What do you think?
Rate this book
Tokyo Babylon Omnibus
Tokyo Babylon Omnibus 1
The prequel to X, Tokyo Babylon is CLAMP's early epic of dangerous work—and dangerous attraction!
Glamour has two meanings: the modern one of style, and the ancient one of sorcery. Tokyo Babylon is the realm of both! It's 1991, the last days of Japan's bubble economy, and money and elegance run through the streets like rivers of neon. So do the currents of darkness beneath them—obsession, greed, and exploitation, nourishing evil spirits that only the arts of the onmyoji—Japan's legendary occultists—can combat. The two most powerful remaining onmyoji are in the unlikely guises of a handsome young veterinarian, Seishiro, and the teenage heir to the ancient Sumeragi clan, Subaru—just a couple of guys whom Subaru's sister Hokuto has decided are destined to be . . . a couple!
The prequel to CLAMP's apocalyptic X, Tokyo Babylon was one of the first BL (boys' love) manga to be published in the West. Dark Horse is proud to release Tokyo Babylon in omnibus form, with sixteen bonus illustrations in full color!
Glamour has two meanings: the modern one of style, and the ancient one of sorcery. Tokyo Babylon is the realm of both! It's 1991, the last days of Japan's bubble economy, and money and elegance run through the streets like rivers of neon. So do the currents of darkness beneath them—obsession, greed, and exploitation, nourishing evil spirits that only the arts of the onmyoji—Japan's legendary occultists—can combat. The two most powerful remaining onmyoji are in the unlikely guises of a handsome young veterinarian, Seishiro, and the teenage heir to the ancient Sumeragi clan, Subaru—just a couple of guys whom Subaru's sister Hokuto has decided are destined to be . . . a couple!
The prequel to CLAMP's apocalyptic X, Tokyo Babylon was one of the first BL (boys' love) manga to be published in the West. Dark Horse is proud to release Tokyo Babylon in omnibus form, with sixteen bonus illustrations in full color!
560 pages, Paperback
First published April 9, 2013
4 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Clamp
747 books3,139 followersŌkawa Nanase 大川七瀬
[born: 2 May 1967; Ōsaka, bloodtype: A]
Mokona Apapa もこなあぱぱ
[born: 16 Jun 1968, Kyōto; bloodtype: A]
Nekoi Mick 猫井みっく
[born: 21 Jan 1969, Kyōto; bloodtype: O]
Igarashi Satsuki 五十嵐さつき
[born: 8 Feb 1969, Kyōto; bloodtype: A]
CLAMP originally began in 1989 as a twelve-member dōjinshi circle, but by 1990, the circle had diminished from twelve to seven. Of the remaining seven, Tamayo Akiyama, Sei Nanao, and Leeza Sei left the group during the production of the RG Veda manga. Other former members of CLAMP also included Soushi Hishika, O-Kyon, Kazue Nakamori, Yuzuru Inoue and Shinya Ōmi. Currently, there are four members in the group.
In 2004, CLAMP's 15th anniversary as a mangaka group, the members changed their names from Nanase Ohkawa, Mokona Apapa, Mick Nekoi, and Satsuki Igarashi to Ageha Ohkawa, Mokona, Tsubaki Nekoi and Satsuki Igarashi (her name is pronounced the same, but written with different characters) respectively. The August 2004 issue of Newtype USA, a magazine specializing in events of the anime and manga subcultures, reported that the members of CLAMP simply wanted to try out new names. In a later interview with Ohkawa, it was revealed that initially Mokona wanted to drop her surname because it sounded too immature for her liking, while Nekoi disliked people commenting that her name was the same as Mick Jagger's. Ohkawa and Igarashi, wanting to go with the flow of Nekoi's and Mokona's name changes, changed their names as well.
In 2006, they made their first USA public debut at Anime Expo in Anaheim, California. They were well received at the convention, with 6,000 fans in attendance at their panel.
[born: 2 May 1967; Ōsaka, bloodtype: A]
Mokona Apapa もこなあぱぱ
[born: 16 Jun 1968, Kyōto; bloodtype: A]
Nekoi Mick 猫井みっく
[born: 21 Jan 1969, Kyōto; bloodtype: O]
Igarashi Satsuki 五十嵐さつき
[born: 8 Feb 1969, Kyōto; bloodtype: A]
CLAMP originally began in 1989 as a twelve-member dōjinshi circle, but by 1990, the circle had diminished from twelve to seven. Of the remaining seven, Tamayo Akiyama, Sei Nanao, and Leeza Sei left the group during the production of the RG Veda manga. Other former members of CLAMP also included Soushi Hishika, O-Kyon, Kazue Nakamori, Yuzuru Inoue and Shinya Ōmi. Currently, there are four members in the group.
In 2004, CLAMP's 15th anniversary as a mangaka group, the members changed their names from Nanase Ohkawa, Mokona Apapa, Mick Nekoi, and Satsuki Igarashi to Ageha Ohkawa, Mokona, Tsubaki Nekoi and Satsuki Igarashi (her name is pronounced the same, but written with different characters) respectively. The August 2004 issue of Newtype USA, a magazine specializing in events of the anime and manga subcultures, reported that the members of CLAMP simply wanted to try out new names. In a later interview with Ohkawa, it was revealed that initially Mokona wanted to drop her surname because it sounded too immature for her liking, while Nekoi disliked people commenting that her name was the same as Mick Jagger's. Ohkawa and Igarashi, wanting to go with the flow of Nekoi's and Mokona's name changes, changed their names as well.
In 2006, they made their first USA public debut at Anime Expo in Anaheim, California. They were well received at the convention, with 6,000 fans in attendance at their panel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
June 29, 2018
Once you get past the jarring combination of the (apparently obligatory in this period of shojo) insanely manic and perky and inappropriate character and the joking sexual harassment this is an interesting and solid supernatural series with decent pacing and a good balance of episodic events and longer arc.
Subaru is the heir to a family with supernatural powers. He and his twin sister live in an apartment in Tokyo. His family is also in Tokyo, it isn't clear yet why he lives apart from them at age 16, or why this grown up veterinarian is always at their place being pedo towards Subaru, and why does his sister encourage this? But anyway, he makes a living performing exorcisms and the like. At first these are presented in alight and almost silly way, but soon they become darker. Especially the episodes that deal with real social ills such as bullying and crime and loneliness are dark. I thought the "Dreams" episode was really on-point both in terms of the personal effect and the gross insensitivity of people in general toward victims. I saw a note online from CLAMP (which is all-women) to the effect that the stories were influenced by personal experiences living in Tokyo.
The recurring cherry-blossom scene flashbacks are intriguing and I look forward to finding out what Subaru can't remember. And why he can't let anyone see his hands.
Subaru is the heir to a family with supernatural powers. He and his twin sister live in an apartment in Tokyo. His family is also in Tokyo, it isn't clear yet why he lives apart from them at age 16, or why this grown up veterinarian is always at their place being pedo towards Subaru, and why does his sister encourage this? But anyway, he makes a living performing exorcisms and the like. At first these are presented in alight and almost silly way, but soon they become darker. Especially the episodes that deal with real social ills such as bullying and crime and loneliness are dark. I thought the "Dreams" episode was really on-point both in terms of the personal effect and the gross insensitivity of people in general toward victims. I saw a note online from CLAMP (which is all-women) to the effect that the stories were influenced by personal experiences living in Tokyo.
The recurring cherry-blossom scene flashbacks are intriguing and I look forward to finding out what Subaru can't remember. And why he can't let anyone see his hands.
February 3, 2016
Full disclosure: Slowly yet surely, I'm now reading most of CLAMP's manga since I've been an avid fan of their works in anime (Magic Knight Rayearth, Cardcaptor Sakura, Chobits and Kobato), not failing to mention that my all-time favorite manga (and certainly one that is close to my heart and soul) is probably the frustratingly tragic and punishingly intricate series xxxHoLic. I'm also finally completing my readings for Tsubasa Chronicle on the side because this is supposedly CLAMP's magnus opei and with its flexible narrative concerning alternate worlds, many characters from CLAMP's other works have made appearances in every volume--and the most unforgettable of them is probably Seishirou who was first introduced as Syaoran's mentor from childhood who then stole one of Sakura's memory feathers so he can use it to find a certain pair of vampire twins.
