- Graphic Novels
- Ages 8–12
- Fantasy
Unico: Hunted
Book 2 in UnicoView the full series
Unico wakes in a factory town ruled by a sinister robot called Mother, just as Venus unleashes a relentless hunter to track him down. The saga deepens into a rescue mission with real stakes and gorgeous art.
- Best for8–12
- FormatGraphic
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The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Literary
- Conversational
Tone
- Adventurous
- Heartwarming
- Suspenseful
- Bittersweet
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
The second volume of the acclaimed full-colour manga revival finds Unico waking, memory still lost, in an abandoned factory town, where a resourceful mouse named Garapachi saves him and a human girl called Chiko becomes his friend. But something is deeply wrong here: the town is ruled by a cold machine known only as Mother, who starves the townsfolk, drives the fae underground, and seems bent on wiping out every living thing. Unico urges his new friends to flee, but they are captured, and freeing them will take all of the little unicorn's kindness and courage. Meanwhile, far off, the goddess Venus unleashes a ferocious hunter who will stop at nothing to find Unico. Written by Samuel Sattin with art by Gurihiru and developed with Tezuka Productions, Unico: Hunted raises the stakes of Osamu Tezuka's classic while keeping its tender heart, setting up an approaching battle in which Unico will need every ally he can find. Beautifully drawn and emotionally rich, it is a compelling next step for readers who fell for Awakening.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
A full-colour manga for independent readers aged 8-12 that also rewards nostalgic adults. Book two brings more menace, a sinister robot and a relentless hunter, so it best suits readers comfortable with fantasy jeopardy; the heart and hope keep it from tipping into anything harsh.
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- Best fit · 8–12
- Read aloud · 8–11
- Independent · 8–12
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Workable
Works well for
- Gift-buying
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
2 / 5 · Better outside bedtime
Sensitive-child
3 / 5 · Mostly fine
Graphic intensity
2 / 5 · Mild
Best for
- Manga fans
- Fantasy lovers
- Animal lovers
- Emotional readers
Avoid if
- Wants light comedy
- Sensitive to peril
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
This one is more thrilling: an evil machine called Mother running a whole town, a brave little mouse, and a terrifying hunter closing in on Unico. You're desperate for him to save his new friends, and the full-colour art makes every dangerous moment leap off the page.
- Magic powers
- Surviving danger
- Friendship and belonging
Why parents love it
The peril steps up, but so does the emotional payoff, kindness winning out over cruelty. The Gurihiru artwork is beautiful, the world-building is thoughtful, and it's a strong, accessible manga to move a young reader deeper into a proper serialised saga.
- Beautiful illustrations
- Great writing
- Nostalgia
In the series
Unico.
3 books · open the series →
About the creators
About the creators.
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