▪	RELEASED BY:		DEL REY
		▪	AUTHOR / ART:		CLAMP
		▪	FORMAT:		JAPANESE  / BW
		▪	PAGES:		195
		▪	RATING:		T
		▪	RELEASE DATE:		06/26/2007
		▪	REVIEW DATE:		07/09/2007
		▪	REVIEWED BY:		CHRISTOPHER SEAMAN

Every adventure has a point where the story takes a brief pause, like an intake of air before the beginning of a great race, and the characters shift out of focus briefly while the action is set for the next adventure.  Volume 13 of TSUBASA, created by Clamp which, in addition to this tale and CARDCAPTOR SAKURA, has given us other titles like X1999, MAGIC KNIGHTS RAYEARTH, and CHOBITS, has done precisely that, and in the process has created possibly the most moving story yet in this epic tale.

TSUBASA continues to span worlds of mystery and wonder in its’ quest like plot featuring returning characters like CARDCAPTOR SAKURA’s Syaoran and Sakura as our heroes on a journey to find lost memories cruelly taken from Sakura by dark forces as yet only hinted at.  In Volume 13, our travelers arrive in the country of Recort, containing the biggest library ever seen.  Syaoran and Sakura, lovers of knowledge, are drawn to the place, which, as much as the country looks like a stylized version of old London, the library itself looks like the Royal Albert Hall, a concert venue there.  Inside, are more books than Syaoran has ever seen.  Yet, when Kurogane pulls one off the shelf, he notices nothing is written inside.  Syaoran, curious about this, takes a look at the book himself and is promptly whisked away into the text, where he becomes a passive observer of events in what appears to be the early life of Kurogane.  Where Kurogane saw nothing in the pages of the book, Syaoran can see, in writing he understands, the life story of his warrior ally written out as clear as day.  As Syaoran flips through the pages, he literally speeds through the narrative of Kurogane’s early days, explaining much about why this warrior is the way he is. 

It is a remarkable story in that it packs an emotional punch and stands apart from the more action based adventures to date.  In advancing the quest for the feathers containing Sakura’s lost memories, it does not seem to do much as yet.  Perhaps in a later volume, though, what Syaoran learns about Kurogane will shape the outcome of another crisis facing the feather gang.  As is stands, though, it is proof that Clamp is a masterful team with the ability to develop great stories and shift gears when necessary to give readers more of an emotional rather than physical punch.  To this reviewer, it is breathed new life into this epic quest, and has left open some interesting new plot potential for the future.   

As in all the volumes so far, Clamp’s art is bold, beautifully stylized and perfectly complementary to the needs of the story.  As the tone in this tale is darker than in some other volumes, the drawing and inking have changed as well.  One can only imagine how this segment will look in the anime series, now becoming available in North America.   As in other Del Rey releases, the story has excellent notes at the end and a teaser that assures us that it’s back to normal in Volume 14, and we can expect more heavy, not featherweight action for our intrepid cast of characters.

IN SUMMARY:
TSUBASA VOLUME 13 will thrill audiences with its expert blending of adventure, heart-rending drama, and shattering action.  The exciting odyssey of Sakura and Syaoran as they journey across worlds of adventure and mystery in search of feathers that can restore Sakura’s memory to health is a must have manga for fans of Clamp and readers of adventure quests the world over.