CLAMP - Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle, vol. 02-12 (Eng. trans.)

[oyceter]

Er, I read vols. 2-5 nearly two years ago, and only recently picked it up again, so this will be very short on those volumes. Thankfully, I did reread vol. 5.

Syaoran and Sakura continue to be absolutely adorable, and by the time vol. 5 rolls around, the Syaoran-Sakura-Fai-Kurogane-Mokona team have fallen into a rhythm, in which Syaoran is earnest and angsty, Sakura is earnest and adorable, Fai is earnest and somewhat ditzy, Kurogane is gruff but secretly earnest and angsty, and Mokona is just cute and bouncy.

I didn't pick up on most of the xxxHolic references, largely because they're just little blips in the xxxHolic-verse that I didn't much pay attention to.

Tsubasa mostly settles into plot-coupon-esque adventures; Our Brave Heroes fall into a new world, courtesy of Mokona, they look for the feather, they have to defeat someone to win the feather, and then they go on to the next world. There's some villain behind the scenes who also wants the feathers, but not much about him has been revealed yet.

I don't think this will be something that I buy, but it's fun to read and it doesn't tax my brain. I feel like I should be more annoyed by the plot-coupon adventures, but I'm so busy petting the art and looking at the gorgeous linework that I just don't care. Also, did I mention how cute Syaoran and Sakura are?

CLAMP's style has gotten even better over the years, which is something that I didn't even think was possible. I really adore the art in this; it's different from the beautiful black-and-white Art Deco style of xxxHolic, but there's something about the elongated figures with big hands and big feet, the swoops and the curves and the energy of it that I love.

Also, I am a total sucker for the Ashura story (tragic doomed reincarnated love story!), and even though I know having random older CLAMP characters appearing is total fan service, I don't care. I nearly squealed out loud when Syaoran's old teacher appeared.

Comments

[rilina.livejournal.com]

I'm also not planning on buying this one, but I'm more than happy to read it from the library. The art is beautiful; I like it so much more than early CLAMP art, which I find actively off-putting at times. And boy am I glad that the official volumes have explanations for the crossovers, because I often find myself squinting at the page and thinking, "Am I supposed to recognize this person?"

[oyceter]

The art is so gorgeous! I end up taking twice as long to read it sometimes just because I stop and stare at the linework so often.

I also forgot to mention that I love William Flanagan's translation notes in the back and the explanations of the characters. He does the same great work with xxxHolic too.

[rilina.livejournal.com]

I do seem to remember being a little disgruntled that the notes with the arc in the AU!Korea didn't mention Korea, but I don't have the volumes with me to check, alas.

[oyceter]

Yeah -- there was that one bit where people were wearing hanbok, wasn't there? (sorry, I am awful... the only way I ever catch this stuff is via the clothing)

[rushthatspeaks.livejournal.com]

The Ashura story is AWESOME. It's like they reworked RG Veda, only this time it made sense.

I love Fai! He is so bouncy and pragmatic and Sekritly Terrifying! Eee!

I wish the race plot had not taken two whole frickin' volumes. I was having Star Wars flashbacks.

[jinian.livejournal.com]

Butbutbut the race plot had Tomoyo! Am I alone in my great Tomoyo/Sakura love?

[readsalot.livejournal.com]

You're not alone! Tomoyo & Sakura 4Ever!

[oyceter]

I am guessing that Tomoyo/Sakura are good friends in CCS?

It's so weird reading Tsubasa and not having read a lot of CLAMP stuff.

[jinian.livejournal.com]

Tomoyo is pretty clearly in love with Sakura, for whatever value of love pertains when you're about ten, in CCS. I think you'd be amused and a little horrified by the way this manifests itself in dressing Sakura up in amazing outfits.

I actually went and read CLAMP School Detectives because I wanted more backstory for Tsubasa. I don't recommend it. (However, I have not read more than one volume of X in spite of Tsubasa. The movie traumatized me.)

[oyceter]

Ahhh! So that's where the strange costuming instinct comes from!

Also, re: X. The movie doesn't count! It is awful! There is the Tragic Cradling of Decapitated Heads which is more amusing than tragic.

The anime is pretty good and isn't all blood angst woe angst blood heads blood heads blood more heads blood crosses heads body parts. I mean, it is angsty, as it is X, but not hysterically so.

And I am quite fond of the manga, even though it's unfinished. Plus: Seishirou and Subaru! Arashi and Sorata!

[jinian.livejournal.com]

Um, I believe you, but I think I'm still traumatized. It was bad! And then it was really bad! And then it made NO SENSE AT ALL! And then the head-cuddling, and wtf, and the neurons blowing out.

Maybe someday.

[oyceter]

I know! It is terrible! I do not blame you for having to recover for years.

I watched it with a friend for the first time one afternoon after getting up at five in the morning. We both ended up crashing right after and having EXTREMELY strange dreams.

[oyceter]

It almost tempts me to read RG Veda, except for everyone's comments on how this version is better anyway!

I adore Fai. He totally has Sekrit Angst. also i am desperate for good fai/kurogane now

Yeah... the race plot worked much better since I could read both volumes at the same time. I think if I had to wait in between, I would have been pretty frustrated.

[coffeeandink.livejournal.com]

Also, Ashura looks so much better in Tsubasa than s/he does in RG Veda! The RG Veda art is kind of hideous, but still. I am looking forward to more revisions of the characters whose art I actually liked.

[oyceter]

Ashura is so gorgeous. I keep thinking s/he is a she, just because of the eyelashes and the bared shoulders, but really, I should know by now to never make gender assumptions in manga/anime ;).

CLAMP is evil and feeding my reincarnation kink.