A little unicorn, spirited away from a vengeful goddess, offers his magic in service of others.A prologue tells how Venus, threatened by Unico's unusual power, which was born of his friendship with the goddess Psyche, dispatches Zephyrus, the West Wind, to get rid of him. Zephyrus chooses instead to save the little unicorn, repeatedly transporting him through space and time. Tragically, he wakes up disoriented, having each time forgotten all that came before. Finally, Unico, who's appealingly rounded and big eyed, lands in a busy city, where he's rescued by Chloe the cat. The new friends are soon abandoned by the jealous girlfriend of Chloe's doting owner. Chloe's search for a witch who might help leads the pair to a kind old lady, and Unico's magic allows Chloe to briefly turn human to help Granny. But Byron, a sinister, wealthy trophy hunter, soon sets his sights on Chloe in her human girl form. When Venus senses that Unico has reappeared on Earth, she seeks to destroy him using Byron as her tool. Plenty of action and outsized baddies keep the excitement level high, and Unico's sweetness overcomes the wickedness-for now. Sattin's work is inspired by Japanese creator Tezuka's 1970s manga, and Gurihiru's full-color art updates the characters' looks while remaining true to the feel of the original. The jewel-toned palette and creatively varied panel shapes sustain a high level of visual interest.Lively illustrations, strong storytelling, and an appealing hero. (story notes, additional art) (Manga. 8-12)

Gr 4–7— For eons, Unico was swept around the world, befriending and helping others. Now, in this reimagining of Osamu Tezuka's classic manga, the story restarts for a new generation. After a prelude, the little unicorn meets Chloe, an abandoned cat who wishes to become human. While well-intentioned, Chloe has a desire for more, and that brings about the cosmic attention of Unico's nemesis, Venus. This first volume not only retells the "Cat on the Broomstick" arc from Tezuka's original manga, but also sets up a running narrative and establishes the type of themes this series will explore. First up are identity, friendship, and cruelty. True to the source, Sattin introduces kids to heavier topics within the safe zone that is this sweet character and their hopeful outlook. The art, too, retains certain Tezuka characteristics, like the unicorn's bobblehead design and catlike size. Overall though, Gurihiru does update the style to current preferences. The modern setting, dramatic paneling, and mood-oriented palettes bolster the weight of Unico's helpful and heroic deeds. VERDICT A reimagining of a beloved classic that will appeal to fans of heartfelt adventure manga and works like She-Ra and the Princess of Power . An ideal series to help fill the middle grade manga demand.— Rachel Forbes.