X/1999, Volume 07: Rhapsody

X [エックス] #7

by Clamp

Kamui's mother died to set him on his path; his aunt chose death to give Kamui the weapon he will need for the struggle to come; and sweet Kotori, who sees the future, tells him there may be no escape.

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Comics, Supernatural, Shojo, Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

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

[✨Meryem✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The more I read, the less I understand

[SzaraReadsComics · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot really thickens! The realization regarding Fûma's place in all of this is so bittersweet. On one hand, I really don't want him to be on the opposite sides with Kamui, on the other I really appreciate how cool of a twist it is plot-wise. Also, CLAMP really likes their severed heads, don't they? There were some really dark moments in this volume but, well, it is a series about the end of the world, the tone shift had to happen.

[Bibliothecat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for volume 1-18



While arguably less famous than some of CLAMP'S other works such as Card Captor Sakura, Tsubasa and xxxHolic, I personally believe X/1999 to be CLAMP's true masterpiece. It is all the more a shame that this series has been left as incomplete with only little hope of there ever being a conclusion. While on one hand, I would recommend this as a masterful manga, it always comes with the grain of salt that you will be left with more questions than answers.

Kamui returns to Tokyo where, much as he would like to see them again, he avoids meeting his childhood friends Fuma and Kotori. Strange things seem to happen around Kamui - earthquakes one after the other shatter the city. Soon, mysterious people called the Dragons of Heaven and the Dragons of Earth try to recruit Kamui to join their cause: one to save the earth, and one to destroy and reform it.

Although one shouldn't expect any less from CLAMP, X/1999's art is stunning. The characters are beautifully drawn with intricate details and there is no other word than dedication to describing the Tokyo backdrops. The art does change significantly between the first and latest volume, which is quite natural to a longer running series.

Kamui certainly doesn't start off as the most likeable protagonist. But that changes fast enough once we become more familiar with his circumstances and also see his change toward others. Although this story has a lot of action, I believe it is foremost a character-driven plot. In addition to the seven Dragons of Heaven and the seven Dragons of Earth, there is still quite a vast cast of important and also lesser characters. What makes X/1999 so special is that they all have their legitimate intentions and wishes. If you like grey characters, well, this series consists of nothing but. There is really no saying which character is in the right or wrong - as the characters themselves point out - there is no ideal outcome in which everyone can be happy.

Not only are all characters relatable, they all have their own story to tell and are anything but flat characters. There must be at least one character everyone can adore, and - ok - relatable or not, I confess, I don't like Satsuki - at all. But apart from her? I can't say there is a single character who I don't care for. You'd wish each and everyone one of them could have their happy ending - unfortunately, you know it won't happen. And to make matters worse, we likely never will find out. I think, X/1999's status of being incomplete will forever be one of my personal biggest manga tragedies.

On another note, for those who have read Tokyo Babylon and/or CLAMP School Detectives, characters from both make a comeback in this series and the truly open ending of Subaru and Seishirou receives a somewhat decent conclusion. I say somewhat because, although their story continues and comes to a close of sorts, the last volume of X/1999 takes on a new turn which could go anywhere, so it's questionable whether it can really be called a satisfying conclusion.

[Oleon · Rating 5 out of 5]

del 4.5, y 6 y 7
La historia se expandió un poco más. en este punto ya hemos visto a tantos personajes que es fácil encariñarse con un par, o hacerse parte de un equipo, más allá del hecho de que aún no conozcamos a los Dragones de la Tierra, a todos. En este punto sabemos que la espada guarda un secreto que comienza a manifestarse en Fuma y en Kotory, entonces la tragedia aparece en nuestros corazones y nos preguntamos si no era un drama amoroso el que queríamos consumir... jajaja
No me canso de mencionar los recursos visuales en la historia, no es como leer un comic, tan inmediato, ni como consumir manga actual tipo Demon Slayer. Las Clamp saben lo que hacen con cada detalle de sakura o flashback, desde hace un mes no puedo contemplar pájaros y su canto sin imaginar que cada vez que encuentro belleza en mi camino se desprende un batir de alas que me permita recordar un momento estático. Pero son tan sanguinarias y al tiempo la historia resulta tan divertida con ciertos encuentros, que dejamos de lado que hay que decidirnos, bueno que Kamui debe hacerlo y algo en nuestro interior palpita para continuar aplazándolo, porque significa (y espero estar equivocada) que la estrella gemela terminará de romper todo lo que felicidad le ha brindado a Kamui algún día, en este caso, sus preciosos recuerdos y el cariño por la familia de Kotori.
También deseo conocer más sobre los Dragones...

[Axel S Marin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hasta ahora uno de los mejores volúmenes; todas las piezas en Tokyo, Kamui listo para tomar su decisión y yo sin entender que está pasandooo.

Eso sí, dos grandes revelaciones la relación de la mamá de Kotoriny Fuma y oh cielos el papel de Fuma en todo esto, sumado a la vibe de Fuma y Kamui ❤️

[EmpressKoh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thus, the tragedy begins.

