A Certain Scientific Railgun, Vol. 1

とある魔術の禁書目録外伝 とある科学の超電磁砲 [Toaru Majutsu no Index Gaiden: Toaru Kagaku no Railgun] #1

by Motoi Fuyukawa (Artist), Kazuma Kamachi (Original Creator), Kiyotaka Haimura (Character Designer)

PART GIRL. PART RAILGUN. ALL AWESOME.

Welcome to a world where mysticism and science collide, and supernatural powers are derived from either science or religion. At the heart of this world is Academy City, an advanced metropolis whose population is comprised mostly of students. The majority of students are enrolled in the city's "Power Curriculum Program," where they must learn to master their latent psychic powers. Out of several million students, only seven are deemed powerful enough to have Level 5 status.

Meet Mikoto Misaka, the third most powerful Level 5 esper in Academy City. Together with her best friend Kuroko Shirai and the other members of Judgment, a student-run law enforcement agency, Mikoto delves deep into the dark heart of the scientific sprawl she calls home, and uncovers secrets she wishes she hadn't!

Genres: Manga, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Comics, Young Adult

208 pages, Paperback

First published November 10, 2007

About the author

See also 冬川 基.

Reviews

[D.M. Dutcher · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise is okay, but I'm annoyed at the fan service, and the minor yuri subtext.

There's a school to train espers in the use of their psychic powers. An organization called Judgment keeps the peace. A girl named Shirai is a part of it, and the object of her affections, a powerful girl named Mikoto attends the academy. Mikoto is a psychic who controls electricity, and can make herself into an ersatz railgun by propelling small metal objects at high speeds. But one day Mikoto meets a boy who can effortlessly neutralize her powers, and there are rumors of a level-upper item that can raise your power one level...

Not a fan of the fan service and the minor yuri stuff is tacked on. Yuri can be done well, like in Kashimashi, Blue Drop, or Simoun, but not here-it's basic, but more the bad "predatory" yuri like in Strawberry Panic. Apparently girl on girl sexual harassment is okay in this book. The story is meh-not like we haven't had hundreds of magical/psychic academy manga already, and since A Certain Magical Index never made it here, I'm sure we are missing some of the overarching story. It seems to have a focus on combat, but considering the main characters are middle school girls it's going to be hard to enjoy it.

I'm a little disappointed. I'd pass on this, and while it's not horrible, it's too bland and mildly offensive to recommend.

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read 2020. This was just SOOOO MUCH fun, though I am a bit tired of the feud between Mikasa and Kamijou. Urgh. But other than that a good volume.

See my review for the first 3 volumes here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Erina27 · Rating 5 out of 5]

C est très sympas et drôle ! Nous sommes plonger dans les enquêtes de Jugement

[Robert Pierson · Rating 2 out of 5]

The artwork was nice though the fan service felt really out of place and they keep having another character flip up another character skirt was just kind of ridiculous especially because it was a girl character doing it to another girl character in this I found the premise to be OK but flooding a lot of the execution and despite the fact that one of these characters is so overpowered oh yeah they did was put a bit of regular high school with regular like that would not happen I know you have to spend suspend your disbelief when it comes to manga but this crosses the line in that area I’m sure there’s fans of the series out there but I am definitely not in it.

[Gerry Sacco · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, unique story. Ok art. Completely unnecessary fanservice that takes me out of the story immediately. Lost a star for it. Probably won't continue the series.

[Alba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Con un arte muchísimo mejor que el de To aru Majutsu no index, siguiendo la historia de "Railgun" o Misaka, para luego combinar tramas en cierto punto con su serie alterna To aru Majutsu...
Me parece que la historia también es mejor que en la otra serie, pues donde alla nos habla de los puntos contrarios entre magia y ciencia y seguimos la historia de Touma, quien puede anular cualquier poder tanto mágico como psíquico con su Imagine Breaker, aquí podemos ver la historia desde un punto de vista más divertido y desde el punto de vista de un poderoso psíquico.
La protagonista, Mikoto, es una niña mimada, pero que para alcanzar su poder hizo muchos esfuerzos.
En este primer tomo, solo muestran su fuerza, su personalidad divertida, sus amigos y a su rival, pero en los tomos siguientes, se puede ver una fase mas profunda de sus problemas y todo lo que envuelve la gran ciudad científica en la que vive.

[Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so good!!!!!!!!!!!! I liked all the characters in the book. They have a very strong attitude. This book is packeted with action and this book leaves you wondering what will happen in the next book.

[Morbus Iff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nearly everyone has psychic ability? I would have thought it'd've been darker.

[Ashley Kempkes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much fanservice

[Caity McPhe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over the course of the first ten volumes (70 chapters) *there are actually twelve volumes but two of them aren't in english yet, and I can't read Japanese :/ ), there are three story arcs that for a while seem like they don't correlate, but then somehow kind of do. The first (in volumes 1-3) we get to know the characters and find out that there is something called a "Level Upper" which can make the abilities the espers have go up a "level" and become more powerful. However what the public doesn't know is that after a few days you fall into a coma that is really hard to come out of. When they find the culprit, a major battle ensues, and Misaka finds that there is more to Academy City than she thought.

Arc two (4-the first half of 7) turns dark. Like rather gory dark. So much so that if it didn't lighten up I was going to put it down. Volume 4 is probably the darkest and most gory, but then once the reader understands what is going on, they step back from the gory and become more investigative and they find that scientists in Academy City are making clones of Misaka. The plan is for 20,000 of them. However, already about 10,000 of them have been killed already. What is going on!? Stay tuned to find out.

Arc three (7.5-10) corresponds with a citywide festival, every good anime/manga needs at least one right? But now that Misaka has the clone thing under control, they are disappearing and people are after her. So many people with unknown agendas and suddenly none of her friends remembers her. It's as if the whole city is out to get her.

It's because they pretty much are. Of course.

Overall, it was okay. There were moments of "yuri" and moments were girls had no clothes on (though nothing drawn that would be porographic, but might make some uncomfortable) and the battle scenes seemed to last novels. Volume 5 consisted of mostly two fights. They happened in different stages, but it was long. She fought. "Yay!" Can we move on now? Some of the fights were pretty cool, but others seemed to drag on. Easy in a manga to skip, I guess.

At the beginning it teased a romance between the only boy mentioned in the series and Misaka, but almost nothing happened. It almost seemed out of character for her to even be talking with the guy at all. But he is needed at the end so I guess he has to stay around because of what he does.

At the last climax, which I was really into and was really cool, we jumped between characters because Misaka is incapacitated... kind of... and the only reason they were able to get out of the mess was odd. While I got how things started to collapse for the bad guy, I felt like it was too easy. I mean the girl who finally took out the bad guy had a heck of a time doing it, but I saw how it was going to be done a volume before it actually happened. But then the bad guy died (is he actually dead?) and things calmed down real quick and it was weird. Maybe the next two volumes, that I can't read, work things out, but this just felt weird. It summed up, but it felt unfulfilling.

This one I probably wouldn't read again, but for those people who really like blowy-uppy books, you'd probably like it. I have a feeling this series was meant for boys. Fight/action scenes, sometimes naked girls, a little girl loving girl thing... Yeah. Misaka was a very powerful main character who could take on the world... But there were a bunch of questions I feel were left unanswered or were given a quick moment. Eh, yeah. Probably won't read it again.

[kuristina- tabreez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is going to be a very personal review, discretion advised.

This manga and this anime is practically OOZING with nostalgia for me. I lost my kitty Spiffy 5, almost 6 weeks ago and when I read this manga or watch the anime, it really brings me back to how I felt when I would read it with her next to me or when I would watch bunches of clips on YouTube with her near me or walking about. I love that feeling, nothing feels more at home to me than that. So, this manga, this anime, this series is now very special and dear to my heart. It feels like home from the thick nostalgia of it. I miss her tremendously and which this makes me miss her more, it's bittersweet. I hope that this series continues to make me feel this way for as long as my mind's eye can see, or longer. I hope.

Besides that, I feel like this is from the Negima! generation. The art and the formatting of the manga really suits that generation of manga and anime styles and it's just... really cute and classic and really adds, again, to my nostalgia. This is the era where I really, REALLY got into anime and manga, where it all took off and where I learned bunches and bunches about it. It made an enormous impression on me that persists to this day. I really liked the "A Certain" series and maybe I owe it to continue to be actively into it. But I think this will be my almost secret prized series I enjoy. It's so personal that I don't even really want to talk about it with anyone. But I do like it lots and lots, and I feel grateful to it now in how it comforts me and reminds my mind of some of the best times of my life, most certainly some of the best times of my childhood for sure.

