# Clover (Clamp manga)

Clover (stylized in all caps) is a manga series created by Clamp, a creative team made up by Satsuki Igarashi, Nanase Ohkawa, Tsubaki Nekoi, and Mokona. The manga takes place in a dystopian future, where the government is out to control the "Clovers", a race of children with special powers.
Clover was serialized in Kodansha's Amie from 1997 until the magazine's demise in 1999. Kodansha Comics released the entire series in English as one hardcover volume in 2020.

## Plot

Clover is primarily about a young girl called Sue (スウ, Sū), whose name was stated to be derived from the Chinese word for four (sì) since she is a "4-leaf Clover". In the futuristic world that she inhabits, the military conducted a search for gifted children nicknamed "Clovers", who seemingly have the magical ability to manipulate technology. Demonstrations of their powers include teleportation and summoning weapons from thin air.
Classified according to how powerful they are, the children were then tattooed with a symbol of the Clover Project, with the number of leaves on the Clover indicating their power. To date, Sue is the only "4-leaf Clover" discovered. Along with other "Clovers", Sue was imprisoned to prevent her contact with other humans, as the government feared that she might develop feelings and be used as a weapon to jeopardize the country's national security.
Being isolated from the rest of mankind, Sue craves for company, and as for her only wish, she asks to visit "Fairy Park." Her escort is Kazuhiko, an ex-military soldier who has been forced to undertake the task.

## Development

The manga was conceived as a four-part story. The first two volumes comprise part I and trace the main story in the present. The following two volumes are parts II and III, and are flashbacks which explain the history behind certain incidents. According to series head writer Nanase Ohkawa, two further books are needed to complete the story.

## Release

Clover was serialized in Kodansha's Amie from 1997 until the magazine's demise in 1999, and remains unfinished. Kodansha collected the chapters into four volumes. The first was published on June 6, 1997; the final was released on August 9, 1999. Kodansha re-released the series in two volumes on July 17, 2008.
Clover was licensed for an English-language release in North America by Tokyopop. It published the series from May 15, 2001 to March 20, 2002, but let the series go out of print on May 2, 2005. Dark Horse Manga picked up the license, combining the series into one volume (ISBN 1-59582-196-1) in its original right-to-left format and releasing it on May 13, 2009. The series is also licensed in French by Pika Édition, and in German by Carlsen Comics.
After Dark Horse Comics' license expired, Kodansha Comics licensed it and began releasing the series, combining into one hardcover volume in 2020.

