The chapters of the Japanese manga series X, also known as X/1999 are written and illustrated by Clamp, a creative team of four manga authors. It started serialization in Kadokawa Shoten's Monthly Asuka manga magazine in May 1992.[1] The story takes place at the end of days, in the year 1999. The series follows Kamui Shiro, a young esper who returns home to Tokyo after a six-year absence to face his destiny as the one who will determine humanity's fate.

Publishing the series in Japan proved troublesome on account of its disasters it shown which were reminiscent of ones that happened in Japan such as earthquakes or murders committed by juveniles. Serialization stopped in March 2003 and in March 2005 Clamp stated they were searching for a proper magazine to conclude it.[1][2] The chapters have been collected in a total of eighteen tankōbon volumes with the first one released on July 29, 1992, and the eighteenth on September 17, 2002.[3][4] On September 26, 2006, Kadokawa Shoten published Clamp Newtype Platinum, a special Clamp edition of Newtype. The issue includes the "X 18.5" supplement, a re-print of five previously uncollected chapters.[5] These chapters were published in their own 19th tankōbon volume, entitled "Volume 18.5", on November 4, 2023.[6] The series was originally expected to reach twenty-one volumes upon completion.[7] The X manga has also been adapted into various anime, including a feature film, an original video animation and a TV series.[8]

The North American version of the manga, retitled X/1999, was serialized in Viz Media's Animerica Extra and was released in individual volumes. In July 2001, Viz Media removed the series from Animerica Extra due to licensing issues,[8] but it later returned in its issue published in March 2003.[9] All of the eighteen completed volumes have been released by Viz Media as of May 10, 2005.[10] By April 2010, manga editor Carl Gustav Horn Carl from Dark Horse Comics stated they would not license the series until it finished in Japan;[11] Viz Media still maintains the licence to the English edition of X. In March 2011, Viz Media announced they would release an "omnibus" edition of the series which collects three volumes in one.[12] Its first volume was published on November 7, 2011.[13]

X 18.5

Originally published in the Newtype, Clamp's latest chapters of X written before the series was put on hiatus were collected in both the magazine as well and the guidebook All About Clamp. Volume 18.5 was released as a stand-alone volume as part of the Clamp Premium Collection version of the series on November 4, 2023.[6]

References

  1. ^ "The Truth Behind X's Hiatus". ComiPress. March 7, 2006. Archived April 3, 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  2. ^ Chang, Chih-Chieh (March 2, 2006). "Interview with Ageha Ohkawa and Mitsuhisa Ishikawa". Anime News Network. Archived June 28, 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
  3. ^ "X 第1巻" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived July 22, 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 28, 2010.
  4. ^ "X 第18巻" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived July 22, 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 28, 2010.
  5. ^ "CLAMP Newtype PLATINUM (クランプ ニュータイプ プラチナ) 2006年 10月号". Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  6. ^ "Clamp Premium Collection X (18.5)" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. Archived February 8, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  7. ^ Bertschy, Zac (July 3, 2006). "Clamp Focus Panel and Press Conference". Anime News Network. Archived May 14, 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  8. ^ "News: X/1999 News". Anime News Network. July 3, 2001. Archived June 28, 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 28, 2010.
  9. ^ Macdonald, Christopher (March 19, 2002). "News: X/1999 return details". Anime News Network. Archived June 28, 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 28, 2010.
  10. ^ "X/1999, Vol. 18". Viz Media. Archived December 22, 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
  11. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (April 8, 2010). "Sakura Con 2010 Dark Horse Comics Industry Panel". Anime News Network. Archived June 29, 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
  12. ^ Manry, Gia (March 3, 2011). "News: Viz Adds Dawn of the Arcana, Pokémon B&W Manga". Anime News Network. Archived March 5, 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
  13. ^ "X, Vol. 1". Viz Media. Archived November 11, 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 3, 2011.