Magic Knight Rayearth, 1-3 (2007, Paperback)

Plot Summary: Magic Knight Rayearth (MKR) tells the story of three girls (Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu) who are transported from Tokyo Tower to a mystical world called Cephro. They are asked by a magician named Clef to rescue a princess from Zagota, a evil knight. But first, the girls must make a quest to find the shrines that contain the power for them to become Magic Knights so they complete their mission.

For a manga, MKR is pretty simple format. Usually one of the girls goes into a trance when entering a shrine, the two other girls fight off a villian that wants to stop them, the trance girl awakens and comes to the aid of her friends, beats villian, and proves her valor to earn her right to become a MK. This leads the plot to become pretendable and somewhat boring most of the time. However CLAMP pulls a twist on the real mission of the girls are post to do. It makes the reader shocked and sadden by the turn of the events.

Art/Translation: Translation is a big problem for the book. It looks like the editors got one of their older translation editions, recopied it into this book format, and refused to get rid of English sound effcts words that covered most of the art thus making hard to tell what is happending in some of the panels. But most of the original art by CLAMP is great and finely executed.

Audience: This was made for the 6 to 12 girl crowd. Thus its simplicity and girly feel. If you don't like Cardcaptor Sakura, this is not CLAMP series for you.

Final Verdict: Though the plot was mostly weak it did have a good ending. Good art. Through the first arc of the story is likeable, it sequel (yes it goes have the original characters and continues the story with aftermath of the first arc) is disappointing. But that is for another review (if I ever get to it LOL).