Manga-ka Spotlight: CLAMP

CLAMP started as a 11-woman team, which dwindled to 7 and now to the 4 member team that we currently know.

They are over 25 years in the manga business, a testament and proof to how their works are accepted. One of their first manga to be translated into english was Cardcaptor Sakura.

What makes CLAMPs works so appealing? Everyone would have to agree that one of the reasons is the art. They pay so much attention to detail. The illustrations are really amazing. And as I understand, they have no assistants either to push some of their work to. Just in case you don't know, some manga-ka have assistants to help them with the drawings. Maybe it might just be simple toning and coloring in the dark colors. But that takes a lot of time. I'll be summarizing a lot of their works here so visit often. ^_^ another reason is that their manga spans genres. They aren't just stuck with shoujo. Oh no. They also dable in shonen. They also don't follow the usual formula of romance. You could say that their stories are unique. They have produced a lot of memorable characters that are globally recognized. We'll, recognized by fellow enthusiasts of course.

They are hard working and I believe that they truly enjoy their work. You can see it in the amount of illustrations that they have done for others. From bookcovers to book drawings.

Part of their allure comes from the mystery that they have. For the better part of the 1990s and well into 2000, they have never allowed themselves to be photographed. They might have their reasons, who knows. But it was just in the later years that they posted for a French magazine.

With all these praises that I've been singing, you might ask if there is something that I don't like about them. There is one thing.... They have a number of unfinished works. 

THE UNFINISHED WORKS

1. X-published by Viz as X/1999

2. Legend of Chun Yang (Tokyopop)

3. Clover (Tokyopop)

4. Legal Drug

FINISHED AND CONCLUDED

1. Cardcaptor Sakura (12 volumes, Tokyopop)

2. CLAMP School Detectives (3 volumes, Tokyopop)

3. CLAMP Duklyon School Defenders (2 volumes, Tokyopop)

4. RG Veda (10 volumes, Tokyopop)

5. Tokyo Babylon (7 volumes, Tokyopop)

6. Magic Knight Rayeart (6 volumes, Tokyopop)

7. Chobits (8 volumes, Tokyopop)

8. Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle (28 volumes, Del Rey)

9. Wish (4 volumes, Tokyopop)

10. Man of Many Faces (2 volumes, Tokyopop)

11. Suki (3 volumes, Tokyopop)

12. Angelic Layer (5 volumes, Tokyopop)

ONE SHOTS

1. Miyuki Chan in Wonderland

2. The One I Love

3. Shirame-Syo

ONGOING

1. Xxxholic 

I have only included those that have been licensed in the US.