In any case, I was curious about him so I asked some friends in fandom who can help me find more about this character and I was then directed to this manga--and experience the pairing of Seishirou and Subaru which caused the very devastation that left a permanent mark on CLAMP's subsequent shounen-ai inclinations in other pairings like my personal favorite Doumeki and Watanuki of xxxHoLic.
SeiSub (their fandom-agreed portmanteau) also makes a final appearance in X/1999, an apocalyptic urban fantasy manga that essentially broke apart every SS shipper's heart due to that confrontation between the said men which concluded their very unhealthy yet intense and powerful connection/non-relationship. I was spoiled early on before I even started reading this manga, and I was glad I was because I most definitely need all kinds of preparation to endure what is to come once I do start reading X/1999. Look, I'm a Charles/Erik (Professor X/Magneto) fanatic so intricately depressing pairings between stubborn yet admirable men are my cup of tea already, so I know I am more than equipped to handle Seishirou and Subaru's own sadomasochistic tango, but I never could have anticipated the level in which their own music plays.
It's so unbelievably hurtful because on one hand, this is a 'non-relationship' (Oh, CLAMP is the motherfucker of such pairings, trust me) that is ill-advised and unhealthy and yet on the other hand it's also rendered so consummate and beautifully broken that it's unavoidable not to wish that circumstances were different for these two.
I will make this review as spoiler-free as possible for anyone interested in picking it up but I would also like to touch upon its selling points which make it worth reading enough to follow through with the indirect sequel X/1999 once a reader becomes invested in SeiSub as characters and a pairing. I will indicate where the spoilers are though which I must warn all of you NOT TO READ if you really want to pick up this manga. If not--and you are curious of the situation and why I'm nearly frothing in the mouth about it--then do read through. I'll be discussing HOW THE STORY ENDS for SeiSub in the spoilers because it is a necessary evil, for the sake of any pedantic completist attitude that I have.
~*~*~
WHAT IS TOKYO BABYLON: This is a story about a sixteen-year-old onmyoji (Ying Yang Master) named Subaru Sumeragi who is thirteenth in the line of his clan. He investigates supernatural cases while also balancing school work. He has an outgoing and fashionable twin sister named Hokuto who also happens to actively ship him (I shit you not) with a kind and handsome veterinarian named Seishirou Sakurazuka who is gosh-darned smitten with said sixteen-year-old even though Seishirou is nine years his senior. As Subaru unravels the underlying pain and suffering in Tokyo where hauntings are more symbolic than simply paranormal, he also has to deal with Seishirou's affections which he does not necessarily discourage, as well as uncover a repressed memory from childhood concerning a mysterious stranger which turns out to be a key event that will change his life from then on.
~*~*~
WHO ARE THE CHARACTERS: The aforementioned three characters themselves have enough personality to keep readers interested and there is fluff and sweetness shared among them in the beginning volumes--that was until we reach the inevitable despair and heartbreak by the later installments which will shock readers because it's almost a dissonance to what was established in their dynamics. However, there are some clues regarding to Seishirou's apparently questionable persona where he would swoop in during moments when Subaru is in danger and would cast a spell to render him unconscious so he can deal with the case of the week using his own methods that are not as, shall we say, compassionate as Subaru's. Basically, readers will pretty much take the hint that they should NOT TRUST SEISHIROU.
Individually speaking: Hokuto at first would strike readers as someone who is shallow and bubbly and sort of aggressive and controlling because she always picks Subaru's outfit to match with her sense of fashion, and would keep pushing her brother to hook up with the twenty-five year old hot vet who is lurking around the twins very suspiciously. It's creepy yet also endearing because Hokuto cares deeply about Subaru that she overcompensates for his sake. More intuitive and courageous, Hokuto feels protective about Subaru even though she is worried that he rarely comes out of his shell that he barely has any real friendships and relationships outside his calling as an onmyoji. She acts as the big sister in their siblingship, and her constant fawning over a possible romantic relationship between her brother and Seishirou stemmed from an insecurity that she will one day lose Subaru to their family's occupation; that one day he will find no comfort or consolation being in her company and leave her. Matchmaking him with Seishirou has her believing it would anchor Subaru to a normal life because her brother is honestly living a life rife with extraordinary moments that normalcy is not something readily available to him. What she fears the most is that she may be right after all.
Meanwhile, Subaru as the main protagonist is just goddamn adorbs. At first I found him a little naive and innocent but this was actually an unsettling contrast to the kind of second life he lives as a dutiful exorcist at the ripe age of sixteen. He is filled with kindness and brimming with compassion, yes, but he also has very strong convictions that are somewhat surprising because I initially mistook his seeming naivety as a fixed thing when he is clearly more mature than he lets on, considering the kind of vices and cruelty that he is exposed to daily, and that is bound to mess up someone to a degree. We only see this later on when he uncovered his memory from childhood.
My favorite moment from Subaru has to be in volume 4 where he stood up against a school teacher/cult leader who advises her followers to accomplish things using the power of prayer (which does not work when said follower in question is being brutally bullied). Subaru definitely shows his maturity when he claimed:
This was a revelatory moment about his character because he is not deluded at all by idealism and school-boy heroics. Subaru knows what he is getting into and he acknowledges that there are limitations to what he can do for other people. I find it such an admirable quality that he would not judge, condemn or pretend to understand someone's experiences with the simple acknowledgement that everyone is different and perhaps no one will ever truly understand anyone. This will serve as his unraveling later on.
And then there is Seishirou Sakurazuka. How do I even begin to describe the hot, hot, HOT and complex Seishirou Sakurazuka? You know what, I won't. I'll discuss about him in the spoiler-y parts instead and let your imagination run wild in this portion of the review instead.
~*~*~
WHAT ARE THE WEAKNESSES OF THE MANGA: With a monster of the week scenario, this manga is composed of a set of stories where Subaru solves mysteries and exorcises evil spirits. I'm going to be perfectly honest with you: I didn't think there was anything special to this manga until the last two volumes which is finally centered on the conflict between SeiSub (and their stupid and heartbreaking 'Bet') and the revelation of Seishirou's real identity plus betrayal. I will maintain that as I read through the first three volumes, Tokyo Babylon struck me as an unrefined nineties version of xxxHoLic, since both deal with social pathologies metaphorically represented by a supernatural element. That being said, their difference is that Tokyo Babylon tends to be uneven in tonality, shifting from light-hearted shounen-ai material to disturbing paranormal cases that relate to the metropolitan lifestyle of Tokyo and its harmful effects. Meanwhile, xxxHoLic has a more consistent narrative, perfectly mixing the horrific and mundane seamlessly into characterizations and dialogue.
But I digress. The best way I can summarize its weak points is that it tends to be a slow burn during the first two or three volumes. The cases are interesting themselves but sometimes feel too drawn out and uncomfortably dark. There are notable ones that really appeal to me, however, mostly because they serve to reveal facets about Subaru and Seishirou respectively. It's deceptively cheesy sometimes but if you keep reading long enough, the pay-off regarding SeiSub will be worth it.
~*~*~
WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHS: Tokyo Babylon does have its merits, though. For one thing, like most CLAMP works, it gets better with each installment. From something completely formulaic where we get a series of unrelated cases, the manga finally divulges from that into something more character-driven, providing us with important backstories for Subaru and Seishirou. This happens somewhere between the fifth volume and continues to get exciting by the sixth and seventh. These two characters, after all, are the heart and guts of Tokyo Babylon. As I've mentioned, there are shounen-ai elements. CLAMP operates on a pansexual level where characters in their works tend to fall in love with one another regardless of age and gender. With TB, there is a small acknowledgment, however, that Subaru is feeling self-conscious about the affection Seishirou shows simply because they are both males which Seishirou casually and deliberately brushes off (and hilariously at that, I may add). Hokuto doesn't mind trying to matchmake them although she did threaten Seishirou one time that if he hurts her brother, she will kill him.
So when you pick up this manga, expect some shounen-ai moments sprinkled between pages for comic relief, which are still mild compared to anything else. What was so interesting about this pairing was that there is more to Seichirou's constant pining over Subaru (something...dark), and Subaru's very late realization that he has feelings for Seishirou himself has to be one of the most badly-timed epiphany ever with the most shockingly disheartening consequences!
