Magic Knight Rayearth II Volume 2

I found that the second Magic Knight Rayearth had a lot more depth and development than the first one. MKR1 had very little character development and lots of action, and it was only in the end that it didn't seem to follow a basic good vs. evil plot. In the second one the (former) magic knights gather at the Tokyo tower for a reunion and fall back into Cephiro. Odd thing is, no one knows who summoned them this time around- but it's good that they showed anyway. After they returned to Tokyo, the magic knights left Cephiro pillar-less, and when they return a year later a new one still hasn't been found. As a result, the once magnificent country has become a sea of turbulent rock that is slowly crumbling away. The greatest mages in Cephiro have built a fortress haven for their people, but it will only hold for so long. To make matters worse, three hostile countries are encroaching upon Cephiro, with leaders intent on becoming it's pillar. These are Fahren, a mystic land ruled by a childlike empress who would turn Cephiro into a candy land for her amusement, Chizeta, a small Arabian style desert pardise ruled by twins who hope to expand their small country's borders for their parents, and Autozam, a highly technological civilization that wants to figure out how Cephiro is so unpolluted as their own planet slowly dies from it's pollution. Through it all theres a lot more discourse between characters which reveal more about them, and some flashback scenes from before when the magic knights arrived. Don't worry, there's still plenty of slam-bang action on the part of the mechs (Selece,Windom and Rayearth), but theres also a lot more thought about Cephiro's pillar system. Is it right to find a pillar when they would have to give up everything, and is a land truly beautiful when the only way to save it is sacrifice? Multiple characters propose the idea that maybe Cephiro shouldn't be saved, and that it's awful system should die with it.......

The boxed set is great! The box is beautiful, (and has a picture of Eagle Vision on it which is enough to make anything look good)and the bonus booklet has really cute pictures, but don't read it until you finish the series or it'll ruin some of the story. It is supposed to be a paper doll, and collector cards booklet, but you have to cut out everything with a pair of scissors as there is no indentation to help you cut it out. I didn't bother cuz they're good enough just to look at, like any CLAMP work. The box is nice and sturdy, and the only thing I don't like is the cover artwork on the books. Instead of cool pictures of the girls, there are just the pictures of the Mashin, meccha form. Another thing that's interesting is that there are lot's of pictures of the Magic Knights in cool outfits, with neat armor. But they never get that stuff in the manga. Also, in this series, their armor and swords don't evolve again. Too bad. However, in the special CLAMP chapter at the end of the book, you get to learn about their pet cat that always gets in their way and causes them lots of trouble. But she's sooo cute! The second series of the MKR manga is set a year after the first series ended, making it a total of six books in all! (If only there were twenty instead, sigh....) Hikaru, Umi and Fuu have returned to Cephiro, but no one knows who summoned them! But it's agood thing they came cuz, once again, Cephiro is in danger!

I love this series. It is more serious than the last (yes even Umi). But it is filled with a rich story full of its own funny moments. This is a MUST HAVE for people who have read the first series. Other good series by clamp are Wish and Angelic Layer. If your a CLAMP fan or even a Manga fan you must get the Rayearth Series!

This is a wonderful series by clamp!..my favorite!! in this exciting piece of the story...you find out a little more about Lantis...and Hikaru..once again has sum surprises...to find out more...you'll have to read it yourself!..i hope you enjoy this fantasy tale as much as do!

Magic Knight Rayearth is one of the mangas I've ever read! The art is totally amazing! It's funny, cute, and (though I'm a girl) guys can read it, too! It's about three girls, Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu. They are suddenly sucked from earth and land in a strange world called, Cephiro. Then they are told to become Magic Knights and save Cephiro. (I'm very, very, bad at summarizing. Sorry!) That's all I'm going to tell you! Believe me, this series is one of the best I've ever read!