Tsubasa

RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE

(Volume 12)
Story by
Clamp

Del Rey, January 2007, 186 pp.
ISBN: 978-0-345-48532-8

Genre: Comics
Subgenre: Manga
Reviewed: 3/25/2008

Reviewed by: Conan Tigard

Book Cover

Manga Page

Synopsis

In Piffle World, Syaoran, Kurogane, and Sukura are in the Final round of the Dragonfly race. The winner of the final race will receive the coveted Super Energy Battery. The Super Energy Battery is one of Sukura's memory feathers, so all four have entered the race in their ultra light Dragonflies with hopes that one of them can win. Fai has already been eliminated from the race.

The racers head into the maze and Syaoran's vehicle crashes while he saves the life of another racer. He is out of the race. Now it is up to Kurogane and Sukura to win back her memory feather. When they hit the geysers, Mokona tells Sukura that he can tell where a geyser is about to erupt. She guns her Egg-go and takes the lead in the race. At the last moment, a geyser erupts that Mokona doesn't tell her about and Kurogane bumps her vehicle out of the way and while he is engulfed in water. Out of the race, he tells her to fly on an win.

The last obstacle is a huge waterfall. Realizing that she must win the race, she trusts her instincts and flies directly into the waterfall. When she flies out the other end, Sukura realizes that she has won the race. Just as she is handed the trophy which contains her memory feather, they are attacked. It turns out that Doctor Kyle from the Country of Jade wants the feather too.

Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE: Volume 12 is a manga book written and drawn by Clamp. This book was translated and adapted by William Flanagan and Lettered by Dana Hayward. This book contains the following chapters:

Chapter 83: The Final Obstacle

Chapter 84: The Eye of the Heart

Chapter 85: The Fighting Princess

Chapter 86: The Flag of Honor

Chapter 87: The Banquet of Smiles

Chapter 88: The One Who Travels Worlds

Chapter 89: The False Reason

Chapter 90: The Message for the Princess

There is also some special extras in the following sections: 1) Honorifics Explained, 2)  About the Creators, and 3) Translation Notes. The book reads from right to left and back to front, just like a book from Japan. This manga book is intended for readers ages 13 and up.

Review

Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE always wows me. Hey, I know that isn't correct English, but that is what it does. It makes me say, "Wow!" I absolutely loved the Dragonfly race that has been going on over the last few books. It was so nice to see Sakura finally able to participate in getting back one of her memory feathers. For a long time now, she has either been asleep or just sitting on the sidelines while Syaoran, Kurogane, and Fai do all the work.

Once again, the story and artwork by Clamp is wonderful. I have actually gotten to like the stretched-out look of the characters with their small heads. The action in the first half of the book is fast and furious and I read it at an incredible pace. I was really hoping that Sukura would win the race and was greatly pleased when she did so. Now, as for the mystery of who was sabotaging the race . . . I cannot tell you that. You will have to read the book and find out for yourself.

Overall, Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE: Volume 12 is another excellent addition to an already awesome series. Can it get any better? I guess I will find out when they travel to the next country in Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE: Volume 13.

I rated this book a 9½ out of 10.