Sparkling Generation Valkyrie Yuuki
Encyclopedia
Sparkling Generation Valkyrie Yuuki (SGVY) is a webcomic
by Kittyhawk. It won a Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards
for "Best Superhero Comic" in 2004 and was nominated in again in 2005 and 2006. This category was eliminated in 2008
. It is probably best known for its treatment of transgendered issues and for its more traditional "print comic" format. It is a member of the Create a Comic Project
.
anime
. The protagonist is a high school
student named Kanazuchi Yuuki who is chosen by a typical animal mentor to be the next valkyrie (superhero
–little connection to the mythological valkyrie
s). He is transformed into one before the mentor notices that he is, in fact, male
. Valkyries are by definition always female. Mayhem ensues.
, the southeast largest science fiction convention, and MomoCon
, an anime convention held at Georgia Tech. Kittyhawk has also attended Otakon
.
In interviews she has attributed her artistic style to influences from American cartoonists such as Tex Avery, along with influence from her childhood spent in Japan. She has also named the all female manga group Clamp
as one of her primary influences.
Webcomic
Webcomics, online comics, or Internet comics are comics published on a website. While many are published exclusively on the web, others are also published in magazines, newspapers or often in self-published books....
by Kittyhawk. It won a Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards
Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards
The Web Cartoonists' Choice Awards are annual awards in which online cartoonists nominate and select outstanding webcomics. The awards have been held since 2001, were featured in a The New York Times column on webcomics in 2005, and have been mentioned as a tool for librarians.The WCCA represent a...
for "Best Superhero Comic" in 2004 and was nominated in again in 2005 and 2006. This category was eliminated in 2008
. It is probably best known for its treatment of transgendered issues and for its more traditional "print comic" format. It is a member of the Create a Comic Project
Create a Comic Project
The Create a Comic Project is a youth literacy program and webcomic created by John Baird. The program uses comics, many taken from the Internet, to encourage children to write their own narratives. The program began in November 2006 at the main branch of the New Haven Free Public Library as an...
.
Plot
The plot largely parodies typical magical girlMagical girl
belong to a sub-genre of Japanese fantasy anime and manga. Magical girl stories feature young girls with superhuman abilities, forced to fight evil and to protect the Earth. They often possess a secret identity, although the name can just refer to young girls who follow a plotline involving magic...
anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
. The protagonist is a high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
student named Kanazuchi Yuuki who is chosen by a typical animal mentor to be the next valkyrie (superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
–little connection to the mythological valkyrie
Valkyrie
In Norse mythology, a valkyrie is one of a host of female figures who decides who dies in battle. Selecting among half of those who die in battle , the valkyries bring their chosen to the afterlife hall of the slain, Valhalla, ruled over by the god Odin...
s). He is transformed into one before the mentor notices that he is, in fact, male
Male
Male refers to the biological sex of an organism, or part of an organism, which produces small mobile gametes, called spermatozoa. Each spermatozoon can fuse with a larger female gamete or ovum, in the process of fertilization...
. Valkyries are by definition always female. Mayhem ensues.
Kittyhawk
SGVY was created by an artist who calls herself Kittyhawk. She has written and drawn the comic since 2002. Previously, she worked on another online comic called The Jar. She has been a frequent guest at Dragon ConDragon Con
Dragon*Con is a North America multigenre convention, founded in 1987, which takes place once each year in Atlanta, Georgia...
, the southeast largest science fiction convention, and MomoCon
Momocon
MomoCon, is a fan convention in held in March in Atlanta, Georgia. From its beginning through 2011, it was held on the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology; in its first year, MomoCon was held in the Georgia Tech Student Center. In 2006 it expanded to include several events, mostly video...
, an anime convention held at Georgia Tech. Kittyhawk has also attended Otakon
Otakon
Otakon is a fan convention in the United States focusing on East Asian popular culture and its fandom. The name is a portmanteau derived from convention and the Japanese word otaku...
.
In interviews she has attributed her artistic style to influences from American cartoonists such as Tex Avery, along with influence from her childhood spent in Japan. She has also named the all female manga group Clamp
Clamp (manga artists)
, is an all-female Japanese manga artist group that formed in the mid 1980s. Many of the group's manga series are often adapted into anime after release. It consists of their leader , who provides much of the storyline and screenplay for all their works and adaptations of those works respectively ,...
as one of her primary influences.
