Forum - View topicQuestion about CLAMP's Tsubasa: RC and XXXHolic
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BleuVII
 Posts: 672 Location: Tokorozawa, Japan |
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I have heard that both of these series take characters from other CLAMP manga and are essentially crossovers. This is a barrier to me, because I haven't read any of CLAMP's other stuff. But seeing these two on the shelf make me want to instantly pick them up.
So, the main thing I'm wondering is if I can read these series without reading any of CLAMP's other stuff. Will I be lost, or will I be all right? It may be a basic question, but I'd really appreciate some help with it. |
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marie-antoinette
 Posts: 4136 Location: Ottawa, Canada |
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You can read them without having read CLAMP's other works because most of the characters from other works are not the ones that you find IN the other series (for example, Chi in Tsubasa is not the same actual character as Chi in Chobits, they are just versions of the same person in different parallel universes, or something similar).
However, I would recommend reading other CLAMP titles first, if you are interested in them, because you'll be able to appreciate the little references more. It's mainly Tsubasa that pulls from other series, xxxHolic has it a bit but not even remotely to the same extent. |
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BleuVII
Posts: 672 Location: Tokorozawa, Japan |
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Thanks! Which other series do you think is a good starting point?
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marie-antoinette
Posts: 4136 Location: Ottawa, Canada |
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I'd say the best two other series by CLAMP out there are Chobits and Tokyo Babylon (as long as you don't mind strong shounen-ai subtext that is only inches away from being actual text). They are my favourite CLAMP manga, after xxxHolic which is easily their best (I like Tsubasa well-enough, but it took awhile).
RG Veda is also good, though the fact that it was CLAMP's first manga definitely shows. I wouldn't bother with X/1999 because it's unfinished (and likely to stay that way). Legal Drug too, but that's new so doesn't get the same type of references though xxxHolic sometimes crossovers over with it without the multiple universe bit. But you may want to watch the X anime if you can, because I believe spoiler[ the Tsubasa Tokyo arc actually does deal with the characters from X in their own universe (I haven't gotten that far ye though).] Plus, it's a great anime. The only CLAMP anime that I can recommend. Clover just got re-released and I've heard great things about it, it's on my list of things to check out. Wish is also supposed to be good and is on my list of things to check out eventually too. Last edited by marie-antoinette on Tue Mar 03, 2009 6:50 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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MangaNeko
Posts: 173 |
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Either, or, both are really good series. XxxHolic appeals to me because of the twist on Asian mythology. The stories are also shorter compared to the longer story arc in Tsubasa. Tsubasa is very enjoyable, each alternative world is unique, even if some play off the different stories of CLAMP. Do not be afraid CLAMP weaves such an amazing story with Tsubasa.
I sort of think of Tsubasa like a Kevin Smith movie. The movie is good and enjoyable, but he throws so many fanboy references into the mix that it leaves the fan going back for more, time and again. |
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Aylinn
 Posts: 1684 |
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It's the best to read both Tsubasa: RC and XXXHolic at the same time as this is practically the same story from different point of views that is becoming more and more connected with each volume. Both Tsubasa: RC and XXXHolic are moderately connected to Card Captor Sakura, but it is not essential to be acquainted with Card Captor Sakura.
spoiler[ Though, you may like to read or watch Card Captor Sakura and get know Syaoran and Sakura from Card Captor Sakura, who are the parents of one of the main characters from Tsubasa: RC. Plus, Clow Reed from the Tsubasa: RC/XXXHolic is the same Clow Reed who is in Card Captor Sakura.] You don't have to know any other CLAMP's works. As marie-antoinette has said they are not the same people despite their identical appearance. Last edited by Aylinn on Wed Mar 04, 2009 2:40 am; edited 1 time in total |
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fighterholic
Posts: 9193 |
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Syaoran and Sakura are supposedly grown up versions of the characters you see from CCS, but they are from different universes and therefore not 100% the same characters. You can get away with reading xxxHolic and Tsubasa, but like others have mentioned it is a good idea to read these simultaneously, because that's what they are, intertwined stories. But if you read the other CLAMP stories then you'll see all of the characters that have come up before. Somehow CLAMP is always able to intertwine their series together. Tokyo Babylon is also the predecessor to X/1999 story wise. Kobato is also intertwined with Angelic Layer, to an extent.
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bahamut623
 Posts: 1463 |
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I started reading Tsubasa because I really liked the cover of the first volume (yes, I judge books by their covers
 ), and my Clamp experience up until then was some episodes of "Cardcaptors" and the X movie. I had a tiny bit of familiarity with their other series, but not much. I enjoyed it anyway. The Del Rey release of the manga explains a lot of the references. I've never read XXXholic, but in the more recent volumes it seems like the connection is getting stronger, so I just may have to get it one day.
Even though I've never read it, the impression I get is that XXXholic requires you to read Tsubasa to see the bigger picture more than Tsubasa requires you to read XXXholic...if that makes sense.
You should put some spoiler tags in there. I was spoiled before about the spoiler[parents] thing, but I don't want other people to be spoiled, since that's something I didn't see coming. Also the part about spoiler[Clow Reed]. |
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marie-antoinette
Posts: 4136 Location: Ottawa, Canada |
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I've read all the released xxxHolic (only up to volume 9 in Tsubasa, I think) and most of the time you don't need to know Tsubasa to understand the xxxHolic plot. The last two volumes have gotten a bit harder to understand but I still haven't been completely lost.
Also I agree about Aylinn's need for a spoiler cut, since I didn't know about part of that either. I think I'll put a cut in my post too, though I don't think it's quite as bad. |
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Kelly
Posts: 868 Location: New York City |
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I'd say that reading both Tsubasa and Holic volumes in the right order is absolutely essential in the second half of both series. They've started crossing over heavily and you won't get quite a bit of what's going on if you don't follow both. I'd also strongly second reading Cardcaptor Sakura first, as previously mentioned. Everything else enhances but isn't mandatory.
And Aylinn, I'll add to the request to please spoiler tag. It's pretty obvious who you're probably talking about, and that was a pretty significant spoiler for some of us who won't get an "OMG!" moment while reading now. Unless posts specify, please assume there are people reading who are following the English manga release rather than the original Japanese or illegal scans. As for your spoiler, Marie, if you want to know, spoiler[Nope - it's another AU - albeit one in which Tsubasa's arguably best and most famous arc so far occurs. ] |
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marie-antoinette
Posts: 4136 Location: Ottawa, Canada |
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Okay, thanks for the info. spoiler[The characters still are pretty close to the X/1999 counterparts though, right? Which means that knowing X/1999 will definitely help understand that arc.] |
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BleuVII
Posts: 672 Location: Tokorozawa, Japan |
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You guys are so helpful! Moments like this make me love the internet.
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Kelly
Posts: 868 Location: New York City |
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spoiler[Yes - as is the case with all the other AU's. you'll get more out of the arc if you're familiar with either the manga or the TV version (I personally went with the latter due to foreknowledge that the manga is not and might never be completed).] |
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Eira
Posts: 33 |
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Like others already have said, it's not necessary to read/watch any of CLAMP's earlier works to understand the plots in TRC or xxxHolic, but it will make it possible for you to spot alternative versions of familiar characters and small references to other series, which can be quite fun. I'd definitely recommend reading TRC and xxxHolic together though. They don't cross over that much at first, but in the later volumes the connections between them are getting deeper and deeper, in several ways. I might be biased since I've been following both series for years now, but personally I almost see the main plots in TRC and Holic as different sides of the same story at this point (even though the series are very different from each other in other ways). Following the parallel stories and slowly finding out how they are entwined is very enjoyable.
Personally I'd recommend reading the X manga, even though it's unfinished. It has a great depth, complex relationships, and (in the later volumes) also very pretty artwork. The anime is ok, but I don't feel like it made the manga justice (it simplified and cut out a lot of things, and I'm not very fond of the ending they chose). In my opinion, CCS is the CLAMP series that has had the best anime adaptation so far. |
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marie-antoinette
Posts: 4136 Location: Ottawa, Canada |
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I'd actually do the exact opposite, I find the X manga to be very badly paced at the beginning and the lack of an ending REALLY detracts from buying 18 volumes of manga since that is quite an investment. It's the only CLAMP manga I actively recommend against. |
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