Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind: Volume 1

by Hayao Miyazaki

Book Overview

An epic fantasy tale written and illustrated by the legendary director Hayao Miyazaki!

In a long-ago war, humankind set off a devastating ecological disaster. Thriving indistrial societies disappeared. The earth is slowly submerging beneath the expanding Sea of Corruption, an enormous toxic forest that creates mutant insects and releases a miasma of poisonous spores into the air.At the periphery of the sea, tiny kingdoms are scattered...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1591164087
• ISBN13: 9781591164081
• Release Date: February 2004
• Publisher: Viz Media
• Length: 130 Pages
• Weight: 0.59 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 7.2" x 10.2"
• Age Range: 13 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 8 to 12

Customer Reviews

One of the finest manga series ever

There are two versions of this. The first is a perfect bound edition. The second is the larger version here. Both are excellent reads but the larger versions allows you to see the brilliance of Miyazaki's artwork (from a guy known more for animation). I have been told that the newer version is a more accurate translation but, not knowing Japanese, I can not confirm that. It is certainly an easier read because one does not have to squint. In terms of story, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is a masterpiece. It blows Lord of the Rings out of the water. And this is coming from a person who hates almost the entire post-apocalyptic genre. I did think the ending came a bit suddenly and it did not necessarily wrap up every question I had. However, it is still one of the best graphic novels you can get. Highly recommended.

Wonderful book

... in a better edition and better size. Only one warning: the previous box set "Perfect Collection" is more friendly to read. In this new edition you must read from right to left and the sound effects are in "japanese" (is included a guide to descipher the meaning of these sounds).

A truly unique masterpiece of graphic novel literature!

These days, there are only a few graphic novels out there that can really be called graphic novels. This small, elite group include "Maus", "Ghost in the Shell", and "Akira". And one of the greatest and most unique of these graphic masterpieces is Hayao Miyazaki's "Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind".When reading this four book series, anyone familiar with the movie "Warriors of the Wind", a horribly-butchered version of the Japanese version, will immediately recognize how superior the graphic novel is to the movie; anyone who hasn't even heard of Miyazaki, let alone the movie, will discover why Miyazaki is considered a legend in Japan and a god to US animators. While the Japanese movie is excellent, the true essence of the movie is found within the graphic novels.The plot is built around Nausicaa, the princess of the Valley of Wind, but the story encompasses many other figures that are equally important. The sheer scope of the story reads like an epic, and it isn't filled with the usual good-and-evil, black-and-white ideals found in children films. No one is good, no one is evil. Every person in the story is a human being: realistic, fleshed-out, and flawed. To try and explain the plot of "Nausicaa" would degrade how beautiful it really is. A reader can only truly appreciate its by actually reading it.Accompanying the excellent plot is Miyazaki's truly unique artistic style. Most Japanese manga artists use tones (pre-rendered shades and styles) to "color" their work, but "Nausicaa" is different. Instead of tones, he uses pencil strokes that give different shades depending upon the strokes' size and distance from each other. This creates a magnificent sight not found anywhere else in graphic novel literature. Of course, since VIZ released all four novels in "perfect collection" volumes, the artwork can sometimes appear a little blurred and blended. Luckily, the overall artwork isn't ruined and does justice to Miyazaki's masterpiece.But a great story and beautiful artwork can be ruined by a terrible translation. Thankfully, the translators of "Nausicaa" didn't allow such a thing to happen. They obviously put their hearts and souls into this story, and it only increases the reader's enjoyment. There is a reason why it was on a list of the best manga translated into English!All in all, "Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind" is a superb graphic novel of epic proportions. While some might think of "Nausicaa" as a comic book meant only for children, "Nausicaa" is far more than that. It is a beautiful work that is considered by many as Miyazaki's greatest accomplishment. Several scenes of violence and death might make this suitable only for older readers. But other than that, anyone who loves a good story will enjoy "Nausicaa".

In one word: Epic

If there was ever a reason to get into reading manga this is it. Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind tells of the legacy of a devoted Joan of Arc esque princess born in a small peaceful valley. An intricate tale is woven through absolutely masterful drawings to depict Princess Nausicaa's walk of life to save not only her home but her despotic rulers, their enemies and the sea of destruction that would destroy them all.Set in the distant future, man has all but lost the battle against the poisonous jungles which now cover much of the earth. What remnants remain of human society wage war for their own interests further culling the dwindling human population. With more and more people dying young and fewer children living past infancy, Princess Nausicaa takes a quest of compassion to save the world from itself.Miyazaki presents a world of hand to hand sword fighting, huge flying barges, giant insects and a truly admirable princess in a short skirt.If you die without having experienced these books then you have never truly lived.

The All-Time BEST manga

Where do I start? I'll try this... Nausicaa of The Valley of Wind is absolutely the best manga ever created! It is the epitome of what manga, literature even, should be. For those who recognize it as the same story seen in "Warriors of The Wind", the horribly mutilated translation of the anime version of Nausicaa, all I can say is that "WOTW" is a travesty to the story displayed in this graphic novel. For those who have seen some of the works by Mr. Hayao Miyazaki (Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, Mononoke Hime), Know now that Nausicaa is his greatest achievement. This story deserves to be recognized by the public as one of the greatest works of storytelling ever created. I will not spoil the story for you, but believe me, it will not dissappoint. Enemies become friends, friends become enemies, plot twists abound and some of the most likable (and lovably despicable) characters in the literary world. I haven't even gone into the artwork. Miyazaki is an accomplished artist, with extraordinary skill and talent. It shows in this masterpiece. Wonderful character designs and the use of art and look to help tell the story can be spotted. When reading, realize that one can recognize a character in disguise by examining the way the character stands, holds him/herself, and talks. I have never seen that before in a manga. Imagine the characters not as drawings, but actors upon a magnificent and beautifully crafted stage. In ending, this manga deserves not just 5 stars, but all the stars in the heavens above.