Tokyo Babylon was the first CLAMP manga I completed I had read a few volumes of Cardcaptor Sakura a few years previously and even after finishing their entire biography I still think its the best thing theyve ever written. Following 16 year old Onmyouji Subaru Sumeragi his twin sister Hokuto and their veterinarian friend Seishirou Sakurazuka Tokyo Babylon explores social issues such as victimblaming elder abuse predatory cults and much more through the lens of the supernatural. From a technical strictly literary point of view its very well composed the first chapter fumbles a little trying to a bit too hard to be jokey but it finds its footing early on and each new case brings interesting philosophical and social musings. While the caseoftheweek format may appear overly disconnected CLAMP manages to smoothly ties them into the preexisting thematic and chracter development making the story develop in an organic way. Tokyo itself is almost a character in this manga a beautiful city that glitters in the light and yet its inhabitants are abandoned their dreams crushed by reality. The aspiring actress kills herself once her efforts are revealed to be futile teenage girls hurt others in delusions of grandeur a mother goes insane as her children succub to sickness. Tokyo babylon is first and foremost a tragedy of the modern age and it never lets you forget that. Characterwise all three of the main trio shine in their own ways gradually revealing deeper character traits as the story goes on. Subaru is presented as very kindhearted almost an angel in the body of a teenage boy. Yet as the story progresses his confrontations with the ugliness of Tokyo and situations where kindness is not only incapable of solving things but may possible makke them worse we see him change and grow and his previous love of helping others is gradually recontextualised as something deeply harmful to himself at one point wanting to donate a kidney an operation that could possibly kill him to someone hes barely known for a few days. Hokuto at first appears extremely frivolous obsessed with fashion and matchmaking yet she is shown to possess deep compassion and understanding for others her matchmaking an attempt to find someone for her brother that will pull him off his selfdestructive path. Seishirou Sakurazuka appears almost incongrous at first hes a friendly joking veterinarian who is constanly trying to woo Subaru and yet Hokuto offhandedly suggests him being part of the Sakurazukamori mortal enemies of the Sumeragi something he almost immediatedly deflects in hindsight she should have pressed that point more. Often taking on a sinister appearance as he manipulates things behind the scene and making occasional references to a mysterious Bet that seems to be ongoing he also acts quite different when hes alone with Subaru regularly discussing with him questions of morality. Seishirou and Subarus relationship is also very wellconstructed the initial setup of an older man pursuing a teenaged boy is one that at first is deeply uncomfortable but them working together and the talks they have about morality and life Seishirou playing the role of the cynic while Subaru is more of an idealist serve to flesh out their relationship and Subarus eventual falling in love with him. What makes Tokyo Babylon truly stand out however is its ending. Oh the ending. This manga deserves a highquality anime adaptation unfortunately GoHands screwed it over.