New manga obsession unlocked! Magical girls as a genre will never miss. CLAMP is such an amazing team, and Magic Knight Rayearth is definitely one of their best masterpieces. A manga that centers girls as magic wielders, this one definitely reminded me a bit of Inuyasha, Sailor Moon, and Witch Hat Atelier, but it's definitely a distinctive piece of work. Melissa Tanaka's translation is also smooth and hilarious.

Many thanks to Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for the e-ARC!

This manga is a classic for a reason ! I've been a huge fan of Rayearth for years, and finally decided to give the series a read again, and I was thorougly impressed. Firsly CLAMPs art and storytelling are exquisite and theres reasons why they are some of my fav Mangakas in the business. I adore all 3 of our leads (although Hikaru will always be my fav) and I love the way it blends isekai with magical girl tropes to give us some fantastic classic shojo.
Really need to just binge the rest of the series when I can.

we’re diving into one of the best Shojo titles in manga today, CLAMP’s Magic Knight Rayearth Part One: Book One. It is one of the classic isekai tales that uses a traditional coming-of-age formula and is considered to be CLAMP’s Masterwork. Magic Knight Rayearth has brought forth a sequel, two anime adaptations, an OVA, and several video games. CLAMP is known for its other work such as Cardcaptor Sakura, Angelic Layer, Chobits, xxxHolic, and Tsubasa.

What started as a normal field trip to Tokyo Tower, turned into a trip beyond time and space as three girls found themselves transported to a world called Cefiro, thanks to Princess Emeraude, who used the last of her strength. Following the prophecy, the three girls become magic knights, who must save the princess and Cefiro.

If you’re looking for a book to introduce someone to the Isekai Genre, Magic Knight Rayearth is the perfect book for new readers and ones who are up for a nostalgic walk down memory lane. In my case, I am a first-time reader of this series. This is a title that has it all. Magical Girls, Giant Mech Fights, and a meld of Fantasy and Science Fiction mixed.

To this day, the story still holds up strong in this iconic manga. It may feel outdated to some, but it was one of the first isekai titles on the market, a formula that is still used to this day. The first volume does a great job of setting up the world and the lore, but felt rushed in certain situations. I enjoyed how Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu are written, each character is opposite from the other but is driven by the same goal, to save the Princess and prove themselves against Zagato. One other thing that is the most enjoyable about the story is how simple the plot is, it’s simple enough for a new reader to jump in.

Aside from the writing, the artwork is phenomenal, each scene, action sequences, and layouts are well-drawn. The world of Cefiro looks amazing. From the creatures to the beings who inhabit it, Magic Knight Rayearth Book One certainly won me over. I haven’t read their work (aside from reading about Cardcaptor Sakura) but I will look into their work more.

This was so wonderful to dive back into. This takes me back to the years of Sailor Moon and Card Captor Sakura. Brava Clamp!

Thank you to Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this manga. Boy, as someone who became invested in the anime/manga world using magical girl stories, I needed to read this story somehow, but the hardcovers were the only type of medium available, so I am grateful to Kodansha for making this story more accessible. Anyhow, to the story itself, I most definitely want to put this in my collection due to the artstyle (I mean CLAMP is amazing), but also because it is a unique way to interpret the magical girl subgenre along with the traveling to another world. I think the characters are relatable and currently not caricatures of people, but where it ended made me frustrated because I wanted more!!!! Overall, though, if you are like me and have been sleeping on this series now is the time to get it. 5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

Magic Knight Rayearth is a /classic/ isekai that uses the format (that nowadays is more commonly used for wish fulfillment or a male power fantasy) to write a nuanced coming of age story. Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu are a delight. It's easy to see what archetypes they fit into the moment you see them, but they develop beyond that and are fully fleshed out characters before you know it. I love the evolution system with regards to the girls' weapons and how it grows based on their character development. It's very tasty and it makes any advancements in their abilities feel really earned (as opposed to a lot of isekai that's just like... I grinded on low level slimes for a while and now I'm near invincible).

I would say that one thing I'm not totally fond of is the fact that Emeraude has such a childlike design especially because of the romance thing going on with her and Zagato. The hundred+ year old loli is a really tired trope and CLAMP is guilty of taking "love is love" a little too far sometimes when it comes to age gaps.

Ultimately, I'm glad that they're reprinting this series because it's a gem among other isekai manga.

