okay, but how do we know it wasn't Bunny who made that call?
 

Memento

Stella Nova
Mar 8, 2012
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PRINCESS KAGUYA'S LOVER (Part 4)



How exactly did Artemis buy all this candy?



As previously mentioned, the Infinity arc is, at the earliest, set in 2002, yet this story takes place in 1994.



Why did Sailor Moon and company have to go to the airport all transformed? Especially when...



...literally the next time we see them, they're transforming at the hospital. Like ???




"Ugly cloud of stellar gas" is my new go-to insult.




You had ONE job, guys.



1. "Senpai"
2. I think that's the best look we ever get at Rei's dad
3. I always thought it was strange how this story makes such a big deal over Higashi, but I realized that at the time this story was written, he actually was pretty much her only love interest in the manga (not counting Saitou-kun and Kunzite). Phantom A had appeared, but just barely, and Naoko probably hadn't figured out yet how she wanted that storyline to end, so I guess going with Higashi was a safe bet.



"Cronos" :ugh:



Underappreciated attack phrase.



Is this meant to imply Queen Serenity blasted her out of the Solar System, or one of Queen Serenity's ancestors? Also: holy anticlimax, Batman. What was even the point of the entire Sailor Team going into space if Super Sailor Moon was just going to take Kaguya out all by herself with Rainbow Moon Heartache?



Next week, we'll use the Deep Aqua Mirror and Venus's Love Whip to turn Lita into a tree.



A popular complaint about the DiC dub is that it ~rUiNeD aLl ThE sErIoUs MoMeNtS wItH dUmB jOkEs~ but, oh look at that, Naoko interrupts serious moments with humor too.



I'm probably reading too much into this, but is this meant to imply Himeko is pregnant?


Overall rating: 4 snowballs out of 5



I wonder if it's still her favorite story [out of Sailor Moon]?




This reminds me... Is Aluminum Siren meant to represent a manatee? Manatees were often mistaken for mermaids, the scientific term for them is "sirenian," and it would be strange if AS were the only Animamate to not take her name from an animal... Hmm...
 

Memento

Stella Nova
Mar 8, 2012
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CASABLANCA MEMORY



It's been 26 years and we're still waiting.



Would you settle for having a guy throw single long-stem roses to get you out of danger?



Crysternal staff: We don't understand. She's Mars. Her image color is red. She can only ever wear red.



Mina?



Um, when are we getting this back story? #MamaIkukoRomanceSpinoff #FiftyShadesofIkuko



Tokyopop really just said, "F**k editors," huh?



Remake Casablanca with Sailor Moon characters challenge.



Being American, I always assumed the LDP was like the Democratic Party here, but I guess they were more center-right (which, tbh, describes the Democratic Party of today, whomp whomp whomp)



Surely Raye actually says they're the *work* of the enemy in the original Japanese. I can't fathom Rei actually thinking the music boxes themselves are sentient enemies. This isn't Doctor Who.



If only Kaidou *had* actually been Jadeite. Will we never learn about the Four Generals' lives as normal Earth dudes?



Zoisite is serving some strong Sarah, Plain and Tall vibes here.



Just noticed that Rei is wearing her necklace here. (No, she wasn't wearing it in any other panel as Sailor Mars.)

Overall rating: 3 candlelight suppers out of 5



The Snow Dancers were based after a series of statuettes by Theo Vos called "The Ballerinas." I have yet to find a picture of this Salome figure. I think it might be interesting to incorporate elements of the Salome story (or take visual cues from the Nazimova film) in a future adaptation of Princess Kaguya's Lover.
 
CASABLANCA MEMORY



It's been 26 years and we're still waiting.



Would you settle for having a guy throw single long-stem roses to get you out of danger?



Crysternal staff: We don't understand. She's Mars. Her image color is red. She can only ever wear red.



Mina?



Um, when are we getting this back story? #MamaIkukoRomanceSpinoff #FiftyShadesofIkuko



Tokyopop really just said, "F**k editors," huh?



