The Best Version of Each Attack

[Lady Pen]

Next up is
"SPARKLING WIDE PRESSURE"
or as the Dic dub called it, "Jupiter Thunder Clap" which was honestly clever enough, I guess. CWI went back to the original name and then some random others.
Again, I won't be using the game footage here, but I encourage others to do so if they wish, because I love seeing it and it's nice to compare it!


Manga:
In the manga, I believe she only performs this once (that's standard for the manga.)
I like the name. Even if it's nonsense, it sounds awesome and is fun to say and even more fun to hear Miss Emi Shinohara shout.

It's not that it's a particularly bad pose, it's just hard to tell what she's doing. Is she calling down lightning or getting ready to throw it like she does in the anime? The art here is not good, though. It's super sketchy to be a major attack scene and is wonky. Look at that skirt. What is going on? And the shin and boot? EW. Maybe Naoko was at a low point?
I wouldn't care if this was a multi-use attack, but what an afterthought it appears here. One of the worst drawn that I can remember in the manga.
The more I look at it the worse it gets. I'm honestly mad now.
I have to remember it's just a panel in a 90s manga. *breath, SFA, breathe.*


Appearance: 1/10
Effectiveness: 1.5/10 It seems to do zilch to the opponent, but that's Black Moon Arc, for ya.
Manga Rating: 1.25/10

90s Anime version 1
I won't be doing each version of this variant from the 90s, since it was reworked just slightly, I believe, on a few occasions. However, it does have multiple variations that have totally different animation so those will be below. If I miss one, please let me know and post it!

I don't believe TalentlessFool has broken this one down yet, correct me if I'm wrong. But if they have or when they do, check out the beauty of this move's opening and the simple but effective movements Jupiter makes afterwards. It's just perfect. The earring closeup, the expression, the power.

Absolute cinema, as today's kids would say. Not that they know what that is, the poor things.


Appearance: 8/10
Effectiveness: 8.5/10 (One of the few attacks from a non-moon senshi that KILLS
Anime Rating: 8.25/10

90s Anime version 2
This one is fast and a real time attack without a command. It was always fun when the girls would show off how they could just hurl elements on the fly. Both animes needed more of that.

Nothing to hate here as far as I'm concerned. But nothing truly outstanding.

Appearance: 7/10
Effectiveness: 7/10 (It misses, but we see later how it actually does damage these monsters when she gets a hit in.)
Anime Rating: 7/10

90s anime version 3:
One of the most awesome moments in S, in my opinion. I wish we'd gotten more of this kind of thing. The delay in the command is also a nice touch. I'm pretty sure this fight inspired the Iron Mouse sequence in Cosmos.

Appearance: 8/10
Effectiveness: 7/10
Anime Rating: 7.5/10

90s anime version 4...(and 5?)
This is the worst of the 90s versions, by far. Probably the worst overall, in animation form. But it did what it was supposed to. A lot of these last gen attacks were animated poorly in SuperS. Had to save that budget for the gorgeous new ones.

I'm not a fan, but since it was just a goofy moment, I don't really mind.
If it hadn't been for the longer ribbons and new brooch, we probably would have never seen it, at all.
That final scene as they dodge it is beautifully done, though.


Appearance: 5/10
Effectiveness: 2/10
Anime Rating: 3.5/10

If i'm not wrong, that panel was replaced with a new one in the second edition. That with Jupiter making a floral Kame Hame Ha?

It's less dynamic, as if Jupiter were walking on a catwalk show a.k.a elegant, dark and mature.

I'm not a fan of the first Mercury's attack (all versions) and this one either.

 

[saintfighteraqua]

If i'm not wrong, that panel was replaced with a new one in the second edition. That with Jupiter making a floral Kame Hame Ha?

It's less dynamic, as if Jupiter were walking on a catwalk show a.k.a elegant, dark and mature.

I'm not a fan of the first Mercury's attack (all versions) and this one either.

