Creative Staff:
Writer/Artist: CLAMP
Translation: William Flanagan
What They Say
In the world of Infinity, Princess Sakura has become a Chess Master and the other travelers are her pieces. But the Mafia is running the game, and they don’t care if Sakura’s opponents break the rules or murder Sakura’s companions! Why is Sakura so determined to risk everything?
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Syaoran has abandoned his friends to continue on his relentless pursuit of Sakura’s feathers alone. However, he leaves a trail of destruction in his wake, and horrified by the damage caused by her once-gentle friend, Sakura strikes a bargain with Yuko. Yuko will provide aid for the residents of a world destroyed by Syaoran if Sakura can win the prize in the Infinity world’s contest. However, the deadly match is run by the Mafia. With her friends at risk on the chessboard, does Sakura have the determination to see her decision through?
If you’ve wanted to get a look at Sakura in Goth Loli garb, this would be the volume to get. And while S and M is not the name of the game in the world of Infinity, there are plenty of chains, spikes, and straps adorning the Tsubasa men as they battle it out on the Mafia’s “chessboard.” For those familiar with CLAMP’s Angelic Layer, Infinity’s “chess” has many parallels to the game of Angelic Layer. The main differences between the two are that the chess battles are played with multiple fighters instead of just one and the fighters controlled by the chess master are real people, not dolls. That and the feel of Infinity is distinctly harder and harsher than the shiny bright stadiums of the Angelic Layer world.
In Summary:
The new darker style rather matches the change in Team Tsubasa’s mood. With two of the most ebullient members (Sakura and Fai) now openly struggling emotionally after the battle with Syaoran, the group is a definitely more gloomy bunch than before. Fans of Fai that were originally drawn by his happy-go-lucky style may be dismayed to see him drinking Kurogane’s blood in his new, significantly less cheerful vampire persona. CLAMP also appears to be trying to create a love triangle between Sakura, Syaoran, and “Syaoran.” However, considering the behavior displayed by Syaoran in this volume and in the previous, I find Sakura’s internal conflict over her feelings for “Syaoran” more foolish than compelling.
Translation notes are included as extras in this volume.
Content Grade: B-
Art Grade: B+
Packaging Grade: B
Text/Translation Grade: B+
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Del Rey Manga
Release Date: July 22nd, 2008
MSRP: $10.99
