You know how, if you haven't read/watched/personally experienced a certain pop culture phenomenon after it has risen to enormous popularity and perhaps has been around for a while, you've picked up little bits and pieces here and there? Like, your friends talk about it, Redditors post about it, SNL makes fun of it, whatever, and you can't help but learn little things here and there. Well, that happened to me with Sailor Moon. I had never watched and episode or read a page, but I knew the names and looks of all the Sailor Scouts, I knew about the little cat Luna, and I knew Tuxedo Mask was this major romantic interest of some kind.
And that's basically all I learned from reading this book. So maybe Volume 2 would be more informative.
As you may have learned on Wednesday, I don't read manga. I know how (protip: backwards) but I just... don't. So that was a little off-putting to have to get used to that.
Finally, as a 27-year-old who doesn't know any 12-year-old girls and didn't like them even when I was one, I hate having to listen to this brat. Usagi (Sailor Moon) is so annoying. She doesn't like school. Her only real interests are sleeping and playing games (which she repeats a few times). There is literally an exchange between her and Luna (yeah, the cat) where Luna tells her it's time to fight the bad guy and Usagi actually whines about it. You're a Guardian, princess whiny-pants! GUARD!!!
So to summarize... I'm not a fan. But I'm not a manga fan or a Sailor Moon fan. So that isn't too surprising, I suppose.
I admit that I look at Sailor Moon with tainted eyes. Also, I look at it with the knowledge of what happens later in the series. Is Usagi whiny? Yes. Is she annoying? Yes. Does she eat a lot and do terribly in school and just want to spend her time in an arcade? All true things.
And, if you don't know what she's like, the first book can be very off-putting. But I DO know. I know that the character becomes incredibly loyal and protective of her friends. I know that Usagi eventually gets better at school. I know that she stops whining about fighting and takes up the call like a champ and a proper leader. So it makes me hate her maybe not quite the way that Alex does.
Plus, I grew up with her, so I admit, I definitely have the nostalgia thing going for me. The books (and anime) are crazy and ridiculous and so sappy I can't even handle it sometimes... but I still can't help but hold a special place in my heart for it.
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