Tsubasa: Those With Wings, Vol. 3

In the 21st century, a great war was destroying entire civilizations and causing much havoc, the Tsubasa granted the wish for the war to end.  Now, a new quest for the Tsubasa has risen.

Highlights

Kotobuki and her party have just discovered what exactly the Tsubasa is, even meeting the original creator of the brains.  Meanwhile, Raimon and his group are being hunted by the Army.  Raimon is wanted alive by the Army for a yet to be revealed reason.  Back to Kotobuki, the Army has arrived in the town she is in.  Kotobuki volunteers to lock up the lab while the others go to the get-away submarine.  Well, her stalker arrives, he is Colonel Hil, and he's got some propositions for Kotobuki.  But, Rikuro, the male Tsubasa twin, saves Kotobuki and then he helps her party escape danger.  

Raimon has been captured and taken to the Army's super headquarters.  Kotobuki is so determined about getting to Raimon, that she doesn't worry about the hundreds of guards that will shoot the slightest movement.  Lucky for her, they just try to capture her, but, her friends come to the rescue.  Together, with the help of one of Raimon's companion and Rikuro, they are able to get into the fort and ruin the Army's attempt at reviving the second half of the Tsubasa. 

Unfortunately, Hil is able to call upon the Tsubasa with the core of his soul.  Kotobuki just so happens to be in the room when this happens.  Dragging the ending out more, the Tsubasa decides to kill the human race, so, the Kotobuki, Raimon, and their friends all try to persuade the Tsubasa to let the world live.

Overall

This is the last installment of Tsubasa: Those With Wings.  I was expecting an intense, emotional and strong concluding battle with the Tsubasa, but I was wrong in my assumption.  It was quite emotional, but, that's all it was.  The fact that there was not much to fight against except orally, was almost boring.  For the age level it set for it was pretty flat.  The character were so obvious, there was no sense of suspense.  The plot was also kind of one dimensional.  World is done with war, thing can grant wish, antagonist want's wish granted, lover of the victim says: "Heck No" and the wish granter can't even fulfill the wish.  No surprise there.

But, there was still an interesting concept deep down, underneath all the one note stuff.  It's classified as a fantasy, but really, it should be a romance.  This series is by Natsuki Takaya, who does Fruits Basket, which is one of the best romances I've personally read.  If Tsubasa: Those With Wings paid more attention to the "Who likes who" and the emotional aspect of romance, then this series would be much better.  Towards the end, it does concentrate on love, but, in an almost creepy way, and there are more relationships introduced. It really felt like a second thought. 

Overall, the artistry was usual for Takaya, and the earlier moments of romance were actually entertaining.  There is full body nudity of the female twin of the Tsubasa, and that if for most of the end.  Because of that, I cannot suggest this series for someone under 15, and it's a shame, the story is done well for a 12 year old reader. There were some aspect of some of the character (Hil and Raimon dominantly) that I really reflected to, and in all honesty, if you are dealing with relationships, or wondering if you are ever going to really love someone, then this series would be a great thing to look at.  It made me think about all the different ways love can play in someone's life.  

ComicsOnline gives Tsubasa: Those With Wings, Vol. 3, 3 out of 5 Failed Attempts At A Super-Human Brain For The Tsubasa