In 2025, a very interesting collaboration took place between two major American publishers. Yen Press and Kodansha have teamed up to bring CLAMP fans two complementary art books. We will be publishing “COLOR KURO”, which means “black” in Japanese, and “COLOR SHIRO”, which means “white” in English, in English for the first time. “COLOR SHIRO” will be released by the Kodansha label, and “COLOR KURO” will be released by Yen Press. Both books will be released on November 25, 2025. This time, we will consider KURO.
©Yen Press, 2025
Before we get into the content of the art book, a little background information for the uninitiated. CLAMP is an all-female manga artist group and one of the most influential names in the history of the manga industry. The group was formed in the 1980s and has its roots in Japan’s self-published (doujin) comics scene. CLAMP’s body of work is interesting in its diversity of genres and demographics, combined with an iconic art style that remains etched in the minds of fans, even those who aren’t readers of CLAMP.
From “Cardcaptor Sakura” and “Magic Knight Rayearth,” to “Tokyo Babylon,” “xxxHolic,” and “Chobits,” whether you’re looking for a series that soothes and comforts you or plunges you into the depths of despair and bloodshed, you’re sure to find something that will capture your attention and capture your heart at CLAMPland!
Magic Knight Rayearth ©Yen Press, 2025
Rather than grouping the illustrations into series, COLOR KURO’s illustrations are arranged by the color that dominates each illustration, giving an overall sense of flow from one color to another. Considering that most of the illustrations are single-page or double-page spreads, and the art book is A4 size (8.25 x 11.75 inches), you can fully enjoy the small details that CLAMP is known for.
Another thing I appreciated is the way it handles small illustrations. Some of my manga-related art books had small illustrations placed across the pages, as if someone had carelessly placed stickers on the notebook that didn’t fit well. When I saw the attention to detail in “COLOR KURO”, where each work forms a cohesive whole, I am convinced that it is a beautiful work that not only CLAMP fans but also art book lovers should make space on their bookshelves to read.
The Legend of Chunhyang ©Yen Press, 2025 xxxHolic ©Yen Press, 2025
Although the art book is not a hardcover, it feels sturdy and has additional cardboard pages inside for reinforcement. A dust jacket is included, and the inner cover features a “preview” of the illustrations inside. The last two pages contain information about the work, which series it belongs to, and when and where it first appeared. Some are excerpts from calendars, promotional posters, DVD jackets, or the color pages of the magazines in which they were serialized. Having all of these singular illustrated works that have been popularized over the years brought together in book form is priceless in itself, but wait until you see the pages to see how gorgeous the book actually looks.
CLAMP’s official art book COLOR KURO is not only a valuable addition to any manga fan’s library, but also a great gift for your loved ones who might appreciate it. Be sure to visit the Yen Press store and keep an eye out for The Beat’s upcoming gift guides to get you through the holidays.
Inside cover illustration list
CLAMP official art book COLOR KURO will be available for print on the Yen Press website and other retailers on November 25, 2025.
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