Warrior's Return
Encyclopedia
Warrior’s Return is an original English-language manga
volume written by Erin Hunter
as part of the Warriors series. It is the third and final in a trilogy following Graystripe, a fictional wild cat
trying to find his Clan. It was released on April 22, 2008. It is drawn by James Barry.
and HarperCollins
. Erin Hunter and Dan Jolley would write the stories and James L. Barry (artist's portfolio) would illustrate it. After the release of The Lost Warrior
and Warrior's Refuge, focus turned to the third volume. On the Warriors website, an excerpt was released, but later removed. Warrior’s Return was released as a paperback
on April 22, 2008, the same day Outcast
was released, a novel in the Warriors: Power of Three series. To promote these two stories, Erin Hunter went on tour in the US. She visited several bookstores across the states. Warrior’s Return was also published in the UK and Canada
. At the back of Warrior's Return were promotions for The Rise of Scourge
, Cats of the Clans, Secrets of the Clans, and Firestar's Quest
, all from the Warriors series, and The Quest Begins, from the Seekers
series.
, he is captured by Twolegs. The Graystripe trilogy has followed him as he tries to find his Clan. He has a traveling partner, Millie, a former kittypet (domestic cat) that has joined him.
On their travels, a fight emerges between Graystripe and Millie about how much help they can accept from Twolegs. At a gas station, Graystripe is hit by a car, and is nursed back to health by Millie and Diesel, a loner who lives by the gas station. As Graystripe recovers, he tries to confess that he is sorry to Millie, though Diesel gets in the way. Millie tells Graystripe that the fastest way of getting to the ocean is by a truck, which forces him to make a choice. The duo decide to use the truck to get to the Clans. The volume concludes with Graystripe and Millie finding the Clans and Graystripe apologizing to Millie and also asking her to be his new mate. When Graystripe and Millie see the Clans in the middle of a Gathering, Firestar welcomes Graystripe and Graystripe introduces Millie.
praised the drawing that "captures the cats' expressive faces, action-packed battle scenes, and familiar surroundings as these animals travel through the realm of the Twolegs and recommended the book for "reluctant readers, manga fans, or "Warriors" enthusiasts". Booklist
felt that the first two chapters would be confusing for new readers, but wold still be able to understand what is going on after reading through the book.
Original English-language manga
Original English-language manga or OEL manga is the term commonly used to describe comic books or graphic novels in the "international manga" genre of comics whose language of original publication is English...
volume written by Erin Hunter
Erin Hunter
Erin Hunter is a pseudonym used by the authors Kate Cary, Cherith Baldry, and Tui Sutherland, along with editor Victoria Holmes. Under this pen name, they have written two series of books. They are best known for the Warriors series, but the authors have also created another similar series called...
as part of the Warriors series. It is the third and final in a trilogy following Graystripe, a fictional wild cat
Feral cat
A feral cat is a descendant of a domesticated cat that has returned to the wild. It is distinguished from a stray cat, which is a pet cat that has been lost or abandoned, while feral cats are born in the wild; the offspring of a stray cat can be considered feral if born in the wild.In many parts of...
trying to find his Clan. It was released on April 22, 2008. It is drawn by James Barry.
Publication history
The three-part Graystripe manga series was announced as the first part of a partnership between TokyoPopTokyopop
Tokyopop, styled TOKYOPOP, and formerly known as Mixx, is a distributor, licensor, and publisher of anime, manga, manhwa, and Western manga-style works. The existing German publishing division produces German translations of licensed Japanese properties and original English-language manga, as well...
and HarperCollins
HarperCollins
HarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
. Erin Hunter and Dan Jolley would write the stories and James L. Barry (artist's portfolio) would illustrate it. After the release of The Lost Warrior
The Lost Warrior (Warriors)
The Lost Warrior is the first in an original English-language manga trilogy based on the best-selling book series Warriors by Erin Hunter. The manga was published by the distributor Tokyopop, and was released on April 24, 2007. It follows Graystripe's adventures trying to escape from the Twolegs,...
and Warrior's Refuge, focus turned to the third volume. On the Warriors website, an excerpt was released, but later removed. Warrior’s Return was released as a paperback
Paperback
Paperback, softback or softcover describe and refer to a book by the nature of its binding. The covers of such books are usually made of paper or paperboard, and are usually held together with glue rather than stitches or staples...
on April 22, 2008, the same day Outcast
Outcast (Warriors)
Outcast is the third book in Erin Hunter's Warriors: Power of Three children's fantasy novel series. HarperCollins published it on April 22, 2008...
was released, a novel in the Warriors: Power of Three series. To promote these two stories, Erin Hunter went on tour in the US. She visited several bookstores across the states. Warrior’s Return was also published in the UK and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. At the back of Warrior's Return were promotions for The Rise of Scourge
The Rise of Scourge
The Rise of Scourge is an original English-language manga book written by Erin Hunter and Dan Jolley as part of the Warriors series. The Rise of Scourge is a stand-alone manga that details the rise to power of the BloodClan leader, Scourge. It is drawn by Bettina Kurkoski.-Plot summary:The book...
, Cats of the Clans, Secrets of the Clans, and Firestar's Quest
Warriors: Firestar's Quest
Firestar’s Quest is a children's fantasy novel, the first "Super Edition" in the Warriors novel series written by Erin Hunter. Firestar’s Quest was first published in hardback on August 21, 2007...
, all from the Warriors series, and The Quest Begins, from the Seekers
Seekers (novel series)
Seekers is a children's novel series written by a team of authors under the pseudonym Erin Hunter, who also wrote the Warriors series. Seekers follows the adventures of four bear cubs: Kallik , Lusa , Ujurak , and Toklo...
series.
Setting
The cats from the Warriors series live separated as four Clans (called ThunderClan, WindClan, RiverClan, and ShadowClan). They believe in StarClan (ancestors who sometimes give them advice and prophecies). Humans, called Twolegs by the cats, are a threat. Graystripe, the focal point of the manga trilogy, is a cat from ThunderClan. During the events of DawnDawn (Warriors)
Dawn is a children's fantasy novel, the third book in the Warriors: The New Prophecy series. Dawn was written by Kate Cary under the pen name of Erin Hunter. It was published on December 27, 2005 by HarperCollins. The book follows the adventures of the four warrior cat Clans after five questing...
, he is captured by Twolegs. The Graystripe trilogy has followed him as he tries to find his Clan. He has a traveling partner, Millie, a former kittypet (domestic cat) that has joined him.
Plot
Warrior's Return picks up from the previous volume, with Graystripe and Millie just having found the ruined ThunderClan camp. The duo leave it behind and find Ravenpaw (a former Clan cat) and Barley, loners introduced earlier in the series. Ravenpaw and Barley help them continue their quest to find the Clans before returning to their barn. Graystripe and Millie plan to go to the sun-drown-place (sea), which was where Ravenpaw told them the Clans had planned to go.On their travels, a fight emerges between Graystripe and Millie about how much help they can accept from Twolegs. At a gas station, Graystripe is hit by a car, and is nursed back to health by Millie and Diesel, a loner who lives by the gas station. As Graystripe recovers, he tries to confess that he is sorry to Millie, though Diesel gets in the way. Millie tells Graystripe that the fastest way of getting to the ocean is by a truck, which forces him to make a choice. The duo decide to use the truck to get to the Clans. The volume concludes with Graystripe and Millie finding the Clans and Graystripe apologizing to Millie and also asking her to be his new mate. When Graystripe and Millie see the Clans in the middle of a Gathering, Firestar welcomes Graystripe and Graystripe introduces Millie.
Characters
- Graystripe: A muscular gray tom who was separated from his Clan.
- Millie: A former house cat or "kittypet" who has come with Graystripe and befriended him on his journey back to his Clan.
- Diesel: A friendly cat that lives at a gas station/truck stop.
- Firestar: Leader of ThunderClan (Graystripe's Clan), briefly appeared at the end of the story, also Graystripe's best friend.
Critical reception
A review by School Library JournalSchool Library Journal
The School Library Journal is a monthly magazine with articles and reviews for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, with a focus on technology and multimedia. Reviews are included for preschool to 4th grade,...
praised the drawing that "captures the cats' expressive faces, action-packed battle scenes, and familiar surroundings as these animals travel through the realm of the Twolegs and recommended the book for "reluctant readers, manga fans, or "Warriors" enthusiasts". Booklist
Booklist
Booklist is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. It is geared toward libraries and booksellers and is available in print or online...
felt that the first two chapters would be confusing for new readers, but wold still be able to understand what is going on after reading through the book.