Parents' Guide to Unico: Awakening, Volume 1

With a stellar author-artist team behind it, this remake of the manga classic Unico by Osamu Tezuka hits fast and fun. Samuel Sattin's revamped art and modern action in Unico: Awakening keeps this series fresh and exciting. The story is captivating from the start, the characters are charming, relatable, and adorable, and the villains are actual threats. What's great is that this set up establishes clear stakes with difficult odds. What are the chances Unico figures things out? What are the chances he makes it past flying fish monsters, a giant dragon monster the size of a skyscraper, the powers of goddesses, and human beings with guns? The urgency in this story feels as desperate as Frodo and Sam's journey to Mount Doom amidst Sauron's ever searching Eye, and all the dangers of Middle Earth from the Shire to Mordor. When Unico does finally have his final showdown, most audiences will be more than happy with the big bad's downfall. The pacing is superb. The set pieces and action, again, are frequent, thrilling, and dramatic. But there is tenderness here as well, heart and charm, with characters many kids will easily relate to. Chloe will be popular, as will Toast, but even Marusu and Psyche might find beloved fans as well. The messages of kindness, courage, and friendship are well conceived and don't feel force-fed. Because Unico has lost all his memories, his actions of goodness and kindness arise purely from his own nature, help build a believable world with real consequences. As a first in the series, most readers will eagerly anticipate Unico's future adventures.