Magic Knight Rayearth, Vol. 1

No cover — CLAMP: Magic Knight Rayearth, Vol. 1 (Paperback, 2011)

Paperback, 656 pages

English language

Published July 6, 2011

ISBN:: 978-1-59582-588-9

(1 review)

Umi, Hikaru, and Fuu are three schoolgirls out on a field trip to Tokyo Tower, whisked suddenly away by a strange voice and light to Cefiro, a world full of spirits and sorcery. They were summoned here through the last remaining strength of the Princess Emeraude, who hopes that they are the trio destined to become the magic knights legend says can save her realm! But how are a bunch of junior-high-school kids supposed to defeat the dark might of the sinister Lord Zagato . . . with only an exceedingly strange bunny creature named Mokona as their guide . . . ?

2 editions

dvo reviewed Magic Knight Rayearth, Vol. 1 by CLAMP

It's good comics, fairly weak storytelling

3 stars

Magic Knight Rayearth has a beautiful aesthetic. Cifero is a rich fantasy setting, but unfortunately you just don't get to see that much of it. Panel layouts are generally incredible. CLAMP's artwork is fantastic, although it often focuses so much on its main cast that you're wanting for a little more variety.

The storytelling is pretty formulaic. I can see exactly how this would map to the Super Famicom RPG. I suspect reading it serialized would have been less trying, where each girl's coming into their abilities wouldn't hit as quite so formulaic.

The abrupt ending is honestly one of the stronger qualities of the story, and it's enough to get me to pick up the second omnibus after some time away.