Free Comic Book Day is great. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s the first Saturday in May. So you missed it for this year, but now you know for next year. There are bags of comics for adults to get them hooked on upcoming titles. And there are comics for kids to get them hooked as well. Unico was one of those in the kids section, though, let’s talk about how good it is for kids.

What Is Unico About

I can tell you the whole plot of Unico if you want. But I won’t. Unico is a story originally created by Osamu Tezuka and published from 1976 to 1979. Tezuka’s name might be familiar as he also created and wrote Astro Boy. So he is one of the founders and creators of manga as we know it. Unico is a lesser known story. But Samuel Sattin (adaptor) and Gurihiru have adapted it into a new form.

The story follows that of a unicorn who with the goddess Psyche bring joy and beauty to the mortal world. But that makes the goddess Venus mad. She is beauty, not Unico and people should be adoring her, not Unico. So she captures the little unicorn and sends him across time with the West Wind so that he forgets who he was. He is to be left in that forgetful state, but the West Wind can’t do that. But her betrayal of Venus is going to cost her and put Unico back in danger.

Is It A Good Story?

So the first graphic novel or trade paperback just came out of this. I don’t think it is going purely to comics, but that means that only part of the story is ready to be read. But Unico: Awakening, the first graphic novel, is wonderful. You get a taste in the comic for free comic book day, but the rest of the story really shines as you dig into.

There is a surprising amount of depth to the story as you look into Unico, Chloe the cat, and what other characters, like the West Wind need to go through. It’s a kids story, but not a kids story for the faint of heart. And I think the story is better off because of it. But that is also a downside of it.

The comic book came with the kids bag of stories. And my five-year-old kid loves Unico. But now that we own and I read the story, is it the right thing for a kid that age. The start has some big things to it, just in the comic. But nothing too overtly scary. Unico: Awakening, that is going to contain more that might be scary for a kid.

Then Who Is It For?

Unico is for a slightly older kid and parents who like manga and comics. It is not a teenage story by any means. I think it is for middle grade kids though, not young kids. Venus is not nice, and Unico is adorable. I expect a lot of kids are not going to like that element of the story. And there is a monster that is not pleasant to look at. It’s the type of thing that might stick in a kids head and cause some nightmares.

Now, I also want to say that your mileage will vary. I still am trying to figure out what my kid is going to be able to handle or not. It might be fine it might not and the question always is, is it worth it. I think as he gets a little bit older, maybe not even to 9, the story won’t be too much for him. But at five now, it might be. So it’s probably more a screen it yourself to know for your kid.

Final Thoughts on Unico

I want to talk about it more. But I think, because it’s a classic manga adapted it’s worth just saying, go check it out. Most people should find it enjoyable. And while the focus is on a younger audience, adults will find it enjoyable as well. Samuel Sattin’s adaptation of Osamu Tezuka’s work is very enjoyable. And the artwork by Gurihiru is great, as well.

When I read the story, I find it a lot of fun. And like a good comic or manga, I want to know what is coming in the next one. If I feel like I can just set it down and get back to it eventually, it is a miss. But when I read Unico, I want to read more of it. Now I need to wait until the next one comes out, which is a downside of reading a comic when it comes out. But I find Unico to be worth the read.

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