~*~*~
WHY YOU MUST READ: This is an indirect prequel to the more compelling manga X/1999 where Seishirou and Subaru reprise their roles once more. When X/1999 started, nine years have already passed since Tokyo Babylon, and a Subaru in his mid-twenties has found himself on the opposing side against Seichirou. The mythos for X/1999 is interesting so I think my recommendation for Tokyo Babylon is closely tied to the sequel that it spawns later on, and this manga is simply a required reading if you want to get into X/1999 afterwards. As for its own series, TB has interesting cases of the paranormal and insights regarding the cosmopolitan side of Tokyo which include its vices, indulgences and corruption. Last but not the least, the selling point is SeiSub as characters and as a 'non-relationship' because TB reveals the history they have with one another whereas X/1999 is its inevitably painful conclusion.
SPOILER ALERT! DON'T READ FORWARD UNLESS YOU WANT THE SPOILERS
RECOMMENDED: 8/10
DO READ MY REVIEWS AT
In any case, I was curious about him so I asked some friends in fandom who can help me find more about this character and I was then directed to this manga--and experience the pairing of Seishirou and Subaru which caused the very devastation that left a permanent mark on CLAMP's subsequent shounen-ai inclinations in other pairings like my personal favorite Doumeki and Watanuki of xxxHoLic.
SeiSub (their fandom-agreed portmanteau) also makes a final appearance in X/1999, an apocalyptic urban fantasy manga that essentially broke apart every SS shipper's heart due to that confrontation between the said men which concluded their very unhealthy yet intense and powerful connection/non-relationship. I was spoiled early on before I even started reading this manga, and I was glad I was because I most definitely need all kinds of preparation to endure what is to come once I do start reading X/1999. Look, I'm a Charles/Erik (Professor X/Magneto) fanatic so intricately depressing pairings between stubborn yet admirable men are my cup of tea already, so I know I am more than equipped to handle Seishirou and Subaru's own sadomasochistic tango, but I never could have anticipated the level in which their own music plays.
It's so unbelievably hurtful because on one hand, this is a 'non-relationship' (Oh, CLAMP is the motherfucker of such pairings, trust me) that is ill-advised and unhealthy and yet on the other hand it's also rendered so consummate and beautifully broken that it's unavoidable not to wish that circumstances were different for these two.
I will make this review as spoiler-free as possible for anyone interested in picking it up but I would also like to touch upon its selling points which make it worth reading enough to follow through with the indirect sequel X/1999 once a reader becomes invested in SeiSub as characters and a pairing. I will indicate where the spoilers are though which I must warn all of you NOT TO READ if you really want to pick up this manga. If not--and you are curious of the situation and why I'm nearly frothing in the mouth about it--then do read through. I'll be discussing HOW THE STORY ENDS for SeiSub in the spoilers because it is a necessary evil, for the sake of any pedantic completist attitude that I have.
~*~*~
WHAT IS TOKYO BABYLON: This is a story about a sixteen-year-old onmyoji (Ying Yang Master) named Subaru Sumeragi who is thirteenth in the line of his clan. He investigates supernatural cases while also balancing school work. He has an outgoing and fashionable twin sister named Hokuto who also happens to actively ship him (I shit you not) with a kind and handsome veterinarian named Seishirou Sakurazuka who is gosh-darned smitten with said sixteen-year-old even though Seishirou is nine years his senior. As Subaru unravels the underlying pain and suffering in Tokyo where hauntings are more symbolic than simply paranormal, he also has to deal with Seishirou's affections which he does not necessarily discourage, as well as uncover a repressed memory from childhood concerning a mysterious stranger which turns out to be a key event that will change his life from then on.
~*~*~
WHO ARE THE CHARACTERS: The aforementioned three characters themselves have enough personality to keep readers interested and there is fluff and sweetness shared among them in the beginning volumes--that was until we reach the inevitable despair and heartbreak by the later installments which will shock readers because it's almost a dissonance to what was established in their dynamics. However, there are some clues regarding to Seishirou's apparently questionable persona where he would swoop in during moments when Subaru is in danger and would cast a spell to render him unconscious so he can deal with the case of the week using his own methods that are not as, shall we say, compassionate as Subaru's. Basically, readers will pretty much take the hint that they should NOT TRUST SEISHIROU.
Individually speaking: Hokuto at first would strike readers as someone who is shallow and bubbly and sort of aggressive and controlling because she always picks Subaru's outfit to match with her sense of fashion, and would keep pushing her brother to hook up with the twenty-five year old hot vet who is lurking around the twins very suspiciously. It's creepy yet also endearing because Hokuto cares deeply about Subaru that she overcompensates for his sake. More intuitive and courageous, Hokuto feels protective about Subaru even though she is worried that he rarely comes out of his shell that he barely has any real friendships and relationships outside his calling as an onmyoji. She acts as the big sister in their siblingship, and her constant fawning over a possible romantic relationship between her brother and Seishirou stemmed from an insecurity that she will one day lose Subaru to their family's occupation; that one day he will find no comfort or consolation being in her company and leave her. Matchmaking him with Seishirou has her believing it would anchor Subaru to a normal life because her brother is honestly living a life rife with extraordinary moments that normalcy is not something readily available to him. What she fears the most is that she may be right after all.
Meanwhile, Subaru as the main protagonist is just goddamn adorbs. At first I found him a little naive and innocent but this was actually an unsettling contrast to the kind of second life he lives as a dutiful exorcist at the ripe age of sixteen. He is filled with kindness and brimming with compassion, yes, but he also has very strong convictions that are somewhat surprising because I initially mistook his seeming naivety as a fixed thing when he is clearly more mature than he lets on, considering the kind of vices and cruelty that he is exposed to daily, and that is bound to mess up someone to a degree. We only see this later on when he uncovered his memory from childhood.
My favorite moment from Subaru has to be in volume 4 where he stood up against a school teacher/cult leader who advises her followers to accomplish things using the power of prayer (which does not work when said follower in question is being brutally bullied). Subaru definitely shows his maturity when he claimed:
"No one can understand someone else's pain. You can never pretend to know what they are going through, or imagine their suffering. You cannot save anyone."
This was a revelatory moment about his character because he is not deluded at all by idealism and school-boy heroics. Subaru knows what he is getting into and he acknowledges that there are limitations to what he can do for other people. I find it such an admirable quality that he would not judge, condemn or pretend to understand someone's experiences with the simple acknowledgement that everyone is different and perhaps no one will ever truly understand anyone. This will serve as his unraveling later on.
And then there is Seishirou Sakurazuka. How do I even begin to describe the hot, hot, HOT and complex Seishirou Sakurazuka? You know what, I won't. I'll discuss about him in the spoiler-y parts instead and let your imagination run wild in this portion of the review instead.
~*~*~
WHAT ARE THE WEAKNESSES OF THE MANGA: With a monster of the week scenario, this manga is composed of a set of stories where Subaru solves mysteries and exorcises evil spirits. I'm going to be perfectly honest with you: I didn't think there was anything special to this manga until the last two volumes which is finally centered on the conflict between SeiSub (and their stupid and heartbreaking 'Bet') and the revelation of Seishirou's real identity plus betrayal. I will maintain that as I read through the first three volumes, Tokyo Babylon struck me as an unrefined nineties version of xxxHoLic, since both deal with social pathologies metaphorically represented by a supernatural element. That being said, their difference is that Tokyo Babylon tends to be uneven in tonality, shifting from light-hearted shounen-ai material to disturbing paranormal cases that relate to the metropolitan lifestyle of Tokyo and its harmful effects. Meanwhile, xxxHoLic has a more consistent narrative, perfectly mixing the horrific and mundane seamlessly into characterizations and dialogue.
But I digress. The best way I can summarize its weak points is that it tends to be a slow burn during the first two or three volumes. The cases are interesting themselves but sometimes feel too drawn out and uncomfortably dark. There are notable ones that really appeal to me, however, mostly because they serve to reveal facets about Subaru and Seishirou respectively. It's deceptively cheesy sometimes but if you keep reading long enough, the pay-off regarding SeiSub will be worth it.
~*~*~
WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHS: Tokyo Babylon does have its merits, though. For one thing, like most CLAMP works, it gets better with each installment. From something completely formulaic where we get a series of unrelated cases, the manga finally divulges from that into something more character-driven, providing us with important backstories for Subaru and Seishirou. This happens somewhere between the fifth volume and continues to get exciting by the sixth and seventh. These two characters, after all, are the heart and guts of Tokyo Babylon. As I've mentioned, there are shounen-ai elements. CLAMP operates on a pansexual level where characters in their works tend to fall in love with one another regardless of age and gender. With TB, there is a small acknowledgment, however, that Subaru is feeling self-conscious about the affection Seishirou shows simply because they are both males which Seishirou casually and deliberately brushes off (and hilariously at that, I may add). Hokuto doesn't mind trying to matchmake them although she did threaten Seishirou one time that if he hurts her brother, she will kill him.
