UNICO

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.