Also— my copy is a first print edition! Yosh!

[Ondřej Halíř · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tohle byla velká paráda !!!

Příběh se odehrává v jistém Academy City kde je většina obyvatel složená ze studentů, kteří tu jsou pravidelně scanováni za účelem zjištění jejich levelu ohledně superschopností. Na těchto levelech se právě ve školách v tomto městě dá pracovat a postupně si ho zvedat.

My se tu setkáváme s dvěma studentkami kde jedna z nich pracuje pro místní bezpečnostní policii a ta druhá je na druhou stranu nejvyšší level v jejích schopnostech. Brzy se ale v tomto školním městě začne přiostřovat a to v moment, kdy se po ulicích šíří rumor o takzvaném "level upperu" který vám
-pokud vám to z názvu nedošlo- zvýší level. No a aby toho nebylo málo tak do toho tu ještě řádí bomber co se snaží zabít členy bezpečnostní policie.

Jako co si budem zase prostě nějaké schopnosti levely a škola, prostě klasický námět, ale na stranu druhou tu jsou skvělé postavy, výborný pacing a vtipný humor. I když občas je tu i trocha zbytečného fan servicu, který se moc do atmosféry nehodí, ale zase lehce naznačovaná Yuri romance tu dává za vznik dost vtipným situacím, takže vše je v pořádku.

Navíc je tu ale i super linka s jedním dementem jménem Kamijou Touma, který je level zero (takže vlastně nemá žádné schopnosti, tedy neměl by mít) a ten posouvá tuhle mangu ze čtyř hvězd na pět.

Co se týče kresby tak průměr, já jak poslední dobou čtu více a více mangy, tak si nějak všímám že na rozdíl od západní tvorby to až na některé případy je prakticky furt to samé :D Takže jo je to takový super průměr.

[Anton]

A Certain Scientific Railgun 
By Kamaike Kazuma
Occupying a third of the western part of Tokyo, it houses 2.3 million people, 80% of whom are students. The "Gakuen City" is a huge city where students are separated from the outside world to study cutting-edge technology. All students accept superpower development.

At the beginning Shirai Kuroko and Hatsune Haruka are two daily discipline members who deal with all kinds of troubles.

In the middle When Misaka Michino bought clothes, the clothes shop exploded. The murderer was Hatsuka Kaisui, but he did not have the ability to do so, so everyone began to study this case.

At the end When Misaka Miqin bought clothes, the clothes shop exploded. The murderer was Hatsuka Mitsuya, but he did not have the ability to do so, and everyone began to study this case. Then he discovered that fantasy Mishou, which can improve human super power, But this thing has side effects, people who use it are unconscious.

[Maya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had no expectations whatsoever after picking up the first three volumes from the library on a whim, and I'm.. somehow still disappointed.

The premise seemed interesting, but the story itself was.. pretty slow, repetitive, and pretty basic. Nothing super amazing here. That said, what really irritated me was the amount of fanservice and the whole "it's totally okay for me to sexually harass you because I'm your beeeest friend and we're both girls, hehe!" Yuri can be done well and I'm all for good LGBT+ representation, but this is definitely not it. (also, can I point out that these are all middle schoolers? there's no need to sexualize actual children, please stop)

All in all, not worth my time. It had potential at least. Time to return em to the library and wonder why this is such a popular series

[Ally Koo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Certain Scientific Railgun is a spinoff of the light novel A Certain Magical Index. It follows the main character Misaka who's the 3rd strongest ranked esper in Academy City, a city where having supernatural abilities is normal.

I personally love how the storylines in this series are in the same universe as Index, kind of like a cinematic universe but in book form. It's cool to recognize a character you saw from the other series.

All the characters in this series are likable, even the ones some find annoying have good moments. The main character for example can be hotheaded, but she's also selfless and mostly a good person.

The thing this book excels in is world-building. Academy City seems like a believable place since it's all grounded in science. Even the character's superpowers have scientific explanations for them.

[Jasmine Guffick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked the first two volumes up in a second hand store for less than a pound for five books. I enjoy reading manga as a quick downtime hour long read book.

