Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc., Vol. 1

株式会社マジルミエ [Kabushiki Gaisha Magilumiere] #1

by Sekka Iwata (Writer), Yu Aoki (Illustrator), Camellia Nieh (Translator)

Are you looking for something new? Something challenging? Something very highly paid?

Exterminating monsters is an exciting, fast-paced field that will get you out from behind a desk and into the action. With over 500 magical girl companies now in operation, you’re sure to find a position—and a uniform—that fits.

Start your career as a magical girl today!

Kana Sakuragi is an excellent candidate for the job. Any job! She’s motivated and organized, and has a fantastic memory. So why has she interviewed at over 15 companies without a single offer? She’s trying to keep a positive attitude, but it seems like her bad luck is only getting worse when a monster crashes her latest interview. As havoc ensues, she finds herself helping the magical girl who comes to their rescue and ends up with more than just her life in return. Meet the newest magical girl at Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc.!

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Comics, Young Adult, Magic, Action

204 pages, Paperback

First published February 4, 2022

About the author

岩田雪花 (Iwata Sekka) is a Japanese Mangaka.

Reviews

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really fun new look for the Mahou Shoujo genre! I am totally invested!


I was looking around for something new to read when I came across this manga! I really loved the cover and so I had to read it~

And boy, it was such a fun new take on the Mahou Shoujo genre. Some elements are not that new, but there were elements I haven’t seen yet in mahou shoujo. Like, instead of transformation just being magical? Here it is a code made by someone based on how you look + what would look stylish on you, then inserted into a card that, with a few simple words, allows you to transform! So yes, everyone is able to become a Mahou Shoujo, if they want to. Then there is the fact that there are all sorts of mahou shoujo companies that take on commissions and the likes to defeat bad guys. And there is more, it was just such a fun thing and I wish I could step into this universe. Oh, and there are several technological other bits and bobs to make it all work that at times reminded me of the Nanoha series.

Meet Sakuragi Kana, a girl who just graduated and is desperate to find a job. And when I say desperate I mean it. For real, that poor girl is doing all she can to get a job somewhere, remembering all the bits and bobs, and she is just not having any luck! I felt for her. You could just see that she slowly losing all confidence. That she started to think she was useless. But if only she knew where she would end up, haha. But more on her. I loved how hardworking she was. First at the whole searching for a job, but then also being a great helping hand to the mahou shoujo company that wants to take her in. Her memory is just beyond what is normal. She can remember the tiniest bits that she read somewhere far away and apparently is also multi-lingual, given that comment from one of the guys from a job she tried her best for. There are moments in the story that this memory is just the right thing for the job. And as the story continues, and she is getting some more compliments, you thankfully see her get more confident. Have more fun. Try out things. She is turning out to be a great Mahou Shoujo and I cannot wait to read further volumes and see her grow. Her outfit is so cute!

Other parts (before Sakuragi really starts working at the company) are about the Mahou Shoujo of the company that Sakuragi will join later on. Her name is Koshigaya, and BOY she is epic! She kicks major butt and is not afraid to speak up. That scene where she is on the back of a motorcycle (her broom was dead) and trying to kill a monster? So kick-ass! And throughout the book we see that this girl isn’t afraid of anything. She rules. And I just love her transformation + outfit, it very much fits her!

I have to say I was a bit weirded out by the director of the company, I couldn’t blame our MC that she was a bit like, wait what? I mean, wouldn’t you if you saw a big hulking guy who looks like he hasn’t slept a wink in months.. in a frilly pink dress? But we did see that he really cares about the peeps that work for him. And the rest of the crew was also a fun addition. One guy who manages it all, one guy who is a hacker and makes sure that the code is all up to date.

The art was really fun and I love the style!

All in all, this is one series I am happy to have found. It is a fun new take on Mahou Shoujo stuff, something else than magic transformations + side kicks~ Recommended!

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Tiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bringing realism to the magical girl genre along with company politics and tech. Pretty fun so far. Enjoying the gap moe Hitomi is bringing to the cast.

[natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

que primeiro volume gostoso de ler! achei o mote muito interessante e com um sarcasmo na medida certa. trazer o mundo das garotas mágicas para o âmbito corporativo foi uma sacada bem legal e divertida. sobre os personagens, eu gostei de todos apresentados nesse primeiro volume e fiquei com vontade de conhecer mais da personalidade e história de cada um. por fim, amo a combinação garota tímida nerd x gostosa inconsequente. :)

[Dandy ˙ᵕ˙ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was such a delightful little read :) the artwork was gorgeous and im already attached to all of the characters (especially nikoyama) and i just LOVE IT im definitely picking up the next volume immediately.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, this is such a cool idea for a story!

Essentially, the premise of this series is “what if being a magical girl was an actual career path and there were all these companies and start-ups around the industry—what would that look like?”

