コードネームはセーラーV [Kōdonēmu wa Sērā Bui]

In the early 1990s, manga creator Naoko Takeuchi launched Code Name: Sailor V as a standalone series for Kodansha, introducing a young superheroine who fights evil with a magical compact and a talking cat. Spanning three issues from 1993 to 1997, this short but influential comic serves as a direct precursor to the global phenomenon Sailor Moon, establishing the tone and formula that would define the magical girl genre. Takeuchi’s distinctive art and character-driven storytelling shine here, making it a foundational work for fans tracing the origins of her iconic universe.