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Tokyo Babylon Omnibus
Tokyo Babylon Omnibus 2
The prequel to X, Tokyo Babylon is CLAMP's early epic of dangerous work—and dangerous attraction!
Tokyo, 1991, rich and glittering: the city of twelve million dreams—and just as many nightmares, none darker than the vision Subaru retains of his childhood meeting under a cherry tree with Seishiro. The kindly Seishiro begins to show a sinister face to the mirror as Subaru's selfless desire to aid others in pain—regardless of the cost to his soul and body—leads to a tragedy that will only expose him to greater hurt. What will be revealed, and what touched, in the conclusion to Tokyo Babylon . . . ?
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!
Tokyo, 1991, rich and glittering: the city of twelve million dreams—and just as many nightmares, none darker than the vision Subaru retains of his childhood meeting under a cherry tree with Seishiro. The kindly Seishiro begins to show a sinister face to the mirror as Subaru's selfless desire to aid others in pain—regardless of the cost to his soul and body—leads to a tragedy that will only expose him to greater hurt. What will be revealed, and what touched, in the conclusion to Tokyo Babylon . . . ?
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 July 23, 2013
3 people are currently reading
69 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 4, 2014
I gave myself more time to finish the second, and last, installment of Tokyo Babylon because I know how it ends. And I have never read the series cover-to-cover without sobbing my eyes out. I got to the mid-point and set it down, thinking that this time would be different, that this time I would not cry. Quite the opposite happened. I bawled. I had to set the book down and cry until I felt the familiar scar of the story line begin to knit itself back together in my psyche just enough for me to be able to finish it.
The thing about this series is, it changed me. It made me who I am today. The way the story plays out, the way it transitions from the heavy social commentary of Tokyo Babylon into the environmental and psychological messages of X/1999 still influences me to this day. I still think about these characters, these stories, the themes, and I wonder how something so perfectly crafted can exist in a world built upon mistakes. I also wonder how a story can impact me so deeply. No matter how many times I read this series, and it's sequel (where the final chapters of Subaru and Seishirou play out), I will never fully grasp how one mangaka group has managed to emotionally entangle me to the point of molding me from the self-absorbed, angry teen that I was into the adult I am now.
As surely as any tattoo I choose to mark myself with, Tokyo Babylon has left its mark on me. I can say with absolute confidence that I would not be who I am today if I had never read Tokyo Babylon, or the works that preceded it and followed it.
This review is personal, but only because 1: if I start to talk about how the series is resolved, I will inevitably talk about X/1999, and 2: the heavy tones of individualism push me more towards introspection every time I read it. Plot-wise, the second half of the series is more satisfying, since you know the characters and the rhythm of the world CLAMP has created, and it is only made more satisfying by the intense emotional bonds the mangaka had built up to that point. The two halves of this series cannot exist without the other- a prevalent theme in the sequel.
If I can pick myself up in any resonable space of time, I will have to go out and buy the omnibuses for X/1999. Despite that series not being finished, the complicated web of love, friendship, deceit, and betrayal is resolved between Subaru and Seishirou. As with all epic sagas though, it is because of this ending that more questions are brought up.
That is a review for another time, however, and would require a sharp rereading of said epic saga! For now, I am happy to break my heart over and over because of CLAMP and Tokyo Babylon.
The thing about this series is, it changed me. It made me who I am today. The way the story plays out, the way it transitions from the heavy social commentary of Tokyo Babylon into the environmental and psychological messages of X/1999 still influences me to this day. I still think about these characters, these stories, the themes, and I wonder how something so perfectly crafted can exist in a world built upon mistakes. I also wonder how a story can impact me so deeply. No matter how many times I read this series, and it's sequel (where the final chapters of Subaru and Seishirou play out), I will never fully grasp how one mangaka group has managed to emotionally entangle me to the point of molding me from the self-absorbed, angry teen that I was into the adult I am now.
As surely as any tattoo I choose to mark myself with, Tokyo Babylon has left its mark on me. I can say with absolute confidence that I would not be who I am today if I had never read Tokyo Babylon, or the works that preceded it and followed it.