Magic Knight Rayearth is THE perfect introduction to the Isekai genre. Having previously enjoyed Clamp’s work through random episodes of Cardcaptor Sakura during my childhood and delving into the manga version last year, Magic Knight Rayearth offered me a blend of familiarity and novelty.

While Cardcaptor Sakura is a delight, Magic Knight Rayearth distinguishes itself through its awe-inspiring paneling, page flow, and artistry, reaching a level that I consider nothing short of classic. I also appreciate how the narrative introduces compelling queer and political undertones, complemented by captivatingly campy scenes.

The only bummer is that the book ends way too soon, leaving us hanging with limited details about the lore and few reasons why we should root for Fuu, Umi, and Hikaru. What’s good though is that it demands the reader to delve deeper into the series, promising an evolution in worldbuilding and character development.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the digital ARC in exchange for this honest review .

Classics never get old, but what if they get an update such as a new translation of CLAMP’s masterpiece Magic Knight Rayearth?

I’ve always been a fan of the anime adaptation, but I must admit that in all those years I’ve never read the manga. This time, however, I didn’t let the opportunity pass me by, because the teenager in me came back in full force and demanded that I read it without a second thought! I don’t know about you, but I always listen to my inner voice—especially if it comes from the past and gets angry—and, as practically always, it never disappoints me. Just as the three middle school students are suddenly transported into a magical world, readers are also drawn into a mythical story from the very first page. Fast paced but packed with action and laughter, if you are a video game enthusiast, like me, you’ll find that the references one of the heroines keeps making to RPGs are spot on! How about it, would you like to experience a vibrant adventure, meet bizarre characters—not to mention one of the cutest!—and find yourself in a legendary (game) world?

Don’t waste precious time, Cefiro is in grave danger and needs not only the help of the magic knights, but also your support, the prophecy says so—or maybe it’s me.

This was such a nostalgic read for me. I never got a chance to read the manga but I did watch the anime. Reading this was just like watching the anime again.

The story is about three young girl's who get transported to a magical world to become magical knights. The first volume follows Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu as they are given their powers and their first task of finding material for their weapons.

Magic Knight Rayearth is one of the first magical girl anime/manga that I was introduced to as a kid. I love the concept of the young girl's having to fight with magic and swords. I wanted to be them. The artwork is gorgeous which is not surprising considering this comes from Clamp studio.

Though this is made for a younger audience, I don't feel like the writing is dumbed down. I believe that this can be enjoyed by people of all ages. I recommend this to anyone who loves magical girl anime/manga. Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for giving me an eARC of volume 1 of Magic Knight Rayearth.

I was checking out NetGalley’s offerings and I came across this re-release of Magic Knight Rayearth, by CLAMP. CLAMP, of course, is the group that brought us Cardcaptor Sakura, Angelic Layer, Chobits, xxxHolic, Tsubasa, and soooo many other great (and beautiful) stories.

The story follows three young girls, Hikaru, Fuu, and Yumi, who happen to meet at Tokyo Tower during their school’s field trips. From there, they are transported to the magical world of Cephiro and charged with saving its princess before they can return home. To do so, they’re gifted with magic armor and weapons, and have to prove themselves against Zagato, who took the princess.

The e-book I was generously offered by NetGalley, CLAMP, and Kodansha Comics is the first volume out of six. It’s a re-release with an updated translation and a special font they created for the 25th anniversary (I refuse to do the math and feel old with this). I particularly appreciated that there were translation comments at the end of the book. Translating is such a hard thing to do, and sometimes some references can’t be properly translated, so these notes are always welcome.

I love CLAMP’s artwork, they’re extremely detailed, but it still comes off delicate. The action scenes don’t get muddled with too many lines (which can definitely happen). I hope to find this release in the wild to finish reading this series, which I loved so much when I was younger.

This was a really enjoyable manga! We start off with our main character Hikaru visiting Tokyo tower where she runs into two other girls and then all three are suddenly called forth by the trapped princess to another world called Cefiro. Thus begins our magical knight adventure for our three main girls: Hikaru, Fuu, and Umi.

What I liked:
- the art is really good (it really holds up over time, seeing as I’m reading the 25th anniversary edition)
- the characters: I like the different personalities of the three girls. I particularly find Fuu to be very funny and I like the no nonsense attitude of Umi. I like how Hikaru is such a little animal lover
- the creatures: both the animals and the monsters are really cool looking and have interesting and different designs
- the plot: while not being the most original or complex plot, it is still very enjoyable because it’s nice and fun to read
- the world: I love fantasy so I think the world of Cefiro is really cool.

