Playing Favorites

          When I was younger everything had a gender and was meant for that gender. For example, the colors blue, red, and green were boys; while the colors pink, yellow, and orange were girls. Unless it was my uniform- I had a dark blue and white uniform from Kindergarten to 3^rd Grade- one would not see me in what I thought to be “boy colors.” I was not raised to think that way it is just how I categorized objects and things when I was that age. So when it came to superheroes most of them were boys, so I thought they were for boys. However, there was one superhero from my childhood that was a female, that I adored, and that I can say is my favorite. Sailor Moon.

          According to Duncan and Smith’s article “Comic Book Genres: The Superhero Genre” a superhero must display certain elements that define them as a superhero: a costume, a mission, powers not possessed by any normal human, and a dual identity. Sailor Moon holds all of these things and can therefore be categorized as a superhero. Her costume consists of red knee-high boots, a blue mini skirt, a white leotard with a red bow in the front that holds her transformation crystal, a blue and white cape, and a second red bow in the rear. Elbow high white and red gloves, and accessories that frame her face. After her transformation she proclaims her mission to her enemy. “I stand for truth and I stand for love. I am Sailor Moon! I will triumph over evil and that means you.”  A paraphrase from what I remember as a child. Her powers come from her past life as the Moon Princess Serenity which gives her authority over her tiara, that can slice and destroy many enemies, and a series of wands that change and upgrade with each passing season. All of this is hidden by her identity as a normal 14-year-old high school student by the name of Serena.     

           In addition to the bright colors, the fact that she was an evil fighting female, and had adventures in space I believe what interested me the most was her elegance when fighting. Around the time I watched Sailor Moon I was a ballerina studying at Dancing of the Streets in Chicago and I was learning how to be graceful, careful, and classy while dancing. Sailor Moon had all of this while battling Queen Beryl, having her friend’s heart crystals stolen, and trying to find a princess. I looked up to this. I used to mimic her transformations and attacks, and reenacted episodes from Cartoon Network with my friends during recess. We all loved her and the Sailor Scouts. It was how we bonded with one another at such a young age.

            Sailor Moon in reality was 14-year-old adolescent. When analyzing her crime fighting self and her everyday normal self I realize the only thing she really took seriously was her crime fighting. While Serena would whine, complain, and was clumsy but when she transformed into Sailor Moon she became a devoted defender of justice.

She essentially grew up as a result of her transforming. She became more serious, dedicated, and responsible. So when thinking about what Sailor Moon would do to handle a problem in my adult life I would have to remember she would do it as an adult. No matter the situation she would face it as a grown up should with loyalty, perseverance, and in a graceful manner. That is what I wanted to be when I grew up and what I continue to strive to be.    

Since Sailor Moon has the costume, purpose, powers, and double identity to classify her as a superhero. It is because of her grace, elegance, and dignity when fighting that makes her my favorite superhero. When handling a situation and imagining how she would resolve it I believe she would behave as a responsible adult and take care of the situation the best way possible. Just like her theme song says “Never running from a real fight…” I will take her example and never run from a problem but handle them like an adult.