This book didn't dissapoint but didn't overwhelm either. I enjoyed the premise of people with special powers which are graded on levels. And level 5 being greatest with very few people reaching that level.

I enjoyed where the storyline was going with a certain character cancelling out anothers powers. But it seemed to overplayed. I'm currently reading a novel from the shatter me series and it has the same idea with people woth powers and a person cancelling out another persons.

I would still carry on reading the second novel i picked up but they might be unhauled after very soon.
I just don't see myself rereading these.

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this volume and have high hopes for how the series will continue. I like the main characters, and find Kamijou Touma to be an intriguing character with the fact that he cancels out Misaka Mikoto's powers. I loved the fights between them too. It was a fun start to the series and had a plot that ran through and was concluded in this volume, while also setting up the continuation of the story at the end.
I like the graphics and the fact that even in action scenes the illustrations are clear and crisp, making it easy to follow what is going on.
I look forward to trying the next volume.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

'The Railgun' (a girl with super powerful psychic powers of electromagnetism) helps find a bomber.

It's been a while since I did not enjoy a manga at this level. Mikoto is a school student who is a 'level five'. It took me till half way through the manga to really understand what was going on. Maybe being familiar with "A Certain Magical Index" which this spun off from makes this better?

I do know that the teleporter girl who ports up and grabs girl's boobs was a real mistake, as was her flipping up the girl's skirt to embarass her. This is enjoyable as a read how? No need to continue in this series for me.

[Haris Bhatti · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful science fiction manga about super powered teenagers in a high tech city hiding a dark secret. It may seem like an overdone premise, but Scientific Railgun really hits it home. The characters are just great, the heroine, Misaka Mikoto is really cool and the entire ranking system of Academy City is intriguing with "Espers", the super powered humans being ranked from 1 to 5 in terms of their power. Its really a cool series and the anime adaptation is my favorite anime ever. I'd definitely recommend this series.

[Sammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

We have fun girl characters, with cool powers in a school/crime setting, but the author saw fit to add a boy with utterly overpowered magical powers. A self insert for the male reader to be sure. If not for that I would've enjoyed it more, but the star rating would still be kinda low for multiple other reasons.
Even though I'm not loving it I'm still sort of interested in where the crime story is going.

[Amanda Setasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another view point of the series A Certain Magical Index, Vol. 1.
I rated this the same as the other one ironically. Doesn't fully pull me in.

However, I do think it's interesting for them to do multiple view points of the same story and name the manga series different for each. Magical Index is from a male view point, and Scientific Railgun is from a female view point. I think I heard there's a third view point of the series too, but I haven't looked that far into it yet.

[Yosra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very enjoyable, while reading I got to enjoy the cool-type personality of "The railgun" Mikoto Misaka and her friend Kuroko Shirai. I also enjoyed the bond between Ruiko Saten and her best friend Kazari Uiharu. I would definitely recommend this book if you enjoy Sci-Fi and adventurous books.

[Krystal Caloia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like part of this book forgot what they were doing so just starting spouting nonsense and hoping no one questioned it.

I'm guessing the "Level Upper" is doing something to them and causing the comas. I hope Saten doesn't actually use it and end up in a coma, if she does, I hope they can cure it.

[BeckyWei · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started on campus. Describes six categories of people:Ability (LV0), low ability (LV1), heterosexual (LV2), strong ability (LV3), great ability (LV4), super power (LV5), absolute ability (LV6). Describe around these six levels of people

[David Doel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review covers volumes 1 through the early part of volume 7 and two story arcs. The first was the level-upper arc which seemingly introduces the characters. The second is the "sisters" arc. The sisters arc is more a 5 than a 4.

[Reagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty enjoyable story that I read a few months back. However these characters are minors and they have way too many panty shots, they play it off as a joke at times but it’s still just gross. I think if you can get past that the first few books are very enjoyable!

[Alice4170 🌙 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐
This was a food start to the series. it was a bit confusing in the beginning but then stuff got explained and it was cool.

[Pat Blades · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this up because I wanted something new to read gave it a try and I really couldn't get into it was very boring in my opinion

[Sidney (aka Sidsbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Railgun is so damn good! Ahhhh reading this makes me want to re-watch the anime

[Steve O'Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manga was good overall watched the anime in the past so I knew what the story was going to be, but was a great book overall