Tokyo Babylon Volume 1 (v. 1) (Paperback)

~ Clamp (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Tokyo Babylon is a modern-day fantasy that follows Subaru Sumeragi, a young onmyouji (spiritual medium) on his quest to protect Tokyo from the evil spirits that have secretly taken residence in the city. Subaru is the 13th head of the Sumeragi clan, and together with his twin sister Hokuto and the mysterious veterinarian Seishirou, they risk life and limb as they hunt down the ghosts that threaten to destroy the city. Combining CLAMP's legendary storytelling and artwork, this introspective, character-driven series is a perfect dose of imaginative intrigue and mind-blowing adventure.

From the Publisher

From CLAMP, the creators of Chobits, Rayearth, Clover and Suki.
Spawned one animated OVA series, available in the US on DVD.
Animated by the world-renowned Mad House Studios (Animatrix.)

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: TokyoPop; illustrated edition edition (May 11, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591828716
• ISBN-13: 978-1591828716
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #938,860 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tokyopop doesn't dissapoint, May 3, 2004

By	Shounen-aifan (MA, USA) - See all my reviews

I was thrilled to purchase this book. I have been a big fan of X(/1999) for about a year now, and I've heard from many people that Tokyo Babylon is a very good series. I researched a little on the series, and was intrigued by the plot and relationship between Subaru and Seishirou. I was really looking forward to reading this book, and I even counted down the days to it's release.
I had my worries, however. As with Gravitation and especially Fake, Tokyopop nearly destroyed the manga with it's inserts of slang words, such as "dude". Also, what if the translation was off or the word placing was simply horrible?
I am very pleased to say that neither of those problems are present in this book. A few color pages/poster are included in the book, as well as an introduction to the series (as there was in Saiyuki's manga). Honorifics are kept (which makes a big fan like me really happy), and sound effect translations are listed in the back of the book. I strongly believe this to be a smart move for Tokyopop and definitely a pleasing one for fans.
As far as the work done by Clamp, it's another great manga from this manga-ka quartet. The artwork, though it was from their early days (1991), is still very impressive. For those who have read X, I need to tell you that the art in this book is better than the first few volumes of it, which is saying something since X was started in 1993. Also, Seishirou and Subaru's interactions are downright hillarious and are made even more so by Hokuto's comments and urgings of Seishirou to try harder to seduce Subaru.
All around, this book is a classic for any Clamp fan or newbie to Clamp's work. I highly recommend it!

26 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For those of you who've read it before...., May 3, 2004

By	Wendy M. Hoerner (USS Theodore Roosevelt, CVN-71) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Be prepared to be stunned.

Tokyopop actually did a wonderful job with the translation of this thing. I am one exceptionally happy camper! They've FAR outdone Viz; the horrible butchering of CLAMP manga that's occuring with poor, abused X is not repeating itself here.

That's right! All the perversion that makes Seishiro Seishiro is here. All the blushing, stammering, sweatdropping of Subaru in his 16-year-old wussiness and the horribly loud laughter, mile-long speeches and 'Sei-chan's of Hokuto are properly done, in their full and untarnished glory.

Those've you who've read the scantalations will be tremendously pleased.

Those've you reading this for the first time, I pray you enjoy it - this series is CLAMP at it's best. Angst, cuteness, 8 million different hats, a terribly deep trio of original characters and terrific plotline underlaying the insanity! Tokyo Babylon's a fabulous series. I'm trying my damnedest right now not to spoil it...

*jumping around* I want volume 5!!!! My favorite! And volume 7! *bawls like the angst-freak she is*

Anyway, this volume's a great intro to the fun to come.

'Bout time this work got it's due and got translated! And THANK GOD it's Tokyopop pulling all the stops and doing it justice instead of Viz.

Won't ruin the storyline. Will just say that while this one's good, it gets MUCH better. Stick with Tokyo Babylon, and you won't be disappointed.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Supernatural Shojo, November 28, 2006

By	Kellyannl (Bronx, NY USA) - See all my reviews

A tale of good and evil, light and darkness, innocence and corruption, Tokyo Babylon is a powerful drama.

Subaru Sumeragi is a deeply compassionate sixteen year old medium/exorcist who uses his gift to aid lost spirits and the possessed. After a hard day or night's work, he comes home to his devoted, vivacious twin sister Hokuto, whose favorite hobby seems to be trying to hook Subaru up with their friend Seishirou - a veterinarian nine years their senior - in spite of reservations due to the fact that he belongs to a family with a reputation of being in the assassination business that they both choose to ignore.

The interaction between the three reaches it's climax in the final volume, with hints throughout the series about how things might ultimately turn out, but Subaru's interaction with the people he tries to help is interesting in itself. The series handles such topics as gang rape, child abuse, treatment of the elderly, and the ethics of organ transplantation - pretty heavy subject matter.

Subaru himself is a highly unique hero. Professional and competent but without a shred of conceit, he would prefer to lead a quiet life but cannot turn his back on the suffering. Not arrogant enough to believe he can change the world, all he knows how to do is unconditionally love everyone who comes his way, and he's one of those special people who make the world a better place just by being in it. But no one can fix everything, and the underlying question of the series is whether or not Subaru will break if and when he finally faces an evil that might be more than he can handle...

At a relatively short seven volumes, Tokyo Babylon is a manga any fan of either angst or the supernatural should have in their collection.