Customer Reviews

X/1999, Vol. 1, Prelude

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

X, or X/1999 as it's known in the US, is a story about the end of the world as it comes about in the year 1999. Kamui Shiro, the hero (I hesitate to call him that, since there are so many "heroes"), comes back to Tokyo after his mother's death to face his destiny. His destiny is explained in later volumes.

As with all CLAMP works, whether the art is done by Mokona Apapa or Mick Nekoi, the art is simply awe-inspiring. The art is undeniably CLAMP, and even the gory scenes seem beautiful (that's saying something, since I'm not really a blood and guts type of fan).

The story may seem a little confused in the first volume, but things really (I mean really) start to pick up in the later volumes. That could be my character bias (my all-time favorite CLAMP characters don't show up until volume 7 and 8), but the story really does get addicting.

Any fans of Tokyo Babylon, or people who tore their hair out screaming because of the end of Tokyo Babylon (guilty as charged..) can rejoice with this series, because Subaru-kun and Seishiro-san show up and have many moments together which will make you want to scream/cry/lock them in a room together. (*sobs* volume 16.....*sobs*)

My one warning is this: make it through the first volume and you're hooked. Continue through to volume 8 or 9 (ppl, vol. 8 is called Crescendo for a reason....), you'll want to sit in the manga section of your nearest bookstore and finish what's been released (18 volumes) in one go. Trust me, it's money well spent.

The first thing about this series that will grab your attention is the artwork. While CLAMP always does a suberb job when it comes to illustrating their mangas, this actually tops most of their other works, IMO. Every facial expression, gesture and background is rendered with incredible detail and CLAMP's own unique style. It also succeeds in creating the perfect atmophere for a dark series such as this. Backgrounds typically range from grays to black (this is seen more frequently in the later installments though) and more shading than usual was used for the characters and scenery.
But you were expecting that, right? This is Mokona Apapa's work we're talking about here, so gorgeous artwork (with equally gorgeous bishounen ^_^) is sort of guaranteed. So, ignoring that for a moment, let's take a look at the actual plot and characters.

Now, I personally love the plot. The end of the work is an intriguing storyline to work with and I think CLAMP did a wonderful job of creating an _original_ story based around it while still incorporating loads of mythology and biblical references (just look at Revelations from the Bible if you don't believe me). I'll admit it moves a bit slowly though. Very little actually occurs in volume one. It is primarily an introduction of the characters and story (not that the whole plot is introduced). Each volume also takes place over a short period of time which may not interest all readers. It's hard to be bored by it as the atmosphere is so tense. In addition to this, the plot begins to increase in pace later on.

The characters are another high point of this series (not that I've found a "low" point yet...). Kamui is not your standard hero in any way. He is below average height and features a slightly more feminine face for starters. In terms of personality, he again defies the stereotype set for a male protagonist. He is not simple or easy to understand within several pages. He has many facets to his personality, some likable and some not. He is a complex character, almost fully human in a way.

I'm not going to put a conclusion in any form here as that would be redundant. I've already said repeatedly that I adore this manga. I would however like to make a warning to parents who are considering buying this. This particular volume does not contain a tremendous amount of objectionable content (there is some blood, but nothing really shocking) but later installments do. Books after this feature decapitation, dismemberment and lots and lots of blood. As I said before, the artwork is exceptional so the gore is very realistic. This was not written for a pre-teen audience and it probably shouldn't be read by one. The rest of you, enjoy ^_^

CLAMP has always enchanted me with their gorgeous art and great plot lines and X/1999 is by far their best work. If you're looking for something upbeat and bouncy, turn around and run in the opposite direction as fast as you can. But if you're looking for something dark, twisted, apocolyptic, and beautiful, you've found it. This manga is violent, bloody, and often depressing. It becomes even more so as you move on to volumes 2-18. CLAMP has been known for sometimes known for wimping out on their endings (like in the sequel trilogy to Magic Knights Rayearth and Wish), let's just pray they don't do that here. If they do, I'll have to kill them. *Grabs a katana and combat boots*

X/1999 is an awesome story about the end of the world...while it is a bit graphic in some parts, it is strangely beautifully done....the art work is absolutely stunning! It's something you need to just plow through...and while it's hard to understand at first, you really get into it when you see what everything is like...when the plot thickens...