Cast
- Yuuki - The main character. Before being turned into a Valkyrie, Yuuki was a fan of the magical girlMagical girlbelong to a sub-genre of Japanese fantasy anime and manga. Magical girl stories feature young girls with superhuman abilities, forced to fight evil and to protect the Earth. They often possess a secret identity, although the name can just refer to young girls who follow a plotline involving magic...
genre. In addition to showing persistent lack of interest in being a superhero, Yuuki faces the additional complications of having become a woman. Although the gods and giants both agree that Yuuki is perhaps the weakest Valkyrie, she does display numerous unprecedented powers, such as using her costume both offensively and defensively. - Hermod - Messenger of the gods and responsible for turning Yuuki into a female and a magical Valkyrie. Currently takes the form of some unknown marmosetMarmosetMarmosets are the 22 New World monkey species of the genera Callithrix, Cebuella, Callibella, and Mico. All four genera are part of the biological family Callitrichidae. The term marmoset is also used in reference to the Goeldi's Monkey, Callimico goeldii, which is closely related.Most marmosets...
. The task of finding the valkyrie fell to him, but in desperation of finding a worthy candidate, he posed as the DVD of a new Mahou-Shojo anime "Sparkling Generation Valkyrie", subsequently purchased by Yuuki. - Chiaki - Yuuki's friend who dreams of being the assistant to a magical girl. She has since displayed some confusion of feelings towards Yuuki: although she considers her a friend, it is heavily implied that she has a lingering crush from before Yuuki's transformation.
- Taki - Yuuki's main love interest as a female, Taki is well-versed in Norse legends. Although it's unclear how much he's already guessed about Yuuki's identity, he's shown considerable romantic interest in "her."
- LokiLokiIn Norse mythology, Loki or Loke is a god or jötunn . Loki is the son of Fárbauti and Laufey, and the brother of Helblindi and Býleistr. By the jötunn Angrboða, Loki is the father of Hel, the wolf Fenrir, and the world serpent Jörmungandr. By his wife Sigyn, Loki is the father of Nari or Narfi...
- The self-proclaimed "God of Awesome." Currently possessing the "body" of a white plush cat, as his real body was chained in the underworld following his murder of Balder. Early in the comic it was implied that he served Surt, but his true allegiance is currently unclear. Although initially outspoken about Yuuki's weakness, he also shows respect for Yuuki's ingenuity and unique power. - ThorThorIn Norse mythology, Thor is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, and also hallowing, healing, and fertility...
- The Norse God of Thunder, and Yuuki's trainer. - FreyaFreyaIn Norse mythology, Freyja is a goddess associated with love, beauty, fertility, gold, seiðr, war, and death. Freyja is the owner of the necklace Brísingamen, rides a chariot driven by two cats, owns the boar Hildisvíni, possesses a cloak of falcon feathers, and, by her husband Óðr, is the mother...
- The Goddess of War and Beauty, and leader of all Valkyries. She has conflicting feelings towards Yuuki, wanting to kill Yuuki for being a weak Valkyrie, yet desiring to engage in a physical relationship with her. Although Loki thwarted her initial attempts to the former, Freya has since resurrected two Valkyries from ancient times to find Yuuki. - FreyrFreyrFreyr is one of the most important gods of Norse paganism. Freyr was highly associated with farming, weather and, as a phallic fertility god, Freyr "bestows peace and pleasure on mortals"...
- Freya's twin brother and her complete opposite, Freyr opts for giving Yuuki a chance to become stronger. He allows Yuuki to stay in AlfheimÁlfheimAlfheim is one of the Nine Worlds and home of the Light Elves in Norse mythology and appears also in Anglo-Scottish ballads under the form Elfhame as a fairyland, sometimes modernized as Elfland .-In Old Norse texts:Álfheim as an abode of the Elves is mentioned only twice in Old Norse texts.The...
where he can finish his training. - OdinOdinOdin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz"....
- The Allfather and King of the Gods. His role has been small thus far, limited to chiding Hermod for his failings and informing him that Thor will be Yuuki's trainer.