Review: TOKYO BABYLON

 Since we have been mercifully spared the anime adaptation of this series until the spring, now's the time to talk about one of CLAMP's most underrated works.

TOKYO BABYLON, by CLAMP.  First published in 1990, and first published in North America in 2004.

PLOT:

In the bustling city of Tokyo, there are mysteries too strange for any detective and too personal for any doctor.  In those cases, they need the help of young Subaru Sumeragi.  The latest in a long line of onmyoji, he serves as as sort of exorcist to save people from dark, nebulous forces around and within them.  Subaru achieves this not only with his power, but with his inexhaustible kindness and empathy for others.  In turn, Subaru's stylish, vivacious twin sister Hotaru looks out for him, along with family friend/local vet Seishirou.  Yet Subaru can't help but find himself drawn to Seishirou, for reasons he can't quite remember...

Review: SUKI: A LIKE STORY

 Well, it might have gotten off to a slow start, but it's January, which means it's time for yet another CLAMP Month.  This one is going to be a bit bittersweet, though.  We're running out of CLAMP manga to review, which means this will very likely be the last CLAMP Month here at the Manga Test Drive.

It's also going to be a bit bittersweet because there's no way we can avoid some of the dregs of CLAMP's library of works, such as this one.

SUKI: A LIKE STORY (Suki dakara suki), by CLAMP.  First published in 1999 and first published in North America in 2004.

PLOT:

Hinata Asahi is a sweet-natured, ditzy high school girl who loves everything.  Even though she lives by herself with only a pair of teddy bears and the neighborhood cats for company, she approaches each day with joy in her heart and a song on her lips.  Her world changes when a new teacher moves in next door, and more and more she finds her thoughts consumed by ones about Asou-sensei.  Hina's not sure what any of it means, while her friends aren't sure that Asou-sensei's motives are entirely pure...