I came across this last night and I can't read japanese so I'm not sure what volume this would be and I'm not even sure if its the real thing it might be something someone who's really good with computers made but I was wondering about other peoples thoughts on this cover. Do you feel it's inappropriate? Are you OK with it? Or is it just a little awkward for you?

It says its the second installment of the short stories (just so you know)

I think the cover is appropriate... and I am okay with it lol. I can see how some may think it is inappropriate, but all in all it just showcases UsaxMamos relationship. There are many suggestions to that type of involvement in their relationship, especially in the last few pages of stars... I don't see why it would raise any criticism now, if there is any

i'm fine with it I was just wondering how other people felt, I just saw it and i was like wow...uhm...I wasn't expecting that lol XD

Oh i understand xD Sorry if I was sounding accusing. I think the cover is pretty.. but yes, compared to the others, it's a little risque!

I like it I think its very pretty my problem would be the younger audience who sees this and is like Mommy...?? and then well yeah :p

Lovely Lexi wrote:

I like it I think its very pretty my problem would be the younger audience who sees this and is like Mommy...?? and then well yeah :p

In Japan's society, nudity and sexual innuendo is more ok than here in the US when it comes to a wider audience that includes children. While in the US, with many people's upbringings (i find a lot of it stems to religion), we view nudity and such as too mature for younger kids.

In my opinion, the cover is completely fine. Its not pornographic and all body parts are covered. It's a bit suggestive, but this isn't the first suggestive artwork we've seen from Naoko.

However, i think you need to keep in mind the different cultures. In Japan, i don't think many will think twice about this, while that may be a different scenario in the US. Also, IMO, I feel the Sailor Moon manga is geared more towards 12 and up, and not so much younger girls. The anime was made to appeal to a wider audience than the original manga, which is why you see much more suggestive artwork in the manga than the anime.

Like Brit said, Japan is different with their upbringings.

I think its completely fine and it is the second installment of the Short Stories, Naoko drew a lot of these kind of pictures, in the manga for example they are in bed from their wedding day. There is also a picture she did of them in bed with Chibi-Usa, there has been a lot of pictures.

I believe in one of the Artbooks she did a bust of Usagi in a partial nude, though I am not a 100% sure on that one.

She did a picture of Usagi partially nude in an artbook. There is also a picture of her in sexy underwear.

I've seen this image for years and as a cover, so it really does not chock me at all.

^.~ She also drew a few of Usagi without a top on for the special artbook that invited others to draw Sailor Moon characters, along with the one with Usagi in shmexy lingerie.

I absolutely ADORE the image above; the pictures wherein Usagi and Mamoru are together in such sweet ways just gets me. Sleeping with someone (the nonsexual type, at that) is so incredibly special - it's allowing someone to be near you when you are at your most vulnerable; pretty much trusting them beyond anything else. XD This background, the one when they're having a pillow fight, and the one where Usagi, Chibi-Usa, Mamoru and Diana sleeping together, are special favorites - they just make me go 'AWWWW!'



And she suggests this more intimate relationship several times over in the manga; the scene in bed the night after he proposes is just one incident.

Kyralih wrote:

^.~ She also drew a few of Usagi without a top on for the special artbook that invited others to draw Sailor Moon characters, along with the one with Usagi in shmexy lingerie.

I absolutely ADORE the image above; the pictures wherein Usagi and Mamoru are together in such sweet ways just gets me. Sleeping with someone (the nonsexual type, at that) is so incredibly special - it's allowing someone to be near you when you are at your most vulnerable; pretty much trusting them beyond anything else. XD This background, the one when they're having a pillow fight, and the one where Usagi, Chibi-Usa, Mamoru and Diana sleeping together, are special favorites - they just make me go 'AWWWW!'



And she suggests this more intimate relationship several times over in the manga; the scene in bed the night after he proposes is just one incident.

Yup, yup, that is pretty much my thinking as well. To be honest, the negligee one was the one that surprised me the most. This one I often thought as sweet and endearing.

