Another procrastinating post

[taotrooper]

Get your own spectral analysis from Area 23®

So reddish. So radish. Radish reddish!

ETA: Oh, adding a rant.

One of CLAMP's main characteristics IS the fact they don't quite repeat themselves in the same genre all over again. Even the works that are alike have different elements and are targeted to different audiences.

Right? Right. I mean, that's why I like them. They like to do different stuff. Even TRC, with all the "repetitive" and "uncreative" fame it has, bears no resemblance to any CLAMP work. It's an adventure shounen manga, despite all the sappy romance going on. XXXHOLiC has strong TB and GD elements, but it's not the same, either.

So, the fact I like several CLAMP works doesn't mean I'm going to like them all. I almost wanted to kill myself when I read one or two chapters of Sucky Suki Dakara Suki, and I'm not touching any CLAMP Campus series besides CCD. That's not my style. There's nothing wrong with that.

But I *know* all works are different, and I investigate about a series, or I read scanlations of it, before buying something. I think the only CLAMP series I bought with no background info and no spoilers was Shin Shunkaden, and it was because I trusted my flist's opinions about it. I was lucky I liked it, but it's not guaranteed you can succeed. There's a high chance you're not going to like a random CLAMP series you bought "because it's CLAMP, and CLAMP is goooood."

Therefore, everytime I see someone at the Dz boards posting threads like this ones: "I just read z series, and it sucked! Does anyone else think the same?" or "I just bought z, and it was [insert list of flaws or things the OP didn't like about it here]. I'm SO DISAPPOINTED! I totally wasted my money!", I want to hit them in the head with my Zero artbook.

Comments

[laurus-nobilis.livejournal.com]

Even the works that are alike have different elements and are targeted to different audiences.

Word! For example, I love CCS but I didn't really like Rayearth (the only thing I liked about it was Clef), even if they're both magical girl series.

... does this mean you won't think I'm nuts if I end up disliking X or TB? Because I'm not really into X so far, even if it's supposed to be CLAMP's Best Of The Best :P

[rainmage.livejournal.com]

Nah, I won't think that. It's strange, though, considering you liked RG Veda in the end. Sort of.

But you have a thinking mind. You're not going to complain on how CLAMP sucks because they did this or that series you didn't like or it's not similar to the one(s) you love. Because you KNOW they're atypical mangakas, and they're not out to fit a certain sector's taste.

[laurus-nobilis.livejournal.com]

considering you liked RG Veda in the end
Well, yes, that's why I want to read all there is of X anyway. It might still surprise me...

[rainmage.livejournal.com]

Ah, you haven't finished? Maybe that explains it. The first volumes were rather slow and dull.

Which was the last one you read?

[laurus-nobilis.livejournal.com]

Five, I think. I really have to keep reading... (And I'm leaving TB for later, because I only found the scans when I had already started X and I don't want to get confused. I'd rather read it as a prequel or something.)

The thing is, I don't like the characters very much so far. At least in RG Veda there were more people I liked.

[rainmage.livejournal.com]

Ah, of course. Things will be different from the 8th and forward. And the characters get more 3-D when you start to know them better. The strongest thing in X are the characters, after all. I know things are boring and shallow at that point, but it does get better.

Still, I might be wrong. You'll have to read and see.