[Liana Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Daniel Bosé · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un poco corto a mi parecer, pero sin duda el camino de esta historia ya no tiene vuelta atrás. Estoy un poco confundido al respecto del tema de Kamui, y un poco sobre Fuma, pero supongo que más adelante se explicara más a detalle. Estoy disfrutando mucho.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kotori è partita di testa del tutto ma la capisco e piccola apparizione di Subaru di Tokyo Babylon :)

[psyche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about an epic entrance 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

[K.S. Trenten · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a moment it seems like there’s going to be a moment to scream over the bloody remains of Tokiko. Kotori certainly took a moment to remember a similar fate suffered by her mother, only to sink into dreams, meeting her mother in mermaid form, learning the truth of her mother’s heart. All of this is too much for her, but another dreamseer is there to steady her, and it’s neither Hinoto nor Kanoe. This particular dreamseer has a broken heart, which Kotori manages to touch, perhaps connecting him the ones she loves? Kakyou provides Kotori with some direction, not that her loved ones realize this by her waking state. Kamui is terrified to see her giggling, holding her aunt’s head, spouting nonsense while Fuma keeps trying to grab him, caress him with the sword, and urging him to “choose”. The two people dearest to Kamui appear to have completely lost their marbles or have they? while his aunt’s ghost, trying to comfort him by telling him everything was fated to be isn’t helping. Add to all this an earthquake. At least Fuma returns to his old self long enough to shield Kamui and Kotori from falling glass. This quake was one everyone felt; Dragons of Heaven, Dragons of Earth, dreamseers, and those unfortunate enough to be close to where it hit; for it was one of the Seven Seals breaking. Subaru recognized the power behind it, felt the curse marks flare up placed upon him by Seishiro and goes charging off to meet his old lover and enemy. This time he’s not stopping to apologize to anyone. Seishiro is doing much better in getting Subaru’s attention by simply being his murderous self, ahem.

Despite my cavalier tone above, this was an intense, beautiful volume with exquisite images of Kamui and Kotori becoming shards of crystal which shatter along with the Earth, shattering in ornate patterns which Hinoto, Kanoe, and Kakyou all observe. The images of Kotori and her mother underwater with flowing hair and pearls; of Saya with her hand entwined with Tohru are stunning, even if Kotori didn’t appreciate those moments. Kotori appears to be taking on the passive power of a dreamseer, the way she’s being absorbed by her own inner landscapes of watery possibility, summoning forth the figures of Kamui, the Dragons of Heaven, and the Dragons of Earth. It was intriguing seeing Kakyou teach her a little about this while Kotori challenges him to hope or at least care a little more about what’s happening. It was also intriguing to see Kanoe notice Kotori’s dreams, observing them play out with Hinoto upon the dreamscape, keeping up their adversity, yet it’s an intimate adversity, tempered with a mutual recognization of a rising young talent doomed to shatter. Fuma is so torn between his protective self and the dark predator emerging from within him with a duality that’s seductive, sinister, and heartbreaking all at the same time. Now that Subaru is on his way to meet Seishiro after all that’s happened, it’s more impossible than ever to look away.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

X Clamp #7.

Bibi Tokiko menemui ajal karena melahirkan pedang suci yg ke2. Kejadian sama yg dialami oleh bibi saya, ibu Fuuma dan Kotori. Kejadian ini tak hanya membuat Fuuma dan Kamui terkejut. Secara tak sengaja Kotori yg melihatnyapun menjadi terkejut dan ingatan akan kematian ibundanya yg selama ini dikamulase oleh Fuuma akhirnya terbongkar. Kotori tenggelam dalam lautan tangisan. Dan dalam dunia tangisannya itu, Kotori malah bertemu dan diselamatkan oleh salah satu naga bumi kakyou (seorang dreamgazer) yg memberitahukan bahwa Kotori sama seperti dirinya. Mereka berdua adalah pengintip mimpi. Kakyou juga meramalkan akan terjadi gempa yg akan menghancurkan kekkai bumi yg disebabkan oleh Sakurazukamori salah satu dari 7 naga bumi yg ingin menghancurkan bumi. Dan sejak itu juga Kotori meyakini keberadaan Kamui yg seorang lagi. Bahkan kotori menyadari kalau kematiannya berkaitan erat dengan masa depan bumi.
Kemampuam baru Kotori dan ramalan mimpinya ini bahkan disaksikan oleh putri Hinoto dan adik putri Hinoto, Kanae. Dimana keduanya mempunya misi yg berbeda dengan keberadaan bumi. Yang satu menginginkan keamanan dan kedamaian bumi dan yg satu lagi menginginkan kehancurab bumi.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vol. 7 of x/1999 continues the story of Kamui and those that are to play a part in the end of the world. This volume in particular focuses primarily on the roles Kotori and Fuma might play in the end of the world, but we do get to see some of the other characters. This volume's strongest point is it's visuals, especially those in the dream sequences where logic is allowed to flutter away and the illustrations can become more creative and interesting. I'm very much interested in continuing this series.

[Adrian Santiago · Rating 2 out of 5]

Capítulo de mega relleno, repite las frases, los personajes, la historia y los dibujos.

Lo que aporta y está muy bien planteado, es lo de aquellos que entran y ven sueños de otros. Esa parte está muy buena. /// Y Subara bb entra al juego.

[Vivian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it's sad that Kotori would rather die than let the earth break.

[Paula Savioli]

I marked only volume 1 as read, but it means I read all of them. I only didn't want to mark one book for each manga volume and didn't find a goodreads book that comprehends all the volumes.

[andie]

grey cover orange x
isbn 9789812413758

[Ricardo Marín]

5 / 5