Customer Reviews

Wish, Vol. 2

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been reading Clamp's excellent works for a while know, so it should not be a surprise when I picked up Wish. It's absolutely fanastic! Compared to Clamp's heavier titles such as X or Tokyo Babylon this one is simple and not overly complex. After reading it I felt geninuely happy, which is rare when I read a book

This is the most boring Wish book ever-but you still need to get it because it is part of the most exciting comic ever! In this one, Kohaku goes back in time to learn about Suichuro's (or something like that) father comes and talks about his mom. So she goes back in time with Koryu and learns about his mom, like her "true identity". She's trapped in that time after Koryu ambushes her, the kohaku/angel hater he is, and S.'s mom destroys herself so Kohaku can be happy in her own time. In this one, Kohaku learns that she has Stockholm Syndrome, not exactly though, meaning she has "feelings" for her captor. WHAT!?!?! You say. SHE CAN'T SHE'S AN ANGEL!?! No matter, read it and find out how much Kohaku's angel pureness will fade off after she finds out she loves a human. I wonder, is that the only feelings found in WISH? Order them all and see anime/manga luvers!

The second volume is the only one that I've read from this series but all I can say is that it was extremely enjoyable. In this book, Kohaku travels back in time with koryu to solve the mystery of Shuichiro's mother's disappearance (*sigh* his mother's so beautiful). I don't know about the other's, but this volume is a little wistful and nostalgic, since it's a look into the past. It is beautifully written and I love Mick Nekoi's style. I especially like the simplicity and innocence of this story which is refreshingly different from Clamp's other works such as the action packed series of Magic Knight Rayearth and X/1999 (although they're really good too). I understand that not everyone will enjoy reading this, but if you like to read about simple joys of life and love, then I would recommend this book to you.

This continues the story from the first volume. An important thing to note for those concerned: In this volume, it is revealed that the main supposedly female character is NOT a female at all but in fact is genderless (being an angel). This was a concern of mine in the previous volume, but it is now revealed for all to see in Volume 2. :)
Of course, the story is expanded upon, and there's a bit of foreshadowing as the characters gain momentum. You can see the transition of "growing up" beginning for Kohaku.
All in all, I really enjoyed it!

This may very well be my favorite volume in the series. The story gets into stride in this one. And, if not for any other reason, buy this volume to see Shuichiro's mother. She ranks as one of the most beautiful manga characters ever created. And her name is Hotaru, like Hotaru-chan of SailorMoon (Sailor Saturn) which is a beautiful name that suits them both so well. She even has purple eyes, so Koryo-kun points out. (I don't know the honorific intended for him but he's a `kun' to me =^-^= )

One of the reviewers mentioned that there is an allusion to incest in the book, but I'm afraid he (or she) didn't read the book very well or even read the whole series. I don't know if Tokyopop dubbed it down or something, but it is stated quite clearly, once by Hotaru-sama (have to call her that) and once by Shuichiro's grandfather, that Shuichiro is NOT, I repeat NOT, her son. In fact, he's not his grandson either. Shuichiro was found by the man who became his father (all the names sound just like Shuichiro so I can't remember them!) and who married the mysterious and beautiful Hotaru. I don't think he was a baby either, I think his grandfather said a `kid'. It would make sense that a kid would fall in love with his foster mother, or believe himself in love. Especially if said mother is an incredible beauty who appears to be no more than fifteen. Do the math. And its more desperation than anything that makes him say, `aren't I enough?' But think what you like.

Don't by this book if:
a. You have an allergic reaction to flowers
b. Romance makes you go `ew'

Do by this book if:
a. You want to see a young Shuichiro with long hair
b. You want to see Koryo totally hitting on Shuichiro (don't worry; it's all very innocent and hinted at)

In this book, my favorite character besides the enigmatic Shuichiro-san, Koryo-kun, goes back in time with Kohaku-chan (I'm putting on my own honorifics for fun, so back off!) to find out more about Shuichiro. San. I don't want to give away more than that, but if you want more beautiful moments and lovely artwork, buy this book.

A complaint about Wish is its artwork. Yes, the artwork is different from other CLAMP works, but that's because the artist is different. What you are seeing is neither worse artwork, nor bad artwork. You are seeing a different style. The artwork is really beautifully done in thin pen lines and beautiful, light and airy pages. Like Naoko Takeuchi-sensei, the artwork may seem awkward but that is due to the different style, not lack of talent. I mean, a person who can draw the gorgeous-hunk-of-man that is Shuichiro and so-much-more-gorgeous-but-not-so-much-man Koryu can not be lacking talent, okay? Okay.