I'd even forgotten she had redrawn it. It's definitely a better drawing but it is still a pretty generic pose.
My main memory of this attack was from the English rerelease (the one before the Eternal editions) where the translator actually calls this attack "Spark RING Wide Pressure"
Imagine having decades of source material to help with translation, wikis, YouTube videos even...and you get this wrong in an official translation.
Here, I found it along with their Saturn flub as well.
They fixed it in the Eternal/Naoko edition and I believe in reprints of the other release.

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

^ The "Spark Ring" error is due to that the katakana for the "ling" part of "sparkling" is spelled as "ringu" - the same spelling for "ring" - whereas the "Ribbon" error has nothing to do w/ the Japanese spelling of an English word in itself - it's just a plain misreading of the Japanese spelling. lol

 

[Memelord_Yoshi]

If i'm not wrong, that panel was replaced with a new one in the second edition. That with Jupiter making a floral Kame Hame Ha?

It's less dynamic, as if Jupiter were walking on a catwalk show a.k.a elegant, dark and mature.

I'm not a fan of the first Mercury's attack (all versions) and this one either.

Why can't we have that as Flower Hurricane?

 

[saintfighteraqua]

Next is
"WORLD SHAKING!"
The first times we see it used in the manga, we don't really get to see much of it, so I'm not counting those.
But we get to see it again in the Dream Arc. Oh boy...

I don't care for this image. You see, I am fine with showing eyebrows through hair or even eyes through hair, depending...because that can happen through thin bangs.
But can you really see an eye ball and lashes through a gloved thumb?
Her waits and pose are fine. Nothing to write home about. I actually like the line work here, it's minimal, but works. The yaoi hands are something else in these shots, but as a person who HATES drawing hands, I get it.
Not sure why the thigh in the foreground is so much thinner than the one in the background.
Overall, it looks low effort (not as low effort as me commenting on it, but here we are.) These attack scenes should be what pop on the page. Adding random explosions in random places doesn't do it. SO MANY panels of this manga needed redrawn and we got a very lazy effort for every re-release (I'm actually not that harsh on the initial release since I get the time crunch may have made it difficult, but it's been 30 years and multiple big re-releases.)


Appearance: 2
Effectiveness: 7 (I guess it did what it did, but those Amazon toddlers walked away from the fight while still being a threat.)
MANGA RATING: 4.5/10



The first anime:

It has a few slight variations, including one in Stars where she is in Super form, but they're so similar I'm counting them as one.
I love this attack, and it's sad that they didn't have a high budget for attacks and transformations this season. Still, they did what they could and in the 90s, that was usually good enough. The music and sound effects carry it, but overall, it's still pleasing to watch.


Appearance: 7
Effectiveness: 8
ANIME RATING: 7.5/10

Crystal/Eternal:
I'm not even adding the Crystal version, because it's the same in the manga, we don't see much of it being performed. Just her screaming it when beating up her paramour purincessu (gotta keep up appearances when Michiru is watching) and the impact when she hits Mimette. Which admittedly was fun.
But in Eternal... wait, can it be? How is this possible?

Eternal probably has the best version of this attack. It has some issues, but since the 90s one does, too...I think they are relatively nitpicky. I do think it's a bit drawn out, BUT, it's so fun to watch, elegant and powerful. You can just tell the artists here were loving it. Imagine this kind of care and budget being used on the rest.


Appearance: 8.5
Effectiveness:7
CRYSTAL/ETERNAL RATING: 7.75/10


The winner is Eternal, for me. I still prefer the music and vibe of the old one, but the visuals of the new one are actually pretty good for the most part. The hand movement and that bauble she's holding mesmerize me. Not sure what they even exist for, but I like it. I would prefer watching this one.
Or I'm just dazzled by pretty colors and flying debris, who knows.


Am I missing any other major appearances?

 

[Memelord_Yoshi]

I don't care for this image. You see, I am fine with showing eyebrows through hair or even eyes through hair, depending...because that can happen through thin bangs.
But can you really see an eye ball and lashes through a gloved thumb?
Her waits and pose are fine. Nothing to write home about. I actually like the line work here, it's minimal, but works. The yaoi hands are something else in these shots, but as a person who HATES drawing hands, I get it.
Not sure why the thigh in the foreground is so much thinner than the one in the background.
Overall, it looks low effort (not as low effort as me commenting on it, but here we are.) These attack scenes should be what pop on the page. Adding random explosions in random places doesn't do it. SO MANY panels of this manga needed redrawn and we got a very lazy effort for every re-release (I'm actually not that harsh on the initial release since I get the time crunch may have made it difficult, but it's been 30 years and multiple big re-releases.)


