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Tokyo Babylon Vol 6-7 (end)
Oct. 13th, 2008 08:09 pmErr…not a problem for me since I knew the spoiler before starting the series, but the color foldout for this volume (there’s one for every volume) kinda majorly spoils the ending…
( spoilers )
Err…not a problem for me since I knew the spoiler before starting the series, but the color foldout for this volume (there’s one for every volume) kinda majorly spoils the ending…
( spoilers )
manga: Tokyo Babylon Vol 1-2
Oct. 8th, 2008 10:31 pmSumeragi Subaru is a 16-year-old onmyoji(magician/exorcist) who lives in Tokyo and is the heir to his clan. HE makes a living by banishing evil spirits and bringing spirits to peace. His twin sister, Hokuto, who has powers herself, and is very addicted to making Subaru and herself look as cute as is humanly possible. Subaru is aided at times by Sakurazuko Seishiro, a 25-year-old veterinarian who claims to be in love with Subaru. Since Seichiro is part of the Sakurazukomori clan, a rival onmyoji clan of assassins, Hokuto is extremely enthusiastic about this and their epic and forbidden love.
If you’ve seen (or read, of course) X/1999, you know that this series ends in tragedy, and what specific thing happens to each of the three leads. What you don’t know is what led to that. By the end of the first volume, the darker end is already being hinted at, and we know that the relationship between the three isn’t nearly as cheery as it seems to be on the surface. (And, honestly, you probably know it ends in tragedy if you've ever even heard of it, due to fandom osmosis.)
Each story in the book features the idea of Tokyo from one tortured soul or another, each tied to the economy or the lifestyle. The stories in the second volume were much tighter than those in the first, but I can’t help wanting to move on to focusing on the main story with Hokuto, Subaru and Seishiro. Already, we know Seishiro and Subaru both have very important secrets. Subaru’s is tied to his role in his clan, while Seishiro’s hasn’t been explored yet. So far, Hokuto doesn’t seem to have any Deep Dark Secrets, but this is Clamp, so who knows.
I have to admit, I have difficulty remembering that Subaru is a boy. His looks and personality both make me think more of a nice, cute girl than a nice, cute boy, especially when he reacts to Hokuto and Seishiro teasing him about Seishiro’s feelings for him, and talking about being future in-laws. The art is very dated, but also very detailed, with some amazing fashion (and I do wish Hokuto and Subaru didn’t look quite so much alike…I know they’re twins, but it makes it harder to remember he’s a boy) and extremely detailed backgrounds.
I have various thoughts regarding reading it from the perspective of knowing what happens, but I think I’ll save them for later, once I’ve read more.
Please use the spoiler code for comments about future volumes, or X/1999.
If you’ve seen (or read, of course) X/1999, you know that this series ends in tragedy, and what specific thing happens to each of the three leads. What you don’t know is what led to that. By the end of the first volume, the darker end is already being hinted at, and we know that the relationship between the three isn’t nearly as cheery as it seems to be on the surface. (And, honestly, you probably know it ends in tragedy if you've ever even heard of it, due to fandom osmosis.)
Each story in the book features the idea of Tokyo from one tortured soul or another, each tied to the economy or the lifestyle. The stories in the second volume were much tighter than those in the first, but I can’t help wanting to move on to focusing on the main story with Hokuto, Subaru and Seishiro. Already, we know Seishiro and Subaru both have very important secrets. Subaru’s is tied to his role in his clan, while Seishiro’s hasn’t been explored yet. So far, Hokuto doesn’t seem to have any Deep Dark Secrets, but this is Clamp, so who knows.
I have to admit, I have difficulty remembering that Subaru is a boy. His looks and personality both make me think more of a nice, cute girl than a nice, cute boy, especially when he reacts to Hokuto and Seishiro teasing him about Seishiro’s feelings for him, and talking about being future in-laws. The art is very dated, but also very detailed, with some amazing fashion (and I do wish Hokuto and Subaru didn’t look quite so much alike…I know they’re twins, but it makes it harder to remember he’s a boy) and extremely detailed backgrounds.
I have various thoughts regarding reading it from the perspective of knowing what happens, but I think I’ll save them for later, once I’ve read more.
Please use the spoiler code for comments about future volumes, or X/1999.