This review is personal, but only because 1: if I start to talk about how the series is resolved, I will inevitably talk about X/1999, and 2: the heavy tones of individualism push me more towards introspection every time I read it. Plot-wise, the second half of the series is more satisfying, since you know the characters and the rhythm of the world CLAMP has created, and it is only made more satisfying by the intense emotional bonds the mangaka had built up to that point. The two halves of this series cannot exist without the other- a prevalent theme in the sequel.
If I can pick myself up in any resonable space of time, I will have to go out and buy the omnibuses for X/1999. Despite that series not being finished, the complicated web of love, friendship, deceit, and betrayal is resolved between Subaru and Seishirou. As with all epic sagas though, it is because of this ending that more questions are brought up.
That is a review for another time, however, and would require a sharp rereading of said epic saga! For now, I am happy to break my heart over and over because of CLAMP and Tokyo Babylon.
May 1, 2022
"Maybe all the people who do bad things are just really lonely."
Tokyo Babylon is truly one of Clamp's masterpieces. It has beautiful imagery and style, and a bleak but very true story that speaks of many problems we face today, like bullying, poverty, incurable diseases, family losses, heartbreak, alienation, neglect, violence, rape, xenophoby, elderly neglect, suicide... Most of the people Subaru encounters are good people who, however, end up harming themselves or others irrevocably, mostly because they are alone, nobody hears their pain, thus no one can act to help them before it's too late. They are pushed to the limit and fall... because no one was there to catch them.
Tokyo Babylon shows us how it can be incredibly lonely in a city where you're just one in millions, how alienating it can be to be a victim in a place so big you disappear. Subaru and his sister often say everyone is an individual, with a right to their own pain, that no one else can feel so no one else can judge. And isn't it true? Maybe it is as the last sentences from the book say. Most people who do bad things aren't innately evil, they're just so alone... So we should be kind to everyone, and not judge, because we can never know how bad another person has got it. It's not to be uncritical, but to have compassion. If we were more compassionate maybe less people would fall in this world...
I know Clamp like to make their beautiful boys suffer, but still, I wonder what the point was of breaking such a pure soul as Subaru so irrevocably... Was it to show how even the most beautiful souls can be corrupted? How no matter how much you try some people are just evil? He's definitely the worst fated character in the Clampverse...
Tokyo Babylon is truly one of Clamp's masterpieces. It has beautiful imagery and style, and a bleak but very true story that speaks of many problems we face today, like bullying, poverty, incurable diseases, family losses, heartbreak, alienation, neglect, violence, rape, xenophoby, elderly neglect, suicide... Most of the people Subaru encounters are good people who, however, end up harming themselves or others irrevocably, mostly because they are alone, nobody hears their pain, thus no one can act to help them before it's too late. They are pushed to the limit and fall... because no one was there to catch them.
Tokyo Babylon shows us how it can be incredibly lonely in a city where you're just one in millions, how alienating it can be to be a victim in a place so big you disappear. Subaru and his sister often say everyone is an individual, with a right to their own pain, that no one else can feel so no one else can judge. And isn't it true? Maybe it is as the last sentences from the book say. Most people who do bad things aren't innately evil, they're just so alone... So we should be kind to everyone, and not judge, because we can never know how bad another person has got it. It's not to be uncritical, but to have compassion. If we were more compassionate maybe less people would fall in this world...
I know Clamp like to make their beautiful boys suffer, but still, I wonder what the point was of breaking such a pure soul as Subaru so irrevocably... Was it to show how even the most beautiful souls can be corrupted? How no matter how much you try some people are just evil? He's definitely the worst fated character in the Clampverse...
August 8, 2018
I'm probably still too emotional after finishing this to give it a proper review, but I have free time, so it's getting done now.
What a ride. I knew Seishirou was going to turn out to be evil (I mean, who didn't? CLAMP was about as subtle as a party clown with that plot twist), and yet I found myself getting attached to him. It made it all the more heartbreaking when his true nature was revealed, and boy could I gush about how good of a villain he is for days. The scariest thing about Seishirou isn't his power or how violent he gets, though those are definitely chilling, it's the fact that he doesn't care. There is nothing scarier than a villain who cannot be reasoned with. No matter what Subaru or Hokuto say or do, Seishirou is going to keep coming. It gives him a whole inhuman aura, and it's awesome. That's not to say I don't hate the guy, he does kill animals so that he doesn't have to deal with the consequences of his actions, but he is my favorite character because of how well-constructed his villainous personality turned out to be.
