Clover 1 [Paperback]

Clamp (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This group effort graphic novel follows the exploits of Kazuhiko, a former soldier turned private eye who has been given orders to pick up and deliver Sue, a "clover" (someone with extraordinary powers). The seemingly simple task is anything but, and mayhem and adventure ensue. The first installment of a series created by the all-female team known as Clamp, this volume mostly hints at the larger plot machinations at work: a shadowy governing council; a long-lasting feud; a lost love. Still, with its stylish atmospherics and suggestion of suppressed eroticism, the book manages to fulfill all the basic tenets of "girl manga," a genre known in Japan for its appeal to emotions over action-based thrills. Fight scenes and futuristic techno-gadgetry give the wistfulness some weight, but sentimentality prevails. Luckily, so does visual inventiveness, as evocative imagery offsets cloying moments. Clamp's imaginative use of composition and scale lend a visual snazziness that helps the novel transcend the cuteness of its dewy-eyed waifs and broad-shouldered men with delicate faces. Unfortunately, the bland, clunky typeface is particularly jarring in a comic where empty space and images have been so carefully integrated.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-A graphic novel by the team of artists responsible for Magic Knight Rayearth, Cardcaptor Sakura (both Tokyopop), and X/2001 (Viz). An ex-government agent named Kazuhiko Ryu is coerced into escorting Sue, a mysterious winged girl, to Fairy Park. They travel through a futuristic world filled with creative technology-talking-animal robots trained to protect, mechanical hands that transform into weapons, and Instant Travel Transporters. Sue is a clover, a person with exceptional powers, and their trip is complicated by run-ins with the Azaiean army, the Shiao Mao militia, and a man named Bols from Ryu's past. The artwork is spare yet beautifully detailed. The lyrics of a haunting song that mesmerizes Sue, along with images of Ryu's dead girlfriend, Ora, run throughout the story. This first volume in a projected series sets the stage and introduces the main characters, but also provides many intriguing mysteries: How did Ora die? Why is Sue so valuable? What did Ryu do for the government? And will he and Sue survive jumping out of that hotel window? Clover will appeal to Clamp's many fans, and also to anyone who appreciates cyberpunk or striking art.

Susan Salpini, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: TokyoPop (February 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892213664
• ISBN-13: 978-1892213662
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,243,081 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars YES!, September 9, 2001

By 

Irayna "irayna" (NV, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Clover 1 (Paperback)

Finally, after years of horrible binding, printing, translating, and formatting, Tokyopop redeems itself completely with Clover. The design of the book is virtually identical to the original. The text on the front and back covers is Japanese, and there is a translucent white dust jacket with English translations in silver ink that overlay the Japanese underneath. Inside the front and back covers are full-color spreads on thick, glossy paper, such as have never been seen in the translated manga industry. Even the publishing & copyright info was tastefully moved to the inside of the back cover so as to be unobtrusive. The translation is also excellent! I was really surprised at how little censorship there was, esp. since this is Tokyopop we're talking about. Sexual references are left in, which is vital when you're reading CLAMP.

As far as the content itself, well, it's CLAMP, what do you expect? The story is fascinating, the characters are intriguing, and the art is incredible. There aren't so many complicated two-page spreads as there usually are with CLAMP. Instead, they experiment with blank space and unusual angles. It gives the book a clean, austere feel that none of CLAMP's other manga has.

Buy this already!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent cyberpunk story, January 14, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Clover 1 (Paperback)

The futuristic cyberpunk world the Clover characters inhabit is one of amazing technology. One can have a prosthetic arm one moment, then have a long, cybernetic sword the next. Illusion and reality are no longer at odds with each other, but instead work hand in hand. Like many of Clamp's works, fate takes a hand...

In the first volume, Kazuhiko has been asked by the military he formerly worked for to take a 'special package' to an unknown place. Until he arrives where the 'package' is located, he doesn't even know what it is. When he gets to this mysterious package, he finds that it's actually a young a girl. This girl, named Suu, is special - a 'four-leaf clover' - something which should not exist, but does. Outwardly, however, and except for the rare occasions in which she uses her own mechanical wings, she appears to be a perfectly normal girl with a strange and sad loneliness, and with a special wish to go to a certain place.

The artwork is clean and sparse (in a good way). It's not filled to the brim with images like Clamp's usual works (which I also adore). This serves to reinforce the mood of isolation and gives the whole manga a film-like feel. A beautiful work that any fan of cyberpunk, Clamp or excellent stories/art will enjoy.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive, June 30, 2001

By 

"sakurapie" (Happy place) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Clover 1 (Paperback)

I'll start off by saying the Japanese version of Clover is a masterpiece. The cover artwork is beautiful, as is the cover, which consists of a paper-back cover with a somewhat transperant dust cover, providing for a very ghostly and beautiful effect. Considering Tokyopop/Mixx is the new translator, I didn't expect much, most likely the same old Xerox-quality cover that's already worn at the seams. Oh, how wrong I was. At first, I thought I was looking at the Japanese version, for they are exactly identical in every aspect. Two thumbs up.

Now for the story...I'll admit it's a bit obscure, I sometimes have trouble determining who is talking, but considering CLAMP and how talented they are in both their artwork and story skills, I think this is the effect, considering that the main character is overall somewhat confused about her life and purpose. Anyway...I noticed right away that the translation seemed a notch better from how it was printed in SMILE magazine. The reason for this is censoring. SMILE is a magazine for the younger set, and some of the situations are a bit older. A job well done, Tokyopop.

I advise everyone to pick up a copy of this book. It's very impressive for an English-translated novel, and the story will leave you begging for more!