xxxHOLiC Rei, Vol. 1

xxxHOLiC: Rei [XXX ホリック・レイ] #1

by Clamp

In xxxHOLiC Rei, Kimihiro Watanuki continues his relationship with the Space-Time Witch, Yuko. In her mysterious shop where wishes are granted--for a price--will he discover even more secrets? And what will he have to trade this time for the answers he seeks?

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Paranormal, Seinen, Supernatural, Mystery

184 pages, Paperback

First published July 25, 2003

About the author

Ōkawa 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.

Reviews

[Selena Pigoni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm confused. It was good, but I'm confused.

This isn't a direct sequel to xxxHolic. It's like... "The Lost Adventures of" xxxHolic. It takes place during xxxHolic, but they're adventures we haven't seen previously. That's what is confusing me. I don't know where we are in the timeline. Granted, you don't really need to know, but it would kinda be nice.

This volume also felt a lot slower than the original xxxHolic. There were only two tales in this volume, but they also didn't feel nearly so fleshed out as in the past series. Maybe it's just me.

This followed the adventures of Yuuko, Watanuki, and co., but there seems to be certain characters missing. The Black Mokona, for instance, is nowhere in site. Neither is Tanpopo, despite this seeming to take place after the point they should have appeared. It still has the "frenemy" vibe from Watanuki in relation to Yuuko and Domeki. It still has Himawari hanging around being totally oblivious to Watanuki's crush. It does not have all of Yuuko's bizarre pop culture references (which I always liked), so that was a tad disappointing.

Part of me believes it's a case of rose-colored glasses (and the fact I was always longing for the next volume of xxxHolic that never came). I'll keep reading because it really was good and I really did enjoy it. I just hope it can shine like the original.

Edit upon finishing series: Apparently it was a sequel. Timey-wimey stuff was going on.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a lot of commentary that I've seen about the ending of xxxHolic, I seem to be in the minority of those who liked how the story closed (the series ended in 2011). It was melancholy to be sure, but how could it not without Yūko?

In xxxHolic: Rei, which is appropriately titled, as "rei" translates to "return" in English, we have a return to the story. Yūko is alive and well (from all appearances), Watanuki is still cooking yummy foods, and people still come to the shop because of wishes. I'm not quite sure where Rei fits into the original xxxHolic storyline, if indeed it does at all. But, that is just fine with me. I am content to enjoy this story with its gorgeous wood print inspired artwork and wonderful characters. More, please!

[tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

CLAMP rebooted this series and I need find out know why. the series starts in medias res, with Watanuki already working for Yûko. some of recurring characters are missing (very pointedly, Mokona, who basically bounded this story with Tsubasa). the tone is more or less the same as the original but there’s definitely more focus on watanuki’s character development and his relationship with doumeki. super gorgeous artwork as always.

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

SO I MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE

I definitely thought this was the first in the xxxHolic series. It's not. It's past the end. SPOILER ALERT KENDRA, SPOILER ALERT.

Everything made sence once I figured that out! But I did read the three Rei books I had (embarassingly long, it took me to figure it out). And now I'll go read xxxHolic NUMBER ONE. SO much less confusing now!

That being said, my original review of three stars and "I'm so confused and this book is so weird. Possibly the rating will change once I get farther?" may DEFINITELY change once I actually have the entire story that came BEFORE this story!

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read 2022: I finally got the 4th volume of the series (it was constantly way too expensive or just not on Amazon) and I decided, since it has been so long, to re-read the three volumes that came before so I would have a better idea of what was going on. A lot of the stuff in the volume was familiar, but also yet not. So that made me happy. We have new requests, ominous messages, Yuko is acting strange, and Doumeki and Watanuki are being a married couple again (though sometimes that annoyed me, mm). Wonderful art as always~

---------------------------------------------------------------
2014 Read: I am so excited to see this manga to get another series. Though I was also worried, how will it look? What will happen?

I can now honestly say I am a bit confused. We seem to be back in the time before a lot of things happened (not going to spoil what). But if you read the ending of the previous manga, you will know what I am talking about.

The whole cast is back again, Yuuko-san (yippppeee, I missed her so much), Watanuki, Doumeki, Himawari, the twins. It was so much fun to see everyone, to see Watanuki and Doumeki act like a married couple again, to see new mysteries.

Though I want to know, what happened? Is this a dream? A wish come true? A parallel universe? There are some hints thrown through the book that seem to hint that something bigger is behind this. There are little things Watanuki does that seem odd, things Yuuko-san says that seem to point to something and then the ending of this volume. All I can say, I would love to know what happened, and knowing CLAMP they will tell us eventually when they want to. :) I hope for some nice crossovers with other CLAMP manga, that would make it even more perfect.

