Ranked #411

Tokyo Babylon (Manga)

My love of CLAMP spills out again. Tokyo Babylon is another beautiful tragedy that every CLAMP follower, and manga reader should try.

Story: Find yourself in Tokyo, the 90s, following Subaru, a young progeny onmyouji. Exorcist for all who don't know what that is. Sounds so ordinary, so very relative. You can't even begin to understand how absolutely tragic and emotional this manga is. Subaru's companions, Seishirou and twin sister Hokuto accompany him as he travels throughout Tokyo and what is ultimately the setting for X/1999. There's plenty of humor here, parallel with tragedy and drama.

If you're uncomfortable with shounen ai, you may not like this as well, although nothing outright is done. But there is always something alluded to it in Tokyo Babylon. Personally, I love CLAMP most for this fact alone. Their mantra, of someone's most precious person, no matter what gender, age or color has always been a redeeming quality. I support them alone for this factor in all of their work.

There isn't really much I can say without revealing spoilers for the manga and I can't ruin this beauty. The story will truly bring you in and you'll want to know just why Seishirou is always there for Subaru and you'll want to see more of Hokuto's deliciously charming fashion. This is certainly a twist of a story and you'll never guess it. Enthralling and completely CLAMPesque.

Art: It's a CLAMP classic and I love their older works. The artwork of their older ones is so beautiful and so rich in texture, I always feel like I'm watching it move. There's a sensual feeling to the older works of CLAMP and this one definitely has it. Especially when you see Hokuto's outfits that she makes for her and Subaru. It's highly detailed and dark, which adds to the effect of the dark tones to the story. It's so elegant that it amplifies that tragic atmosphere to the story, making it all so much more impacting.

Character: I love Subaru and Hokuto. Hell, I even loved Seishirou despite certain things. There's certain character development that happens, that is significant to the story and what happens after the story that makes it all so...tragic. God how many times have I used that word in this review? Subaru is the absolute representation of purity and good. Watching how he changes throughout the manga is wonderful (which means you must then read X/1999-you really must. I've written a review for that as well so check it out), and Hokuto is the sweetest sister ever. She's fiercely protective of Subaru and I loved that about her. And Seishirou is like an enigma. Their interactions throughout the story are what make it all and how everything comes together in the end makes it all so much more...
Just read it guys.

Enjoyment: If you can't see it now, you're blind. I love Tokyo Babylon. I fell in love with it in volume 1. Something about self-sacrificing Subaru just made me want to love him. I think, as humans, we can identify with tragedy because we all experience it in one way or another. And this is what makes us connect to what we read or watch. I can feel these characters and I can connect with the story and I love that I am pulled into this story not of my own volition. There wasn't one second where I thought, "Nah, I'm just going to put this book down and go wash dishes or something." This book gripped me by the heart and squeezed me for every tear that I had.

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I came upon the manga Tokyo Babylon in quite and odd manner, I found all seven volumes at a used bookstore for two dollars each. I had never heard of the series but fourteen dollars for seven manga was too cheap to pass up. I originally intended to later resell the seven manga for a higher price but the day after I bought them I was bored and decided to read the first volume. I don't think I moved until I had finished those seven volumes; I was enthralled with the characters, story, and just all around ideas of the plot. I read that whole series and found myself bawling throughout the last two volumes. Tokyo Babylon is truly an amazing series.

~ Story ~

The story is nothing but enthralling; you're hooked from the very first volume. Sure there are other stories that deal with the sort of supernatural things that happen in Tokyo Babylon but in my opinion, CLAMP pulled that particular kind of story off the best. Aside from entertaining, the plot is rather dark and towards the end, angsty, and for me there is nothing better than angst. Seeing the way things developed throughout the seven volumes was something that is hard for me to explain as CLAMP does it in their complex and expert way. You really have to read it to understand what I'm saying, there is just something about the story that makes you want to keep reading.

Most certainly a ten for the story.

~ Art ~

Tokyo Babylon is written and illustrated by CLAMP so great art is expected, however CLAMP's art styles are an acquired taste so the art may not appeal to some. I however adore their style and so to me, the art of Tokyo Babylon was a treat for me.

A nine indeed.

~ Characters ~

The character's are perhaps my favorite part of Tokyo Babylon. They are deep, believable, emotional, and very complex. Seeing the relationships between the character's growing and changing was something I enjoyed to the fullest extent. The relationship between Subaru and Hokuto is very characteristic of twins and I really enjoyed seeing their strong bond and Hokuto's protectiveness of her "little brother". It was also a joy to watch the way Seishirou and Subaru's seemingly innocent yet dark and twisted romance unfolded into a climactic battle and rather heart-wrenching end.

An inexplicable nine.

~ Enjoyment ~

As one can probably already tell, I enjoyed Tokyo Babylon to the fullest. The story, art, and characters were all wonderful, complex, and deep which is something that I love to see in a series. Tokyo Babylon is a beautifully tragic story and I think anyone who is a fan of CLAMP or a fan of dark, angsty plots, Tokyo Babylon is the story for you.

Definitely a ten!

~ Overall ~

TEN. TEN. TEN. TEN. I'd give this story an eleven if possible but alas, ten it the highest I can rate it. I strongly recommend this series and think you should go out right now and buy all seven volumes. You wont regret it.
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