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CLAMP: Tokyo Babylon Photographs
Possibly the only CLAMP artbook I've ever wanted, though I do own a few more that I'm not sure what to do with. Oh, wait, that's a lie -- I really want the new Soryuden artbook, too. But I swear that's it! This is the (almost) last time I pour money into CLAMP, inc.!
One thing I find fascinating about CLAMP in a good way (they sure are fascinating, but usually in a TWS-y way for me) is their ability to invent one style for each title they do and stick to it. They've become relatively tame with it these days, especially with their color work (the color pages of Tsubasa are so ordinary, they're dull; xxxHolic is a bit better), but when they started out there was no mistaking it: TB was slick, smooth, and with lots of bright, primal colors, while RG Veda was, well, Gigerian. Although Mokona's art is far from polished in TB, it's still my favorite of all the styles CLAMP has taken on.
I mean, it's so bright and camp and cool! The shoulder pads! The capes! The hats! The crosses! The skirts! OMG I luv!
I have heard people complain that not all of the fold-out color pages of the tankobon are included here, and I do think that's a bit of a shame. Like china!Sei-chan. Although I own the tankobon so I can just go look there. To make up for it there were actually a few pictures here I had never seen before, which I didn't think there would be because the amount of TB art online is huge, so that was lovely. I understand why people wouldn't scan and upload, say, that extreme close-up of Subaru with only one eye showing, but it's lovely. The sexay red hot Hokuto-chan is lovely, too. Everything's lovely!
Well, except the bananas. What's up with those bananas?
One thing this book reminded me of is that I adored the grown-up!Subaru design from the end of TB and volume 8 of X. He's so almost!seme and rather Japanese looking, it's a pleasure. I'm still upset with Mokona that X!Subaru keeps turning younger and younger and more frail!bishonen for every volume. What's up with that? Screw it! I want Asian!Subaru.
Category: Artbooks | Posted by Alicia at October 1, 2004 11:54 AM