Remake Casablanca with Sailor Moon characters challenge.



Being American, I always assumed the LDP was like the Democratic Party here, but I guess they were more center-right (which, tbh, describes the Democratic Party of today, whomp whomp whomp)



Surely Raye actually says they're the *work* of the enemy in the original Japanese. I can't fathom Rei actually thinking the music boxes themselves are sentient enemies. This isn't Doctor Who.



If only Kaidou *had* actually been Jadeite. Will we never learn about the Four Generals' lives as normal Earth dudes?



Zoisite is serving some strong Sarah, Plain and Tall vibes here.



Just noticed that Rei is wearing her necklace here. (No, she wasn't wearing it in any other panel as Sailor Mars.)

Overall rating: 3 candlelight suppers out of 5



The Snow Dancers were based after a series of statuettes by Theo Vos called "The Ballerinas." I have yet to find a picture of this Salome figure. I think it might be interesting to incorporate elements of the Salome story (or take visual cues from the Nazimova film) in a future adaptation of Princess Kaguya's Lover.
Humorous!
 

julayla

Lumen Cinererum
Feb 9, 2018
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I don't think it's possible for the story to fit within the canon of the main manga. I also have trouble believing Zoisite actually pulled off a three-month-long slow burn scheme to avenge Jadeite (of all people).
Yeah, even sometimes, the actual canon of the side stories of the manga throws me off.

EDIT: This only makes me think that all the side stories in the manga, which couldn't have possibly taken place during the main timeline, which seemed to go super fast in pacing issues, are, like Parallel Sailor Moon, non-canon. At least in my opinion anyway. I don't know. I know some people will refuse this logic, but that's how I see it since only the main series chapters are getting adapted in Crystal.
 
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Memento

Stella Nova
Mar 8, 2012
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VOLUME 12.

ACT 1. (*sigh*) ECLIPSE DREAM (part 1)



I'm shocked Tokyopop remembered to call it "Crossroads High" instead of "Juban High." (But maybe that's because they translated this arc before arcs 2 and 3?)



Um, I think you mean a "motionless picture entertainment" drawing club, Bunny.



This makes it sound like Raye and Rini have the same parents...



Shouldn't that be "astronomy," not "astrology"?



Mina 100% killed that girl when no one was looking. Can't have any competition for those coveted ingenue roles!



I should have brought this up back in Act 3, but in the interest of dub compatability, Tokyopop should have used "Cherry Hill Temple," not "Hikawa Shrine" or "Sendai Hill."



I'm gonna say Naoko intended for us to understand that Phobos or Deimos dropped that tarot card, but neither is carrying anything in their talons or beaks, so instead it seems like the newspapers of Tokyo contain tarot cards.



I want Naoko to publish all the weird fan letters she's been sent.



Still don't know why the DMC pretended to be from the Amazon. Did they actually tour the world? Did no one think to verify that claim?
(Also: forgot that the DMC had a little theme song in the manga. Can't wait to hear it (or not) in Eternal.)



This makes it sound like Rini wants to eat goldfish.



Kaleidoscopes are...not...rare...



This arc did totally make me obsessed with kaleidoscopes though, I gotta say.



I mean, evidently they did take it as an April Fool's Day joke since Rini doesn't go home until the next arc...



HE'S YOUR DAD GET THERAPY
 

Memento

Stella Nova
Mar 8, 2012
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ACT 1. (*sigh*) ECLIPSE DREAM (part 2)



The mental image of Darien getting wasted at college parties every night... :lol:



Do you mean the Key to the Fourth Dimension?



Literally every single time we do this "Is this mysterious stranger an ally or an enemy?" dance, they turn out to be an ally. IT'S. OLD. NAOKO.



Shouldn't Rini know what the Golden Crystal is? The only way that isn't a plot hole is if we go with the "the-timeline-is-constantly-being-rewritten" theory, but if we go with that, then all the Crystal Tokyo stuff is inherently meaningless since it could easily never come to pass anyway.