Appearance: 2
Effectiveness: 7 (I guess it did what it did, but those Amazon toddlers walked away from the fight while still being a threat.)
MANGA RATING: 4.5/10

 

[Talentless Fool]

But can you really see an eye ball and lashes through a gloved thumb?
Her waits and pose are fine. Nothing to write home about. I actually like the line work here, it's minimal, but works. The yaoi hands are something else in these shots, but as a person who HATES drawing hands, I get it.
Not sure why the thigh in the foreground is so much thinner than the one in the background.

Oh man! Oh God! Oh man!

Why would you do this to me?!?!

I didn't even notice the invisible hand! Nor the yaoi hands!
Minimal effort, Takeuchi didn't even bother to apply the screen tone and instead just pasted it over the drawing instead of cutting over it!
No wonder this panel looks messy! Even the speech bubble looks like a doodle!
And you wonder why she bailed on her own husband as an assistant (which would involve working with screentones)

Aside for headshots are there actually good panels in the manga?!

The only noteworthy thing here is that Takeuchi gives a Kanji Reading to the attack - 天界震 , 天 (Heavens) 界 (World) 震 (Shake) = Tenkaishin which can be translated as Shaking of the Skies and Earth (edit: actually no, that would be more likely 天地) or Shaking of the Heavens.

So... the Japanese version of the attack refers to a fictional Heavenly Kingdom, Tenkai (simply a play on Haruka's family name - Tenou = King of Heavens) which kinda gives the impression it's a thunder attack? You know, she shakes/tears the heavens and lightning descends.
(Edit 2: Actually according to Jisho, 震's onyomi - it's 'sound reading' aka it's not traditional reading when not used a verb that is 震える - Furueru - does mean thunder so...)
While the English name refers more to a physical attack?
Also two different things - Japanese = Heavens, English = (Our living) World.

Is Takeuchi referencing the Kingdom of Princess Uranus? Uranus who lived on a deserted planet?
Gosh, the more we dissect the more nonsense pours out.

The first anime:
It has a few slight variations, including one in Stars where she is in Super form, but they're so similar I'm counting them as one.
I love this attack, and it's sad that they didn't have a high budget for attacks and transformations this season. Still, they did what they could and in the 90s, that was usually good enough. The music and sound effects carry it, but overall, it's still pleasing to watch.

Wat?!
Good enough?
Why don't you worship the 90s anime?!?

Am I gonna have to do a break down of the attack for you to appreciate it's rightful majesty, peasant?

The winner is Eternal, for me. I still prefer the music and vibe of the old one, but the visuals of the new one are actually pretty good for the most part. The hand movement and that bauble she's holding mesmerize me. Not sure what they even exist for, but I like it. I would prefer watching this one.
Or I'm just dazzled by pretty colors and flying debris, who knows.

Nah, the Eternal version is not comparable to the 90s version.

It's serviceable but when you really look at what Haruka is doing, it's very flashy and just that and the art is bad, like REAL bad.

Eternal World Shaking:

90s World Shaking:

 

[Lady Pen]

90's. It doesn't get deformed in in-between frames at least.

 

[saintfighteraqua]

Oh man! Oh God! Oh man!

Why would you do this to me?!?!

I didn't even notice the invisible hand! Nor the yaoi hands!
Minimal effort, Takeuchi didn't even bother to apply the screen tone and instead just pasted it over the drawing instead of cutting over it!
No wonder this panel looks messy! Even the speech bubble looks like a doodle!
And you wonder why she bailed on her own husband as an assistant (which would involve working with screentones)

Aside for headshots are there actually good panels in the manga?!

The only noteworthy thing here is that Takeuchi gives a Kanji Reading to the attack - 天界震 , 天 (Heavens) 界 (World) 震 (Shake) = Tenkaishin which can be translated as Shaking of the Skies and Earth (edit: actually no, that would be more likely 天地) or Shaking of the Heavens.