The second problem is that the angels call each other fat and chubby when they are pretty skinny and have `no hips, no ass' but they are merely referring to their `super deformed' or chibi selves, not their true forms.

Finally, some people seem to have a problem with the plot. Well, romances aren't about plot. They're about romance. And beauty. If you can't handle that, go read Dragon Knights or Van Von Hunter or something. Wish is an incredibly beautiful book-I don't impress easily-and so is the romance. I hate mushiness, fakeness and stupidity, but the mushy parts are so tastefully done you'll lick your fingers, (I came up with THAT on my own) the romantic parts are so sweet and the sad ones will break your heart. I had tears in my eyes over this series. I all almost never do. The only book that ever really made me cry was A Tail of Two Cities. I sobbed over poor Sydney. What a beautiful book.

To get back on track, I truly enjoyed the book. The angel part is very mild and they could have been fairies, not angels, and the story would be the same. I was worried CLAMP would make out God to be the antagonist, but the characters simply misjudged God entirely, as many do. References were kept brief enough for me to feel quite comfortable reading the story. As usual Tokyopop has a few interesting word choices (Shuichiro saying `wishes, smishes'?) throughout the series but some very appropriate ones as well (Koryo: I'm bad ass!) In fact, their weird word choices gave Koryo a unique character and was totally appropriate. Everything he said totally fit his character and expression. But Kokuyo saying `quit handling the merchandise' referring to Hisui was kinda weird. And disturbing. Yeah...

And I wish they'd supply a `glossary of terms' at the end with translations of the spells and names of the characters. I'm too lazy to go web surfing. Hand ten. Man.

And of course, no one wants to miss Koryu, who is `usually at least second in the Underworld beauty pageant' (come again?), making a guest appearance at CLAMP's studio, while CLAMP is quite, quite drunk. Will he eat them? There's only one way to find out!

In this volume, the angel Kohaku is still trying to figure out what wish she could possibly grant for Shuichiro, the hard-working doctor who probably has the best poker face in existance. In order to find out how she can help him, she goes back in time and discovers startling things about his past and his family. This isn't the best of the Wish books, but it's still really good. I like all the characters, although the demons are my favorites. It's a cute series, and I would recommend it to most people.

Wish is a very good manga, and probably my all-time favorite. The art is beautiful, the story is sweet, and you don't have to run around looking for 25 volumes of it since there are only 4. Why didn't this get 5 stars? Becuase Tokyopop changed some of the angels to female. The reason is that the angels are genderless, so in Japanese they used genderless pronouns (they have words that aren't "he" "she" or "it".) They couldn't do that in English, so they made some of the angels female. Overall a great manga, BUY NOWWW!!!

This book was every bit as good as the first volume in the series. This was the first series i read where Mick Nekoi did most of the art so it has a lot of great chibi charachter designs. Anyone who love manga will be sure to love this great Clamp title. Enjoy!!! >^_^<

In Wish, volume two, the angel Kohaku and her celestial and demonic aquaintances are adjusting to life at Shuichiro's house. The volume contains two stories; one is about three quarters the length of the book, the other the last quarter.

The first story has Kohaku and the demon Koryu travelling back in time to unravel the mystery of the disappearance of Shuichiro's mother twenty-one years ago. K & K are in their chibi forms throughout, which is a little too cute. Added to this cuteness is Shuichiro's adorable doll-like mother, who is not human. There are so many flowers drawn in this story I got allergies. In a modern version of the folktale where a human man marries a celestial being, this Wish story has an unfortunate incestuous twist that is a total gross-out. Shuichiro says to his mother as she is preparing to leave, "I need you. You're the only one for me. What if I had found you? Before Dad?" EWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What was CLAMP thinking?!?!? CLAMP is known for delightful, SUBTLE homo-romanticism, but how could they think readers would be turned on or charmed by this?

The other story is also a little too cute. Kohaku is still a whimpering, crying chibi for most of the story. Thankfully, this is balanced somewhat by the other sexy couple that has also taken up residence with Shuichiro.

This book rocked, can't wait till' i get 3!