Forum - View topicxxxHolic, it's quite maddening
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undeadben
 Posts: 1212 Location: West Texas |
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I finally started reading the manga. I like it so far. It is interesting, and that's something that can be taken in many different ways, but I mean interesting in a good way. It's entertaining to read all the occult and mythological stuff, what they made up and what they took from other sources both.
I'm just now starting to read Clamp. (I digress here but I'm also starting to hate Clamp, I mean really hate them. I read Chobits and suddenly I have this undying itch to read Angelic Layer, I read xxxHolic and now I want to read Magic Knight Rayearth and Tsubasa, RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE, and who knows what those will make me want to read. Is there no end to this?) Anyway, as I said I just started Clamp manga, I've seen more of the anime adaptations, but reading xxxHolic, I'm also enjoying the very few things I can pick out myself from other series without looking it all up. So that is another positive thing. I've just finished volume 4 (and I'm not looking for spoilers, just ranting, so if anyone else posts or wants to discuss, please mind the spoiler tags. Thank you!  ), and what is "maddening" about it to me is poor Watanuki. I mean does anything at all good happen to this kid? Every thing seems to happen just to cause the poor kid more misery. And being a good guy not only does he stand there and take it, but he makes everyone lunch while he's at it. He keeps sinking further and further into Yuuko's debt, he winds up having to continuously feed and hang out with Domeki who gets all the good kind of attention, he seems stricken with someone who seems like one of the ditsiest girls I've ever seen (although, in this case I think he's doing it to himself), and the only times it even seems like something good is happening to him, or in his favor, there's some spirit behind it. I'm getting almost as frustrated as he gets just reading it.
Rant aside, as I said, I'm still enjoying the story and am looking forward to reading the rest. I just hope things look up for the poor kid. Anyway, I'm practically a newbie to manga so I'm sure most of you have read a lot further than I have, but I'm enjoying the story so far and since I didn't find a xxxHolic topic listed in the discussion threads sticky I figured I'd start one. Again mind the spoiler tags, please, but I'd like to read more opinions on the story. Out of the little I have seen and read I still like Chobits more, but this is an intriguing title. And maybe, anyone else out there get as frustrated reading about poor Watanuki as I do? |
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Kelly
Posts: 868 Location: New York City |
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Watanuki is indeed a very generous and goodhearted boy who has a difficult situation to live with that he doesn't deserve. But he does have one good thing going for him, as Yuko continuously tries to point out to him - and that's Domeki, who's going to turn out being semper fidelis and going above and beyond to do everything he can to help Watanuki through it all. Let's just say it's going to be obvious soon to you that Domeki is a much more decent person than you think at this point and isn't hanging around because of Himawari...
Now, the only question is if and when Watanuki is going to get over his crush on Himawari and figure it out. And throughout the series, although terrible things happen to him, there are going to be chapters and even volumes in which Watanuki gets repaid for his kindness in ways he didn't expect and learns that he isn't as alone as he thinks he is. That has turned out to be a major theme of the series. |
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Dargonxtc
 Posts: 4463 Location: Nc5xd7+ スターダストの海洋 |
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Frustrated at Watanuki's plight. Yes, I can definitely see where you are coming from.
Adding to what Kelly said, without spoiling anything. There is development on Watanuki's side which will come up. Yes I think that development would be the best word. And I think the situations he is in now are to help you build more of an emotional bond with him down the road. And if it succeeds in doing that I think you will enjoy the story all the better. I am really holding back here Domeki, as it turns out, and has been already stated, is actually a very good person. And my suggestion to you is to look for his quiet yet subtle hints of compassion. Yuko, whom I love by the way. And this shouldn't be a spoiler to anyone in anyway. Seems to me the cruelest of all. Not so much in a big picture way, but in the absolute nonchalant, and brush-offish way in which she treats Watanuki. Like show me some love would ya? But in the end she is good and relatively honest, if not a bit vague. Question: How fast did you read the four volumes? And how fast do you plan to read the up to current? I think it is a good idea to start this thread, and I am glad you started it, but I really don't want to spoil anything for you either. Because I have really enjoyied this series as well, as I think you are. *Flipping through V.5* Hmm, not much I can say except a well crafted story which continues to unfold slowly. As I am sure you have figured out, some of the seemingly random events turn out to be important. Something you didn't mention in your OP is the art. How do you like it? I myself think it is gorgerous. I think it makes simple complicated, and vice versa. And I just love that. |
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bahamut623
 Posts: 1463 |
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Hmm, from what I've seen of the anime and movie, it seemed to be just stand alone stories. While those are fun and great, I don't know if it would be enough to convince me to get the manga. I've been interested since I do read Tsubasa. From what you're saying now, it seems as though there is a larger main plot that starts to reveal itself. Can you give me a bit of a hint of where the story is going without being too spoilerific? Like is it all building up to something and it's not just stand alone stories?