So... the Japanese version of the attack refers to a fictional Heavenly Kingdom, Tenkai (simply a play on Haruka's family name - Tenou = King of Heavens) which kinda gives the impression it's a thunder attack? You know, she shakes/tears the heavens and lightning descends.
(Edit 2: Actually according to Jisho, 震's onyomi - it's 'sound reading' aka it's not traditional reading when not used a verb that is 震える - Furueru - does mean thunder so...)
While the English name refers more to a physical attack?
Also two different things - Japanese = Heavens, English = (Our living) World.

Is Takeuchi referencing the Kingdom of Princess Uranus? Uranus who lived on a deserted planet?
Gosh, the more we dissect the more nonsense pours out.


Wat?!
Good enough?
Why don't you worship the 90s anime?!?

Am I gonna have to do a break down of the attack for you to appreciate it's rightful majesty, peasant?


Nah, the Eternal version is not comparable to the 90s version.

It's serviceable but when you really look at what Haruka is doing, it's very flashy and just that and the art is bad, like REAL bad.

Eternal World Shaking:

90s World Shaking:

Yes, you will have to break them both down for me.
I know you hate doing that, but it is necessary to teach my peasant eyes so my peasant mouth doesn't spread more lies.

 

[foenyanko]

Sparkling Wide Pressure: Torn on this one. I love the moment where the light flashes in the original 90s stock animation sequence and she's in shadow for a split-second looking fierce.But overall, despite my fondness of Jupiter, I've never been a huge fan of this attack. It felt like a downgrade from Supreme Thunder in a lot of ways, including the size and reduced accuracy. I also don't like how she flings it like a baseball. The real-time variation with the S monster, though... Immaculate.

I feel like Crystal's versions deserve a nod if only for the fierce expression Jups has in the first version (CS2, when she was sick) and for the fact that her tiara lightning rod looks like it's actually doing something in these versions. In the original 90s, it's just there, with electricity in the general vicinity, whereas in Crystal it looks like it's actually either drawing in or generating the juice itself.

World Shaking: Iconic. I love the original version of the attack. I never realized until the recent frame-by-frame breakdown elsewhere here that she actually does a tiny spin. In motion, it always read to me like she was sort of whipping wildly with the energy of the attack. I think I actually like it a little less knowing the truth now, but it's still a great attack. (Though I think Megumi's delivery and the OST honestly make up like 60% of its badassery)

I'll give Eternal credit for giving us something semi-revitalized instead of a carbon copy frame-by-frame. Especially since the Outers in the 90s got stuck with the exact same attack sequences, just with longer ribbons. The carefree way she flings her arm to the side at the start and the sassy expression she gives the viewer before calling out the attack name is SO. GOOD. And then the way it rips up the ground. I wish we could see it in the quality of the 90s anime, as the shading still lacks depth, but it's pretty darn good.

 

[saintfighteraqua]

90's. It doesn't get deformed in in-between frames at least.

Shh, now. I have to give the Crystal people a bone here and there to keep engagement up, you know.

Next is
"WORLD SHAKING!"
The first times we see it used in the manga, we don't really get to see much of it, so I'm not counting those.
But we get to see it again in the Dream Arc. Oh boy...

I don't care for this image. You see, I am fine with showing eyebrows through hair or even eyes through hair, depending...because that can happen through thin bangs.
But can you really see an eye ball and lashes through a gloved thumb?
Her waits and pose are fine. Nothing to write home about. I actually like the line work here, it's minimal, but works. The yaoi hands are something else in these shots, but as a person who HATES drawing hands, I get it.
Not sure why the thigh in the foreground is so much thinner than the one in the background.
Overall, it looks low effort (not as low effort as me commenting on it, but here we are.) These attack scenes should be what pop on the page. Adding random explosions in random places doesn't do it. SO MANY panels of this manga needed redrawn and we got a very lazy effort for every re-release (I'm actually not that harsh on the initial release since I get the time crunch may have made it difficult, but it's been 30 years and multiple big re-releases.)


