July 11, 2024 – The Eisner Award-winning artist team Gurihiru (SUPERMAN SMASHES THE KLAN and the popular web series IT’S JEFF) and the Eisner-nominated writer Samuel Sattin (co-writer of THE ESSENTIAL ANIME GUIDE) are reinventing creator Osamu Tezuka’s beloved character Unico for a new generation of readers. Beginning with UNICO: AWAKENING, an all-new, 224 page manga with striking full color artwork, Gurihiru and Sattin are embarking on a multi-part adventure to be published by Scholastic. The official UNICO: AWAKENING trailer can be found on Scholastic’s YouTube.
Osamu Tezuka’s UNICO tells the story of a fierce young unicorn who inspires with his hope and positivity. Unico is banished from the heavens by the envious goddess Venus and forgets all he once was, only to be saved from oblivion again and again by the kindhearted West Wind.
In UNICO: AWAKENING, Unico awakens on Earth and is befriended by a resourceful cat named Chloe, who feels protective of the young unicorn. When they find themselves near a small village in the forest, they take refuge with a kind, but lonely, old woman. Chloe begs Unico to turn her into a human girl so she can help the old woman, but that act of kindness has unforeseen consequences: Unico’s use of his power alerts Venus to his location, and now she wants to destroy them both!
UNICO: AWAKENING marks the first ever manga publication from Scholastic. The first volume of the highly anticipated, multi-volume publishing event will be released in 12 languages, reading left to right in the Western comics style to match the original manga. Here’s what people are saying about UNICO: AWAKENING:
“A spellbinding masterpiece.”— Dav Pilkey, #1 bestselling creator of Dog Man
“Lively illustrations, strong storytelling, and an appealing hero.”— KIRKUS REVIEWS
“Gorgeous.”— IGN
“Exciting.”— COMICS BEAT
“One of the most anticipated books of 2024.”—THE MARY SUE
To celebrate the release of UNICO: AWAKENING, San Diego Comic-Con International 2024 will host a panel entitled “Discover the Magic of Osamu Tezuka: New Adventures for a New Generation!” The panel will celebrate the legacy of Osamu Tezuka, the creator of ASTRO BOY, who is known around the world as the God of Manga. Samuel Sattin will join manga editor/journalist Deb Aoki (Mangasplaining and Comics Beat), and manga translator Ben Applegate at San Diego Comic-Con International for a discussion of Tezuka’s enduring legacy and share an exclusive first look at Unico’s next adventure. The panel will take place on Thursday, July 25 from 2:00PM – 3:00PM in Room 28DE.
UNICO: AWAKENING will be released in bookstores on August 6, 2024. Follow Scholastic and the official UNICO: AWAKENING X account for updates
GURIHIRU is an Eisner Award-winning illustration team based out of Saitama, Japan. Though widely known for their work in American comics, they also work in games, manga, and anime in Japan. Their clients include Disney Japan, Nintendo, Square Enix, Tsuburaya Production, and many others. Major works include It’s Jeff, Superman Smashes the Klan, Gwenpool, The Unstoppable Wasp, and Spider-Man & Venom: Double Trouble.
Samuel Sattin is an American writer. His books include the Eisner Award-nominated Buzzing, Side Quest, The Silent End, and (as co-author) both A Kids Guide to Anime & Manga and The Essential Anime Guide: 50 Iconic Films, Standout Series, and Cult Masterpieces. He has also adapted the Academy Award-nominated films WolfWalkers, Song of the Sea, and The Secret of Kells to the graphic novel format. He graduated with an MFA in comics from the California College of the Arts and works as a studio writer for Schulz Creative Associates, aka Snoopy Central. Samuel resides with his wife in San Francisco and travels frequently to Japan.
OSAMU TEZUKA (1928-1989) was a visionary Japanese cartoonist, animator, and film producer. His prolific output, pioneering techniques, and innovative redefinitions revolutionized Japanese comics and anime and he is often honored as the “God of Manga.”
