Codename: Sailor V
Prequel manga introducing Sailor Venus and the Sailor Soldier mythos.
Codename: Sailor V is a Japanese manga series by Naoko Takeuchi. It first appeared as a one-shot in the magazine RunRun in August 1991, then returned as a serial that continued until July 1997. The story follows Minako Aino, a cheerful schoolgirl who learns she has magical powers she must use to protect Earth. The series is primarily known as the foundation for its sequel, Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon, which started serialization in December 1991.
Minako Aino is a thirteen-year-old middle school student who is easily distracted, outspoken, and dreams of finding true love. She meets a talking white cat named Artemis, who has a crescent moon on his forehead. Artemis tells Minako she can transform into a stronger, more powerful, and more beautiful girl. He calls her Sailor Venus and says her mission is to protect Earth in the name of her guardian planet. He gives her a crescent moon-shaped compact and a magical pen, which lets her transform into the Soldier of Justice: Sailor V.
Minako fights the Dark Agency, led by Danburite, who sends talented idols to enslave the public. Her adventures as a Soldier of Justice sometimes spark envy and admiration from the police. She later gains the help of Saijyo Ace, toward whom she develops romantic feelings. Eventually, Saijyo Ace is revealed to be Danburite in disguise. In the final battle, a heartbroken Minako mortally wounds Danburite, who curses her to never find love again. Minako then realizes her duty is more important than romance and discovers her true identity as Sailor Venus. She decides to search for the other four Sailor Soldiers and the Moon Princess, leading into the events of Sailor Moon.
The series debuted as a one-shot in the summer vacation issue of RunRun on August 3, 1991. It returned as a serial in the same magazine, lasting until July 3, 1997. Kodansha compiled the fifteen chapters into three tankōbon volumes, published from December 18, 1993, to November 6, 1997. In 2004, the series was re-released in Japan as a two-volume shinsōban edition with revised artwork and dialogue. This release split the final chapter into two, giving it sixteen chapters total. The two volumes came out on October 28, 2004, and November 20, 2004. On May 27, 2014, a two-volume kanzenban edition was published, using A5-sized paper and new covers based on the original release.
Quick Facts
- Ja Kanji
- コードネームはセーラーV
- Ja Romaji
- Kōdonēmu wa Sērā V
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series revolves around Minako Aino, a 13-year-old middle school student who is slightly distracted, outspoken, and dreams of finding true love. One day, she encounters a talking white cat with a crescent moon on its forehead named Artemis. He reveals that Minako possesses magical abilities and calls her Sailor Venus, giving her a crescent moon shaped compact case and a magical pen to transform into the Soldier of Justice: Sailor V. Minako begins fighting the evil Dark Agency under Danburite's command, who sends idols to enslave the public. She later gains the aid of Saijyo Ace, toward whom she develops romantic feelings. Eventually, Saijyo Ace is revealed to be Danburite in disguise. A heartbroken Minako mortally wounds Danburite, who curses her to never find love again. Minako then realizes her duty is more important than romance and discovers her true identity as Sailor Venus, deciding to search for the other four Sailor Soldiers and the Moon Princess, leading into the events of Sailor Moon.
Reader's Guide
Codename: Sailor V holds significance as the direct precursor to the globally influential Sailor Moon franchise. It established key elements—the magical girl transformation, a talking animal mentor, and the theme of a guardian soldier—that were later expanded. The series received mixed reviews; critics acknowledged its importance in developing Sailor Moon but criticized its artwork and repetitive storytelling. Some reviewers noted that the series feels like a rough draft of Sailor Moon, with less character development, while others appreciated its action-comedy tone and insights into Minako's character. The manga was reissued in several editions from 2004 onward with revised art and dialogue by Takeuchi. Its English translation was published in North America in 2011, and it appeared on The New York Times Manga Best Sellers list, occasionally ranking above Sailor Moon. The series has been translated into multiple languages, including Indonesian, French, Spanish, German, Italian, and Polish.
Did You Know?
- The series began as a one-shot in RunRun in August 1991 before becoming a serial.
- An OVA was teased but never produced because RunRun magazine closed.
- The English Eternal Edition, based on the Japanese Complete Edition, was released in 2021.
- Minako's cat Artemis has a crescent moon on his forehead.
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