I’m excited to read the rest of the series and I think I would like to have physical copies of this series.

Thank you to netgalley, the publishers, and the author/artist for the ARC I read.

Do you want to read something that gives you all the nostalgia? Magic Knight Rayearth is the manga for you. You've never read it? That's okay. It'll feel familiar to you because it's A: done by CLAMP and B: old enough that you've probably read or watched something by now that had taken inspiration from this or one of the other CLAMP properties. The good thing about CLAMP is that you already know if you're going to be a fan or not. You already know what to expect. So why are you listening to me? Pick it up if you're a fan, pass on it if you're not.

This was my first CLAMP manga and I really enjoyed it. The story and the characters are quite simple from todays standpoint but the formula still works and makes for a fun time.
The worldbuilding was a little overwhelming but the art style carried me through the book.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this a lot!!! Beautiful art and a great and super engaging story. I loved the characters and that there were so many different kinds of fantasy creatures!! From small and cute (looking like a Pokemon :)!) to awe-inspiring gigantic!

Princess Emeraude is trapped by Lord Zagato, an evil high priest. With her final powers, she asks the Magic Knights for help. And that’s when it happens… Fuu, Umi and Hikaru, who are on a field trip at Tokyo Tower, fall through the floor into a fantasy world called Cefiro, onto a giant flying fish hah. And guess what? They need to become the Magic Knights and save Cefiro!

This was so much fun!!! And so cool! I can’t wait to read the next one, to see how the side quest they are on will end!

I feel like there’s so much more to discover and we got a nice taste of it in this first volume. I had a blast reading this!

Rayearth! One of the big players in the golden age of isekai and honestly I wish a lot of modern isekai was closer to these old school roots. I haven't read Rayearth in like 10 years or so and getting to read this freshened up translation is a treat!

In short, three high school girls are summoned into a world of magic as the "Legendary Magic Knights" to save said world! The story is fairly straightforward in this volume 1 and the girls are likable and different, and the art as is expected of CLAMP is just (chef's kiss).

Thank you to Kodansha and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for this e-arc!

I am already a fan of CLAMP as some of their works continue to be influential throughout the anime and manga community. This series was one that I had heard of but hadn't had the chance to read or watch. I decided to go with the manga since it is being reprinted in paperback and I'm likely to pick it up the physicals. In Magic Knight Rayearth, we follow three girls as they are transported to another world and told they are to become legendary knights. In order for them to go home, they have to defeat the villain and rescue the princess of Cefiro. I enjoyed reading this first volume and look forward to how things will progress in the plot. If you haven't read any CLAMP works, this series could be for you. If you are already a fan, I would still check this series out if you like magic and Isekai story elements.

This was excellent!!

I started reading this series last summer and probably made it about halfway through what is considered volume two. It is honestly just as good as when I first read it back then!

The art is INCREDIBLE and the storytelling is so engaging! I absolutely love all three girls and how powerful the story is! This one line sums it up well:

"The heart that believes is the greatest power here."

SO. GOOD!

I'm excited about the latest character we met and really looking forward to dive into the next volume!

Also I will say that buying these special editions was totally worth it because seeing the art "blown up" has really made me pause and appreciate all the gorgeous art!

Oh, now this is nostalgic! I haven't read Magic Knight Rayearth since the 90s. It's nice to see it back again and getting a gorgeous clean translation like this.

The story itself is a bit immature and best suited to middle school; it's hard to give a real rating on it with this much nostalgia, but I found it mostly held up to my memories of it, at least!

I remember reading a single issue of MAGIC KNIGHT RAYEARTH when I was a kid, and I was blown away by the beautiful drawings and artistry of CLAMP. To see that this is being republished in such an awesome way was so, so cool. The characters are beautiful, the story is both timeless and exciting, and the connections between the main characters is so wonderful as they discover their magic abilities and fight for justice. Such a great read!

My affection for this series is composed of 80% nostalgia and 20% actual manga quality. I loved magical girls when I was a child and CLAMP comics where one of my favorites - their style was impeccable, big eyed heroines gorgeous and dark haired bishonens embodied the ideal of mysterious troubled men. This hasn't changed, although I'm more critical of 90s shoujos - I see how naive and vibe driven they were. Plot very often doesn't make sense, but to be honest, I don't care. Reading MKR again was like being transported back to my childhood and for that I'm grateful. I really appreciate translator's notes at the end (I'm not sure if they were there in the previous edition), they provided me with extra cultural context.