CLAMP Premium Collection Tokyo Babylon, Vol. 1

I am one of the few who do not enjoy Tokyo Babylon. When I read this manga over ten years ago, I was not feeling it. My understanding of the story’s content and direction is limited. I disagree on certain aspects. To begin with, the jokes are not funny, and I tire of them pretty quickly. Also, I do not enjoy the art, especially the action scenes. CLAMP does not depict events; instead, they apply speed lines to their pages. While manga encourages readers to use their imagination, there is not a lot for them to engage with.



It helps neither that the characters are not very interesting. Subaru Sumeragi is pleasant, but he is a pushover and has no real character and lacks depth. He often appears passive, responding to events instead of leading the story. Because of this, it’s tough to connect with him or feel invested in his journey.



The romance between Subaru and Seishiro is disgusting. Why is a 20-something-year-old romancing a sixteen-year-old? It has an unsettling dynamic. It damages any chance of depth in their relationship. The weak development in their interactions creates an exploitative and unconvincing romance. This damages the overall story. Having Subaru’s sister cheer for their relationship makes the situation worse.



Clamp’s early works irritate me for this reason. How they portray romantic relationships between adults and children. These portrayals can make unhealthy and inappropriate relationships seem normal. This is especially true for younger audiences, who are more impressionable. They may reinforce harmful stereotypes about love and consent. This can damage viewers' understanding of healthy relationships. Also, these stories can numb audiences to bad behavior. So, it’s important for creators to handle sensitive topics with care and responsibility.



World-building cannot enhance the story’s progress. It often discovers as a distraction. This slows the story and detracts from the main plot. Readers may lose interest if world-building does not connect to character growth or main themes. They might also question how it fits into the story. In this situation, as it pertains to me.



Do I recommend this manga to someone who is new to CLAMP? I would not suggest this manga to anyone. I dislike series that do not balance world-building, character development, and plot progression. A new reader might feel overwhelmed by this manga, especially if they are not familiar with CLAMP’s style. It might not engage them fully, making it a poor starting point for their work.