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As mysterious forces try to capture/kill them both, they must rely on the help of Kazuhiko's former allies and friends; one of which is a clover himself. But what these friends cannot help unravel is the mysterious link that Sue has to Kazuhiko's dead ex-wife. Could it have something to do with why he was chosen for one last dangerous assignment?
Contrary to the normal "fill the page with action and/or cuteness" tactics, Clover takes a much softer approach. The design could almost be described as sterile, yet the simple overlays and graphical backgrounds on each page melt the icy starkness of the cell structure. This technique strongly conveys the world of Clover; harsh, mechanical, artificial, yet underscored with human elements and emotions.
Extreme attention to detail has been given to both the inner illustrations as well as the front and back covers. The original Japanese front and back covers, complete with original kanji, lurk just below the surface of a shimmering slip cover which features overlaid translations in English. This aura of completeness continues inside as well, as the content remains highly unedited through its translation to the U.S. market. Both sexuality and sensuality dwell just behind the story and provide a wonderful dynamic for an older reader.
This is a very powerful manga that guarantees to please fans both new and old, and most importantly, of both genders. Start or continue your manga collection today by snatching up Clover. As the cover says, "If you find a four-leaf clover, it will bring happiness"; well this Clover has about 128 leaves, so imagine how happy you will be!
-aaron-
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Clover
is not your normal manga. Kazuhiko is a former military man,
who is now filling the role of private detective; but his world is
about to be turned inside out when he is given one last job for the
top brass; the job of a courier. This is no simple package or
letter that he is entrusted with delivering...he must deliver Sue.
Sue is a clover; an experimentally empowered human capable of extraordinary
feats of body and mind. Clovers are divided into different groups,
based on power, and the strongest of these was thought to be three-leaf
clovers. However, it soon becomes clear that Sue is a four-leaf;
probably the first and most definitely the most endangered.
She must be taken to the former amusement grounds, Fairy Park to unravel
more secrets, but getting there will prove to be anything but easy.
Although
this first book can be a little intimidating for the uninitiated manga
reader, due to its vague initial story and unique dialog style, things
soon begin to come clear without your even realizing it. The
fact that it reads left to right (Western) will provide just enough
familiarity to the experience that new fans will soon feel right at
home in Clover.
The
only element present in this release of Clover, that threatens its
complete beauty and artistry, is the typeface used in the English
language. The cover fonts are soft and delicate while the fonts
used inside are stale and bland. However, in the grand scheme
of things, it is barely noticeable and basically not consequential.
I found myself immediately going back through this book, page by page,
merely looking at the illustrations and discovering new and wonderful
things; during which the text played no role at all.