I do dislike how often that flashback showed up toward the end, especially considering that they used the same exact panels each time. Yeah, you get the cool reveal, but everyone with half of a brain could tell it would be Seishirou. A lot of the full-page spreads felt a little undeserved in this volume, except the one with Seishirou. That one gave me chills.
The final chapter is actually pretty cool. You get to see how Subaru has changed after everything, both physically and emotionally, and it's a nice ending to the series. I can't wait for X/1999, Volume 01: Prelude.
And a little side-note about Hokuto, because I can. Hokuto was initially my least favorite character: she was obnoxious, wore outrageous clothing, and was a little too into her brother's love life. But throughout the series you get to see how kind and thoughtful she is, and how she really cares about the people around her. She doesn't always make the best decisions, but she does everything with the best of intentions, and that's why I love her. Her death scene cuts deep, not only because it's totally in-character with her and what someone who's dealing with trauma would do, but because I had grown to care for this weirdo who thought a deck of cards made a good dress and punched a police officer to help a friend. What a rough read.
See you in the next review.
What a ride. I knew Seishirou was going to turn out to be evil (I mean, who didn't? CLAMP was about as subtle as a party clown with that plot twist), and yet I found myself getting attached to him. It made it all the more heartbreaking when his true nature was revealed, and boy could I gush about how good of a villain he is for days. The scariest thing about Seishirou isn't his power or how violent he gets, though those are definitely chilling, it's the fact that he doesn't care. There is nothing scarier than a villain who cannot be reasoned with. No matter what Subaru or Hokuto say or do, Seishirou is going to keep coming. It gives him a whole inhuman aura, and it's awesome. That's not to say I don't hate the guy, he does kill animals so that he doesn't have to deal with the consequences of his actions, but he is my favorite character because of how well-constructed his villainous personality turned out to be.
I do dislike how often that flashback showed up toward the end, especially considering that they used the same exact panels each time. Yeah, you get the cool reveal, but everyone with half of a brain could tell it would be Seishirou. A lot of the full-page spreads felt a little undeserved in this volume, except the one with Seishirou. That one gave me chills.
The final chapter is actually pretty cool. You get to see how Subaru has changed after everything, both physically and emotionally, and it's a nice ending to the series. I can't wait for X/1999, Volume 01: Prelude.
And a little side-note about Hokuto, because I can. Hokuto was initially my least favorite character: she was obnoxious, wore outrageous clothing, and was a little too into her brother's love life. But throughout the series you get to see how kind and thoughtful she is, and how she really cares about the people around her. She doesn't always make the best decisions, but she does everything with the best of intentions, and that's why I love her. Her death scene cuts deep, not only because it's totally in-character with her and what someone who's dealing with trauma would do, but because I had grown to care for this weirdo who thought a deck of cards made a good dress and punched a police officer to help a friend. What a rough read.
See you in the next review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2016
Once again this book features a few stories/chapters which feature different characters.
We got a girl who is getting bullied, we have a boy in a bad situation in the hospital and a mom who is going crazy and many other situations.
It was by far the most interesting book, but also one of the most annoying. Why? Well because of the ending. I wouldn't call that an ending, I would call that the easy way out. :\ Quite disappointing, I have been looking forward to finishing this manga for years, and what do I get? Nothing.
In overall it was good, but I would say stay away from the ending.
We got a girl who is getting bullied, we have a boy in a bad situation in the hospital and a mom who is going crazy and many other situations.
It was by far the most interesting book, but also one of the most annoying. Why? Well because of the ending. I wouldn't call that an ending, I would call that the easy way out. :\ Quite disappointing, I have been looking forward to finishing this manga for years, and what do I get? Nothing.
In overall it was good, but I would say stay away from the ending.
June 18, 2016
4.5 stars
My heart. My poor heart. And I haven't read the last two volumes of X yet! I knew what was going to happen in Tokyo Babylon. I knew, because I watched anime (both TB and X) years ago. I saw art online. I read spoilers. But still.
