Angelic Layer Volume 1

This is my first written review so I'll try my best to make this easy to understand. I have all the Tokyopop volumes and have compared them to this release from Dark Horse. This omnibus features the first two books with half of the 3rd one. It also for some reason contains a bonus comic from volume 5. Why they would include this with the first 2 and a half books is beyond me. It doesn't interfere with the main story, but it just made me think "what? why include this here?". For those of you that have the Tokyopop books, each of the volumes contained at the beginning a "newspaper" of some of the related events in Angelic Layer or other Clamp titles. Don't expect to see them in this omnibus edition because they aren't here. Now whether or not the "newspaper" thing really was in the original Japanese volumes I'm not sure, but they are not in the omnibus. Also the covers for book 2 and 3 are not present in the new omnibus as color pages which I found to be disappointing because I really did like the covers. The same also goes for the back illustration for volumes 2 and 3, they are not present. The size of the book is much smaller than the CCS books from Dark Horse and doesn't have the nice bright white pages. It's more similar to the Chobits release if you want a visual idea of the size. As for the translation, it's pretty much the same as the Tokyopop version with some slight changes here and there. In my opinion, if you have the first 5 books with the color pages included (which I do) then I don't know if I can really recommend getting this omnibus. If you're never read Angelic Layer and don't have the Tokyopop books this isn't really all that bad, just be aware that it's missing a few things.

It was my first time using amazon and the product that was delivered to me was faulty due to some of the words on the edges of the pages were cut off making it hard at times to grasp the conversations and enjoy the book. But they were very understanding when I sent it back and got my money back. Now I am afraid to re-order this book because of having the same result the second time.

I've got the Angelic layer DVD set and was thoroughly entertained and impressed.I've recorded the intro and outro,both sound track and animation.It's an excellent series with some brilliant sequences and scenes.At the time,I watched in English and found no fault.I will now re watch in Japanese,just to compare.......and to enjoy again,of course. So,for me,when I saw the omnibus 1st volume I was soooo taken with the colour inserts that I determined there and then to buy the book but because I'd just bought the 3rd omnibus volume of Genshiken,I had to try and get a discounted one.Luckily enough,I found one on Amazon for just under half price.....,sweet.It was very rewarding to absorb the still pictures in my own time as against the flow of the animation.I realise I can pause and stuff,but the book does come into it's own here.Of COURSE I've scanned most of the colour panels and wanted to scan a lot of the regular pages too,but stopped myself.Hikaru was a computer wallpaper for a while.This was actually my first contact with Clamp although I didn't know it at the time.OBVIOUSLY I've since watched and read Cardcaptor Sakura and find Clamp's masterly abilities up there with the best.One of the surprising things in the series is the way Tamayo greets Kotaro with her trademark judo grip.this makes for some very funny,not to be missed,artwork.I even noticed that they drew an old fashioned 'bead close' purse for Misaki...,yeah,I remember those.Another surprise is when Misaki met Hatoko,She wraps Misaki's naked 'angel' in her handkerchief,with a bow too !! SOO cute. For me,page 48 was the most amazing in the book,where Misaki names Hikaru and she slowly wakes up.....,raggedy hair and all,Fantastic ! Do I recommend it......? OF COURSE I DO !! buy it now...,or else....!!

I was so disgusted by Tokyopop's version of this series years ago I was worried that Dark Horse's version would be just as bad, but after seeing Dark Horse's previous CLAMP titles I figured I had to give it a shot. I must say I am impressed! I love this book. Anita Sengupta's translation is very well done! Like the other CLAMP titles Dark Horse has done a beautiful job on this book and the added bonus color art pages are a nice touch to this omnibus edition. Thank you so much Dark Horse! I will definitely recommend this to any CLAMP manga fan. And if you have never read CLAMP's works this is a perfect title to begin with.

The first Angelic Layer Omnibus contains chapters 1 to 13 plus a couple of short bonus chapters and coloured pages. This is my first time reading this manga. I picked it up because I love CLAMP and Angelic Layer is described as a sort of prequel/spin-off to Chobits. The story is set in the future where there is a popular game called Angelic Layer. In this game, you use your mind to control custom-made robots and make them fight. The main character, Misaki Suzuhara, moves to Tokyo where she is closer to the school she wants to go to. When she first arrives she witnesses Angelic Layer on a screen in the city and instantly falls in love with the game and robots. A weird guy in a lab coat who calls himself Icchan approaches her and helps her buy her own robot egg. From there, she raises her robot, who she names Hikaru, with the help of Icchan and her friends and enters a competition. This being CLAMP, expect some mentions of their previous works in it. (Hikaru being named after after the main character from CLAMP's Magic Knight Rayearth, Icchan singing Cardcaptor Sakura's opening theme, Piffle Princess company appears in many stories too etc.) The characters from Angelic Layer also appear in Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle with other CLAMP characters. The quality isn't as nice as the Cardcaptor Sakura omnibuses but still great for the price. If you're a fan of CLAMP and/or Chobits then you will love this. It can be enjoyed by regular manga readers too, both male and female.