Angelic Layer

(Tokyopop, 2002-2003)
™ and © Tokyopop

The creative team known as Clamp has distinguished itself through the sheer variety of the comics it’s worked on, from the apocalyptic teen angst of X/1999 to the sweet, girly Card Captor Sakura. With Angelic Layer, they’ve crafted something in the “fighting robot” genre, except these ’bots are so adorable, girls will want to play dress-up with them. (Speed Tribe Barbies: Mattel is missing out on a sure thing.)

The slight and silly storyline follows heroine Misaki as she makes friends, makes doll clothes, and goes from knowing absolutely nothing about Angelic Layer to playing the robot fighting game at a championship level — all in one volume. The art here is even simpler and cuter than is usual for Clamp (for no reason, characters can suddenly be rendered as squid-like figures), although the battles between “Angels” are highly detailed and nicely convey the intense action. Girls should find this one a lot of fun.

— S.A. Bennett

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Notes

Writer

Artist

#4

January, 2003
Cover Price: $9.95
1 copy available for $29.98

CLAMP

#5

March, 2003
Cover Price: $9.95
1 copy available for $19.98

CLAMP