X/1999

While it is obvious that the world has survived AD 1999, when this manga was first published, i.e. before 1999, the question on everyone's mind was - Was 1999 Armageddon? But like a cynical friend of mine said then 'As it is prophesized that Armageddon will come when you least expect it, everyone's belief that 1999 is "IT" will obviously prevent 1999 from being Armageddon, right?' Guess she was on the dot.

But just for the fun of it, pretend that it is now November 1999 … the clock is winding down … will year 2000 arrive … or will the world be destroyed?

subaru

Now that you are in the right mode of mind … put yourself in Kamui's shoes … you were a happy care-free kid six years ago. You grew up in Tokyo with your loving mother … a very sweet lady, and 2 friends. The sister is your sweetheart, and the brother is your best pal, what more can a kid ask for?

Suddenly, six years down the road, after you are forced to part with your friends … you watch your mother get fried to a crisp out of the blue … sh***y isn't it? You are harassed by nuts you hardly knew when you return to Tokyo .. each of the two camps pressing you to decide if you will save the human race and destroy the ecology or vice versa? Throw in the fact that when you meet up with your two childhood pals and decide to protect them at all cost, your best pal Fuma is possessed by the other side of you - the angel (since it is fated that he will be possessed by the side of you - you reject, and choose the camp you turn down). Possessed, he - Kamui the angel kills you sweetheart - his own sister!

The whole deal is this … you have two sides to you, and your pal Fuma is your twin in destiny. On one hand, you Kamui (the angel) (Kamui translated means person who will decide the fate of the world or something like that) will save the earth, rid it of the human race and restore its ecology. On the other hand Kamui (the seal) will save and preserve the human race. Choose to be an angel and Fuma will become Kamui the seal … choose to be a seal and he will end up as Kamui the angel … either way you look at it … Fuma will disappear and the babe will die! Tough luck!

If I were Kamui (and trust me his troubles don't just end there, duh that was like only the tip of the iceberg), I would just go hide and wake up in the middle of the next century!!!

X/1999 is basically about how the world will survive the millennium. Kamui is legended to be the decisive factor in the fate of the world … will the seven angels prevail over the seven seals and destroy the human race? Will the seven seals protect the human race even if it must be at the expense of the planet? Only the seven seals can create seals to protect Tokyo … the city which determines the fate of the human race. Only the seven angels can destroy those seals to relieve the planet's suffering … heavy stuff but excellent manga from CLAMP. Linked to Tokyo Babylon and Clamp Campus, X/1999 is both an excellent story on its own, as well as a continuation of the earlier two works.

X/1999 is characteristic of Mokona Apapa's dark and distinctive style … very tragic, very compelling! Just look at the earlier classics RG Veda and Tokyo Babylon. Her latest work Clover differs slightly tho' … equally tragic and intensive, but presented in a different style.

 

One word of caution … do not watch the anime until you read the manga … coz you will wonder throughout the show what the heck is going on - it presupposes you know the story of X/1999.

And may I recommend these really great X pages - Rabi's X Page and the frog
Author - CLAMP (presently 4 very talented ladies, see also CCS)



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