So when you pick up this manga, expect some shounen-ai moments sprinkled between pages for comic relief, which are still mild compared to anything else. What was so interesting about this pairing was that there is more to Seichirou's constant pining over Subaru (something...dark), and Subaru's very late realization that he has feelings for Seishirou himself has to be one of the most badly-timed epiphany ever with the most shockingly disheartening consequences!
~*~*~
WHY YOU MUST READ: This is an indirect prequel to the more compelling manga X/1999 where Seishirou and Subaru reprise their roles once more. When X/1999 started, nine years have already passed since Tokyo Babylon, and a Subaru in his mid-twenties has found himself on the opposing side against Seichirou. The mythos for X/1999 is interesting so I think my recommendation for Tokyo Babylon is closely tied to the sequel that it spawns later on, and this manga is simply a required reading if you want to get into X/1999 afterwards. As for its own series, TB has interesting cases of the paranormal and insights regarding the cosmopolitan side of Tokyo which include its vices, indulgences and corruption. Last but not the least, the selling point is SeiSub as characters and as a 'non-relationship' because TB reveals the history they have with one another whereas X/1999 is its inevitably painful conclusion.
SPOILER ALERT! DON'T READ FORWARD UNLESS YOU WANT THE SPOILERS
RECOMMENDED: 8/10
DO READ MY REVIEWS AT
March 28, 2022
Reread, 2022: This is even better on reread. It's just so well balanced: Supernatural serialized mysteries are fine as a concept, but they can be episodic, they can struggle to find a throughline; this has overarching goals baked into the premise, and isn't coy about them or about Seishiro's questionable characterization, yet the final reveals* are still bigger and worse than the foreshadowing implies. Even on reread it feels shocking, with the narrative wallop of a twist ending, but much more coherent and thematically apropos. I even love the epilogue, since X exists to fill out it brevity. A delight, and (there but for the fact that I'd already returned the first omnibus) I almost did back-to-back rereads this time.
* And I love the physical experience of reading the omnibuses and watching my bookmark creep towards that sudden, ominous chunk of black page-edges.
Original review, 2019: A young occult practitioner works in busy Tokyo with two constant companions: his exuberant twin sister and the mysterious older man who professes to love him. The bizarre combination of shojo boys' love occult monster-of-the-week meeting high fashion, social commentary, and musings on life in a metropolis meeting slow-build character development and a phenomenally dark ending is something that feels like it could only have come from Clamp, especially early Clamp. It can be discordant, and the art (especially the fashion) is dated, but the tonal bait-and-switch has a strong, creeping tension and incredible payoff. Like X, this is a 4-star series that makes it to 5 stars by the end, nonetheleast because it appeals so well to my particular tastes. (My only regret is that it makes me want to reread it and/or X, immediately after finishing both!) Clamp has built a lot of special things throughout their long career, but the characters which begin here are easily some of my favorites.
* And I love the physical experience of reading the omnibuses and watching my bookmark creep towards that sudden, ominous chunk of black page-edges.
Original review, 2019: A young occult practitioner works in busy Tokyo with two constant companions: his exuberant twin sister and the mysterious older man who professes to love him. The bizarre combination of shojo boys' love occult monster-of-the-week meeting high fashion, social commentary, and musings on life in a metropolis meeting slow-build character development and a phenomenally dark ending is something that feels like it could only have come from Clamp, especially early Clamp. It can be discordant, and the art (especially the fashion) is dated, but the tonal bait-and-switch has a strong, creeping tension and incredible payoff. Like X, this is a 4-star series that makes it to 5 stars by the end, nonetheleast because it appeals so well to my particular tastes. (My only regret is that it makes me want to reread it and/or X, immediately after finishing both!) Clamp has built a lot of special things throughout their long career, but the characters which begin here are easily some of my favorites.
May 21, 2014
Tokyo, 1991. The young onmyouji Subaru works hard to save those that are affected by the occult. With his supportive, and enthusiastic sister, and the mysterious Seishiro by his side, he is able to help people on many levels. His own life is not simple. He works, so has little time for school, or to fulfill his own dreams, and there is also the matter of Seishiro. Due to the ambiguous nature of their relationship, Clamp tantalizes us with the possibilities. Does Seishiro really love Subaru? Not to mention is he really on his side? Does Subaru love Seishiro in that way at all? For those aware of the sequel X: 1999, this comes with a small sense of trepidation, and we can only pray that things turn out better for these characters. Any scenes featuring the boys love aspect are subtle, in both context and art. The read is a little slow because of the amount of text used to explain spiritual terms, describe cultural or historical items, and explore the psyche and emotions of mankind. As one of Clamp's middle period works, the art is slightly dated (although like in their other works, Japanese landmarks are drawn down to the minutiae), but the story is much more straightforward. True to the Clamp style, Tokyo Babylon is sprinkled with humour, deep thought, and a fascinating set of unusual characters. They witness the prelude to humanities destruction.
July 20, 2014
I have loved this manga since I was sixteen, and I own the Tokyo Pop printing of Tokyo Babylon. I will admit that I had some apprehensions at re-reading a newly formatted, newly translated, newly printed edition of one of my all time favorite manga, but I'm beyond happy that I did.
The original translations were good, especially for their time, when manga was still a tepid industry with an uncertain future, but they were dated. You could feel the 90s rolling off of every word. The new translations feel much more timeless. It's cleaner. Smoother. The language transitions well from the pages to your mind. It doesn't feel like there's a barrier between you and the story due to awkward wording from rushed translations.
The dimensions of the book are also bigger, which gives the art more room to breathe. You can see the detail and love that went into each and every panel now, especially since it's on white paper as opposed to the creme colored paper of Tokyo Pop's printings. The addition of new color pages, pages I'd only ever seen online, doesn't hurt either. ;)
All-in-all, the omnibus is something every CLAMP lover should have in their collection. It is worth the price to see something as profound and life-changing as Tokyo Babylon given the respect that it deserves. Now...on to volume 2!
The original translations were good, especially for their time, when manga was still a tepid industry with an uncertain future, but they were dated. You could feel the 90s rolling off of every word. The new translations feel much more timeless. It's cleaner. Smoother. The language transitions well from the pages to your mind. It doesn't feel like there's a barrier between you and the story due to awkward wording from rushed translations.
The dimensions of the book are also bigger, which gives the art more room to breathe. You can see the detail and love that went into each and every panel now, especially since it's on white paper as opposed to the creme colored paper of Tokyo Pop's printings. The addition of new color pages, pages I'd only ever seen online, doesn't hurt either. ;)
All-in-all, the omnibus is something every CLAMP lover should have in their collection. It is worth the price to see something as profound and life-changing as Tokyo Babylon given the respect that it deserves. Now...on to volume 2!
December 17, 2014
This is one of the more unsettling manga that I've ever read, but also one of the most beautiful. The warped core relationship unfolds with such well-paced suspense that it could carry this omnibus on its own. (I do think, as a reader, that Hokuto may be one of the densest characters in fiction for cheering this on, but that's her problem.) However, it's set against a backdrop of striking artwork, gory occult morality plays, and super-90s fashion and technology that really made it stand out for me. Some of the individual stories seemed choppy or missed a few beats in terms of pacing, though, which made me a bit suspicious. It turns out that there's some suspicion that this omnibus has been abridged, which seems a little surprising. If it was abridged, though, the middle of this book suffered the most, with an odd lack of clarity regarding Subaru's visit to his family home and the story about his childhood friend. Regardless, this manga hacked up still beats the OAV for this I saw on Action Channel years back.
July 18, 2017
Firstly, i read X, another manga series of Clamp and the story concerning Subaru, was so so interesting. So, i wanted to read Tokyo Babylon as it focuses on the past of Subaru and finally we learn what really happened to him!!!! It was an amazing read!!!!
October 13, 2024
I find myself not particularly liking most of what CLAMP has written, and Tokyo Babylon, unfortunately, is no exception to this rule.
I think I've finally put my finger on why, in particular, CLAMP doesn't get right for me after reading TB -- no character feels like a character with realistic or semi-realistic interiority and they all just say things that they're allegedly feeling with no story context and we're supposed to believe them and move on to the next ongoing melodrama.