Appearance: 2
Effectiveness: 7 (I guess it did what it did, but those Amazon toddlers walked away from the fight while still being a threat.)
MANGA RATING: 4.5/10



The first anime:

It has a few slight variations, including one in Stars where she is in Super form, but they're so similar I'm counting them as one.
I love this attack, and it's sad that they didn't have a high budget for attacks and transformations this season. Still, they did what they could and in the 90s, that was usually good enough. The music and sound effects carry it, but overall, it's still pleasing to watch.


Appearance: 7
Effectiveness: 8
ANIME RATING: 7.5/10

Crystal/Eternal:
I'm not even adding the Crystal version, because it's the same in the manga, we don't see much of it being performed. Just her screaming it when beating up her paramour purincessu (gotta keep up appearances when Michiru is watching) and the impact when she hits Mimette. Which admittedly was fun.
But in Eternal... wait, can it be? How is this possible?

Eternal probably has the best version of this attack. It has some issues, but since the 90s one does, too...I think they are relatively nitpicky. I do think it's a bit drawn out, BUT, it's so fun to watch, elegant and powerful. You can just tell the artists here were loving it. Imagine this kind of care and budget being used on the rest.


Appearance: 8.5
Effectiveness:7
CRYSTAL/ETERNAL RATING: 7.75/10


The winner is Eternal, for me. I still prefer the music and vibe of the old one, but the visuals of the new one are actually pretty good for the most part. The hand movement and that bauble she's holding mesmerize me. Not sure what they even exist for, but I like it. I would prefer watching this one.
Or I'm just dazzled by pretty colors and flying debris, who knows.


Am I missing any other major appearances?

Now that my master plan to TRICK Talentlessfool into making a World Shaking Breakdown has succeeded, I will show how I'd REALLY score these attacks
.

Of course I don't ever change my mind, especially not when having evidence placed under my nose. So this was the real score all along.


Appearance: 7.75
Effectiveness: 8
90s ANIME RATING: 7.87/10
Excellent hand art. Masterful depiction of power and force. A bit off in a couple of places to deserve an 8, in my opinion, but over all gorgeous.


Appearance: 7
Effectiveness:7
CRYSTAL/ETERNAL RATING: 7/10
Ugly, ugly shoulder. Ugly nose. Great effects but why the lightning?
Too much happens off screen with the hands, it's like they tried to avoid drawing hands. Who drew this? ME?!
I still love the energy, and with more time and effort in planning it, I think it could have been great.

 

[Talentless Fool]

Speaking of the Sparkling Wide Pressure, the Japanese databooks reveal quite a bit of info.

Sailor Jupiter - By the power of lightning, she shoots down Evil!

Sailor Jupiter is the Soldier protected by the planet Jupiter.
Having the ability of turning thunder power into her weapon, even amongst the Soldiers' techniques, she has the most destructive power.
When fighting hand to hand with the enemy, amongst her friends, she boasts as the strongest as well.

(Note: Jupiter is described as having the most destructive power while Mars is described as having the highest attack power).

Jupiter is the Soldier who combines power and kindness.

Sparkling Wide Pressure =
The SPW is a new technique which involves concentrating the power of lightning into a ball and striking the enemy with it.
It has 10 times the power of the Supreme Thunder.

The pages involve some interesting description about the R attacks (as well as the Classic ones).

However there are no for the Outers or Super attacks.

Also, I see that some time done the line, I'm gonna have to do a breakdown of the Coconut Cyclone

Edit: I think I understand where this whole nonsense of 'Sailor Guardian' comes from.
While it wasn't used much in the speeches of the 90s anime, here (and I guess in the manga), the planets of the girls are referred as 守護星 (Protective Planet).

For example, in Mars' speech during the 90s anime, she says, 'In the name of Mars (Kasei), I'll discipline/spank you!

In Crystal, it's - Hi no Hoshi = Kasei wo Shugo ni motsu, Tatakai no Senshi = Sailor Mars! Kasei ni kawatte, sekkan yo!
Under the protection of Mars (or a more literal but stylistic choice, I find my protection in Mars), the planet of fire - I'm Sailor Mars, the Soldier of War! In the name of Mars, I'll spank you!