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LightYagami
 Posts: 257 Location: around the midwest |
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I can see where your coming from on xxxholic coming off as being just stand alone stories, but in actuality its not. Each story/chapter in the manga further develops Watanuki per say a caterpillar evolving into a butterfly and right now Watanuki is in his cocoon stage. Also if you an avid Tsubasa Fan it will really pay off to get the xxxholic manga because of the recent revelations of Watanuki having some deep ties to the Tsubasa storyline which are in the process of being revealed. Thats all I can say without going into spoilerville. Another reason to get the xxxholic manga is that if your interested in learning a little bit more about Japanese Culture it has some great cultural references lot of which aren't that well known. Hope this helps you out. |
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Kelly
Posts: 868 Location: New York City |
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The thing to keep in mind about Yuko is that we get strong hints that she has to remain neutral to maintain the balance of the universe, whether she wants to or not. There's apparently just so much that she can do to help the Tsubasa crew, let alone Watanuki and Domeki, who she knows much better than Syaoran and company and seems to like very much in her own way. Her coldness might be her way of dealing with this emotionally, because she can't fall apart everytime something happens to someone she's fond of. Note, however, that she subtly does what she can for Watanuki within those perameters. She always seems to make sure that he has what he needs to survive what's thrown at him, whether it be a magical item or Domeki's chi. I emphasize survive, not necessarily come out unscathed. Again, there seems to be just so much she can do even for people she cares about.
The art adds to the series immensely. It's very striking, and I think it's exactly right for the tone of the story. |
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undeadben
Posts: 1212 Location: West Texas |
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Thanks everyone for replying. And sorry for late replies, I rarely come to the manga forum so I forget to check here when I come online.
I don't think spoilers are a problem for me now  . I read those four volumes in about 2 hours, the reason I stopped was because I had to go to sleep and I started the topic to see if I could read some other opinions about it before I continued since I couldn't find a topic for it. Actually I was surprised there wasn't one already for such a good story.
When I woke up later that day I read the other 5 volumes that I have. I was so wrapped up in the story at this point I couldn't patiently wait for September to read the next volume so I decided to sneak a peak online. Well then one peak turned into another and a couple more hours later I was caught up to the latest chapter available in Japan. And quite frankly I'm in stitches about what happens next. I'm gonna keep buying them because I still want to read the official translations, but I'll probably follow it as regularly as it comes out from here on out.
I really enjoy the artwork. (I wonder if it is any similar in the anime.) It does a good job of telling the story with the art as much as the written parts and does a fantastic job of illustrating all the things that can't be written. It is both very pretty and functional, so yeah, I loved it too. Ok a few points. I can now see about both Domeki and Himawari. I was really disliking both of them early on but as the series progresses and I finally found some things out, I was finally able to see both their purposes in the story and in Watanuki's life, and whats even more wonderful is the gradual progression or growth of his feelings for both of them as well. Yuko is even more mysterious still. I can almost catch a glimpse of what she's up to or what she is expecting, so that is neat too. What still peeves me about her though is that even though she can tell potential outcomes of going in certain directions. And even though she knows Watanuki has lead, and probably will be in for an even rougher life, she just keeps treating him the same as ever. However she does allow him a couple of indulgences on a few occasions and protects him at times so I can't really hate her, just her attitude. But in any case this is turning out to be quite a page turner. I love how almost every single story, even the ones that look like merely fun side stories, come into play at some point in another chapter or volume. After racing through the whole thing, when I get a chance, I want to go back and take my time reading it again bit by bit so that I can try and catch what I probably missed the first time. This is just a really good series. |
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fighterholic
Posts: 9193 |
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I think that xxxHolic has some interesting aspects to it, it was the first title that actually got me to notice the CLAMP name, and on top of that it has been one to connect to the Tsubasa series. There's been some interesting turn outs of what I have read so far of it, which has been up to volume 8, and has been able to still keep the CLAMP style of storytelling as well as characters. Here's to hoping that there's more that can become of this series.