For the record I say "melodrama" lovingly, and think CLAMP has been playing in the melodrama big leagues and running the melodramatic game for quite a while which is great but also kinda sucks. I wish their characters were fleshed out in a way where they weren't only built out of half-baked philosophies and absurd trauma, that there was anything else going on in their lives besides cribbed from the runway fashion (positive), killing/bullying/maiming people for fun and profit (or in Seishiro's case because he aspires to receive the employee of the year award from his manager -- also himself -- for the 10th year in a row), philosophy about how humanity is slowly killing itself for completely preventable selfish reasons (like fashion), and magic, sometimes.
I think this sort of thing ends up making Subaru exceedly boring to read about. His relationship with Seishiro is shallow and uninteresting and his sister, Hokuto, consistently seems to do the heavy lifting in terms of bringing any sort of personality or interest to their interactions (both between each other and with Seishiro). Tragically, this makes the central character conflict between Seishiro and Subaru just, tedious to read about. It's a pretty harsh reminder that it seems like to be a representative of purity in CLAMP works you need to be something almost without a pulse. Enough life in you to care about others and have tragedy befall you to reach your final state (Damaged), but not enough to be engaging.
Most frustrating is that the two characters that have the most interesting relationship, Seishiro and Hokuto, don't have it go anywhere, and Hokuto is sort of shoved to the side lines after TB. And I know some of you are saying, "well obviously!" but it looks like she doesn't even get to show up in the crossover series either! Seishiro gets to be a mysterious traveler and Subaru is a vampire, why not let Hokuto have some fun in an alt universe? Maybe that's a small mercy, though, as everything I read about what happens to poor Sakura in Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle is borderline infuriating.
I think I've finally put my finger on why, in particular, CLAMP doesn't get right for me after reading TB -- no character feels like a character with realistic or semi-realistic interiority and they all just say things that they're allegedly feeling with no story context and we're supposed to believe them and move on to the next ongoing melodrama.
For the record I say "melodrama" lovingly, and think CLAMP has been playing in the melodrama big leagues and running the melodramatic game for quite a while which is great but also kinda sucks. I wish their characters were fleshed out in a way where they weren't only built out of half-baked philosophies and absurd trauma, that there was anything else going on in their lives besides cribbed from the runway fashion (positive), killing/bullying/maiming people for fun and profit (or in Seishiro's case because he aspires to receive the employee of the year award from his manager -- also himself -- for the 10th year in a row), philosophy about how humanity is slowly killing itself for completely preventable selfish reasons (like fashion), and magic, sometimes.
I think this sort of thing ends up making Subaru exceedly boring to read about. His relationship with Seishiro is shallow and uninteresting and his sister, Hokuto, consistently seems to do the heavy lifting in terms of bringing any sort of personality or interest to their interactions (both between each other and with Seishiro). Tragically, this makes the central character conflict between Seishiro and Subaru just, tedious to read about. It's a pretty harsh reminder that it seems like to be a representative of purity in CLAMP works you need to be something almost without a pulse. Enough life in you to care about others and have tragedy befall you to reach your final state (Damaged), but not enough to be engaging.
Most frustrating is that the two characters that have the most interesting relationship, Seishiro and Hokuto, don't have it go anywhere, and Hokuto is sort of shoved to the side lines after TB. And I know some of you are saying, "well obviously!" but it looks like she doesn't even get to show up in the crossover series either! Seishiro gets to be a mysterious traveler and Subaru is a vampire, why not let Hokuto have some fun in an alt universe? Maybe that's a small mercy, though, as everything I read about what happens to poor Sakura in Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle is borderline infuriating.
Read
May 22, 2023el bl noventero permanece invicto
March 6, 2013
If you were a manga fan in the ’90s, you knew about CLAMP. CLAMP was just really getting big back then – first with early titles like this one, then its sequel, “X”, and later, “Cardcaptor Sakura” and other series. But if you’re really looking for some 90s nostalgia (pre-bubble), this is definitely the series for you to check out. It’s got pretty much everything you could want – romance, danger, diversity in sexual preferences, all that good stuff. And Dark Horse hasn’t done us wrong with these CLAMP omnibuses so far. They’ve released “Clover”, “Chobits”, and are working on “Gate 7″, and “Blood-C” now. Their work has been pretty excellent so far, but this omnibus has caused some worry on my part. Read on for more details.
Because I love this story so much, it’s definitely four stars, and I won’t go much into it because there are a TON (seriously, just check google) of reviews of this series out there. It’s before CLAMP got a little more cautious with its work, and there’s a great edge to this work that some of its later works don’t have. It’s definitely in the classic shoujo manga canon, and a must-read for any fan, or for anyone who’s just dipping their toes into the manga pool to see what they like. And if you find that you’re a fan, I highly suggest you move on to “X” (where Seishirou and Subaru return), see if you can find the short OAV anime, and the live action movie. They’re out there waiting to be rediscovered. This is decadent Tokyo culture at its height, originally published one year before the bubble burst and Japan’s economy went down the crapper – so if you’re going to read it for none of the above reasons? Just look at it for the fashions. I mean, seriously.
Now, I’ve read all of the original volumes (all seven of them) of “Tokyo Babylon”, first when they originally came out through Tokyopop. The translation there was horrendous, but they didn’t seem to censor or leave anything out with their releases. So when I was able, I picked up the bunko editions of the original in Japanese, and found that what Tokyopop released was also in the bunko editions and was able to read the rest of the series that way, since Tokyopop only got to volume 5 before they shut down.
So when I found out that Dark Horse was releasing this in omni format, I couldn’t help wonder how they were going to do it. Seven volumes isn’t easy to split, and this one contains five of seven. At only a little over 500 pages, I paged through everything. Each volume is roughly 150-160 pages. Now multiply that times five. That’s not 500 pages. While I’m not absolutely certain (only because CLAMP keeps repackaging and rereleasing this series every so many years – in fact, in 2012 there was yet another 3 book omnibus format release in Japan), I am starting to wonder if Dark Horse hasn’t cut anything. I don’t know what version they were working from, but some of the stuff later in the omnibus seems shortened.
Then again, I can’t be sure. As I said, there are so many different releases out there even in Japan, one can’t really be sure, because even CLAMP has cut or revised the original source material when rereleasing it. It could be that if they did cut any material from this volume, they might include it in the next one. I hope this is the case if indeed anything was cut.
On the plus side, this series has finally gotten the good translation it deserves. Gustav Horn is a vet in terms of manga and translation, and he’s done a fantastic job cleaning up Tokyopop’s mess. The translation is absolutely wonderful, and I’m glad that he’s worked on this series.
So when it comes to the formatting and release of this omnibus, I’m feeling a little lukewarm. Dark Horse always does a fantastic job with CLAMP’s stuff, so it’s a bit surprising that things seem a little shortened. However, they do include all of the color plates that have come with the rereleases over the years, and that’s definitely a plus if you’re a collector. But I’m feeling a little cautious (and a taste disappointed) with this release, which I won’t be rating just because I do feel so unsure about it.
Nevertheless, this is a must-own series if you’re a CLAMP fan, or a manga fan, period. This first omnibus of “Tokyo Babylon” drops March 13, 2013 in North America, so check it out when you get the chance, and let me know how you feel about this release.
(posted to goodreads, shelfari, and birthofanewwitch.wordpress.com)
Because I love this story so much, it’s definitely four stars, and I won’t go much into it because there are a TON (seriously, just check google) of reviews of this series out there. It’s before CLAMP got a little more cautious with its work, and there’s a great edge to this work that some of its later works don’t have. It’s definitely in the classic shoujo manga canon, and a must-read for any fan, or for anyone who’s just dipping their toes into the manga pool to see what they like. And if you find that you’re a fan, I highly suggest you move on to “X” (where Seishirou and Subaru return), see if you can find the short OAV anime, and the live action movie. They’re out there waiting to be rediscovered. This is decadent Tokyo culture at its height, originally published one year before the bubble burst and Japan’s economy went down the crapper – so if you’re going to read it for none of the above reasons? Just look at it for the fashions. I mean, seriously.
Now, I’ve read all of the original volumes (all seven of them) of “Tokyo Babylon”, first when they originally came out through Tokyopop. The translation there was horrendous, but they didn’t seem to censor or leave anything out with their releases. So when I was able, I picked up the bunko editions of the original in Japanese, and found that what Tokyopop released was also in the bunko editions and was able to read the rest of the series that way, since Tokyopop only got to volume 5 before they shut down.
