Angelic Layer

Publisher
Tokyopop
Writer
CLAMP
Artist
CLAMP
Country of origin
Japan
Length
5 volumes
Year
1999

Angelic Layer GN 4 to 5

By David Rasmussen
14th Dec 04

Studio - TOKYOPOP
Age - E for Everybody
By CLAMP
TOKYOPOP Staff
Translator - Anita Sengupta
English Adaptation by Jamie S. Rich
Editor - Jake Forbes

Angelic Layer
Previously...
So far you've met all the major players.
Misaki Suzuhara, newly arrive in Tokyo to go to school there, is instantly seduced into the competitive world of Angelic Layer. Angelic Layer, a combat sport using mini-android robots called "Angels" who link with their user through a special headset that allows their controllers full command over their every move.

With the help of a "Mr. Icchan" (who happens to be the man behind the Angelic Layer craze), and her schoolmates Koutarou and Tamayo she might get through her first tournament in one piece.
Even if she lost to Koutarou's little sister, who she's forged a friendship with, she is still in the game as we go onwards through the tournament.

She somehow makes it to the semi-finals, only to find out that she has a "weakness"...
But even with all her preparations is she ready to face her "weakness" when Hikaru is thrown into a beachside battle with Shirahime, the Angel modelled after the Snow Goddess of the same name?

Graphic Novel 4
It looks like we're about to get the 4-1-1 on what Hikaru/Misaki's "weakness" is... and that is... ah, you can find that out yourself. Regardless of what it is, it seems that (as you might have suspected) Misaki/Hikaru will overcome whatever said weakness is and triumph.

But all this winning, of course, will eventually bring notice and recognition to Misaki as she finds herself suddenly the object of attention at her school! Everyone, it seems, knows her name and she's the person that you simply must know!

But it's not over yet. Her greatest battles are yet to come, for instance her upcoming battle with the Wizard figure owned by a certain someone she met barely in this manga, but met abit more in the anime...

Graphic Novel 5
the battle between Hikaru and Wizard (started last Graphic Novel) is not going well... so why does it look like Misaki may yet pull a victory out of her... uh... hat?
Because she might yet win, even when it looks like things are downright dreadful for her.

But that is only the warm-up for the battle that she may not be ready for... the battle against the angel that inspired her to play Angelic Layer in the first place, and the identity of it's "deus"...

the end is here, but I better stop because it looks like the anime reviews have not reached this ending point.
So I'll keep the rest to myself, and we'll close here... short, but that's for the best.

Angelic Layer Breakdown finale
What's Hot? - Hmm... when I look it all over again I still liked it, even if I... eh... looks like I seem to have quite a few disagreements with how CLAMP wraps their books, don't I?
But that shouldn't stop you from purchasing this series. Hey, if you've seen ADVFilms' release of Angelic Layer, and you liked what you saw, there's no reason not to go and invest in this series.

Yes, it's not as good as the Anime. I happened to have liked the anime version better than the manga, but it's still good nevertheless and well worth reading if I do say so myself.

What's Not? - As I stated before, it seems that I have quite a few disagreements about the way CLAMP wraps their series. I like the series, fine, and I rave about it... but when it comes to closing it up and the payoff at the end? that's where my praise turns to disagreement (which happened a few times already).

this is no exception, however the disagreement is also a spoiler note of sorts so I should not say.
Let's just say that, when the anime is concerned, I do not have the complaint I have for the manga.
Huh? Well, you see, somehow (despite the fact that I haven't seen all the anime yet) I have a feeling that the anime will sell me on the ending far better than the manga, which just didn't seem to bring it home and sell it to me as it wrapped. Confused? Well then watch the end of the anime, read the manga, and see if you feel the same way I do about it.

Moments to Remember? - It's all still memorable, and not just for the fighting. the interactions revolving around Misaki (with her friends, with "Icchan", and so forth) are still the best.
the end I'm not so sure about but that's nitpicking.

What to Ignore? - Uh... can't say. Sorry. Spoiler.

Overall? - It's one of CLAMP's finest moments. If you've seen the Anime then you should take your time to check this out. Believe me, if you are a fan of the anime then you will be able to get into this no problem.

-- David Rasmussen 14th Dec 04