### Volume list

| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | North American release date | North American ISBN |
| 01 | June 6, 1997 | 978-4063400014 | May 15, 2001 | 978-1-892213-66-2 |
| 001. "A Leaf" (葉, Ha) 002. "Tiny Wings in the Forest" (森の中の小さな翼, Mori no Naka no Chiisana Tsubasa) 003. "The Singing Waif" (歌う少女, Utau Shōjo) 004. "Birdcage" (鳥籠, Torikago) 005. "A Maze" (迷路, Meiro) 006. "The Cat" (猫, Neko) 007. "A Radio" (ラジオ, Rajio) 008. "A Trace" (跡, Ato) 009. "A Debt" (借り, Kari) 010. "A Flower" (花, Hana) 011. "Parliament" (議会, Gikai) 012. "Clover" (クローバー, Kurōbā) 013. "A Telephone" (電話, Denwa) 014. "Winged Fish that Flies Through the Night" (夜の空を飛ぶ羽のはえた魚, Yoru no Sora o Tobu Hane no haeta Sakana) 015. "A Leopard" (豹, Hyō) 016. "Back Alley" (路地裏, Rojiura) 017. "The Scar" (傷痕, Kizuato) 018. "A Song" (歌, Uta) 019. "Nonexistent" (あるはずのない, Aru hazu no nai) 020. "Goodnight" (おやすみ, O-yasumi) 021. "Pursuit" (追跡, Tsuiseki) 022. "Feathers" (羽根, Hane) |||||
| 02 | August 22, 1997 | 978-4063400021 | September 11, 2001 | 978-1-892213-94-5 |
| 023. "Whiteout" (ホワイトアウト, Howaitoauto) 024. "The One and Not the Same" (おなじだけどおなじじゃない, Onaji dakedo onaji ja nai) 025. "Night" (夜, Yoru) 026. "About Me" (わたしのこと, Watashi no koto) 027. "Memory" (記憶, Kioku) 028. "The Vehicle" (移動装置, Norimono) 029. "The Destination" (たどりついた場所, Tadoritsuita Basho) 030. "Fairy Park" (妖精遊園地, Fearī Pāku) 031. "Three Leaf" (三つ葉, Mitsuba) 032. "Mind" (こころ, Kokoro) 033. "Pegasus" (天馬, Tenma) 034. "Shadow Play" (影絵, Kage-e) 035. "Homicidal Intent" (殺意, Satsui) 036. "Finale" (最後の, Saigo no) 037. "Change" (変わる, Kawaru) 038. "And Then" (そして, Soshite) 039. "Heart" (心, Kokoro) 040. "The Leaf" (葉, Ha) |||||
| 03 | May 13, 1998 | 978-4063400182 | November 20, 2001 | 978-1-892213-95-2 |
| 041. "Inside a Dream, a Fairy's Dream" (夢の中の妖精の夢, Yume no Naka no Yōsei no Yume) 042. "Ora" (織葉, Oruha) 043. "Bird's Nest Backstage" (楽屋裏の小鳥の巣, Gakuya Ura no Kotori no Su) 044. "Bird's Nest in a Gilded Cage" (籠の中の小鳥の巣, Kago no Naka no Kotori no Su) 045. "Flower of Reunion" (再会の花, Saikai no Hana) 046. "Bug Eye" (虫の目, Mushi no Me) 047. "Alone" (ひとり, Hitori) 048. "Two" (ふたり, Futari) 049. "I Can Hear" (きこえる, Kikoeru) 050. "The Beginning" (はじまる, Hajimaru) 051. "Duet No One Knows" (誰も知らない二重唱, Dare mo Shiranai Dyuetto) 052. "Fish Eye" (魚の目, Sakana no Me) 053. "Deceit" (嘘, Uso) 054. "Call from Bird to Bird" (小鳥から小鳥への電話, Kotori kara Kotori e no Denwa) 055. "Gift from Bird to Bird" (小鳥に贈られる小鳥, Kotori ni Okurareru Kotori) 056. "Contact" (接触, Fureai) 057. "Cat's Eye" (猫の目, Neko no Me) 058. "Promise" (約束, Yakusoku) 059. "Onstage" (舞台, Sutēji) 060. "A Bird's Secret" (小鳥の内緒話, Kotori no Naishobanashi) 061. "Rain" (雨, Ame) 062. "A Song for One" (たった一人のためにうたう歌, Tatta Hitori no tame ni utau Uta) 063. "Bird's Eye" (鳥の目, Tori no Me) 064. "Bird in the Heart of a Bird" (小鳥の心の小鳥, Kotori no Kokoro no Kotori) 065. "How Do You Do?" (はじめまして, Hajimemashite) 066. "A Song Two Birds Make" (小鳥と小鳥が作る歌, Kotori to Kotori ga Tsukuru Uta) 067. "The Secret Bird Song" (小鳥たちの内緒の歌, Kotori-tachi no Naisho no Uta) 068. "The Duet Only Birds Know" (小鳥だけが知ってる二重唱, Kotori dake ga Shitteru Dyuetto) 069. "The Night That Does Not Go" (消えない夜, Kienai Yoru) 070. "A Secret Between Birds" (小鳥と小鳥の秘密, Kotori to Kotori no Himitsu) 071. "Clover" (CLOVER, Kurōbā) 072. "Man's Eye" (人の目, Hito no Me) 073. "Bird's Tear" (小鳥の涙, Kotori no Namida) 074. "A Bird for a Bird Gone" (居なくなった小鳥のための小鳥, Inakunatta Kotori no tame no Kotori) 075. "A Bird That a Bird Made" (小鳥の作った小鳥, Kotori no Tsukutta Kotori) |||||
| 04 | August 9, 1999 | 978-4063400342 | March 20, 2002 | 978-1-892213-96-9 |
| 076. "Four-Leaf Clover" (四つ葉のクローバー, Yotsuba no Kurōbā) 077. "Three-Leaf Clover" (三つ葉のクローバー, Mitsuba no Kurōbā) 078. "Singing Voice" (歌う声, Utau Koe) 079. "Heard Voice" (聞こえる声, Kikoeru Koe) 080. "Calling Sound" (呼ぶ音, Yobu Oto) 081. "Communication" (通信, Tsūshin) 082. "A Promise" (約束, Yakusoku) 083. "Blood" (血, Chi) 084. "Alone" (一人, Hitori) 085. "The Hunted" (追われる者, Owarerumono) 086. "The Hunter" (追う者, Ōmono) 087. "The Line" (線, Sen) 088. "Reaction" (反応, Hannō) 089. "Spider Web" (蜘蛛の巣, Kumo no Su) 090. "A Song From a Bird to Watch Over Me" (見守る小鳥の歌, Mimamoru Kotori no Uta) 091. "A Place to Return to" (帰る場所, Kaeru Basho) 092. "Rain" (雨, Ame) 093. "Five" (5) 094. "Four" (4) 095. "Three" (3) 096. "Trust" (信頼, Shinrai) 097. "Duty" (任務, Ninmu) 098. "Seal" (印, Shirushi) 099. "A Wish" (願い, Negai) 100. "The Bliss of Clover" (クローバーのしあわせ, Kurōbā no Shiawase) 101. "Hair and Caresses" (髪と睦言, Kami to Mutsugoto) 102. "Mirror and Touch" (鏡と接触, Kagami to Sesshoku) 103. "Irritation" (苛立ち, Iradachi) 104. "I Want to See What I Don't See" (分からないから分かりたい, Wakaranai kara Wakaritai) 105. "A Song Sung for Everyone" (みんなにうたう歌, Minna ni utau Uta) 106. "A Song for a Couple" (ふたりできく歌, Futari de kiku Uta) 107. "A Song Sung for One" (ひとりでうたう歌, Hitori de utau Uta) 108. "Anger" (怒り, Ikari) 109. "Outside the Window" (窓の外, Mado no Soto) 110. "Be Careful" (気を付けて, Ki o Tsukete) 111. "Farewell" (別れ, Wakare) 112. "Tears" (涙, Namida) 113. "Two Leaf" (二葉, Futaba) 114. "Being Reborn" (生まれ変わる, Umarekawaru) 115. "C→R" (C➪R, Tsē➪Ran) 116. "Me, Too" (私も, Watashi mo) |||||

