Customer Reviews

X/1999, Vol. 7: Rhapsody

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In this, as in the other books of the X/1999 series, CLAMP continues to amaze American readers with beautiful imagery and enthralling story. I would definetly reccomed it for anyone who has read the previous books. If you haven't, I implore you to start with the first book or face the neverending confusion of starting in the middle of a Manga series.

My personal opinion is that this is CLAMPS's finest effort yet- and that's saying something, considering how many CLAMP works I actually read.

The drawings are enough to make me weep at their sheer beauty. When I bought this, I opened it up while walking along the street in the city, and actually stopped to stare at the first page for ages, trying to drink the entire (gory) image in. If you are into manga solely for the art, then X/1999 is for you.

The plot is really starting to pick up at this point. Slight warning- most of what I say from now on will contain spoilers.

This manga begins with the intensly gory image of Kamui's aunt 'giving birth' to one of the sacred swords. This image has a severe psychological affect on the character Kotori, and a lot of this volume is devoted to her memories of her mother. I don't even like Kotori that much, and I found myself fascinated by her dreamscapes. By watching these, you will see how truly inventive the writers are.

There's also some lovely foreshadowing for Fuma. I really do feel for his character, thanks mostly to the astounding drawings. We also get to see more of the sinister BEAST, which provides the cliff-hanger conclusion to this volume.

I've been a fan of the X/1999 series since I saw a handful of episodes at an anime screening, and the manga just really takes the cake- and if manga had mouths, well it would eat the cake as well. The only problem- I've been unable to find Volume Eight anywhere! If you're going to start buying this series, then I suggest that you prepare to give up quite a bit of money- once you start, you won't be able to stop.