Osamu Tezuka's precious anime unicorn hero Unico is being reborn with new Awakening comic - and we have a first look!

Tezuka Productions has partnered with Graphix for this revival of the classic (and cute) manga character

Image credit: Gurihiru (Scholastic/Graphix)

News by Chris Arrant Editor-in-Chief

Published on Feb. 8, 2024

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If you're like me, you have a soft spot for the furry little unicorn named Unico.

Whether you're like me and first 'met' them on a bootleg anime dub and forever have Lord Kuruku's haunting voice stuck in your head, or you found Unico through other means, there's a special place in your heart for Astro Boy creator Osamu Tezuka's baby unicorn. And soon, there'll be a book for nostalgic fans like myself as well as, hopefully, new fans who will discover Unico like I did.

On August 6, Scholastic's Graphix imprint will release an all-new, original graphic novel called Unico: Awakening by writer Samuel Sattin and artist Gurihiru - and now we have the first look at the book's final cover, as well as a peek inside.

"Unico tells the unforgettable story of a young unicorn who, after enraging the goddess Venus with his ability to positively impact human emotions, is banished from the heavens and taken across space and time until he forgets all he once was," reads the publisher's description of the book. "Saved from oblivion by the West Wind, Unico continues to help others, before having to escape the gods again and begin a new adventure."

The description continues, "In this first adventure, Unico is befriended by a resourceful watch-cat, Chloe, who feels protective of the young unicorn. When they find themselves near a small village in the forest, they take refuge with a kindly, but helpless old woman. To take care of her, Chloe begs Unico to turn her into a human girl, but that act of kindness has unforeseen consequences: Unico's love has awakened the evil goddess Venus and her minion, Byron, who want to destroy them both!"

Although we first heard about the project in an ultra-successful Kickstarter campaign, Unico: Awakening was eventually picked up by kids book imprint Graphix.

Unico was originally created by manga legend Osamu Tezuka in the '70s, and this modern-day reboot is being made in collaboration with Tezuka Productions.

Here is a preview of Unico: Awakening: