Lowcountry Anime and Gaming

Story and Art by CLAMP (Satsuki Igarashi, Mokona, Tsubaki Nekoi, and Nanase Ohkawa)

Having previously read this title, and seen a few episodes of the anime, I was enthusiastic to revisit this story. I was in the target audience (shojo,  females aged about eight to fifteen) the first time I read this manga, and came to love the characters. In my opinion, the three elements that make or break a manga are: characters, story, and art. The characters each have different personalities, making the dialogue unique and sometimes leading to humorous exchanges. The story is a parallel universe fantasy, structurally sound and well-paced. The artwork is exquisite, with detail and a freshness that is rarely seen. I would never forgive myself if I spoiled the ending of this first volume--I will not even describe it generally. The only negative comment I have to make is some readers may find certain parts too "sugary"; this can be seen at the end of some of the bigger battles. This title may not be a favorite with the hardcore action-type fans, but if you grew up in the nineties, appreciate all things sorcery and swords, or are looking for a good crossover title, I'd suggest Magic Knight Rayearth Volume One wholeheartedly.