Even in these pages, the new attacks are described as 新守護星パワー = New Guardian Planet Power.
So what probably happened is that Takeuchi confused the 守護星 application when changing into English and thus instead of the girls being protected by their Guardian Planet, they became Guardians...

Good Lord, this woman!

 

[saintfighteraqua]

Speaking of the Sparkling Wide Pressure, the Japanese databooks reveal quite a bit of info.

Sailor Jupiter - By the power of lightning, she shoots down Evil!

Sailor Jupiter is the Soldier protected by the planet Jupiter.
Having the ability of turning thunder power into her weapon, even amongst the Soldiers' techniques, she has the most destructive power.
When fighting hand to hand with the enemy, amongst her friends, she boasts as the strongest as well.

(Note: Jupiter is described as having the most destructive power while Mars is described as having the highest attack power).

Jupiter is the Soldier who combines power and kindness.

Sparkling Wide Pressure =
The SPW is a new technique which involves concentrating the power of lightning into a ball and striking the enemy with it.
It has 10 times the power of the Supreme Thunder.

The pages involve some interesting description about the R attacks (as well as the Classic ones).

However there are no for the Outers or Super attacks.

Also, I see that some time done the line, I'm gonna have to do a breakdown of the Coconut Cyclone

They did English data books as well. I have all of those, (I'm pretty sure the preview one somewhere, too.) I think they're called Scout guides...they left some things untranslated and over all were a bit random but at the same time very pretty to look out with fun layouts.. Mars didn't even have her name on the spine.
They also included things from some seasons not yet shown in the USA. I'm pretty sure S hadn't even aired when these arrived.
(not my video)

 

[Rika-Chicchi]

^ These info-packed & detailed character books make their subjects feel like real persons to whom one can relate emotionally like a dear friend IRL.

 

[Lady Pen]

Speaking of the Sparkling Wide Pressure, the Japanese databooks reveal quite a bit of info.

Sailor Jupiter - By the power of lightning, she shoots down Evil!

Sailor Jupiter is the Soldier protected by the planet Jupiter.
Having the ability of turning thunder power into her weapon, even amongst the Soldiers' techniques, she has the most destructive power.
When fighting hand to hand with the enemy, amongst her friends, she boasts as the strongest as well.

(Note: Jupiter is described as having the most destructive power while Mars is described as having the highest attack power).

Jupiter is the Soldier who combines power and kindness.

Sparkling Wide Pressure =
The SPW is a new technique which involves concentrating the power of lightning into a ball and striking the enemy with it.
It has 10 times the power of the Supreme Thunder.

The pages involve some interesting description about the R attacks (as well as the Classic ones).

However there are no for the Outers or Super attacks.

Also, I see that some time done the line, I'm gonna have to do a breakdown of the Coconut Cyclone

Edit: I think I understand where this whole nonsense of 'Sailor Guardian' comes from.
While it wasn't used much in the speeches of the 90s anime, here (and I guess in the manga), the planets of the girls are referred as 守護星 (Protective Planet).

For example, in Mars' speech during the 90s anime, she says, 'In the name of Mars (Kasei), I'll discipline/spank you!

In Crystal, it's - Hi no Hoshi = Kasei wo Shugo ni motsu, Tatakai no Senshi = Sailor Mars! Kasei ni kawatte, sekkan yo!
Under the protection of Mars (or a more literal but stylistic choice, I find my protection in Mars), the planet of fire - I'm Sailor Mars, the Soldier of War! In the name of Mars, I'll spank you!

Even in these pages, the new attacks are described as 新守護星パワー = New Guardian Planet Power.
So what probably happened is that Takeuchi confused the 守護星 application when changing into English and thus instead of the girls being protected by their Guardian Planet, they became Guardians...

Good Lord, this woman!

I don't care what Takeuchi says. Senshi doesn't mean Guardian, and to me these girls are Senshis = Warriors, soldiers, whatever.

 

[julayla]

I don't care what Takeuchi says. Senshi doesn't mean Guardian, and to me these girls are Senshis = Warriors, soldiers, whatever.

Yeah, blame the live action that made it so "Senshi" would always be known as "Guardian" ever since its premiered.