Interest

Book on CLAMP Meets Kickstarter Target (Updated)

Update - By the end of March 2022, the Kickstarter had £5,321 pledged compared to its £2,800 goal, meaning that it had met both stretch goals, an audio book version and extending the print run from 100 to 200 copies.

A Kickstarter funding the publication of a new book on the works of the CLAMP manga artists, whose many manga include Chobits, pictured right, has passed its £2,800 target. Entitled CLAMPdown, the new book has already been written by Ian Wolf, a reviewer for the Anime UK News website and previously a manga reviewer for the UK print magazine MyM.

The Kickstarter, which runs until March 31, has now turned to two stretch goals: one to produce an audio version of the book (£600) and the other to increasing the print run of the book from 100 to 200 copies (£600); there are more details here.

CLAMPdown will be published by the publisher Sixth Element, based in Billingham, County Durham. The book should be ready in late July or early August, though Wolf adds there is a possibility of delay if there is any major news involving CLAMP in the coming months.

Wolf describes his book on the Kickstarter page as follows:

"CLAMPdown is a comedic guide to CLAMP, the most famous group of manga (Japanese comic) authors. Between them these four women have worked since the 1980s, making works in multiple genres, including children's stories, romance, science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, apocalyptic fiction, supernatural tales and lesbian erotica...

"Many works will concentrate on the plot elements or the artwork, and while these are obviously covered, CLAMPdown also covers other elements of their work – why do so many of CLAMP's characters end up losing an eye? How come Magic Knight Rayearth, a series set in a fantasy world with no automobiles, makes constant references to cars? And why did the British Museum decide it was a good idea to put a blown-up cover of CLAMP's soft-core lesbian sex comedy Miyuki-chan in Wonderland (anime version pictured left) at the entrance of their manga exhibit in 2019?..."

"CLAMPdown will be released as a paperback and as an eBook. The paperback will be printed on B6 size paper, sized 182x128mm paper, so it matches the size of standard Japanese print manga volume (tankobon). Bookmarks will also be created which will match with the cover.

"The entire book has been written, and has been fact-checked with the help of Brazilian CLAMP blogger Alex Mendonça, better known as Chibi Yuuto, and the hosts of the American podcast CLAMPcast in Wonderland, Lucy Softich and Robin Kaplan."

CLAMPcast in Wonderland interviewed Ian Wolf here. The book also has a related Twitter feed, including links to the text of the Introduction and the first chapter.