Codename: Sailor V - Reception

Reception

For the week of 11 September 2011 - 17 September 2011, Codename: Sailor V was second on The New York Times Manga Best Sellers list, behind the first volume of Sailor Moon. The following week, it was again second on the list behind the first volume of Sailor Moon. The week after that, it slipped to third place. For the week of 9 October - 15 October, it reappeared at eighth place, the next week appearing at ninth. For the week of 6–12 November 2011, the first volume appeared at #2 on the list, above Sailor Moon for the first time. The following week, the second volume of Codename: Sailor V appeared at #2 on the list, and the first volume did not appear. For the week of 20–26 November, the second volume placed third on the list. On the BookScan Top 20 Graphic Novels of November 2011, the second volume placed third, and the first volume placed thirteenth.

Brigid Alverson described Codename: Sailor V as feeling like a rough draft of Sailor Moon. Ed Sizemore felt Sailor V had less character development than Sailor Moon, feeling that this was not a drawback. Sean Gaffney notes that unlike Usagi, Minako performs her missions alone, and describes the tone of the manga as an " action comedy". Rebecca Silverman notes that most of Sailor V is episodic, but feels it is worth reading due to the insights it gives into Minako's character, and the groundwork it lays for Sailor Moon. Katherine Dacey feels that while an adult may see the series as "repetitive, hokey, and poorly drawn", a child would see it as an "appealing fantasy in which an ordinary girl can assume a new, powerful identity" to defeat bullies and evil. Dacey sees Codename Sailor V's strength as being Minako's enthusiastic character. Matthew Warner sees the book as being a "lighthearted spoof" of magical girl titles.