Chobits Recommended

Publisher
Tokyopop
Writer
CLAMP
Artist
CLAMP
Country of origin
Japan
Year
2002

Chobits Volumes 7 and 8

By Joseph (Joe) Wood
7th Mar 05

This is the conclusion to a series that gripped me from volume one. This review will contain spoilers for previous volumes.

It’s been several months since Hideki found the persocom Chi in a garbage heap and took her home. How things have changed when she was first switched on Chi could hardly speak, but now thanks to Hideki and his friends she can talk like a pro and has even learnt a number of useful skills. As people and persocoms around Hideki and Chi fell in love with one another, they themselves began to question their feelings for each other. However just when it looked like thing would work out and settle down Chi was kidnapped. Hideki searched desperately for Chi, eventually finding her once again displaying her mysterious abilities. Reunited Hideki began to wonder if Chi was more than just a machine, perhaps even a legendary Chobit a persocom with human emotions, but if she isn’t is it capable for a man to fall in love with a machine?

Hideki is once again tormented by his thoughts, as he tries to clear his head he runs into his landlord Ms. Hibya and confronts her over the strange photos where she appears with Chi and the others. Hibiya reveals all about Chi’s past and her creation to Hideki. While this is happening Chi alone in Hideki's flat activates her special programming sending the city and all persocoms into chaos. The two persocoms in black Zima and Dita rush to stop the program from completing, before it affects them as well. Chi proclaims Hideki as her someone just for her and asks if she is Hideki’s special someone, Hideki must answer but what does he say when he has no idea what the effects of his answer may cause.

Volume seven reveals a lot of the back-story behind Chi and ties up a number of loose ends. There is also a number of references to another Clamp title within in the back-story (see if you can spot them…be sure to pay careful attention to people in the background in flashbacks). Volume eight is the conclusion to the story, we’re finally told what Chi can and can’t do, wither she is special. Volume eight is slightly smaller than the other volumes but will still cost the same! The climax its self is slightly disappointing in the method of which it comes about it all feels a little rushed but should satisfy readers. Also the last chapter could have been dropped as it is devoid of any story or real purpose except to tie a loose end that could well of been left unanswered.

This is overall a good ending to a greatly absorbing series

-- Joseph (Joe) Wood 7th Mar 05