Manga 500

rg veda is a classic. it's not as well known to today's younger generation of manga fans, but those who have read it never forgot it.

it is one of clamps earliest works, and its first major work.

and what a story they have spun! gods and goddesses, war, forbidden love, betrayal, loyalty and trust. unfulfilled desires and hidden wishes.

love that spans across centuries. characters who have sold their souls for their wishes. characters who have all but died from the loss of their love.

the first few volumes are a little confusing, since clamp has a tendency of introducing several characters at a time, but ... once you get past the first four (or less), you will find yourself drawn into the story like never before.

you will be mesmerized, i assure you.

this has themes of shounen-ai (the ones labeled androgynous still look like men, albeit very pretty boys),and shoujo ai, so those with squicks, you have been warned.

but this is clamp, and if you like their other series you must not mind it, ne? i myself, find their standard, that love transcends without discrimination, that love is between souls and things like gender are made inconsequential, very, very romantic.

I honestly didn't think I'd like this and it was absolutely prejudiced of me. The name sounded too much like it would be filled with Mecha and Action (which aren't my cup of tea.), but it was the closest manga in reach and I needed something to read.

I was very pleasantly surprised, the characters and artwork were brilliant. I fell in love with each new character, wanting to know more about them and felt my heart being crushed as I saw them being brutally killed. I'm not sure if I've read a manga containing more innocent bloodshed, except maybe Hellsing, but that's debateable.

For CLAMPs first ... ever manga its very good quality. The art work is pretty, the dialogue flows, the characters are well thought out and the plot is thick but unravels at a good pace. There are bits of comedy thrown in and a fair bit of action with lines like:

"stunning wolfblade go!"

In my opinion maybe too many of those likes, and too many pages of pure action. But even though I say that and I don't like action too much, I don't think it's a failing of this manga. It wasn't pointless action, it had its place and it filled it well.

If you like CLAMP, angst, action and fantastical worlds then give this a read. It's most definitely worth the money and I can't wait for Volume 10.

Right now I'm off to hunt down the OAV!

Nanashi Moriko *Not quite an RG Veda fangirl but a Soma fangirl*

11/05/07

Note: This review was written before volume 10 had been released in English translation. At the time of writing I have read volume 10 and will be updating soon

I picked this Manga on my Reading Quest before I could for Tsubasa Chronicles. And Boy, it Turned out to be the Best Manga I have ever Read (till date). And it is one Criminally Underrated Gem!!

The story starts out as a simple one. Set in Heavens - ruled by a Tyrant - a prophecy about a certain guy who will defeat him - the main protagonist fulfilling that prophecy - road trip - meeting allies willing to help. Pretty Simple Right? Turns Out it Isn't!!

The first four volumes follow this and I found myself struggling through them. Of Course, being CLAMP's work (their debut ... at that) the Art is Great. But the pacing and progression didn't appeal to me. The deaths were sad but Ashura's constant whining irritated me. But, things change when I reached the fifth volume.

The manga goes to directions you wouldn't expect. Revelations were made during the course of the series which blew my mind. Deaths happened, a lot of them. Towards the end it made me feel like I am reading/watching one of Gen Urobuchi's works!! CLAMP makes you fall in love with the characters, before making you see them suffer.

In Conclusion, this is a great work by a great mangaka group. The story and characters would draw you in and make you read till the end (and potentially destroy you xD). I urge everyone reading this to give this Manga a go.