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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A modern work of art, November 15, 2009
This review is from: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Vol. 7 (Paperback)
This is a review of the entire 7 volume Viz version of the Nausicaa manga, but I'm attaching it to Vol 7 because it contains many of my favorite moments. That said, it does not stand alone, and you have to read the entire series to comprehend it.
First, some context: I am not a fan of Japanese graphic novels in general, nor most Western graphic novels. The only other graphic novel that I even consider worthy of my time is Alan Moore's The Watchmen. Even with the Watchmen, I only enjoyed it on an academic level, without any real attachment. I am also a relatively late adopter of Miyazaki's anime, having started watching his movies only after the American release of Spirited Away. I have become thoroughly attached to a number of his films (Princess Mononoke and Porco Rosso, in particular), but the film version of Nausicaa is not among my favorites. While enjoyable, I found it somewhat cliche ridden, preachy, and lacking in depth (I was pleasantly surprised to read that Miyazaki had similar thoughts in later interviews, having been somewhat "forced" into the project).
Nausicaa the manga is different. This manga is one of only three or four works of literature that have made an indelible mark on me. It is what I come back to during those rainy days when I want an enjoyable escape; to meet with old characters that are like old friends. Although each character begins as a familiar archetype, they develop in ways that are at once surprising and yet remarkably natural. I don't think there is another work of fiction where I felt as emotionally attached to the characters as I did while reading Nausicaa. The plotting also has a natural meandering quality that is not calculating like most modern novels (this is probably because Miyazaki didn't plan that far ahead writing it over the course of 13 years). The story is at once a coming of age tale, a tale about journey, a war story, an adventure story, a story of political intrigue, a science fiction epic, and a treatise on a number of philosophical themes. Somehow all the various threads and themes climax together brilliantly to a conclusion that is at once thrilling, emotionally satisfying, deeply thought provoking, and perfectly placed.
Nausicaa is also what I return to when I want to think deeply about ecology, religion, war and peace, life and death, or any of the other themes that permeate Nausicaa. That is not to say that Miyazaki has anything incredibly novel to contribute to the volumes of philosophy and treatises that came before him. But Nausicaa captures the essence of so many of those debates while weaving them into the core of a thoroughly "human" story. It does so in such an effortless way, that I feel I can relate those deep questions again in a very intimate way, rather than the distant appreciation I feel after reading through deeper academic texts. Nausicaa inspires deep thoughts and makes me enjoy thinking them like no other work of art has. More than any of his films, I feel that Nausicaa gives a window into Miyazaki's mind, how he (and a generation of idealists) thought, and how his thinking changed over the course of a decade (e.g., how he made the transition from the simple pro-environment message in the Nausicaa film to the much more nuanced message in Mononoke). I've read other works that are more intellectually complete, but Nausicaa is unique in that it thoroughly de-abstracts deep philosophical issues and connects you to them in a very emotional way.
Finally, Nausicaa is what I return to when I just want to stare at beautiful sketches. Like his movies, the characters, animals, and fantastical settings seem to leap out from Miyazaki's mind directly to the page, but here they are more raw, unfiltered. The sketch work in some frames is so remarkably detailed, that each one could be a standalone print. Moreover, Miyazaki is a visual story teller with few equals, and despite the nuance and detail in each frame, not one stroke is extraneous; I sometimes stare at individual frames for countless minutes because even the ones without dialog could tell paragraphs and paragraphs of the story on their own.