I don't think that it's appropriate for the cover, but I wouldn't have much of a problem with it being inside. It's just a bit too- WHAM LOOK AT THIS LOOK AT THIS being on the cover- and I wouldn't want someone too young catching a look at it when I was reading... The drawing itself isn't really *bad*, I just don't like it on the cover. :S

If they don't change it when the rerelease is brought over, it will hurt sales. :S I know my parents WOULD NOT have bought the last volumes for me, back in the day, if they'd had such a cover... In Japan, it's perhaps not such a big deal, but in the West keeping that cover would be a bad business move...

Well, they've already released all of the new covers. Almost all of them are the senshi in their eternal uniforms.

I don't think it would do any damage at all. It's extremely tame and very sweet, it's not even very suggestive compared to some of the material from other media we see today. I don't know, maybe I'm just desensitized. I read a lot of romance books and I have an open mind to sexuality and nudity in general so that cover compared to other book covers is really nothing at all.

And like Sailor Venus said, the new releases are all the same basic covers which I think is a really smart move since it's now 2011 and a new audience may be getting into Sailor Moon, we don't want to make them feel excluded with all these fancy manga covers. Keeping it simple and fresh was the way to go.

Sailor Venus wrote:

Well, they've already released all of the new covers. Almost all of them are the senshi in their eternal uniforms.

Ah, I see. I haven't been following info on the details of the rereleases much, since I already have the whole series from the original print. Thanks.

Nothing wrong with it. America has too many prudes.

In America, the Sailor Moon manga is targeted at teens and rated 13+ so I don't think it would be much of a problem over here as most American Sailor Moon fans nowadays are older fans. But to be honest, I don't really know how I would feel about this for children. I usually try to be open minded about this sort of thing and I support sex ed in schools and all, but I think exposing kids to this kind of thing before they've learned about sex ed would just be rather awkward. I suppose it's a good way of bringing up "the talk" with your kids though.

It isn't any worse than the things they show on tv or put in a magazine especially of women exposing all their body parts and men too.

Anjyu wrote:

It isn't any worse than the things they show on tv or put in a magazine especially of women exposing all their body parts and men too.

^ This. If you can have nudes on the covers of magazines right next to children's crafts magazines, then anything is game.

But moreoever, just consider the females on american comics. They have barely any clothing on and with exaggerated body parts. Much worse than a cover such as that of Usagi x Mamoru. Such modesty has to be set down for everyone then.

Yeah and nothing is even exposed in that picture. Its like "here is everything covered up by the bedsheet and some pretty roses Aw, cute couple sleeping together."

You know, Mamoru could have boxers on for all we know and usagi could have a tank top taht we can't see cause of the angle she is in and cute sleep shorts with a bunny on her butt for all we know. And since its the cover for the extras (it is that cover right?) You could say this is AFTER they were married.

so there.

I think it's a very candid shot and shows the normalcy of couples in love. I don't feel that anything is overexposed.

(Going off topic, sorry.) I was wondering, is Kodansha going to release the two volumes of short stories? If they don't, I suggest we burn them down with combustible lemons.

Lol. I agree. But I assume that they are since they are basically publishing the Japanese Shinsoubon, and the Short Stories are apart of that original release.

Combustible lemons are my favorite kind of weapon!

Also: I think that cover is absolutely beautiful. <3

Yeah, you're right... They did release Sailor V after all.
I was worried for stupid reasons x) For exemple, when they rereleased Tokyo MewMew last year, they didn't release an omnibus for A la Mode (though it's not a great loss, seeing how retarded was the story.) but I was worried they would do the same to SM. ._.
Tankoubon 11 (Only short stories: Kaguya hime + Casablanca) was actually my favourite tankoubon, so I'd love to have those two, even if some Chibiusa Picture diary stories seemed rushed. :B Fillers FTW

I don't see why people would say it's inappropriate, I think it's awesome! (hint at my avatar)

LeonaSenshi wrote:

(hint at my avatar)

Hahahahahah

I think it's fine. Also I really like that image of the two of them, so I'm glad they're using it to make one of the covers

I love the paired holiday graphic.