Title: “Unveiling the Magic of Unico: Awakening- Scholastic’s First Foray into Children’s Manga Adaptations”

By Patrick Kelley

In the excitement simmering around the San Diego Comic Convention (SDCC), one announcement has put the children’s literature advocates and graphic novel aficionados on the edge of their orthopedic office chairs. Scholastic, the publishing house fondly associated with our childhood leisure reading, has released an enticing trailer for their first children’s manga adaptation, “Unico: Awakening”. This adaptation voyages into the whimsical world of Unico, the heroic unicorn conceived by manga demigod, Osamu Tezuka.

In a bold move, Scholastic Graphix has tethered itself to the star power of acclaimed manga talents—the Eisner Award-winning artist known as Gurihiru and the Eisner-nominated writer Samuel Sattin. The fruit of their synergy flourishes vividly in the trailer of “Unico: Awakening”.

The tale of Unico is a blend of magic, endeavor, and a beacon of optimism. Unico is a brave unicorn whose relentless positivity acts as a thorn in the side of the vindictive goddess Venus. In a fit of jealousy, Venus banishes Unico from the celestial realms, wiping his memory clean. Yet, Unico is saved from oblivion by the West Wind’s benevolence, reincarnating his ethereal existence again and again.

As “Unico: Awakening” takes shape, we find an amnesiac Unico on Earth, his path crosses with Chloe, a tactful feline who develops a soft spot for the young unicorn. Amid their journey, they take shelter with a gentle but lonesome old woman in a quaint forest village. Keen to ease the woman’s loneliness, Chloe implores Unico to transform her into a human girl. Yet, this well-intended act doesn’t go unnoticed. The ripple of Unico’s magic reverberates back to Venus, who, fueled by vengeance, is now determined to annihilate them both!

The intrigue around Unico: Awakening extends beyond its vivid pages. In an homage to Osamu Tezuka—acclaimed as the God of Manga and mind behind Astro Boy—SDCC will host a panel titled “Discover the Magic of Osamu Tezuka: New Adventures for a New Generation”. The panel welcomes distinguished guests including Samuel Sattin and manga translator Ben Applegate, spearheaded by The Beat’s Deb Aoki. This convocation plans to unpack Tezuka’s enduring influence and offer a sneak peek into Unico’s next escapade. So, make sure to whisk your way to Room 28DE, on Thursday, July 25 from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

As for Unico: Awakening itself, it is metaphorically pawing at the starting gates, preparing for its debut on bookstore shelves on August 6, 2024. Apprehensive about missing out? Fret not, eager beavers can already pitch their pre-orders.

So, as Scholastic dips its toe into manga adaptations with “Unico: Awakening”, it seems apparent that they’ve anticipated our curiosity with their adept handling of the beloved Unico’s tale. Truly, this move reflects a keenness to widen the horizons and blur genre lines in child literature, all while stimulating the nostalgia of us older folks who fondly remember the original Unico from the vivid world of Tezuka.