Pretty Guardian: Sailor Moon Short Stories TPB (2013 Digest) comic books

Volume 1 - 1st printing. By Naoko Takeuchi. In this first of two collections of short stories, we find our favorite Sailor Guardians and their friends encountering new mysteries, enemies, allies, and once more saving the day. After the daughter of a foreign diplomat transfers to her school, Chibi-Usa's male classmates suspiciously stop attending classes. Upon investigation, Chibi-Usa discovers the new transfer student is a vampire! Mamoru's birthday gift to Chibi-Usa turns out to be the brainwashing device of a depressed folk tale heroine come-to-life, seeking sympathy from fellow women and girls! Chibi-Usa's Pink Sugar Heart Attack becomes literal when defeating a local sprite that has possessed the dentist she and Usagi visit to get their cavities treated. Then, other local sprites wreak havoc in the lives of Mako, Ami, and Rei as they and Mina and Usagi study for high school entrance exams. Finally, Chibi-Usa and her newfound BFF's help out the quirky proprietor of a mysterious pawnshop that is under attack by both human and otherworldly entities! Softcover, 5-in. x 7-in., 240 pages, B&W. NOTE: These are Japanese manga-style GNs and are meant to be read right-to-left. Cover price $10.99.

Volume 2 - 1st printing. The second collection of short stories actually consists of one long and two short tales. The first and longest story pays homage to one of the oldest folk tales of Japan, "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter." Usagi's faithful sidekick Luna is saved by and ends up developing a crush on an astrophysicist, whose dream of becoming an astronaut has been dashed by heart disease. His life is further complicated when he happens upon a mysterious crystal shard the same night he discovers a new comet. In another short tale, we get a deeper peek into Rei's background, and her unrequited feelings for her father's executive secretary. The final story, however, changes tone as a comedy that follows the children of Usagi and her fellow Sailor Guardians, who prove that apples do not fall far from their trees! Softcover, 5-in. x 7-in., 240 pages, B&W. NOTE: These are Japanese manga-style GNs and are meant to be read right-to-left. Cover price $10.99.