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ARCHIVE MANGA REVIEWS Q-Z
Saiyuki
Mangaka: Kazuya Minekura
Publisher: Tokyopop
Age Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Review by Joanna Freeman
A strange madness has
suddenly afflicted the youkai (demons) of Togenkyo, caused by the
forbidden combination of youkai magic and human science, turning them
against the humans they once lived peacefully with. The high priest
Genjyo Sanzo, gun wielding, chain smoking and about as un-priest like
as anyone in Togenkyo, and his three youkai companions, as far as
they are aware the only ones unaffected by the madness, are selected
by the gods to complete a quest of utmost importance. They must journey
to the west to find who is responsible for the madness crippling the
land – and they are prepared to annihilate any who try to stop
them. This is a manga filled with great battle scenes, demonic magic
and the development of unlikely friendships as this rag-tag group
journeys towards the west.
Saiyuki is an adaptation of the xi-you-ji legend of China, the tale
on which, for example, ‘Dragonball Z’ and the TV series
‘Monkey Magic’ were based. But as the manga claims, this
version ‘ain’t your father’s Saiyuki’.
Kazuya Minekura’s take on the traditional Saiyuki tale is modern,
action-packed and exciting, and the main four characters have been
transformed into desirable, dangerous young men. These are unforgettable
characters; Sanzo and his party of Sha Gojyo, Cho Hakkai and Son Goku
are incredibly dynamic and personable. Each has his own story, revealed
in the progression of the series.
The art is interesting, being unusual but very dynamic, and the story
has taken a long-held favourite and put a sexy, dangerous new twist
on it. Personally, I absolutely love this manga thus far, and I would
recommend it to anyone.
Best Aspect:
The modernization of the classic Saiyuki characters – they’re
suddenly so cool!
Worst Aspect: Tendency to leave each book on cliff
hangers.
Rating: 9 and a half out of 10
Tokyo Babylon
Mangaka: CLAMP
Publisher: Tokyopop
Age Rating: Teen (13+)
Reviewed by: Joanna Freeman
Sumeragi Subaru is the young head of
the Sumeragi clan, endowed with strong powers, and he is often enlisted
to help with problems of the occult. He struggles to continue a normal
life, whilst still carrying out the duties his position entails. He
is helped to stay grounded by his older sister, Hokuto, and his close
friend, Sakurazuka Seishirou – who claims to love Subaru in
more than just a friendly way! But as Subaru progresses through the
challenges of his life, unaware, is a darker side of Seishirou being
revealed? Can he really be a member of the infamous Sakurazukamori,
an assassin clan known for their powerful magic and cruelty? And why
does his grandmother warn him to beware of the Sakura (cherry blossoms,
part of Seishirou’s name)?
This is an older work by CLAMP, and although many have claimed it
to be lesser to the more modern day works, I actually find it to be
a very accomplished piece, with layers of complexity that outweigh
some of CLAMP’s other creations. Subaru’s tasks as the
head of the clan – exorcisms and other dealings with the occult
– provide entertainment on a volume to volume level, with Hokuto-chan
usually supplying comic relief. But on a deeper level, we begin to
wonder who Seishirou really is, as in each volume the truth about
his more sinister side and his designs for Subaru are revealed. It
is impossible to say what the end might hold, but the CLAMP team have
so far created great suspense and it promises to be thrilling. The
art is very bold, and makes good use of contrasts for powerful effects
– and although it is slightly different to the later CLAMP style,
I find it very agreeable.
NOTE: This series is also in a way
the ‘prequel’ to X/1999 and the X anime. The characters
from this saga reappear during the course of X – so you can
see what Subaru is like in the future (hint – very attractive!).
Best Aspect: The expertly
engineered intrigue and suspense regarding the seemingly harmless
Seishirou
Worst Aspect: Probably the extremely strange outfits
that Hokuto wears and forces Subaru to wear! It’s a CLAMP trademark,
but I find it bizarre…
Rating: 8 out of 10
Until the Full Moon (vol 1)
Mangaka: Sanami Matoh
Publisher: Broccoli Books
Age Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Warning:Shounen-ai
(romance between males). Well, sort of!
Reviewed by Joanna Freeman
Being half werewolf, half vampire,
might seem unique enough – but Marlo has an even more unusual
condition. On the night of the full moon, rather than turning into
a werewolf, he turns into a woman! When he and his parents visit Doctor
Vincent, a close family friend, searching for a cure, they discover
that the condition is permanent. But the doctor comes up with an interesting
proposition: that Marlo should marry his son, David!
This is a creative piece of fantasy injected with the same eccentric
Sanami Matoh comedy that gave Fake so much life. The relationship
between Marlo and David is curious – does David love Marlo or
only Marlo’s female form? The character of Marlo is adorable
– his surly opposition to being married, his effeminate adaptations
when it is almost the full moon and his apparent secret love for David
despite all objections. The parents provide comic relief, especially
Marlo’s mother with her delight at her new ‘daughter’.
I enjoy Sanami Matoh’s art – it cannot be called a traditional
manga style but is very consistent and appealing. So far I would say
this manga is promising a cute, interesting series, and I will be
interested in buying the rest when they are released.
Best Aspect: The bonus
‘fairy tale’ story is just adorable
Worst Aspect: The plot can be a little random –
vampires, werewolves, witches and the whole transsexual thing…
so you have to accept that to enjoy the ride
Rating: 7 out of 10
Xxxholic
Mangaka: CLAMP
Publisher: Del Rey
Age Rating: Teen (13+)
Reviewed by Joanna Freeman
Hounded one day by the spirits it seems
only he can see, Kimihiro Watanuki stumbles across a strange and exotic
'shop’. Inside, he encounters a beautiful witch named Yuko,
who can help him with his problem… for a price! Before he knows
what has happened, Watanuki is working in her shop to earn her assistance
– and working for Yuko will turn out to be far from a normal
job!
This is another fine offering from the seasoned mangaka of CLAMP.
Yuko is a refreshingly strong, confident female character and Watanuki-kun
is entertaining and lively in his comic anxiety. The art is a little
simplistic for my liking – the characters are drawn in quite
a cartoon style, without very much detail – although Yuko’s
costumes and the rendering of the spirits are high points. This book
is somewhat along the lines of Pet Shop of Horrors – with Yuko
as a sexy, female, slightly more sinister version of Count D –
but I personally don’t believe it’s quite up to the same
caliber. However, what does boost its rating for me is the inclusion
of some wonderful cameos from other CLAMP sagas – Chobits, Tsubasa
and Legal Drug among others. If you are a fan of CLAMP, and have read
some of their works, you will most likely love this work.
Best Aspect: Yuko’s
devilish, dominant and alluring character and appearances from other
CLAMP characters