## Media

A Clover animated music video based on the prologue chapters of the manga was produced by Bandai Visual and Madhouse Studios and shown in Japanese theaters before the Cardcaptor Sakura film in 1999. It is directed by Kitarō Kōsaka, with Nobuteru Yūki designing the characters and Ichiko Hashimoto composing the music. The short film was released to DVD as part of the Clamp in Wonderland collection on October 26, 2007.
Dark Horse Comics, who previously held the license for the distribution of the English North American edition of the manga, were in negotiations with Universal Studios for the rights to develop a film based upon the manga. However, as of 2022, nothing from this has materialized.

## Reception

Rika Takahashi, from EX: The Online World of Manga, noted the work's stark contrast with other, more positive CLAMP works such as Cardcaptor Sakura and Wish. She stated that it was a fast-pace drama similar to works such X and Tokyo Babylon. She commented on CLAMP's choice of presenting the story in short sequences and in a style "where the frames break out of the typical 'grid'" and to produce an experience of watching a movie on paper. She also commented that the typesetting of the sound effects helped create the overall cold mood unlike other CLAMP works. Furthermore, she praised the work for retaining a high detail of the art without being too dense.
Kisei from Tokidoki Journal praised Clover for having a sense of beauty due to its empty space and simplicity, which help give the manga and characters a mood of "chilling isolation," a stark contrast from CLAMP's previous works which Kisei said feature highly detailed pages that make reading difficult and "cheerful bubbly" female protagonists. Kisei further praised the work for, instead of defining the characters, using art to express their personalities and traits. Further praising it as a work that would draw both female and male audiences with its romance and military aspects, Kisei stated that the only flaw with the work was its high price.
Casey Brienza of Anime News Network remarks that the series is "arguably the best artwork of CLAMP's career" and has "gorgeous production values" but that "pretentious poetry conceals a thin plot and even thinner characterization."
A Publishers Weekly review felt that reading the series is like, "looking into a dystopic future through one tiny, perfectly square frame." The same reviewer said that the character designs were "magnificent" and that, "the tiny details on the clockwork birds and imaginative effects are stunning." The reviewer felt that though it was obviously an experimental work for CLAMP, that the series would be widely liked.