Loved it! Not giving it full 5 stars only because I like older Subaru as a character in X. The art in volume 2 (especially by the end of it) got better and closer to X manga.
Still love Seishiro. Forever and ever. So happy to finally know in detail what happened during their first meeting and how he lost his eye.
Wish they would make a reboot of the anime. *dreamy sigh*
My heart. My poor heart. And I haven't read the last two volumes of X yet! I knew what was going to happen in Tokyo Babylon. I knew, because I watched anime (both TB and X) years ago. I saw art online. I read spoilers. But still.
Loved it! Not giving it full 5 stars only because I like older Subaru as a character in X. The art in volume 2 (especially by the end of it) got better and closer to X manga.
Still love Seishiro. Forever and ever. So happy to finally know in detail what happened during their first meeting and how he lost his eye.
Wish they would make a reboot of the anime. *dreamy sigh*
September 20, 2015
tough ending. this makes want to go back and reread X (or X/1999 if you prefer) as two guys are there on opposite sides. they have history and this was that history. sacrifices had to be made and indeed they took their toll on the young magician. individual stories reveal
much as they did in the first omnibus. individuality, sadness, fear, pain, love, family, duty all themes and they helped the characters to grow no matter how negative or positive was the lesson that was learned. again. I love Clamp.
much as they did in the first omnibus. individuality, sadness, fear, pain, love, family, duty all themes and they helped the characters to grow no matter how negative or positive was the lesson that was learned. again. I love Clamp.
November 16, 2018
Oh, the memories of reading this series in my childhood. I was hooked the first time I picked up a book by CLAMP and also more from the Tokyo Babylon series with Subaru and Seishiro's relationship. I didn't know what I would be getting into when I first read it and now reading it all over again; is bringing back all the emotions that came along with reading the story. I still have mixed emotions of how I feel toward Seishiro's betrayal and sort of love for Subaru. Especially, the death of Subaru's sister, Hokuto, by Seishiro had sent me into an even more spiral of emotions of anger and sadness for her character. In addition, I loved the many outfit styles that Hokuto designed for her and Subaru. I never got to fully finish it when I was younger because for some reason I ended up reading them out of order. Looking back at Tokyo Babylon was my first Boy's Love series that I didn't even notice and went with the flow. I loved and hated the pairing (Subaru and Seishiro) so much; I still love them to this day though.
I was lucky to have discovered this volume of Tokyo Babylon Omnibus Book Two at my local joint-use library and I am so glad to be rereading the series again. Although, I would've been happier starting off with Book One; sadly I'm not sure if my local library has this version. I'll have to keep looking.
My Review.....
I discovered and checked this volume (book two) of Tokyo Babylon from my local joint-use library. It felt completely new and the spine wasn't even cracked (seemed not even bent) yet.
Reading the Chapter "Annex Smile" made me miss Hokuto even more. Such a great chapter just her being her wonderful and kind self. Trying to help others and make them happy...SMILE!!!
I feel that Vol.8 Rebirth was a foreshadow from Hokuto about Subaru. I also agree that Subaru is pure like a crystal and full of such emotions that he takes on too much.
Some of the pages and scenes near the ending felt redundant to me. Although, it was all because of a flashback scene that was trying to make it clear to the reader what was going on. It seemed like flashbacks and foreshadowing throughout the last couple chapters of the manga.
I still have a tinge of hope that Seishiro actually loves Subaru (I'm sort of confused again - on my second read through in a while). I still ship Seishiro and Subaru till this day; even though I have mixed emotions about Seishiro's character. I just had to put it out there.
I loved how there were art gallery images to look through. The inked coloring of the artwork of those pages was amazingly done and I wished for a poster version of them because I really want one. I might go search them up and buy one for my wall. I never get tired of this series. I can't wait to go onto the next volume. Hopefully, this time around, I can make total sense of what happens all together with this manga story series and finally wrap my head around all the emotions that I get when reading it. It is a great series that I would recommend to anyone at all who loves manga, remembers this from childhood, or grew up in the 90s/when this manga came out. Frankly, I mean anyone actually who enjoys this manga.
I was lucky to have discovered this volume of Tokyo Babylon Omnibus Book Two at my local joint-use library and I am so glad to be rereading the series again. Although, I would've been happier starting off with Book One; sadly I'm not sure if my local library has this version. I'll have to keep looking.
