Heroine of Shoujo

Gate 7 Volume 1: Japanese History, anyone?

November 6, 2011 at 3:05 pm | Posted in CLAMP!, Gate 7, Reviews | Leave a comment
Tags: Gate 7

Yay! Comic Odyssey never fails me ^_^

I never thought that I would have my own copy of CLAMP’s newest manga this early. Last Thursday (Nov. 3), I visited my favourite comic and manga store Comic Odyssey to pre-order the second Omnibus book of Cardcaptor Sakura. I was also thinking of purchasing a manga, just one, that I really love -  yes, even at a full price. I immediately looked at their ‘G’ section, and at once I saw Gakuen Alice mangas, and there’s volume 9. There was also Gentlemen’s Alliance Cross volume 7. I was caught in the middle of confusion as to what I will buy: Gakuen Alice or Gentlemen’s Alliance Cross. But literally, in the middle of those two titles, was Gate 7 volume 1. Gate 7 volume 1. Whaaaat??

Yes, I was very surprised that CLAMP’s newest manga, which was published in English just last month, is in front of me, waiting to be bought. I didn’t hesitate – that one manga I was planning to buy turned out to be Gate 7 volume 1.

(you can click the Gate 7  image above for the full-sized image)

And now I’m left with no choice but to follow Gate 7 ^_^

Synopsis (from the back of volume 1):
An innocent sightseeing trip to Kyoto opens up a magical realm to shy high schooler Chikahito Takamoto. Visiting a legendary shrine, Chikahito stumbles into the mystical world of Hana and her comrades – and his immunity to their powers leads them to believe that he’s no ordinary awkward teenager! Protecting our world from violent supernatural creatures, Hana and her team welcome the confused Chikahito – who isn’t quite sure that he wants to be caught in the middle of their war!

The Art

First, I’ll have my thoughts with the art. But be warned: Gate 7 is CLAMP so as a fangirl, my review is either positive or slightly neutral.

CLAMP’s talent is really something. Gate 7’s drawing is quite different from their recently concluded titles (Kobato, xxxHolic, and Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle) – that’s a proof that the CLAMP team is able to draw something different with different titles. They aren’t limited to just one style of art.

Still, the splash pages of Gate 7 are recognizable as CLAMP-drawn. The style reminds me xxxHolic’s splash pages: elegant yet mysterious.

The different places in Kyoto are also nicely drawn. CLAMP never leaves any details ^_^

The kiss on the prologue

I’ve read some other Gate 7 volume 1 reviews and the thing that really caught my attention is their reaction with the Hana and Chikahito’s kiss (and it’s on the lips). CLAMP’s stories are usually sided with romance, but a kiss on the lips is rarely seen (there was a kiss in Wish but the panel was too small for a full view. Gate 7′s is in clear full view). Gate 7′s  kiss on the prologue is just so… RARE in the CLAMP universe. Though there was something in that kiss, that spell Hana cast and stuff that made Chikahito come back to the caster, or so…

Japanese History

Chikahito is a History freak. He knows a lot. And that’s one of the main points of Gate 7.

For me, CLAMP’s use of Japanese History was a success. Well, though Philippine History is one of my favorite subjects (when I was in high school and as a GE college subject), I actually suck at other countries’ history (especially Asian History – one of my worst subject when I was in high school). Yes I know the names Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Oda Nobunaga, but I don’t know exactly who they are. But with Gate 7, I became slightly knowledgeable of Japanese history. Thanks to Dark Horse’s informative translation notes ^_^ (I bet the translators had a really hard time with Gate 7…)

Speaking of translations, Dark Horse Manga is now well-loved by CLAMP fans because of their publication of a bunch of CLAMP titles. I hope they will realize that Gakuen Alice needs to be English-published too ^_^

Chikahito Takamoto = Watanuki Kimihiro ?

Somehow, I find Chikahito and Watanuki similar. In the beginning of the story, they were just simple high schoolers (though Watanuki already had this strange ‘loved by ghosts’ thing) but both were pushed into a world they never knew. The two were made into house helpers as compensations (but Watanuki’s case was harsher compared to Chikihito who ‘gladly’ accepted the offer). They look quite alike when they are both wearing the ‘helper outfit’. And both wear eyeglasses too ^_^

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Well, what do you expect from CLAMP? All good things of course! Really, CLAMP never fails me ^_^

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That review will do for now ^_^. Let’s hope that CLAMP will finish this story and Dark Horse Manga will continue publishing Gate 7 ^_^

xoxo,
AlyssaMihara