So when I found out that Dark Horse was releasing this in omni format, I couldn’t help wonder how they were going to do it. Seven volumes isn’t easy to split, and this one contains five of seven. At only a little over 500 pages, I paged through everything. Each volume is roughly 150-160 pages. Now multiply that times five. That’s not 500 pages. While I’m not absolutely certain (only because CLAMP keeps repackaging and rereleasing this series every so many years – in fact, in 2012 there was yet another 3 book omnibus format release in Japan), I am starting to wonder if Dark Horse hasn’t cut anything. I don’t know what version they were working from, but some of the stuff later in the omnibus seems shortened.
Then again, I can’t be sure. As I said, there are so many different releases out there even in Japan, one can’t really be sure, because even CLAMP has cut or revised the original source material when rereleasing it. It could be that if they did cut any material from this volume, they might include it in the next one. I hope this is the case if indeed anything was cut.
On the plus side, this series has finally gotten the good translation it deserves. Gustav Horn is a vet in terms of manga and translation, and he’s done a fantastic job cleaning up Tokyopop’s mess. The translation is absolutely wonderful, and I’m glad that he’s worked on this series.
So when it comes to the formatting and release of this omnibus, I’m feeling a little lukewarm. Dark Horse always does a fantastic job with CLAMP’s stuff, so it’s a bit surprising that things seem a little shortened. However, they do include all of the color plates that have come with the rereleases over the years, and that’s definitely a plus if you’re a collector. But I’m feeling a little cautious (and a taste disappointed) with this release, which I won’t be rating just because I do feel so unsure about it.
Nevertheless, this is a must-own series if you’re a CLAMP fan, or a manga fan, period. This first omnibus of “Tokyo Babylon” drops March 13, 2013 in North America, so check it out when you get the chance, and let me know how you feel about this release.
(posted to goodreads, shelfari, and birthofanewwitch.wordpress.com)
June 3, 2021
Summarizing and reviewing Tokyo Babylon is kind of like trying to summarize Pride and Prejudice. Its such a well known series for long time anime and manga fans that's its hard to remember that newer fans may not know the ultimate conclusion.
To that end, despite my best efforts, I still probably have spoiled something for the second omnibus (which contains the last half of the series and the part where everything goes awry real quick). For which I apologize.
I originally read Tokyo Babylon 15 years ago, which predates the TokyoPop version by about 5 years. I ran across fan scanlations of it while looking up more information about X. Having read about 5 volumes of X by that point I knew who Subaru was, who Seishiro was and had a vague idea about Hokuto. I also knew WHY Subaru and Seishiro's relationship had evolved to the point it had in X, so I was very very confused when I started Tokyo Babylon.
Originally Tokyo Babylon, which has the subtitle of "A Save Tokyo City Story" was a bunch of loosely connected day to day chapters following 16 year old Subaru Sumeragi, 13th Head of the powerful onmyoji Sumeragi clan, as he helped restless (and often violent) spirits move on. With the help of his twin sister Hokuto (the elder twin), a vivacious and meddlesome fashionista, and Seishiro Sakurazuka, a veterinarian friend who was 'in love' with Subaru, he dealt with the ghoulies with as much love and compassion as he could foist on them.
Often the spirits had died due to greed, envy, pride, or violence connected with the underlying theme that Tokyo was a city of decadence and disillusionment. Interestingly Seishiro says he loves Tokyo because "Where else would you find people reveling in their imminent destruction so happily?" (that's from the fan scan, not the official book) while Subaru loves the city because of the potential it has.
I'm never certain if CLAMP meant for Tokyo Babylon (and X for that matter) to be a dissemination of the vulgar and sinful lifestyle city-dwellers live. Certainly the 'Babylon' in the title refers to the biblical 'Babylon' or the city that inhabited all the evils of the world. And the amount of references to the biblical Babylon is pretty high. [spoiler]And in the hindsight of reading X every reader will see that Seishiro espouses the ideals of the 'Dragons of Earth' and Subaru espouses the ideals of the 'Dragons of Heaven', their respective roles in the coming Armageddon X chronicles) [end spoiler]
Putting aside the fashion the characters wear (this is from the early 90's), the artwork is not as neat and efficient as readers of CLAMP's newer works (like Gate 7, Kobato or Tsubasa/xxxHolic) are accustomed to. There are only the subtlest of differences between Hokuto and Subaru for instance. Subaru is drawn softer, with a more rounded look to his face while Hokuto is drawn a bit sharper, with a stronger line of face. Seishiro, who starts turning into the guy I recognize from X about halfway through this omnibus, is drawn with a gentler face and expressions for the most part. Sometimes he'll get a malevolent expression, or a more serious one, but for the most part he remains pretty affable.
Once you get past the more 'day to day' chapters of the beginning (which should be read just for the odd tidbits that CLAMP tosses in there to hint about a deeper mystery behind Seishiro), Tokyo Babylon becomes a focused story of parallels of consequences and whether innocence can exist in a land of corruption.
To that end, despite my best efforts, I still probably have spoiled something for the second omnibus (which contains the last half of the series and the part where everything goes awry real quick). For which I apologize.
I originally read Tokyo Babylon 15 years ago, which predates the TokyoPop version by about 5 years. I ran across fan scanlations of it while looking up more information about X. Having read about 5 volumes of X by that point I knew who Subaru was, who Seishiro was and had a vague idea about Hokuto. I also knew WHY Subaru and Seishiro's relationship had evolved to the point it had in X, so I was very very confused when I started Tokyo Babylon.
Originally Tokyo Babylon, which has the subtitle of "A Save Tokyo City Story" was a bunch of loosely connected day to day chapters following 16 year old Subaru Sumeragi, 13th Head of the powerful onmyoji Sumeragi clan, as he helped restless (and often violent) spirits move on. With the help of his twin sister Hokuto (the elder twin), a vivacious and meddlesome fashionista, and Seishiro Sakurazuka, a veterinarian friend who was 'in love' with Subaru, he dealt with the ghoulies with as much love and compassion as he could foist on them.
Often the spirits had died due to greed, envy, pride, or violence connected with the underlying theme that Tokyo was a city of decadence and disillusionment. Interestingly Seishiro says he loves Tokyo because "Where else would you find people reveling in their imminent destruction so happily?" (that's from the fan scan, not the official book) while Subaru loves the city because of the potential it has.
I'm never certain if CLAMP meant for Tokyo Babylon (and X for that matter) to be a dissemination of the vulgar and sinful lifestyle city-dwellers live. Certainly the 'Babylon' in the title refers to the biblical 'Babylon' or the city that inhabited all the evils of the world. And the amount of references to the biblical Babylon is pretty high. [spoiler]And in the hindsight of reading X every reader will see that Seishiro espouses the ideals of the 'Dragons of Earth' and Subaru espouses the ideals of the 'Dragons of Heaven', their respective roles in the coming Armageddon X chronicles) [end spoiler]
Putting aside the fashion the characters wear (this is from the early 90's), the artwork is not as neat and efficient as readers of CLAMP's newer works (like Gate 7, Kobato or Tsubasa/xxxHolic) are accustomed to. There are only the subtlest of differences between Hokuto and Subaru for instance. Subaru is drawn softer, with a more rounded look to his face while Hokuto is drawn a bit sharper, with a stronger line of face. Seishiro, who starts turning into the guy I recognize from X about halfway through this omnibus, is drawn with a gentler face and expressions for the most part. Sometimes he'll get a malevolent expression, or a more serious one, but for the most part he remains pretty affable.
Once you get past the more 'day to day' chapters of the beginning (which should be read just for the odd tidbits that CLAMP tosses in there to hint about a deeper mystery behind Seishiro), Tokyo Babylon becomes a focused story of parallels of consequences and whether innocence can exist in a land of corruption.
April 8, 2020
If you're trying to decide if you should read this, the question is so you enjoy pain? If so, absolutely. CLAMP are fantastic about making you feel all the things, then destroying everything you love. Also, if you do decide to read this, don't read a few chapters, or even a few volumes, and decide it's not worth it. The first 2/3 of the series is relatively light, with a bit of creepy suspense, but its just the part where you get comfortable and start to think things might turn out okay. Stick it out until the end. Everything hurts, and I gladly return to it over and over again.
Gorgeous art. Creepy antagonist. Love it.
