Gate7 - CLAMP

Finally, it's here! Well, here in the web, I mean, because we're not so lucky to get it published in Indonesia. A new title from CLAMP, Gate7~

The talk about it has began in mid-2009, but the pilot (or Chapter 0) was not published until December 2010 and the first chapter appeared in February 2011 edition of Jump SQ.

the Story:

Between our conscious, waking world and the subconscious state of slumber, there is a thinly veiled plane of lucid dreaming. While the conscious state belongs to individuals, the hidden plane of dreams is one shared by all human minds, past, present, and future. Yet only a few have ever possessed the power to enter this secret realm at will - where a war is being waged to control the waking world. For our earthly wishes and desires are not our own, but under the manipulation of these unseen masters of dreams.
(-from mangaupdates-)

As a history lover, Chikahito traveled to Kyoto to see ancient temples, antique statues and shrines. What he found instead is a whole new world where monsters appeared and a girl slayed them. After a strings of event, he moved in with the girl and her two companions....

A mix between action, supernatural beliefs with yin-yang concept (they called it Solar and Lunar genus), beautiful character design, aannd.. new pairing for fujoshi-tachi. C'mon, you know you want it XDD

the Art:

Clamp use new drawing style on Gate7. Should I be happy or not? It would take some times to get used with photo manip as background. Really, CLAMP? I hope they would limit it on historical sites. On the other hand, although this seems impossible, they managed to increase the sexiness of the male charas.. I drooled when I read the pilot chapter XDD


the Characters:

• Takamoto Chikahito, a student, recently moved to Kyoto. On the previous occasion, he met two strange people plus a cute girl who boldly kissed him...
  

He always speaks loudly, freaks a lot and sheds tears, how adorable is that? XD I think it's refreshing to see a chara who openly show their feeling. He had this 'useless main chara' auras, but maybe he's just pretending (we'll never know) and he's definitely good at the kitchen or at least knows how to make good coffee. It's CLAMP after all :D

• Hana, cat-like girl with small body and possibly older than her look. CLAMP said that she's a high school student. She's really really really cute, but don't be fooled because she is very proficient with weapons and magic. It's not hard to believed that Hana's charm is the cause of Chikahito's transfer to Kyoto.

• Sakura. He is the easy-going type. Tall and sturdy, but his cooking is amazing. And the person is definitely hot ♥

At first I thought he is the bad-boy type, but then he stated that he is the Lunar type and Tachibana is the Solar one. Makes sense. He acted as the calm leader for the party. And that gorgeous silver hair does fit a lunar image....

• Tachibana. The beautiful and slender type. I swore I've seen him somewhere.. um, oh yeah, he's like an older version of Subaru Sumeragi :D

He looked cool and didn't do much talking, but his Solar attributes were seen here and there, especially with his impatience towards Chikahito.

Tachibana and Sakura acted like Hana's brothers and they helped her to fight by creating kekkai (encirclement) and weapons. What role Chikahito has in this setting, we have to wait for the next development...



credits:
mangaupdates.
Raw-Bunko.
chibiyuuto.livejournal.com

*) some facts might have never be mentioned on the manga and they are purely based on my attempt to read between Clamp's lines.