Customer Reviews

Magic Knight Rayearth 1

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

CLAMP's manga, Magic Knight Rayearth, is a wonderful book, (all three of them are!) with stunning artwork and a good plot. This is some high quality stuff. The story line revolves around three girls from Tokyo, summoned to a realm of magic known as Cephiro, where they are told that they are to awaken three ancient spirts, Celes, Windom, and Rayearth, and fight to save Cephiro from the evil Lord Zagato. JUST WAIT TIL YOU READ THE ENDING (in the third book) It's so amazing but i'm not gonna say anything more, just that i highly recommend this book, its one of the best Mixx Manga's out there. (but i also like Sailor Moon and Harlem Beat..) Oh and you can also get the movies here at Amazon too, i can't wait until i save up enough to order them!

Magic Knight Rayearth is visually stunning -- as fans have come to expect from CLAMP. It also has the emotional depth, philosophical weight, and plot twists that give CLAMP's stories a tone that sets them apart from most "children's fare." The artwork is richly detailed and reminiscent of the marvelous work by art nouveau icon Alphonse Mucha. You can live inside these pictures and never want to leave. The tale that unfolds will keep you spellbound as well. These are characters and actions that won't leave you after you put the book down but will find you asking days later "What would I have done in that situation?" If you want manga storytelling on an epic scale, enter the world of Rayearth.

The most popular manga by the phenominal female team CLAMP, Magic Knight Rayearth is the story of three 14 year old girls who get drawn into the land of Cephiro by the power of it's Pillar - literally, the person who supports the land's peace with their will - princess Emeraude.

Emeraude has been kidnapped, and it's up to Hikaru, Fuu and Umi to save her and keep Cephiro from crumbling. To do so, they have to fight their way past the minions of Zagato, a rogue priest and Emeraude's kidnapper with sword, spell and something called the Mashin....

Can the girls rescue the princess and save Cephiro? What the heck are the Mashin anyway? And just when will Umi calm down? All these answers and more in the wonderful Magic Knight Rayearth!

That's the first three book story arc. The second involves a fight between a handful of nations outside Cephiro and the Magic Knights over who gets to be the new Pillar of Cephiro. Another hard fight for the Knights, and a strange secret about who or what Mokona actually is comes to light...

Obligatory synopsis aside, though, I am a little disappointed with one thing - and only one - about this particular edition of MKR. The translators are out to lunch. Some character names are spelled wrong, Fuu's speech should be far more formal than it is (she uses a very formal Japanese dialect that doesn't even have contractions), and some of the word choices are a little weird. Even so, this is still well worth the read, and I suggest you pick it up as soon as possible!

This is such an awesome manga. The artwork is so freaking good, it's beautiful and detailed. The storyline and plot are amazing, and very surprising at times, especially the end....Then the characters! They are so beautiful, yet brave, and very strong. Three determined girls who aren't afraid of getting hurt....I love it! Also, I love it for its lack of romance. These girls obviously realize they have an important mission and don't have time to waste on that sort of thing. They are so headstrong. The place they are summoned to, Cephiro, is wondrous. This manga has so many good points. If you're interested in strong, brave, no-nonsense female warriors who use awesome swords and use magic (fire, water, air), get this now! It is sooooooooooooo much better than the anime!

Every review I see starts out with how great the artwork is. And it is-- Makona Apapa (head artist of CLAMP) is one of the most brilliant and talented artists living in the world today. However, its the plot that makes Magic Knight Rayearth one of the best mangas ever written.

The story begins, as with much of CLAMP's work, as a parody. The characters even make reference to the RPG style plot, complete with "level ups", a kidnapped Princess, and magical powers. This, however, is merely the canvas for a beautiful story about friendship, determination, hope, and love. The story builds into the third novel, where the original plotline is concluded in one of the most brilliantly written plot twists ever I have ever encountered. Everything you expect flies out the window, but at the same time sets the stage for the second half the of the story. Book four continues, moving the story in a new direction.

This, beyond much of the other manga out there, is a story worth reading. Only a few greats can truly bring the "novel" back into the phrase graphic novel, and CLAMP is most certainly one of them.

This is a wonderful story that I've just gotten and read it three times already! This one is a gotta have for anime fans and you'll love it right away! If you like Sailor Moon or any orher shojo anime/manga you go to get this one!

To those fans of CLAMP, I am sure you WILL enjoy this book with all its great arts. I haven't read this English version yet, but I have in another language. The beginning is GREAT to say the least (which is why I'm giving it a 5 stars rating) BUT... be aware that the ending (of the series) is defenitely not what anyone would expect or hope for. It is sort of a sad ending, yet it might satisfy some reader. For me the ending gets a 2 stars rating. Just don't expect too much. Some who have read another of CLAMP's work "R G Veda" might be familiar with the twist in their series' ending. Other great works from CLAMP are "X", "Tokyo Babylon", and "Sakura Card Captor". The last being currently reviewed and have so far enjoyed very much.

If you like cardcaptor Sakura You are bond to like magic knight Rayearth. It has a very unique humor to people who can get inside jokes.

Three children in Tokyo who have never met before find themselves falling into a strange land where mountains fly and what were only stories in their world now seem to be common place in this new world. Landing on a flying fish they are taken to a wizard who tells them (what else) You must save the world.
Okay, the plot may seem a little over done to you, but it adds a few surprises, and you tend to fall in love with the characters that you are reading about.
This series is fairly short for a manga series, but it is not lacking any development of characters, plots, or story line what so ever. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will read again.
Boy or girl, just geting into Anime or an old time friend, you need to read this series.

Magic Knight Rayearth is a great series, it's one of CLAMP's best stories. The plot is great, the artwork is utterly beautiful and elegant. If you like Shoujo stories and magical girl genre, I suggest you get the 3 volumes of the series. If you like MKR, I also suggest RG Veda, another famous CLAMP work.