Manga Review: Kobato Vol.3

                                                        Kobato Vol.3 Review

This volume begins with Kobato having a conversation on the phone with the loan shark who is trying to close down Yomogi Kindergarten through this conversation Kobato learns that the loan shark has the same last name as Sayaka-sensei(later on in the volume Kobato learns that the loan shark guy is actually Sayaka-sensei's ex-husband). Kobato decides not to tell Sayaka-sensei about the loan shark's threat to tear down the kindergarten because she doesn't want to make Sayaka-sensei sad or break the promise she made to Fujimoto last volume. Also in this volume Kobato is able to heal the heart of her building manger by letting her know that even after she knew about Sayaka-sensei's problems with the loan shark she still wants to help her and doesn't think badly of her friend.

In this volume there's quite a bit revealed about Ioryogi as well, it's revealed that Ioryogi wasn't always in a form of a stuff animal and that he was put in that form because he caused some trouble a while back. It's also shown that Ioryogi isn't the only one who has been put in a weaker form, there is also a rival of sorts named Ginsei(who appears as a fox with an eye patch), a bear that works in a shop and a bird that works for the bear. It's also revealed that Ioryogi is originally from Tenkai, the heavenly world.

Also in this volume Kobato and Fujimoto grow a bit closer with Fujimoto telling her to call him if she's in any kind of trouble and how she actually notices when he's concerned about her but doesn't want to say that he's concerned. My favorite part was probably when Kobato called Fujimoto about a man in the park with a terrible stomach ache and how Fujimoto rushed down there because he thought she was the one who was hurt, I just loved how worried he was about her. I just really liked how the relationship between these two developed this volume and now I officially ship these two.

I overall loved this volume it's my favorite of the series so far and I can't wait to read the next volume. Also on a kind of random note I think I saw Toya from Cardcaptor Sakura on page 50 but I'm not sure since I don't think those two series take place in the same universe. Please tell me your thoughts on this volume or series as a whole.

Manga Review: Kobato Vol.2

                                                          Kobato Vol.2 Review

The second volume begins with Kobato continuing with her mission to fill her jar with wounded hearts by healing other people so that her wish will be able to be grant.Kobato starts working at the nursery for Sayaka-sensei because she believes that by helping out at the nursery she can heal Sayaka-sensei's wounded heart. Kobato soon learns that Sayaka-sensei is having money troubles and Ioryogi informs that's a problem that Kobato won't be able to solve with simple kindness.

 Kobato is able to unknowingly heal the heart of a boy who attends the nursery by simply telling him he has a great mother. Kobato also heals at least six other people's hearts by helping throw a bazaar at the nursery in order to help Sayaka-sensei pay off her debts. In this volume we learn a lot more about Sayaka-sensei and Kobato's co-worker/neighbor Fujimoto who have known each other for years and have a close relationship. It's also seen that Fujimoto tries to protect Sayaka-sensei and that she took him in over a decade ago.

I continue to enjoy this series that has wonderful art that is to be expect when reading a Clamp series and I love our kind heart and ditzy heroine. I liked this volume more than the last one due to the stories being more interconnected this volume and getting to know more about characters other than Kobato and seeing the relationships forming between all the characters. Please tell me your thoughts on the series.

Manga Review: Kobato V.1

                                                           Kobato V.1 Review

Kobato is a series by Clamp that is about a girl named Kobato who needs to earn bottle then fill it to the brim with broken hearts in order to go to the place she wants to go. For most of the first volume Kobato is tested on her common sense logic by her mentor/stuff animal Ioryogi who has a short temper and a love for beer,in order to earn the bottle. Kobato is a sweet but ditzy girl so while her intentions are always good sometimes she does the wrong thing for the situation.

Towards the end of the volume Kobato earns her bottle and after searching for people's hearts to heal for a couple of days Kobato figures she can help out an owner of a nursery by working for her. I found the artwork to be beautiful just like all of Clamp's series and I found the style to be halfway between Cardcaptor Sakura and Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle. Please tell me your thoughts on the series.