Gate 7 Volume 1

by Clamp | Graphic Novels |
ISBN: 1595828060 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingGoryDetailswing of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 12/5/2011
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2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Monday, December 5, 2011
I've enjoyed several of CLAMP's manga series, so when I saw this first volume of their newest series at Barnes and Noble I couldn't resist.

It was an interesting experience starting a new series at the beginning; with the others, I was able to dip in at any point, and could look up online sources to explain who all the characters were and what the relationships were - something very helpful in the multi-verse series such as xxxHolic and Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle. Here, I'm meeting all these characters without knowing what their relationships will be a few volumes hence, and it's intriguing.

As always with CLAMP the artwork is stunning, with lavish costuming and floral embellishments. And the characters are stunning too, beautiful men and women and we're-not-sure-yet alike {grin}. The story opens with Ordinary High School Student Chikahito visiting Kyoto, when he encounters three strange and lovely people - perched in trees, and apparently surprised to find him there. It seems they've set up a magical barrier to contain the evil spirits they're about to fight, but Chikahito was able to walk right through it, hence he's not so Ordinary after all...

After the battle - and after the mysterious strangers explain some things to him - he goes home again, but winds up getting transferred to a school in Kyoto soon afterwards, and (surprise!) is invited to live with his new friends. And we're off! His new roommates are powerful spirit warriors dedicated to battling evil, and have very specific abilities and relationships. And they're quite interested in what Chikahito's powers might mean for them all. (In between the save-the-world stuff there's plenty of slapstick domestic comedy; for all their power, the characters often act rather like children. But what would a CLAMP series be without someone arguing over the food?)

Several of the characters here seem to be based on figures from Japanese legend, though with plenty of liberties taken. Since I wouldn't recognize most of those without help from the end-notes, I'm probably missing some of the fun; readers with more background in those areas probably get a lot of jokes and references that are beyond me. But I still enjoyed the quirky setup and the lovely characters; some of the pages are so pretty that I stop and stare when I turn to them. (At the end of the book a powerful antagonist - or so he seems - turns up, and he and his double/weapon are both simply gorgeous. I do like CLAMP!)

[There's a TV Tropes page for this series.]

Journal Entry 2 by wingGoryDetailswing at Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Saturday, February 23, 2013

Released 11 yrs ago (2/23/2013 UTC) at Nashua, New Hampshire USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I'm adding this to the Manga/Manhwa bookbox, which will be on its way shortly. Hope someone enjoys it!

Journal Entry 3 by quietorchid at Saint Paul, Minnesota USA on Friday, March 8, 2013
I've stayed away from Clamp since X-99, which I didb't enjoy. This caught me right away, the drawings are great, and I enjoyed the story of this hapless junior high student caught up in a situation that he didn't quite understand.

Journal Entry 4 by quietorchid at Dorothy Ann Bakery & Cafe in Woodbury, Minnesota USA on Monday, April 8, 2013

Released 10 yrs ago (4/8/2013 UTC) at Dorothy Ann Bakery & Cafe in Woodbury, Minnesota USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Left by the fireplace.

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