"Tiger Eye"



It's just hilarious to me that Darien's ENTIRE motivation in the DK arc was to regain his lost memories, but while everyone else evidently regained at least the bulk of their past life memories, Darien apparently couldn't even recall two fundamental details: the name of (part of) his kingdom, and the name of his own crystal. (Maybe it's time to stop drinking, Darien.)



Liz is now "Una." (Or, rather, they later renamed Una "Liz". Either way, Tokyopop continues to laugh in the face of continuity, just like Toei, Kodansha, Naoko, Optimum...)



I mean... Just because you have a new transformation brooch doesn't mean you can't just use your old scepter. Or your tiara. Or even the Silver Crystal. Heck, you could always just chuck Rini at the tiger.



I know everyone else hates this, but I absolutely love the sentient weapon concept, even if it immediately goes nowhere. (I fully expect it to be included in Eternal and to also go absolutely nowhere there, too.)



Is that supposed to be a shadow, or did Darien inexplicably collapse into a puddle of blood? Or sweat? Urine?



Go home, Tokyopop, you're just as drunk as Darien if you got "Nephrenia" out of "Neherenia."



I love that Zirconia has decorated her lair with a little houseplant. She should ask Lita for some tips.



"Hawk Eye"


Overall rating: 3 mirrors out of 5
 

Memento

Stella Nova
Mar 8, 2012
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ACT 2. (*sigh*) MERCURY DREAM



Why did they change the Black/Wicked Lady reference??



Tested for what, Amy? Magic powder residue?



It really bothers me that Rini doesn't just call them her grandparents.



Yay, the flower o's are back!



Literally why though? Being an emo mysterious horsie f*ckboi isn't cute, Helios.



Thank you for clarifying that, Bunny, otherwise I might have thought you would only protect Rini from cocaine and tetanus, but totally leave her to fend for herself against evil forces.



Brb, vomiting



You already have a prince and her name is Hotaru.



A+ writing there, Tokyopop.



I'd like to imagine that Setsuna is teaching Ami how to use Napster here.



It's a minor detail, but I really like how Naoko included Ami's reflection in the hall mirror in these panels.



Toei executives: "Let's make this Rei's cousin instead."



Fish Eye's mirror >>> Deep Aqua Mirror. I said what I said! Now where's the Proplica for this?



I mean, don't get me wrong, you're a total weakling and all; you're just not that weak.



Can't wait for Crysternal to not add Zoisite to this moment because if there's one thing Crysternal does reliably, it's totally act like that storyline they needlessly shoehorned into season 1 that completely jacked it up never happened.



I thought the whole Amy-sees-her-mother-making-out-with-some-random-guy scene was just a nightmare/hallucination, but I guess Fish Eye was controlling Amy's mom's mind and that guy was a Lemures?


Overall rating: 3 picture postcards out of 5
 

Memento

Stella Nova
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ACT 3. (sigh) MARS DREAM



The "First School for Girls" is now "Brookdale Private School" because continuity and quality checks are for losers.



I guess "Mina" is officially short for "Minako" in the Mixxverse?



I'm picturing Zirconia cobbling together a disguise a la Roger from American Dad! to go shopping for, idk, a flat screen TV and some fuzzy slippers.



One day we'll get an adaptation that does something with this. One day.



#Goals



"Loyalty." A+ censorship there, Mixx!



I think it's interesting that Hawk's Eye (sorry, "Hawk Eye") has this reaction to "Tiger Eye"'s death given neither of them reacted to the death of "Fish Eye." It reminds me that Naoko described Hawk's Eye as being like Zoisite in the Materials Collection, so if you draw a connection between Tiger's Eye and Jadeite, Hawk's Eye's reaction here is perhaps somewhat reminiscent of Zoisite's to Jadeite's death, which led to his revenge scheme in Casablanca Memory.



Watch your language, Darien! :lol: :lol: :lol:



I can see Eternal using this scene to end Part 1.


Overall rating: 3 arrows out of 5