All in all, I am very excited that this series is back, now only to wait until November for the next volume! (is it already November? Aww please?)

Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extraño a Watanuki

[Moi Self · Rating 3 out of 5]

Le tre stelle sono per la confusione totale, non per le storie sempre belle.
Sono reduce dalla fine del 19esimo volume della serie principale e non capisco dove esattamente si collochi questo volume, che ha tutte le caratteristiche di un "missing moment".

Yuko c'è, Watanuki sta andando ancora a scuola e non ha il mezzo occhio di Domeki ma...Domeki può entrare nel negozio, quando nella serie principale può entrarci solo quando desidera di salvare la vita a Watanuki.
In più c'è anche l'uovo, qualcosa che si vede solo dopo l'infortunio di Watanuki.

Boh, credo sia una sorta di sogno di Watanuki...anche se non capisco la battuta di Domeki "qualunque Yuko tu sia..." 😐 in Tsubasa sappiamo che tutti hanno un doppio nel multiverso tranne Yuko, Clow Reed e Fei Wong.
Quindi di che stiamo parlandooooooooo??? 😭😭😭

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

When xXxHolic ended in 2011, I felt like a lot of things were still left hanging and unanswered, there was a bittersweet aftertaste after I finished the last volume, but I couldn't really do anything about it since I knew CLAMP had a knack for being vague and mysterious that after reading any of their works, it leaves you like this:

I didn't really keep tabs on the new works of CLAMP, so when I was browsing through my facebook newsfeed, I was really elated when I found out that not only is CLAMP releasing a spin-off series for Tsubasa Reservoire Chronicles, another favorite series of mine, but there's already been an ongoing spin-off for xXxHolic!

CLAMP didn't disappoint alright, the story was so darn good that each chapter leaves you begging for more answers to both pre-existing and new questions. I swear, it doesn't feel like the story's dragging, it feels just right but frustrating in a way that I have to wait weeks again for the next chapter to come out. I always feel like using Sirius' line whenever this happens.

FIVE SHINY STARS!

[Samantha wickedshizuku Tolleson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Completed this volume for abc manga challenge 2017.
So, this was a continuation of the manga xxxHOLIC, and you're still following the same characters. If you haven't read the previous manga you'll likely be completely lost. I recommend that you don't start with this one.
The art is still stellar, as most everything from CLAMP is. The plot is a lot deeper and darker than the previous series is, but it wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The whole gang--less Mokona--is back in Yuuko's (yes, Yuuko's, not Watanuki's) shop. Doumeki has brought in a matched pair of "be careful what you wish for" customers to Yuuko for a consultation. Watanuki is shouting at every little thing like he was early on in the first series, and does not have heterochromia. Doumeki has his egg, but we've been given no indication that Himawari has one (yet?).

What's going on here? After one of the series' episodes featuring those one-off customers, the mysteries behind this new arc start showing themselves. Butterflies continue to be a major motif, and white smoke is, perhaps, even more prevalent. Yuuko plays cat's cradle and says mysterious things such as: "The link is connected and comes around. It comes and goes, and returns again."

The last few pages of the book, with Watanuki and Doumeki resting and sleeping in the shop while Yuuko watches over them, moved me for some reason. Maybe it's just melancholy because I'm heading into the last few volumes that exist of this series.

[Staci Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chilling but also a bit confusing.

[kerrycat · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's so hard to return after the ending of xxxholic . . . but
"she'll come. it's what she needs to do."

[kerrycat · Rating 5 out of 5]

(2019 reread) I don't ever want to leave the shop

[Al Capwned · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm... So, is this a continuation or an alternative take to the original? I guess I'll find out in the next volume.

[Ruthsic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, how much I had missed this series! When XXXHOLic ended, I was so sad - no more Watanuki, Yuuko, Doumeki or Himawari. Though it had ended well, it was a bit sad with Watanuki being so lonely. This sequel, said to be the Return(the 'rei' stands for return) feels like an alternate reality where Yuuko is still in the shop and seems somewhere during the timeline of the original, but certain things are changed. For instance, Yuuko says 'necessity' instead of 'destiny' and Watanuki had that strange headache. Also, Yuuko's monologue at the start about everything appearing and disappearing at the wishes of humans makes me feel like this reality must have been created by someone's *cough*Watanuki*cough wish. The general spookiness of the series has been retained and the artwork is spectacular as usual. I am looking forward to more chapters in this saga.

[Lex · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the mangas I adore so much! ❤

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A RETURN TO THE WORLD. It's been a minute since I finished the original xxxholic run; this final mad rush to finishing out the year's book goals felt like the right time to hit the (unfinished) sequel (also, possibly, I need someone to recommend me some contemporary manga).

