Possibly my faveorite....no scratch that, IS my faveorite work from the everchanging shojo team Clamp.
Among the more popular titles like Chobits, and Sakura, poor Suki is often shoved aside or not even known of. This is truly a Gem for any collector of Clamp's titles, or romance lovers.
Suki meaning to like, or in the japanese title: Suki, dakara...suki! (I like you, therfore...I like you!) follows the tale of Hinata Asahi.
Hinata or Hina as she prefers to be called, is your average fifteen year old girl, she likes kittens, collecting tebby bears alongside her two memento teddys from her deceased mother: Waka and Tono, and has Excellent grades. Living alone in a large empty house upon her father's permission Hina is perfectly normal and otherwise happy. If not very naive. Our story opens on a snowy night while Hina observes someone moving into the house next to hers. A mishap later and she comes to meet 32 year old Shirou Asou. Not only is the quiet man her new neighboh, but is surprisingly enoughe her new teacher aswell. As Hina's curiosity gets the better of her, Tomo and Emi her two closest friends grow all the more concerned for her, who is unaware of the danger surrounding Shiro.
Suki is to put it bluntley, suspenceful and chilling. Clamp's other works are lighthearted and full of fantastic settings and elaborate charecter design. Suki is far from an average Clamp title, taking on a more realistic, plain style, and an unsettleingly realistic plot. The charm of the other works however dose remain, but is entwined in a dark plot. Two key points are presented: The familiar plot that only Clamp can pull off so well, discovering one's self and feelings. Hina's story leads her not only as a simply dynamic charecter discovering her feelings as most charecters (Nameley CCS), but matures in a very different way. It paints a clear picture of realization, acceptance and showing true love. Being happy for whom you love even at the cost of your own happiness.
The next point and the one that singles Suki far away from the rest, is the darker and much more chilling aspect. That of being in danger and not knowing. Hina is naive and loving, her best and worst qualities. Loving to a fault one could say. Optimistic, Hina seems ditzy and airheaded to the cynical reader, but further examination and eventual story explanations show that althoughe not a facade, Hina's unatural cheerfulness is her way of forgetting a dark, and sad past. Sadly enoughe her efforts to be happy in forgetfulness, land her in situations all to similar, and with Shiro'd presence, all the more dangerous.
Emotionally stunning with equally stunning depictions of very real emotions, rom Hina's soul searching, to the worry and fear her friend's have for her wellbeing.
Its probably just me, but the dark empty house, the two teddy bears who sit near the door as Hina's only bidders of a welcome, and farewell from her day-to-day routines, and even the disturbingly sadistic tone that can be read from shiro's 'aquaintence' Tomo all add to the dark atmosphere.
"They never hurt you did they Hina-chan?"
'No they were usually nice to me...did they hurt you?'
"..."
-Tomo to Hina at the cafe
See what I mean? Ok mabey not.
This three book series, is both well paced to keep you wanting more, keep the suspence, and emotional scenes are timed just right. A satisfiying ending to those who appreciate the different tone. But for those looking for another high class adventure with wicked detail to outfits and crazy romance pairings...this may not be for you.
Lain was my first introduction to a darker aspect in Anime, and the surrealism of animation, my second dip into the beautiful artwork of my idol Abe Yoshitoshi who did all the promotional art, charector design, and DvD cover art. And Lain's opening introduced me to the UK band boa who performed 'Duvet' as the show's equally surreal and beautiful to boot opening song.
Even if you aren't a fan of the show, Abe's work is worth the purchase and price of this book. You won't be dissapointed. Out of the many Artbooks I've come to own this is by far the nicest I own, no not of my biased love for this guy, but the quality of the pictures and printing. The translations aren't too shabby either.
Abe's detailed work brings us even deeper into the dark troubled future young Lain knows as her own time. A future modled not to far from our own time as of right now. In a story driven on loose ends, unraveled identity, unfinished questions and answer that don't seem to really exist, the feel of the story is hard to grasp and put to image. ABe dose this flawlessly with his somewhat inaccurate to the scrutinizing eye, but beautiful aesthetic earthral feeling style. The dark tones, beautiful shading, truly detail and present 'Lain' in the best way possible. I'd provide scans but TheO has been a hassle fpr me and oictures as of late so please bear with a photo for now. A simple search or even checking out some of the sections on the website 'Thoughts on SE: Lain' will give plenty of example of the artwork found in this wonderful book.
Enjoy, as I always do, for ABe's amazing work on this book and series
