xxxHolic #7 Review

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IMPORTANT!!! If you are even just thinking of picking up this manga DON'T READ the product descriptions on the Amazon.com page or on the back cover of the book itself as it basically ruins almost every suprise and twist in it's pages!!! Do feel free to read this review though as I promise you I won't ruin the story for you and focus on generalisations and vague impressions. ;)

Crossover Info: Yuko appears to be talking with someone over in a future issue of Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle, possibly the soon to be released, Volume 10.

This have been picking up speed for a while now in this seductive series and things continue so in this volume as several long running subplots come to a head as the mystery-of-the-day arcs a pushed into the background to allow more time for the plot to advance.

Those who have thought there's been something going on with ******** ever since Yuko first spoke cryptically about ****** in Volume * will get a big payoff in this volume. (Who could it be?)

Likewise, readers who have been wondering about possible conflict between Yuko and Domeki since she revealed to him that he can't enter her store will want to pick this issue up. There's also some dramatic development between Domeki and Watanuki as well as Watanuki's first major step into "change".

What becomes more apparent starting with this volume is a kind of unconcious cosmic connection between Watanuki and Syaoran from Tsubasa. The connection really starts with this volume which looks like either the midway point of the series (think about the few chapters before Sakura's trial in the Card Captor Sakura manga) or a build up to a finale, though judging from news reports and the fact that Tsubasa's going for at least another year and a half, we can expect xxxHolic to continue for at least that long which leaves me aching to find out what Watanuki's going to be like by the end and what's going to happen when Syaoran and Sakura return to Yuko's shop (they both share the same birthday as Watanuki. That's another connection that just came to me).

This is basically another kick arse entry into the xxxHolic saga well worth any reader's money. Pick it up asap before someone spoils the story for you or you give in to spoilers (EVIL!).

5 STARS all the way!

LOW LEVEL SPOILERS (scroll down)

P.S. Something I just noticed. After reading this volume, reread the opening colour pages! Notice the 50/50 panel design and look where Mokona (Larg) is literally lying! Could Larg be up to something (maybe Watanuki wasn't kidding!) or could Yuko be asking Larg to do something to Watanuki? Ain't speculation fun!

This report is brought to you by xxxHolic #8. Preorder now to get it on the day of release, the 29th of Nov!

YesAsia has started taking preorders for the first xxxHolic anime series DVD which will contain the first few eps from the series as well as audio commentaries by CLAMP (a first!) and several other special features. Will also come with a collectors box with artwork by CLAMP for the release! More...

This report is brought to you by xxxHolic #7. Preorder now to get it on the day of release, the 30th of May!

This episode confirms it (I guess). There won't be any direct Tsubasa Chronicle crossovers in the anime series, though all the events that occur because of Tsubasa Chronicle will still be included. You see in this episode we see Maru and Moro using Fay's staff that they got via a trade in Tsubasa Chronicle Episode 9 but while we saw the whole trade in Tsubasa, here in xxxHolic the whole thing happened off screen. This may seem wierd as the Tsubasa guys havn't been mention in this series yet, but when you think of the xxxHolic and Tsubasa movies, we actually see Yuko meeting Syaoran and Sakura in a flashback and we can see another take on this Tsubasa Chronicle Episode 2 I guess if xxxHolic did it again it would be a bit redundant.

So yeah, crossovers are happening off screen, but the results are still shown (eg, fay's staff).

I really don't mind this at all actually. It allows xxxHolic more time to develop on it's own and there are always the movies for direct crossovers.

As for this episode, it was done very well. The monkey paw creepiness was kept as we the death at the end of the episode. Lots of little details here and there.

4 stars from me.

Next week looks like our first anime-unique story arc! Seems to focus on Domeki.

This report is brought to you by xxxHolic #7. Preorder now to get it on the day of release, the 30th of May!

Episode 8 of xxxHolic is up for download in RAW form HERE. It's the monkey paw arc!

Subbed version HERE.

Personally I can't wait for Episode 10 which will feature the story with Watanuki and Domeki doing that lantern parade and talking to that tree. Just so cultural and I'm sure Prod IG will animate it wonderfully.

This report is brought to you by xxxHolic #7. Preorder now to get it on the day of release, the 30th of May!

You can download the RAW HERE.

Edit: You can get it subbed in English HERE.

This report is brought to you by xxxHolic #7. Preorder now to get it on the day of release, the 30th of May!

While I found this episode to be rather well animated and very similar to it's manga counterpart I actually got a bit bored watching it which is funny since quite a lot happens storywise.

It was nice and good. Just seemed to be missing a bit of energy that the last few eps have had.

This report is brought to you by xxxHolic #7. Preorder now to get it on the day of release, the 30th of May!

Done! The guide for episode 2 is now completed thanks to widescreen pics! Anyone not watching this show in widescreen really should! This ep looked like utter crap when I watched it in pan and scan (square mode) but, my GOD... it's amazing now!

This report is brought to you by xxxHolic #7. Preorder now to get it on the day of release, the 30th of May!

Woo Hoo! Thanks to the widescreen release I was able to get screencaps for the Episode 1 Guide! Those who couldn't find Sakura's wand should check it out!

This report is brought to you by xxxHolic #7. Preorder now to get it on the day of release, the 30th of May!

I loved this episode! It featured a combination of two of my fave manga mini-arcs, the fox oden stand and the Shiritori/Clover birds! Production I.G. blended these two seperate stories perfectly and even added more depth to the story by offering insight into Domeki's arrow and the Clover birds themselves.

I also noticed quite a few new music themes this week which was great to hear. I'm loving this music more and more with each episode. Can't wait for the inevitable soundtrack release!

I guess the only thing that I found offputting in this episode was the character's habits to talk with their mouth full. It's a very common habit in Japan but it just clashes with my sensibilities. Don't get me started on Yuko slurping a whole bowl down in one go in a previous episode. Despite that being a Japanese custom, that's just something I don't picture Yuko doing. She's too traveled and civilised for that.

That's just me though and the end of my rant.

Next week we get the computer addict lady! No sign of Tsubasa yet though I think I understand why.

Tsubasa Chronicle's main focus is it's crossovers with other series. xxxHolic on the other hand has a rather focused and complex storyline of it's own with the crossovers being more secondary and of a bonus nature. This is why I think the writers of xxxHolic have decided to establish the characters of Watanuki, Yuko, Himawari, Domeki and Larg (black Mokona) and the world they live in before introducing Syaoran and even Soel (white Mokona).

The Tsubasa Chronicle crossovers will come. The same company that's doing this series did the movie which was so crossed over with Tsubasa that both movies were screened together. Just give it time.

This report is brought to you by xxxHolic #7. Preorder now to get it on the day of release, the 30th of May!

Forgot to post this the other day but the widescreen torrent of xxxHolic Episode 1 is HERE and it's amazing! You can see some of my screencaps of it in my Opening Guide God it looks great!

Also today, the new raw of episode 5 is on torrent HERE. Will have my impression of it this arvo.

This report is brought to you by xxxHolic #7. Preorder now to get it on the day of release, the 30th of May!

28 screencaps, shopping links, article writing.... GAH! It almost killed me but I finally have the guide to the xxxHolic opening HERE. I know it's a bit late, but I was waiting for the widescreen release and how that was better to watch than the pan and scan version!

Enjoy!

This report is brought to you by xxxHolic #7. Preorder now to get it on the day of release, the 30th of May!