xxxHolic continues to be one of my all-time favorite series.
Creative Staff
Story/Art: CLAMP
Translation/Adaptation: William Flanagan
What They Say
Months ago, when Kimihiro Watanuki became the indentured servant of the witch Yûko Ichihara, Yûko warned Kimihiro about his attraction to cute young Himawari-chan. But he refused to listen. How could his pretty classmate possibly pose any kind of danger to him? At last, the secret is revealed . . . and with near-fatal results.
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
After the last volume and all its revelations, volume 11 slows down while the story grows murky. Throughout this volume, Yuko and Mokona obtusely discuss the dangerous happenings taking place in the background. Neither characters goes so far as to name the problem, but the hints and a memory of earlier issues point a few fingers. It seems the strange Ko, soul collectors seen in volume 5, are growing stronger. This leads one to assume the Ko’s master is also growing stronger. So much so that Yuko is forced to make Maru and Moru spend all their time protecting Yuko’s shop. Through all this, the events taking place in the Tsubasa series are hinted at, but also left untold. So apparently, after giving up with Tsubasa around volume 8, I’m going to have to get back into that series to get the full picture of what is to come to the world and characters of xxxHolic. Dang it.
Volume 11 of xxxHolic also hints at something big to come by dropping reoccurring characters into the story. Everyone from Domeki’s grandfather to the fox from the noodle shop to the Ame-Warashi and Zashiki-Warashi all make an appearance at various places in this volume. Aaagghhhhhh! So what is Watanuki going to have to face? Obviously Domeki will play a role, but what about Himawari and her new pet bird Tampopo?
Luckily, this volume isn’t all questions and no story. Yuko receives a visit by a young girl that hears footsteps and even feels something brushing up against her when she is in her house. Yuko gives the girl some bells and tells her to always wear them in the house. The next day the girl returns and tells Yuko the footsteps only became worse. So Yuko gives the girl more bells and tells her to do the same. Will this work, or only make the matter worse. Considering this is xxxHolic, I’m guessing things will have to get worse before they can get better. Along those lines, my annoyance with the mysterious underpinnings of the story will also have to endure.
Content Grade: A-
Art Grade: A-
Packaging Grade: A
Text/Translation Grade: A
Age Rating: Teen 16+
Released By: Del Rey Manga
Release Date: March 30th, 2008
MSRP: $10.95