Volume 1 of the Dark Horse omnibus covers chapters 0 to 5.A (Volumes 1-3, and half of 4), and is currently the only English version still in print. New translation, English sound effects alongside the original, as opposed to the Tokyopop print's glossary system, more thorough explanations in text about cultural references. Super high contrast in this print, and includes all the original photos included in the Tokyopop publication, as well as additional art pages.
Gorgeous art. Creepy antagonist. Love it.
Volume 1 of the Dark Horse omnibus covers chapters 0 to 5.A (Volumes 1-3, and half of 4), and is currently the only English version still in print. New translation, English sound effects alongside the original, as opposed to the Tokyopop print's glossary system, more thorough explanations in text about cultural references. Super high contrast in this print, and includes all the original photos included in the Tokyopop publication, as well as additional art pages.
May 24, 2014
Since I'm re-reading CLAMP I figured I'd start with their earlier works. Tokyo Babylon is the prequel to X/1999 and focuses on the relationship between Subaru and Seishiro, two of the last remaining onmyoji in Japan. While Subaru and his twin Hokuto are open about Subaru's power, Seishiro avoids confirming their suspicions regarding his family ties. Hokuto and Seishiro tease Subaru relentlessly about seeing the older Sei-chan marry Subaru, which Subaru does his best to play off.
This first volume does well in establishing the trio's relationship and background while slowly bringing in elements that give a nod to the future of this universe.
This first volume does well in establishing the trio's relationship and background while slowly bringing in elements that give a nod to the future of this universe.
May 16, 2017
This series should be massive, or at least much better known than it is - it's inventive, hard-hitting, and extremely forward-thinking, not just for the time it was written (1991!) but even now. It's not just big eyes and wacky fashions, nor spooky occult dealings with ghosts and spirits - in his work as onmyoji, Subaru Sumeragi faces the impact of wrenching grief and loss, the unhealing trauma of sexual assault, the lurking terror of a seemingly inevitable doom, and - possibly - the unseen betrayal of a trusted friend. If I had my way, this title would be a massive best-seller and as well known as Harry Potter...
January 29, 2019
this is not the Seishiro we know from TRC, that's for sure . . . or is it?
the romantic tension/teasing between Seishiro and Subaru (helped along by Hokuto) is hilarious - I know this is destined to get darker (there's some dark stuff in this volume but I know Seishiro hasn't even started to show his other side yet, not even close) and can't wait to get my hands on the next omnibus volume.
the problems Subaru is called to handle between interludes with his sister and Seishiro reminded me of xxxholic, and the customers with their myriad issues showing up at Yuko's shop. (cue many tears)
the romantic tension/teasing between Seishiro and Subaru (helped along by Hokuto) is hilarious - I know this is destined to get darker (there's some dark stuff in this volume but I know Seishiro hasn't even started to show his other side yet, not even close) and can't wait to get my hands on the next omnibus volume.
the problems Subaru is called to handle between interludes with his sister and Seishiro reminded me of xxxholic, and the customers with their myriad issues showing up at Yuko's shop. (cue many tears)
September 24, 2020
If it wasn't for the massively uncomfortable age gap this would definitely get four stars. I really liked almost everything about this book except that.
May 29, 2021
it's pretty but the grooming is so much
October 27, 2024
Subaru Sumeragi is a 16-year-old onmyoji who lives with his twin sister, Hokuto. Subaru is heir to the Sumeragi clan and regularly exorcizes spirits as part of his clan duties. He and his sister are friends with Seishiro Sakurazaku, a veterinarian and member of a clan of assassins. Seishiro isn't involved in his clan's activities and is nothing but nice to the twins (in fact, he's downright flirty with Subaru).
In this volume, Subaru deals with the ghost of an actress at the Tokyo Tower, a comatose girl who turns out to be Subaru's first love, and three girls on a party line with Sailor Moon fantasies. There's also the start of a storyline involving something that seems to be a cult - this one doesn't finish up until the next volume.
Throughout all of this is a thread of mystery concerning Seishiro and his true motivations. Although he's always kind to the twins, there appears to be a darker and more sinister side to him.
I went into this not realizing the connection to X/1999 (it's a prequel to that series). Granted, I don't think I ever got too far into that one - I found it to be too dark and confusing. I'll have to give it another go sometime. Maybe I'd like it more now that I've read this series.
Seishiro is a 25-year-old adult who regularly flirts with 16-year-old Subaru, although his manner is so light that it's hard to tell if he's just teasing or actually serious. I think the connection to X/1999 dawned on me during one of the scenes that hinted he had a more sinister side.
Hokuto appeared to be this series' Tomoyo (or I guess it's the other way around, since Cardcaptor Sakura was published later) - an energetic side character who provided CLAMP with an excuse to incorporate outrageous fashion designs.
The artwork was beautiful, and overall, I really enjoyed the episodic stories in this volume, which reminded me of other supernatural CLAMP series I've loved.
Extras:
Several pages of bonus full-color artwork.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
In this volume, Subaru deals with the ghost of an actress at the Tokyo Tower, a comatose girl who turns out to be Subaru's first love, and three girls on a party line with Sailor Moon fantasies. There's also the start of a storyline involving something that seems to be a cult - this one doesn't finish up until the next volume.
Throughout all of this is a thread of mystery concerning Seishiro and his true motivations. Although he's always kind to the twins, there appears to be a darker and more sinister side to him.
I went into this not realizing the connection to X/1999 (it's a prequel to that series). Granted, I don't think I ever got too far into that one - I found it to be too dark and confusing. I'll have to give it another go sometime. Maybe I'd like it more now that I've read this series.
Seishiro is a 25-year-old adult who regularly flirts with 16-year-old Subaru, although his manner is so light that it's hard to tell if he's just teasing or actually serious. I think the connection to X/1999 dawned on me during one of the scenes that hinted he had a more sinister side.
Hokuto appeared to be this series' Tomoyo (or I guess it's the other way around, since Cardcaptor Sakura was published later) - an energetic side character who provided CLAMP with an excuse to incorporate outrageous fashion designs.
The artwork was beautiful, and overall, I really enjoyed the episodic stories in this volume, which reminded me of other supernatural CLAMP series I've loved.
Extras:
Several pages of bonus full-color artwork.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
August 6, 2018
Starting from the beginning with CLAMP's first serialized work! I had a ton of fun with Tokyo Babylon. The plots are inventive and neatly fit into a few chapters each, the characters are fun and quirky, and this series even makes sociopolitical commentary on 1990s Japan! That last one is such a rarity for manga, period, much less a first title. It's a shame that this sort of commentary doesn't show up more in CLAMP's works, as it was refreshing to see.
Seishirou is probably my favorite character; he's kind, funny, and often drawn in a meek and reserved style despite his large stature. The foreshadowing in this volume insinuates that he's probably involved in something darker, and some of his actions definitely boost this theory's credibility, but I couldn't make myself dislike him. Every time he does something that could be considered evil, he seems to be doing it for the right reasons, or just getting back at horrible people, and I can't really find fault with the motivation. The methods are a little unsettling, but that doesn't make or break a character in my opinion.
One of the best and worst parts of this manga is how of its time it appears to be. The outfits are not on-par with CLAMP's signature flair, instead looking out-of-place and sometimes downright ugly. It also uses stock photos that are shaded in black and white instead of drawn backgrounds. This just adds to its charm for me, but I could understand if it turns people off to this manga.
Altogether a solid read! A lot of the foreshadowing's pretty obvious, but the mystery itself is vague enough that you might not figure it out on your first read-through. There's a bit of character development as Subaru grows more confident in his powers and we learn more about the protagonists, and it's simply a ton of fun. Definitely recommend to anyone looking for a smart spiritual mystery series. See you in the next volume!
Seishirou is probably my favorite character; he's kind, funny, and often drawn in a meek and reserved style despite his large stature. The foreshadowing in this volume insinuates that he's probably involved in something darker, and some of his actions definitely boost this theory's credibility, but I couldn't make myself dislike him. Every time he does something that could be considered evil, he seems to be doing it for the right reasons, or just getting back at horrible people, and I can't really find fault with the motivation. The methods are a little unsettling, but that doesn't make or break a character in my opinion.
One of the best and worst parts of this manga is how of its time it appears to be. The outfits are not on-par with CLAMP's signature flair, instead looking out-of-place and sometimes downright ugly. It also uses stock photos that are shaded in black and white instead of drawn backgrounds. This just adds to its charm for me, but I could understand if it turns people off to this manga.
