Beautifully done in watercolors and the famous Miyazaki art style, this book is a feast for the eyes. Story wise and stylistically it follows the closes to Nausicaa from all of his movies, which it predates. Reading the introduction from the translator, you'll find that this is sort of a retelling of a folk tale from Taiwan with some major alterations. The exploration of slavery, capitalism, and people's bodies and spirits being used as currency is masterfully done.
Can't recommend this enough.

Thanks to netgalley for the arc.

I have been a fan of Miyazaki for almost a decade now and I was so excited for when this book finally hit Canadian shelves. The story and art style are of course reminiscent of Studio Ghibli and offer the same comfort that Miyazaki's films do. Being one of his first projects, you can definitely tell where influences for other stories came from.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Interesting graphic novel in a familiar and gorgeous style. Sure to be a big hit with anyone who enjoys adventurous graphic or manga stories or the Ghibli studio films.

Fans of Miyazaki will enjoy this quiet tale of finding life beyond what you know. Based off of a folk tale Miyazaki heard about, he took a few parts and tweaked the story as the Prince quests for food for his village. It's lovely and very much like Miyazaki's films. In fact, you can see how this is part of the evolution of his work. Fantastic and a must have where anime is popular.

I was super excited to get even a sampler of this book. Combine a quest story with the genius of Miyazaki and I'm absolutely on board. I look forward to reading this book in full.

A classic for a reason. Shuna's Journey is a great story by a great artist. Highly recommended. Have already handed it to a few students.

It was fascinating to see where so many well-loved Miyazaki films drew inspiration from. This story is wonderful in its own right, and an absolute must for any Nausicaa fan in particular, as you can really see where Nausicaa came out of this story. Really lovely.

NOTE: I read the 23 page sampler on NetGalley, but waited until the book was published to finish it and post a full review on Goodreads. Both reviews are included below:

SAMPLER REVIEW: Based on just the 23 page sampler, I can't wait to finish this book! I love studio Ghibli movies so I'm excited to see some of his earlier work. The artwork is stunning!


GOODREADS FINAL REVIEW: I love Miyazaki's movie works so when I saw this pop up on NetGalley I had to grab it! He wrote it back in the 1980s but it just now is getting an English translation. If you love Ghibli movies, you'll definitely enjoy this as it clearly is in the same vein. The artwork is stunning, the world-building is meticulous, and the story itself is full of the strange and metaphorical. Personally I thought it got a bit too weird near the end, so I gave it 4 stars in the end: 5 for artwork and 3 for story...

I'm really excited about this book, but I HATE that this is a sampler. How am I supposed to give a review without actually reading the book?

(NOTE: the following is a review of its 24-page sampler)

Hayao Miyazaki’s Shuna’s Journey is a marvel to look at. Visually, it’s like reading through one of his storyboards, only more fleshed out. Despite it being written in 1983, it already has the spirit of one of his future classics (Princess Mononoke, specifically). Although he had already made a name for himself by this time via Lupin the Third and Future Boy Conan, Miyazaki showed through Shuna’s Journey that he wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

This is just a short sampler, but the artwork is stunning and the story seems intriguing from the little teaser here.

If you are a fan of Miyazaki's work, this is something that you will absolutely enjoy. There is a dreamy quality to Miyazaki's films which translates to the page well; the colors and watercolor style of the artwork is calming, despite the adventure style of the story. The art combined with the text tells a compelling story and makes you genuinely care about the characters. Absolutely beautiful, and I can't wait to see it in person!

This was such a great story. And the artwork was some of the best I've seen in a long time. We follow Shuna, a prince that watches as his people toil endlessly to grow what grain they can coax out of the ground. One day a traveler gives him some mysterious seeds and he goes on a journey to find out what they are. Overall, a great story and even better artwork.

Thank you First Second Books and NetGalley for the advanced electronic sampler review copy of this wonderful book. I really enjoyed the first 24 pages of this never before translated, beautifully illustrated graphic novel. Gorgeous illustrations were full of detail and the sampler was a tease, making me want to read the rest of the story. Can’t wait for it to publish so that I can find out what happens next.

I liked this new graphic novel by Miyazaki. It had everything I would have expected from him as a storyteller. I was only able to read a preview of this book for my honest opinion but I can't wait to read the rest. It was everything I hoped it would be and more.

Based on a Tibetan folk tale, Shuna's Journey is a dystopian journey through vagaries of a land and people in conflict. Shuna, a compassionate and occasionally misguided hero, is relatable and reminiscent of the fairy tale prince in many ways. What really makes this book stand out are the book's illustrations. The dreamlike watercolors draw readers into a rich world, filled with vibrant characters. While the story and art is very reminiscent of Studio Ghibli's animated films, even serving as a template for some, this book is not just for fans of Hayao Miyazaki. It is a gateway, for new readers and viewers, to discover the multifaceted stories Miyazaki creates.

Even from this sampler, the aesthetic, narrative, character, and emotional seeds of Miyazaki’s “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind”, “Princess Mononoke”, “Howl’s Moving Castle”, and “Spirited Away” can easily be seen. Sure to be a masterwork from one of the world’s greatest living storytellers.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher First Second Books for a sampler of this new graphic novel.

A new Hayao Miyazaki is a reason to celebrate, and this graphic novel seems a return to his older kind of storytelling. Shuna's Journey begins with a traveller who tells tales of the west and how fertile and great the area is, and of seeds that could produce better foodstuffs for the village. The seed of adventure, exploration and helping his people, in a valley that never has enough food for the population and its animals, is planted in Shuna's head. Soon Shuna is preparing for a long trip into the unknown.

The art is beautiful. A nice mix of brightness with a washed color to it. The village feels lived in, the expanse of land looks like it would be truly dangerous to cross, and gives a real sense of foreboding. The story seems good, and I want to know how the quest goes, and what the consequences or triumphs Shuna will face. An easy recommend to costumers who like Miyazaki, or for people who want to buy a graphic novel for someone at the holidays, but all the capes and violence turn them off. The art will be the real selling point.

More of a storybook than a manga, it's a somber fairytale that's perhaps most interesting as a piece of proto-Ghibli Miyazaki, clearly planting seeds that would fully bloom in Nausicaa in the Valley of the Wind and Princess Mononoke.