Customer Reviews

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Vol. 7

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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.

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.

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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Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is a manga written and illustrated by legendary anime filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. It originally ran from 1982 to 1994; the total work is over 1100 pages (the edition currently in print is seven volumes). The initial chapters were the basis for the eponymous 1984 film. Here, a postapocalyptic Earth is polluted and overgrown with toxic forests and giant insects. As neighboring states go to war, Nausicaä, princess of the Valley of the Wind, works to restore peace and to purify the earth.

It's hard to talk about the manga without mentioning the film, which is one of my all-time favorites. More people are familiar with the film than with the comic, and Miyazaki is far better known as a filmmaker than as a comic artist. Obviously, Miyazaki is more limited in a sensory way here, without the film's color or outstanding musical score. But he is much freer to explore his world: the film features a considerably streamlined story (one nation has been omitted) and a moral conflict that is fairly black and white. The manga is substantially more complex.

Miyazaki has created a rich, deep world, which is worth the investment the reader must make. Particularly early on, there's a lot of exposition in dialogue, like we're accustomed to seeing in American Silver Age comics. And it takes some time for the reader to determine who is on which side and what, exactly, is going on.

Nausicaä is always engaging but rarely gripping. Toward the end of the saga, Miyazaki does manage to generate some genuine suspense, but mostly the story meanders along as Nausicaä herself more or less blows where the winds of war take her. The ending is rife with potential, but it goes out with something of an abrupt whimper.

As an archetype of love and self-sacrifice, Nausicaä herself is an exceptionally admirable protagonist. Through nonviolence, she is a uniter, a peacemaker. The only stumble here comes at the end of the work, when Miyazaki puts her into what he obviously feels is a shades-of-gray, no-win moral situation. But it's actually somewhat underwhelming, as Miyazaki barely even hints at the ramifications.

Miyazaki's ever-present attention to detail is here in the artwork, which is generally impressive, although such a degree of detail often makes for some messy and hard-to-interpret panels, particularly during battles (and there are a lot of battles). And Miyazaki doesn't shy away from depicting the carnage more graphically than he ever did in any of his films.

There are a wide array of supernatural powers at work here that for the most part were not present in the film. A number of them are kind of silly, and some don't always make a lot of sense (hello, sentient mold monster). Telepaths are a dime a dozen.

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is always good but rarely great. It will particularly appeal to fans of the film who want more of Nausicaä's adventures and a deeper look into Miyazaki's postapocalyptic world.

This book concludes the story of Nausicaa. The ending might surprise some people or even disappoint others. Nevertheless, Nausicaa remains a great book that is well worth your time. Go read it!

I have to say that I went into this series with the expectation that it was going to be better than the movie. I am a huge fan of Miyazaki, and his movie Nausicaa, so when I heard it was a graphic novel I went out and bought the first copy. you wouldn't believe the trouble I had getting a hold of some of these books, but somehow I did it and now I will tell you about the ending.

The series for the most part up to this point was really good, with the 3rd book being my favorite. But the story gets bogged down a lot halfway through this book. the main character, Nausicaa, is so believable in all the other books, but in this one she stops being the lover of all things living and unwilling savor, to destroyer of everything from the past. She completely changes, and not for the better. That's the main reason I didn't like this book.

But another very big reason was because there were simply too many characters to keep
Track of. Let me write them out.

1) Nausicaa
2) Asbel
3) Yupa
4) Kushana
5) Keratowa
6) Ketcha
7) Chikio
8) The Dorok priest
9) The holy emperor
10) The Tolmekian emperor
11) Mito
12) The Jester
13) The god worrier
14) The forest people (there are two of them)
15) The worm handlers (lots of them)
16) The two princes
17) The master of the crypt
18) The crypts Keeper
19) And of course Teto

Wow, I don't even think I got them all. Once Nausicaa starts her journey to the crypt in shuwa most of these characters are ignored and then sort of thrown together at the end. There are so many that Miyazaki HAD to kill a few off, even though I could tell he didn't really want to, and the way some of them die is comical at best.

And lets not forget the ending. Man was is a disappointment. The whole story seemed slapped together, like Miyazaki got board of writing this book and just decided to end it anyway he could. And there really wasn't any ending. The story could have gone on for another book or two, but it just ends so abruptly that I was left with a sense of disappointment.

Overall the series is worth reading, if you can get it for a decent price. The art work and premise are great in and of themselves, and most of the books in this series are great. If you are a Miyazaki fan, or just a fan of the movie, go for it. Otherwise I don't think you could justify the price of getting all seven volumes.