My Review.....
I discovered and checked this volume (book two) of Tokyo Babylon from my local joint-use library. It felt completely new and the spine wasn't even cracked (seemed not even bent) yet.
Reading the Chapter "Annex Smile" made me miss Hokuto even more. Such a great chapter just her being her wonderful and kind self. Trying to help others and make them happy...SMILE!!!
I feel that Vol.8 Rebirth was a foreshadow from Hokuto about Subaru. I also agree that Subaru is pure like a crystal and full of such emotions that he takes on too much.
Some of the pages and scenes near the ending felt redundant to me. Although, it was all because of a flashback scene that was trying to make it clear to the reader what was going on. It seemed like flashbacks and foreshadowing throughout the last couple chapters of the manga.
I still have a tinge of hope that Seishiro actually loves Subaru (I'm sort of confused again - on my second read through in a while). I still ship Seishiro and Subaru till this day; even though I have mixed emotions about Seishiro's character. I just had to put it out there.
I loved how there were art gallery images to look through. The inked coloring of the artwork of those pages was amazingly done and I wished for a poster version of them because I really want one. I might go search them up and buy one for my wall. I never get tired of this series. I can't wait to go onto the next volume. Hopefully, this time around, I can make total sense of what happens all together with this manga story series and finally wrap my head around all the emotions that I get when reading it. It is a great series that I would recommend to anyone at all who loves manga, remembers this from childhood, or grew up in the 90s/when this manga came out. Frankly, I mean anyone actually who enjoys this manga.
October 27, 2024
Subaru continues to investigate the toxic positivity cult that is the MS Research Institute. After that comes a story about cherishing your elders. Then Hokuto saves and befriends a young foreign woman. After that comes some karaoke with the twins and Seishiro, the story of a young boy in need of a kidney transplant, Subaru discussing seeing eye dogs with a blind man, and the resolution to the mystery of Seishiro's motivations and the bet he and Subaru made when they first met.
The stories in this volume didn't work quite as well for me as the ones in the first omnibus volume - they were more heavy-handed and didactic.
Even though I had some idea of how things would turn out with Seishiro, it was still a shock when he revealed himself and the full extent of what he'd done throughout the series. I could understand why it hit poor Subaru so hard.
The stuff with Hokuto went so quickly that I thought for sure I'd missed something. I'd have preferred a bit more setup for that. The time jump at the end was also initially a bit confusing.
Overall, this wasn't my favorite CLAMP series, but I still enjoyed it.
Extras:
Several pages of full-color artwork.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
The stories in this volume didn't work quite as well for me as the ones in the first omnibus volume - they were more heavy-handed and didactic.
Even though I had some idea of how things would turn out with Seishiro, it was still a shock when he revealed himself and the full extent of what he'd done throughout the series. I could understand why it hit poor Subaru so hard.
The stuff with Hokuto went so quickly that I thought for sure I'd missed something. I'd have preferred a bit more setup for that. The time jump at the end was also initially a bit confusing.
Overall, this wasn't my favorite CLAMP series, but I still enjoyed it.
Extras:
Several pages of full-color artwork.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
October 18, 2019
A wonderful book. A great conclusion to a series, and sets up the continuation nicely. Clamp always creates such wonderful things. The art is amazing, and well as the storytelling. This is the story of Subaru and Seishiro. Subaru's sister is in this volume less, but her role is even more important. There are really only 3 cases he works at as an Onmyoji. This volume reveals secrets of the past, present and future.I don't want to give any spoilers away. The series is worth exploring.
March 17, 2020
look at me reading manga on main. no, but, seriously, this was a good one. I love Clamp, despite their oddness - somehow, the heart is always in the right place in their works.
I do recommend Tokyo Babylon, but bear in mind that it does carry some heavy topics. This is not for children. Some things might also be considered quite problematic; it is an older work, however, and you need to be considerate of that.
(Will probably check out X as soon as libraries open up again! Haha)
I do recommend Tokyo Babylon, but bear in mind that it does carry some heavy topics. This is not for children. Some things might also be considered quite problematic; it is an older work, however, and you need to be considerate of that.
