Unico: Awakening Completes Its Arc with Scholastic Up to Volume 8

News has reached us that fills us with a mix of joy and nostalgia. Scholastic, through its Graphix imprint, has decided to go all-in on Unico. Not only will they continue publishing the series, but they will take it to its natural conclusion. They have acquired the rights to release volumes 5 through 8 of Unico: Awakening, which means we will have a total of eight books to enjoy this reinterpretation of Osamu Tezuka's classic.

The Journey of a Forgotten Unicorn

For those unfamiliar with the original story, Unico is a unicorn with a special gift: inspiring hope and positivity in those around him. This power, however, arouses the envy of the goddess Venus, who orders his destruction. Her servant, the West Wind, disobeys out of compassion and, instead, takes Unico on an eternal journey through time and space, condemned to forget every place he leaves. The new graphic series explores this premise, adding new characters like Chloe, the clockwork cat, and the mysterious Sphinx, as Unico is pursued by gods and monsters seeking to end him.

An Ending Tezuka Dreamed Of

The most significant aspect of this announcement is that the series will conclude with its eighth volume. This is not a cancellation, but a planned closure. Scholastic has confirmed that these eight books "will complete the initial story arc imagined, but never finished, by Tezuka in his lifetime". It is a unique opportunity to see the ending the God of Manga had in mind for his mythical creature materialized. It's as if a lost piece of Tezuka's legacy is about to be found and assembled.

The Creative Team Behind the Rebirth

This project wasn't born in the offices of a major publisher. It all started with a Kickstarter campaign in May 2022, driven by the illustrator duo Gurihiru (with a resume that includes Marvel and Avatar) and writer Samuel Sattin. The campaign was a success and funded the first 162-page volume. Now, with Scholastic's backing, the story can unfold in its entirety. The third book, titled Unico: Lost, is scheduled for release in the summer of 2026.

A Legacy That Transcends Paper

Unico's story is not limited to manga pages. Tezuka first published it in 1976 in Sanrio's Ririka magazine. Its impact was such that it inspired two anime films: The Fantastic Adventures of Unico (1981) and Unico in the Island of Magic (1983). Both are available for streaming and have had several physical re-releases over the years, demonstrating the public's persistent affection. It's curious to think that a unicorn created almost 50 years ago continues to find new ways to connect with audiences.

A Path Not Without Controversy

Even a story about hope and kindness can encounter obstacles. In November 2024, Scholastic withdrew all copies of Unico: Awakening from the book fairs it organized in the Richmond County school district, North Carolina. The measure was taken following a complaint from the mother of a first-grade student. It's a reminder that sometimes the most innocent art can be viewed with suspicion. Despite this isolated incident, the publisher has maintained its commitment to the series, releasing the second volume, Unico: Hunted, in July 2025.

We face a delicious paradox. On one hand, we know the series has an ending in sight. On the other, we have years of new adventures to discover ahead. It's the promise of a complete journey, of a beginning and an end for a character who for decades lived in a narrative limbo. The wait until 2026 for the next volume will feel long, but Unico's ultimate fate seems to be, at last, in good hands.