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marie-antoinette
 Posts: 4136 Location: Ottawa, Canada |
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I love xxxHolic, I really do think it's going to end up being my favourite CLAMP manga. I've only read 4 volumes so far myself, since I'm a bit lacking in money to buy more
I did watch the anime though, so I know most of the stories. Of course, I know them in a completely different order than they are supposed to appear, which is annoying (and kills character development). |
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Levitz9
 Posts: 1022 Location: Puerto Rico |
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I love the art style and characters of xxxHOLiC. The maddening thing about it (for me) is that I can't find any other volumes other than the 8th one.
-_- But, really, she may be cruel, but, come on--who doesn't love Yuko? She's awesome... |
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LydiaDianne
 Posts: 5634 Location: Southern California |
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I just got #9 the other day myself. I had to have the clerk at Barnes & Nobel look for it.
Yuko may be cruel. But it is to be kind in a way as well. I liked what someone else said about her having to be neutral to keep the balance. It will be interesting to see if we learn her real name...but I doubt it! |
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Kelly
Posts: 868 Location: New York City |
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What's going to be interesting to see is whether or not she's going to be put in a situation where either Watanuki or Domeki sustain too much damage for the other boy to make an even exchange. She would probably be able to handle it if that happened to one of the Tsubasa gang, but it would be much more difficult if it happened to one of her boys. I think it would be much harder for her to maintain her neutrality in that case. |
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tomoyo_hime8
Posts: 3 |
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for me, i pity yuuko the most, among all the characters in xxxHolic...
i'm not exactly sure what chapter it was in, so i'll just put in tags just in case.. watanuki's birthday (this isn't a direct quote) spoiler[ the only gift that one can give freely is one's feelings... yuuko, more than anyone i guess, knows that even if she wanted to help more than anything, she couldn't, because she needed to make sure that the balance was kept...] isn't it sad?
xxxHolic really gets me thinking deep, sometimes depressing thoughts... but i cna't stay away from it! the english translation (or the closest possible english translation) to hitsuzen is now my motto.. lolz... btw... wc is the canon relationship? with anime and manga you can never tell... is it himiwari and watanuki? or is it doumeki and watanuki? i hope it's the latter.. no offense to the fans of himiwari-chan |
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Kelly
Posts: 868 Location: New York City |
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There's nothing canon at this point in the English translation - and I wouldn't be surprised if we turn out not getting anything canon until the very last volume. But considering that Himawari seems to look at both boys as best friend/brother figures more than anything else at this point and we've gotten hints that Domeki has feelings for Watanuki (Yuko's not-too-subtle hints to Watanuki and Domeki's "If anything happens to you..." teasers), I'd definitely bet on Domeki especially considering CLAMP's shonen-ai history - particularly since Yuko keeps telling Watanuki that Himawari isn't right for him (I think she's a good girl and isn't going to turn out being secretly evil or anything like that, but there's obviously something about her that's bad for Watanuki). Also, Domeki's family background means that he has a better understanding than Himawari, through no fault of her own, of what Watanuki lives with and the full magnitude of what sharing that life would really mean. Watanuki is worth it, but if his situation never changes life isn't necessarily going to be easy for whoever might end up with him. The big questions are when it's going to hit Watanuki and whether or not things are going to end well for them. |
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marie-antoinette
Posts: 4136 Location: Ottawa, Canada |
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Yeah, there definitely isn't a canon couple. I'm not sure if there ever really will be, since I can't see Watanuki ending up with Himawari, given what's been said about her, but I also don't think that the supposed subtext with Watanuki and Doumeki is really as strong as people seem to think (at least not as strong as in other CLAMP series, see Tokyo Babylon and X/1999).
Maybe Watanuki will end up with that sprite chick. That's the most likely, IMO. |
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