X/1999 is a wonderful, compelling series that almost anyone could enjoy. But its not for children under, say, 10 - 12 because there is language, violence and nudity. For those of you that don't know, X/1999 is about the earth ending, and 7 members of the dragons of earth, who want to destroy the earth and start over, and 7 of the dragons of heaven, who want to keep the earth as it is. They are all chosen, but one, Kamui, was chosen for both, and has the power to decide which will happen, but frankly, he doesn't care about it or anything but himself. If you like sci-fi/fantasy (sorcery ect.) and a touch of romance, you'll love this.

This book ROCKS, not neccisarly THIS one, most people read it an' quite after the first 40 pages, but after page 60, it REALLY gets into the story, so I suggest reading half of it in the store, before you decide to read

WARNING!!!!!!!- the books get VERY violent in the next ones, an' they get MUCH MUCH more serious, I like the others WAY more than the first(thats why its only 4 stars instead of 5)

Nnyways, its about Kamui, a 15 year old boy who has come back to Tokyo after a 6 year absence. His mother had told him to go back, and he doesn't really know, but he doesn't want to involve his old friends, so he trys to be mean to keep them away from him. Unfortunatly fate has its own mind and brings them back together, soon you find out about Kamui's mother, his fate, his friends fate, and the fate of the world. This is a VERY serious book, unlike CLAMPS normal style, with great illistrations, and many throughly thought out characters, the story is addicting, and even if you don't like the blood and gore it is a great series with many unforeseen twists, a MUST buy.

Some people say that there is alot of Shounen-ai(guy X guy)but its really only there if you either expect it or want it, I really don't see much at all, so don't make that a reason for NOT getting it, if your against homosexuality

other books I recomend are, Trigun, Demon Dairies, Petshop of Horrors, The Chronicals of the Cursed Sword, Ragnarok, Rayearth (I & II), Ceres (Celestrial Legend), Inuyasha(its ok...),and Tokyo Babylon(not my fav, but hilarious, truthfully I only bought it because it has some of the characters from X/1999 in it)

wow, that was a LOOOOOONG review, I wrote it? wow, oh well, if you have any more questions(or if you want to talk to me about it ^__^) then E-mail me... if you can from this site... (*cough*i don't know if i can put it on... but its Bloodlorloki@yahoo.com *cough* WASN'T ME!!!!)

The artwork was fabulous, but I have to admit, it does take a while for it to really get going.I've read the first five books and I'll tell you it's not the best of the series, but like always, CLAMP delivers grade A artwork.If you think more of art than plot when picking your manga, this is a Must-Buy!But if not, it might help to get this one just to understand the story better in the following books.

First off, this is not a typical CLAMP manga. It's a very dark manga with a dark storyline. The artwork is wonderful though and I have to say that this is by far my favorite manga. The first book is sort of slow plotwise, but if you're dedicated to the series, you don't really seem to notice. It likes to keep you guessing about certain aspects of the storyline (I only have volumes 1-4 at the moment). I wholeheartedly recommend this manga as long as you're no squeamish. There are sections that get sort of gruesome, but they do play a part in the story, they're not just thrown in there for the sake of violence.

Bottom line: The storyline is wonderful and the art is beautiful (in typical CLAMP fashion). It's not the happiest manga and can be downright depressing at times, but there is humor (that doesn't take away from the seriousness of the plot). Don't get this manga if you're at all squeamish (there are two scenes that occur that are gruesome-and are scene multiple times in flashbacks). However, like I said, this my favorite manga and is a definite must-have.

X, or X-1999 is a well structured story. In the story, Clamp often leads reader to believe the story will end one way, but destroys the reader's fantacies in the following few pages. I already read 13 books of X-1999, and I never found out what's going to be the ending. It's one of the stories which the ending is not for the readers to determin. One must read till the end to know what's going to happen to all characters. Clamp has the ability to grab the readers once we get hold of the book. I can never read enough, and am always hoping for more... Buy it, the stories are emazing. Also recomand RG Veda and Tokyo Babylon from Clamp. . . . .

This series is clamp's best work,it has everything a manga reader could possibly want, Action, Mystery Romance,a complex storyline and outstanding artwork yet even though this series is near perfect,it is not for everyone,this book dosen't contain much violence compared to the others,which feature high levels of gore,and some mild nudity,but since it is an all-female team you can't call it perverted and the violence is elegant and beautiful.this book starts the series of twenty-two books(one for each of the major arcana of the tarot)by introducing the three main characters of the book,Kamui,who has returned to Tokyo after the death of his mother to protect his childhood friends Fuma and Kotori who are the other two characters introduced in this book along with a few others,if you buy this book and read it thinking it is linear and stupid read the other books and see for yourself how good the series gets.