Now, a note on Vol 7 in particular. Some people disparage the ending as antithetical to Nausicaa's character; that she becomes a "destroyer" in the end rather than the "lover of life" that she starts off as. In a technical sense, this is true. But she does so in response to an impossible moral dilemma, very loosely paraphrased as "Is it justified to use life as a means to an end, if that end is paradise?" This is a deeply, deeply philosophical question for which an answer eludes us to this day. It is also a metaphor for many of the seismic events that shaped the last 3 decades, such as the collapse of Communism. In the end, Nausicaa must choose between the abstract lives of a utopian future and the lives of humans and creatures that exist in the here and now, along with the suffering and misery that accompany them. It is a harsh, nuanced, and ambiguous ending that is a far cry from the simplistic Nausicaa film. That this particular volume is so chock full of allegories, metaphors, and philosophical quandaries (all seamlessly integrated with a thrilling climax) is one of the reasons why it is my favorite. (Volume 5 and 6 are close seconds with their emotionally gripping examination of death, the meaning of life, and nihilism)
In short, when you find that you have a full weekend to read something deep and satisfying (because you may just decide to read the whole thing in one sitting), try Nausicaa. The first two volumes are a bit slow. But the series grows on you like none other.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Miyazaki at his finest...the movie doesn't even come close, March 14, 2010
This review is from: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Vol. 7 (Paperback)
First of all, let me say that I am a huge fan of Hayao Miyazaki, and of all the Studio Ghibli films. I have all of his movies, and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is one of my favorite Miyazaki films, having been introduced to it soon after Disney dubbed it into English. I have watched the movie both in English and its original Japanese many times, but despite my love of the movie, it took me a long time to make up my mind to finally read the entirety of Miyazaki's manga form of Nausicaa's story.
Second of all, this review is over all seven volumes of the manga, rather than dissecting them separately. Nausicaa is more like a very long book with seven chapters, rather than separate stories, and in my opinion it is best understood and appreciated when it is read as a whole.
That being said, I cannot praise Miyazaki highly enough for giving me the rest of Nausicaa's story. The movie is only a crude telling of the first two volumes, in which Nausicca strives to understand the purpose of the Ohmu and the Sea of Corruption. The movie also introduces several of the key characters of the manga that, in further volumes, grow so much in development, such as Kushana and Kuratowa, or Asbel, and even the God Warrior. Like Nausicaa, their representation in the movie is just a small idea of their roles and characters in the full story. In particular, Kushana is NOT the villian that the movie makes her out to be, but one of the most interesting and layered characters. Nausicaa herself grows so much, and her maturation into a young woman and leader is wonderful to watch.
I cannot stress the fact that the movie, although still one of my favorite Ghibli films, falls extremely short of the full story, and it was such a joy to read the conclusion of Nausicca's journey to understand, and ultimately save, the decaying world around her. There is so much to learn and love from the manga, so much that is missing from the movie, including some of the very best characters, such as Ketcha, Chikuku, Charuka, or Selm (my particular favorite). As for the manga itself, the art is, as it is Miyazaki, absolutely flawless, and the story is detailed and riveting, both working together to create an addicting read that will not allow you to put it down once you pick it up. I myself read all seven volumes in several days, and was regretful to put the seventh down when I was done. This is a story of hope and strife, of love and pain, of death and salvation and acceptance, all woven together with the clear warning against misusing the Earth, and to live in harmony with not only the land but the people and creatures which inhabit it. Without saying too much about the story, it is a very complex war epic of man vs. nature, man vs. machine, and man vs. man, culminating in a moving realization that hints at the creation of Princess Mononoke only a few years later.
In short, this manga is a must-read for any fan of Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli, anime, manga, epics, or great storytelling in general. For Miyazaki fans, I urge you not to overly compare the movie and the manga, and don't judge the movie too harshly afterward, as it is still a wonderful epic in its own right. As for Miyazaki fans who have never read manga before, do not be afraid of the right-to-left reading; you will get used to it and forget about it quickly, like watching Japanese with English subtitles. That was my one worry before reading Nausicaa - the backward reading - but now I simply feel foolish for not reading it much, much sooner. The decision to read these seven remarkable volumes is one you won't regret. I know I don't.
In conclusion, this is Miyazaki's true masterpiece, and I challenge any supposed "fan" of Miyazaki to read this work, because you don't know Nausicca until you read her full story, and once you do, you will love her all the more because of it. If I could give it six stars, I would.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Nausicaa, January 8, 2011
This review is from: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Vol. 7 (Paperback)
The collection of 7 books that make up the Nausicaa collection are fantastic. I read them all in about two days as once you start them you cannot stop. The paper quality is a bit low, but what can you expect for the price. You get the full story, plus it has additional stuff to the film and more depth. This shows off Miyazaki's amazing drawing skills and his ability to weave a story with a message is renowned. This has strong environmental themes and manages to make a point without ramming it home. You have to read these in the traditional Japanese way (I.e. back to front from a western perspective) but this only adds to the charm and overall experience. A brilliant intro to Miyazaki's anime.
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