(Will probably check out X as soon as libraries open up again! Haha)
February 11, 2019
4.25 STARS!
Holy crap, that was an intense ride. It got real dark real fast. Unfortunately, it is an unresolved ending because CLAMP basically is forcing me to read X now but it was a really good read. Heartbreaking but really good!
Holy crap, that was an intense ride. It got real dark real fast. Unfortunately, it is an unresolved ending because CLAMP basically is forcing me to read X now but it was a really good read. Heartbreaking but really good!
September 3, 2019
3.5 stars.
March 18, 2020
4.5 stars
And so it continues in x/1999...
And so it continues in x/1999...
September 24, 2020
Well, I did not expect it to end like that! That pulls the book up to four stars despite the extremely dubious age gap.
January 13, 2021
Saddddddddddddd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 15, 2021
That ending!
October 13, 2024
I did not remember much of this manga at all.
Read
April 20, 2025EXQUISITE AGONY AND SUFFERING!
December 12, 2025
HARROWING. GUTTING. HAUNTING. The kind of thing that sticks with you for years. Clearly.
September 2, 2017
Volume 2 of the Dark Horse omnibus picks up at chapter 5.B and continues to the end of the series (second half of volume 4, and 5-7), and is currently the only English version still in print. Some annexes from earlier in the series are shifted to this volume. 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.
February 16, 2017
THAT ENDING. i feel like I say this alot. BUT SUBARU. HOKUTO. SEI-CHAN!!
I love CLAMP's work because of the foreshadowing and heart-wrenching stories. Subaru is too pure, Hokuto too crazy and protective and SEI-CHAN TOO TWO-FACED. It's an opening ending and yet, I feel like there is such a finale with these characters!! My favorite stories were the bully-cult and the Dialysis-Boy stories. The seeing eye dog was heartfelt too. As usual, the artwork of Clamp's older series is thick line and board shoulders but amazing. Amazing. Glad to had a chance to re-visit some old favorites.
I love CLAMP's work because of the foreshadowing and heart-wrenching stories. Subaru is too pure, Hokuto too crazy and protective and SEI-CHAN TOO TWO-FACED. It's an opening ending and yet, I feel like there is such a finale with these characters!! My favorite stories were the bully-cult and the Dialysis-Boy stories. The seeing eye dog was heartfelt too. As usual, the artwork of Clamp's older series is thick line and board shoulders but amazing. Amazing. Glad to had a chance to re-visit some old favorites.
January 10, 2017
I wasn't too impressed with the 1st omnibus but I didn't dislike it. The 2nd one; however, seriously took me on a journey. I felt more connected to the characters (both main and side) in this book than previous. I even cried during one of the stories about an elderly man. I really want to read "X" now. I need to know what happens.
July 16, 2024
Seishirou: I stand outside the norms of human behavior and thus am exempt from being judged by these metrics.
CLAMP: (But actually, he is engaging in the same human behavior as he, too, is part of this society.)
So yeah, Tokyo Babylon is amazing and I will continue to recommend it to most friends with similar taste 30+ years after its release. Do yourself a favor and read it. It's good.
CLAMP: (But actually, he is engaging in the same human behavior as he, too, is part of this society.)
So yeah, Tokyo Babylon is amazing and I will continue to recommend it to most friends with similar taste 30+ years after its release. Do yourself a favor and read it. It's good.
August 10, 2013
I was glad that Library Journal sent me the second volume of this to review. One of CLAMP's early manga, and not too complex, but the second volume especially sucked me in. I highly recommend this to fans of ghost stories.
August 23, 2013
YGN CLAMP BK.2
October 27, 2013
Completísimo, así que no temer a comprarlo. La mitad del volumen que faltaba se incluye aquí y varias paginas a color, incluso las ilustraciones del 2009. Guapa edición.
Llorar nomás.
Llorar nomás.
May 28, 2014
The conclusion to the X/1999 prequel, in which Subaru discovers Seishiro's true identity and regains a crucial memory from his youth.
August 21, 2024
The ending always gets me
January 24, 2015
Ugh, the end of this one. I saw TB before I saw X and for whatever reason never made the connection between the two. Now I think I need to re watch both and find the manga for X.
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