Altogether a solid read! A lot of the foreshadowing's pretty obvious, but the mystery itself is vague enough that you might not figure it out on your first read-through. There's a bit of character development as Subaru grows more confident in his powers and we learn more about the protagonists, and it's simply a ton of fun. Definitely recommend to anyone looking for a smart spiritual mystery series. See you in the next volume!
December 31, 2025
due to unforeseen reasons I couldn't read the book I had chosen as my last book of the year so I decided to finally pick up this! it's such a huge buddy and it took me hours to finish. because technically it's like 5 volumes in one!
This was a gift, and now I want to scream because I don't have book 2 and I'll have to order it and wait and wait! The story has been captivating and I really need to put my thoughts together and haunt down the continuation because I have read and watched Tsubasa Chronicles and Subaru is there ...I really thought the other one was a male but hey, I was wrong. and Seishiro is there. and wow. I really need to see how everything happened because reading this...I liked the idea of Seishiro and Subaru. Even though I keep thinking that the twin is after Seishiro. and he's hot, okay? is he a red flag? will I have to send him to Flora? who knows? But I need to know.
okay. in more serious matters... I admire the fact CLAMP doesn't shy away from showing those dark stories... bullying...rape... mental illness...and how Japan deals with them, and I love that their characters aren't always right. they battle with what is right or wrong. they make mistakes. also, I love that there are all kinds of couples. I know the age gap seems weird but this is Japan. and yes, it's weird. It bothered me. However, I do see that Subaru is not your regular teenage character.
The cherry blossoms theme is so beautiful, terrifying and mysterious. I wonder what's happening there.
This was a gift, and now I want to scream because I don't have book 2 and I'll have to order it and wait and wait! The story has been captivating and I really need to put my thoughts together and haunt down the continuation because I have read and watched Tsubasa Chronicles and Subaru is there ...I really thought the other one was a male but hey, I was wrong. and Seishiro is there. and wow. I really need to see how everything happened because reading this...I liked the idea of Seishiro and Subaru. Even though I keep thinking that the twin is after Seishiro. and he's hot, okay? is he a red flag? will I have to send him to Flora? who knows? But I need to know.
okay. in more serious matters... I admire the fact CLAMP doesn't shy away from showing those dark stories... bullying...rape... mental illness...and how Japan deals with them, and I love that their characters aren't always right. they battle with what is right or wrong. they make mistakes. also, I love that there are all kinds of couples. I know the age gap seems weird but this is Japan. and yes, it's weird. It bothered me. However, I do see that Subaru is not your regular teenage character.
The cherry blossoms theme is so beautiful, terrifying and mysterious. I wonder what's happening there.
November 15, 2021
It's Clamp, what else can I say? I love Clamp, their art and stories are incredible, they have been one of my favourite mangaka since I was a child. Re-reading their work several years later it is still as incredible as the first time. Clamp are kind of like the Brandon Sanderson of manga what with their interconnected universes.
Tokyo Babylon is an episodic supernatural read, a bit like xxxholic, with a very sinister story running throughout connecting the main characters together. Tokyo Babylon is quite a dark manga but it also manages to be funny at times mainly through Hokuto and Seishiro's teasing of Subaru. Some of the work cases Subaru does are heart wrenching and all of them reflect problems faced in society. The characters Subaru, Hokuto and Seishiro are all great though may favourite has to be Seishiro (I have a type!). The art is amazing as to be expected of Clamp. I love the fashion throughout Tokyo Babylon, Hokuto really has the best outfits. This edition by Dark Horse has several colour pages which are beautiful and frame worthy.
Tokyo Babylon is an episodic supernatural read, a bit like xxxholic, with a very sinister story running throughout connecting the main characters together. Tokyo Babylon is quite a dark manga but it also manages to be funny at times mainly through Hokuto and Seishiro's teasing of Subaru. Some of the work cases Subaru does are heart wrenching and all of them reflect problems faced in society. The characters Subaru, Hokuto and Seishiro are all great though may favourite has to be Seishiro (I have a type!). The art is amazing as to be expected of Clamp. I love the fashion throughout Tokyo Babylon, Hokuto really has the best outfits. This edition by Dark Horse has several colour pages which are beautiful and frame worthy.
October 2, 2024
Since I’m reading X/1999, I thought I’d read Tokyo Babylon as well since the events here will eventually come into play in X’s storyline, and wow it was so good! It had some deliciously nostalgic vibes (old school manga that CLAMP does oh so well), and I enjoyed the humorous parts interspersed throughout the story giving some much needed levity to otherwise grim storylines.
I love how everything unfolded - both the overarching story, and the character development from all of the characters. Love how soft and sweet Subaru is, and how he’s always trying to do the right thing. Hokuto is so lovely and silly but she’s also deeply protective of her brother and it adds depth to her character. Then there’s Seishiro. Ugh, that man has an absolute chokehold on me. 😩 LOVE the progressing sinister vibes that just exude from his very being.
This is going to end so badly, and I honestly can’t wait!
I love how everything unfolded - both the overarching story, and the character development from all of the characters. Love how soft and sweet Subaru is, and how he’s always trying to do the right thing. Hokuto is so lovely and silly but she’s also deeply protective of her brother and it adds depth to her character. Then there’s Seishiro. Ugh, that man has an absolute chokehold on me. 😩 LOVE the progressing sinister vibes that just exude from his very being.
This is going to end so badly, and I honestly can’t wait!
May 24, 2025
It’s a bit weird at times, in an enjoyable way. Conservation and modern problems get mentioned in the character conversations; which shows how little things have changed/stayed the same since 1992.
The story isn’t exactly what I was expecting it to be like. Subaru’s sister Hokuto is very spirited.
I went into this series more than 15 years after watching the anime X/1999; and am surprisingly certain that I remember some of the things as flashbacks in the anime. I’m not sure if that is true though. To be perfectly honest, I felt a lot of nostalgia while reading this omnibus. (I have never read Tokyo Babylon.)
The story isn’t exactly what I was expecting it to be like. Subaru’s sister Hokuto is very spirited.
I went into this series more than 15 years after watching the anime X/1999; and am surprisingly certain that I remember some of the things as flashbacks in the anime. I’m not sure if that is true though. To be perfectly honest, I felt a lot of nostalgia while reading this omnibus. (I have never read Tokyo Babylon.)
June 26, 2017
Es un manga con un inicio lento, que tiene el sello del las CLAMP before Tsubasa. Un poco oscuro, con temas de la cultura japonesa (que se agradece se detallen un poco) y en donde se prepara la historia para un evento más grande.
Me gustó y quiero seguir avanzando en la historia, pero no me apasiona tanto como otros mangas de las autoras.
Me gustó y quiero seguir avanzando en la historia, pero no me apasiona tanto como otros mangas de las autoras.
January 15, 2023
Every time I read a description of a CLAMP work I'm afraid I won't understand it (and tbh-Clover was kind of rough) but Tokyo Babylon just runs so smoothly. The character introductions, the world building, the underlying tension between characters is done so well. This is my favorite CLAMP work so far.
April 27, 2022
EU NÃO ESTOU PRONTA EMOCIONALMENTE PARA O PRÓXIMO VOLUME. VER O SUBARU A CHORAR MATA-ME.
ESTA É A MELHOR COISA QUE AS CLAMP ALGUMA VEZ ESCREVERAM (não contando Cardcaptor Sakura).
Eu hei-de fazer uma review mais séria disto, mas não vai ser agora...
ESTA É A MELHOR COISA QUE AS CLAMP ALGUMA VEZ ESCREVERAM (não contando Cardcaptor Sakura).
Eu hei-de fazer uma review mais séria disto, mas não vai ser agora...
November 26, 2025
A more action-oriented, BL-explicit, broader social commentary predecessor of xxxHolic. With a horrible ending in every sense of the word! The existence of X slightly makes it sting less, but how could they just leave it hanging like that before X was conceived?
February 2, 2019
4.5 stars!
Finally got to reading this one! This is one of CLAMP's earlier works and I love it. Such a dark world and story. I'm excited to see how it ends!
Finally got to reading this one! This is one of CLAMP's earlier works and I love it. Such a dark world and story. I'm excited to see how it ends!
August 30, 2019
A wonderful manga.Even though it is a prelude to X, it is a wonderful stand-alone also. This is a fun read. Worth checking out. Written with humor and insight.
January 13, 2021
Very dark. Occult. Mysterious (creepy) love interest. Twins and fashion.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews