Magic Knight Rayearth vol 1

[meganbmoore]

Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu are eighth graders from different schools who are all on field trips to Tokyo Tower when the ground suddenly opens up beneath them, and they find themselves in a world with floating landmasses, saved from a free fall by a flying fish. After introducing themselves, they meet Guru Clef, a 745-year-old who looks like a 10-year-old that they are the legendary Magic Knights and have been summoned to that world, whose magic works on belief, by Princess Emeraude to save the world from a very familiar looking evil magician whose name I forgot. I do not make this up. This is why people save icons going “manga=crack.”

The book has an extreme RPG feel to it, which is only emphasized by Fuu’s constantly pointing it out, such as commenting that it’s strange to be given weapons when you usually have to pay for them. This is just before they learn they have to collect the minerals for their weapons themselves by going on a mission no one has ever survived. So far, Fuu seems to be our info girl, always piping up with every bit of RPG trivia ever. She’s very nice and polite, but I’m not sure how bright she is outside of her geekhood. Hikaru seems to be a normal 90s Magical Girl Shoujo Manga heroine-tiny and a bit tomboyish and energetic and a real go-getter, but not borderline rabid, like, say, Miaka. She also saves herself by accomplishing things and figuring them out. Umi seems to be the sane one, and is properly freaking out over things that need to be freaked out over. There’s also the original Mokona, which, so far, is neither cute nor annoying, just kind of there.

The characters are also amazingly prone to turning chibi, and I mean at everything. Not even Wallflower or Skip-Beat likes chibi characters as much, I don’t think. But it manages to be more cute than annoying. I’m not completely sure about this one yet. While fun, it is rather normal Macgical Girl Shoujo so far, but I’m interested in seeing where it goes. Also, I must read it to spot the references in Tsubasa and xxxHolic. Clamp has properly brainwashed me.

Even though it’s been out for years, and I’m not sure when I’ll get/read the rest, please don’t spoil me. 

Comments

[mystickeeper.livejournal.com]

There’s also the original Mokona, which, so far, is neither cute nor annoying,...just kind of there.

And now I can bite holes through my tongue! I'll be interested to see what you think of the rest of the series, if/when you finish it.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Current plans are to read the rest of it.

I'm curious about the Mokona, in terms of powers and ability to speak. (And Tokyopop gave it a gender...I understand that Clamp has several genderless characters that they make male or female.)

[mystickeeper.livejournal.com]

Yes, there was one in RG Veda, too (Ashura-o, also in Tsubasa Chronicle). Apparently, if you read English, you can't handle ambiguous gender!

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Del Rey's afterword about that is what made me remember, I think. I think I also read that the angels in wish are meant to be genderless.

[magicnoire.livejournal.com]

Yup, that's true.

[magicnoire.livejournal.com]

I'll hold comments until you're done with the series!

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Non-specific taunting and character opinios are allowed!

[magicnoire.livejournal.com]

Well, I really have nothing to say about the first three volumes. It isn't until volume 4 that I start flailing because my favorite character of the MKR comes then.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Hoo boy. That usually means flailing for me, too. I think you send something across the internet...

[desdenova.livejournal.com]

I found the first volume of MKR to be very generic and meh, and didn't feel any need to pick up the rest for quite a while. I only went back to it after hearing that it got better and more original as it progressed. And it did.

The second story arc (starting w/ vol 4) is much more interesting than the first. I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my bookcloseouts.com order, so that I can find out how it ends!

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

How does bookcloseouts.com do shipping? I'm hoping to order the rest of magic knight rayearth from them, as well as either/both the rest of RG Veda and Tokyo Babylon.

[desdenova.livejournal.com]

When I put in my order, they offered several shipping options, ranging from USPS media mail (cheap + slow) to UPS 2nd day. (I went with UPS ground, so I can track it.) It's shipping today, 5 or 6 days after I placed my (fairly large) order.

This is the first time I ordered anything from there, so I only have one data point.

[bae-mac.livejournal.com]

OMG! THis is like one of my fave! Well...Fushigi YUugi still tops my list...but anyway, I so love this anime! I remember watching this while I was still in high school!

=)

YOu have to watch the OVA,too!

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Right now I'm just working on Clamp's manga. I might work my way to the animes.

[jencatd.livejournal.com]

Also, I must read it to spot the references in Tsubasa and xxxHolic. Clamp has properly brainwashed me.

This is why I love Tsubasa and xxxHolic as much as I do. I love spotting all of the different characters and going "OMG! *_*". I also check for Miyuki-chan in each world in Tsubasa. She and her piece of toast usually turn up somewhere! ^_^

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I'm actually only very vaguely aware of who Miyuki is, beyond the wonderland character.

[jencatd.livejournal.com]

Who she is is about all you need to know for Tsubasa. I haven't seen her get a speaking part yet in Tsubasa, just running around with a piece of toast in her mouth and probably late for school. :D In a way Tsubasa is perfect for her since she kept being pulled into different worlds in her original story, Miyuki-chan in Wonderland.