This one had what is possibly one of my favorite self-contained stories/fantasy parables; two women, "dear friends," who have exchanged cell phone straps, identical. The women keep returning to the shop; one is progressively more injured, and for each woman, one of the cute matching keychains is dirty and torn. Eventually, the woman who has been showing a lot of damage comes into the shop, and talks about how she knows what is going on. How they had fought over a boyfriend. how each of them went to a website that sold cursed keychains, and exchanged them, EACH KNOWING THAT IT PUT THE OTHER IN THEIR POWER. THAT THEY RECOGNIZED EACH OTHER IN THIS. that she waited, while her friend hurts her. And then she pops the head off the other, unspoiled keychain doll.

birds of a feather flock together. I thought it was pretty horny. Self-destructive circles of violence with your best friend who you are obsessed with, are avoiding (to avoid any assignment of blame) and ultimately destroying.

CLAMP is always good for beautiful art and interesting little stories; this one was a treat.

[Alex of Yoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, this is the first volume of the sequel to xxxHolic, called xxxHolic Rei. It keeps the same art and characters and basic plot (customers coming to a mystical store that grants wishes) as the first series, only takes place at a different time.

I was a little confused by the timeline. Yuko is still there, so this volume obviously takes place in the middle of the original xxxHolic, but Domeki still has the egg, so it's not far from the end. Otherwise, it follows the same episodic plot as the original series.

I'm not sure if it's that the translator is different (though they could be the same) or what, but I feel like the characters returned to the undeveloped state they were in at the beginning of the original series, and that was really jarring. There's mild language and sensual art as well.

I'm suspending judgment until I read the rest of the series, but this volume was really odd to read after seeing everything that happened in the first series. It felt out of character and rushed. Hopefully it gets better as it goes along!

[Seamaiden · Rating 4 out of 5]

The thing about this volume is that when you start reading it, you have no idea where you are. It seems like it's a regular case back when Yuuko was alive and Domeki and Watanuki were young. The two cases presented aren't really interesting or complicated, but you navigate them as you search for clues of the timeline. Mokona doesn't appear in this volume, though we see the twins.

In the last chapter, you get hints that this is either a dream or a time-shift. Nevertheless, Domeki is here so I'm happy. Plus, Yuuko made a comment about a married couple and Watanuki being a wife so I found this funny.

[Josh 谢翊杰 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was awesome! The moment with the cloud of arms chasing Watanuki definitely felt inspired by Junji Ito's works. I'm not sure how this all ties into the time line of the original xxxHolic series, but it's clearly sometime after Dômeki gets the second egg. It's nice to come back to a time when Yûko is still around. I liked the moment when Yûko has both Watanuki and Dômeki leaning on her like they are her family and said "you're both good children". I know Yûko finds the boys friendship entertaining, but it was touching for her to express her care for them.

[Harumichi Mizuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cerita tentang dua orang "sahabat" yang saling mengutuk dengan boneka strap phone ini serem banget. Apalagi pas di akhir salah satu kepala boneka itu terpenggal. Hiii....

Anehnya di sini enggak ada Mokona. Watanuki sering kaya tersentak karena sesuatu tapi tak bisa mengingat sebabnya. Dia juga sering dipandangi Yuuko dengan tatapan tajam yang intens. Jangan-jangan ini dunia ilusi dalam mimpi Watanuki? Makanya Yuuko masih "hidup".

Di sini Doumeki bahkan sudah punya telur untuk menghapus ingatan Watanuki akan Yuuko. CLAMP tega banget nggak nerusin ini sampai selesai 😭

[T Brown]

Esoteric thrilling tale of a woman talking people through their lives. The line work and the black ink really stood out to me when reading. When her hair blended with the smoke...wow. Texture, architecture and dimension were all visually depicted so well. The gay boys need to feel their feelings and perhaps write it down before they speak next...Even still, I really enjoyed both the writing and illustrations very much here.

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

AND SO THE SERIES CONTINUES. This is also a reread, but whatever. I adore this series, and it's kind of jarring to see Yuuko back. You can tell right off the bat that there's something... not quite right about her, but it's hard to put your finger on.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so happy to finally get my hands on the sequel to xxxHolic. It's just as mysterious and fun as the first one.

[R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but confusing. I think I need to go back and read the original series.

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as eerie and engaging as ever.

[Salimbol · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

... a bit disappointed the 2 women story didn't really have a resolution. Where can one buy lil figures charm like those?!?!?

[Nick Sweet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to give this a four out of five for the sole fact Mokona was missing for the entire book.

[rainy♪ · Rating 5 out of 5]

:( watanuki