I really appreciate when a story reimagines a classic or tired trope and makes it something new or something that speaks to contemporary culture. By blending the classic magical girl trope with contemporary start-up culture, this story offers commentary on both topics—and some interesting insight on where they overlap (I.e with the exploitative aspects and the commodification of everything)

Plus, I do appreciate when a manga is being mindful of treating its female characters as real people and not overly objectifying them for a perceived male gaze. All our female characters here have agency and both their storylines and character designs reflect that actual consideration went into creating them. Totally here for that.

We also get such a fun, unconventional array of secondary male characters that all speak to the efforts being made to diversify this story.

Anyway, I’d totally recommend picking up this series. It’s one of my favorite manga reads of the year so far~

[DianaRose · Rating 5 out of 5]

obsessed with this first volume that showcases a totally new spin on magical girls — the commodification of magical girls! this reminded me of the recent korean novel, a magical girl retires, in the best of ways.

magilumiere vol 1 opens with an action sequence that totally captivated me, has a cast of characters are satirical and quirky (a perfect combo for me), and an interesting take on magical support items/transformations.

i’ll definitely be continuing the series!

[Fer Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me gustó mucho el estilo de este manga, las ilustraciones y la temática me parecen muy frescas y bellas :))
Me reí a ratos con las reacciones de Kana y por las excéntricas personalidades de sus colegas. Definitivamente seguiré leyendo los demás mangas.

[Geena Hollis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am giving this 4.5 stars. I do recommend this if you are interested in magical girls that are adults instead of teenagers or young girls. There's a touch of realism in it and definitely some humor. Highly recommend.

[Kayla Brunson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting take on magical girls. I love the idea of the start-ups and working for different agencies. This was a good first volume and I'm going to pick up the next one!

[Lisa ₊⁺✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🎀 Im hooked

[Stacia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young woman who believes in the power of reading the user's manual? I'm sold!

This was fun.

[Chia · Rating 4 out of 5]

a great, modern take on magical girls!!

[ν1ятυα · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start with the fact that I'm not the biggest magical girl fan. My mom introduced me to Sailor Moon and I dabbled in reading Tokyo Mew Mew and other staples in magical girl history but none of them have captured me as deeply as this manga series has.
There's just something incredibly cool about Magical Girls being a sort of corporate business within modern society. It sounds like it wouldn't work and yet somehow it does and, I don't know, I really really like it? If you're a fan of the magical girl trope, I'd say give this manga a try, and even if you're not a fan of the magical girl trope, I would suggest giving this manga a read.

[Caleb Nischara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve just finished reading Volume 1 of Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc. after watching the anime during the Fall 2024 season and ending up loving it far more than I expected. Even though I already knew most of the plot beats, I didn’t regret a single page—because with just a few exceptions, the manga is every bit as strong as the anime.

What immediately drew me back in was how naturally and logically the magical girl mechanics are embedded into this world—not as a secret, mystical phenomenon, but as a fully rationalized business model. Magic exists, yes—but it’s no longer something mysterious or sacred. It’s part of an industrial system, regulated by apps, enforced by protocols, and mediated through technology. The role of the traditional mascot—the cute, otherworldly creature that grants the girl her powers—has been completely replaced by software. The app is the interface to magic, the transformation trigger—but also the clearest symbol of how thoroughly the magical has been absorbed into a functional, profit-driven structure.

Visually, this idea is carried through with sharp clarity: transformation isn’t a symbolic moment of emotional growth or destiny fulfilled. It’s just a uniform change. A work outfit swap. Mass-produced broom included. That deliberate de-mystification creates a fascinating tension: power doesn’t come from within or from some divine calling—it comes from the system. And yet, it’s because it comes from the system that something new, something realer, begins to take shape.

And at the heart of it all is Kana, who brings emotional depth to a world that often feels sterile and procedural. Her self-doubt, her low self-esteem, her quiet conviction that she’s “not really good at anything”—it all made her instantly relatable. She believes her only strength is her memory, a trait rarely seen as valuable, and she struggles to find a way to turn her desire to help others into something tangible. What makes Magilumiere so special is how gradually, and believably, that desire begins to take form. Kana doesn’t become a hero overnight. Instead, the manga follows her step by step as she finds her footing—through small victories, teamwork, and recognition. Like in chapter one, when she supports Hitomi and spots that the wrong app is active—a tiny detail that most would’ve missed, but one that ends up saving lives. Or in chapter three, when she uses her newly acquired broom knowledge to neutralize a threat. These aren’t flashy “power-up” moments—they’re quiet, methodical wins that show how intelligence, awareness, and critical thinking matter just as much as raw strength.

What hit me even harder, though, was the atmosphere at Magilumiere itself. This company—full of odd, lovable weirdos like Kouji, who casually struts around in magical girl outfits; Hitomi, whose reckless energy is matched only by her tendency to break equipment; and Kazuo, whose hyperfixation dances between brilliance and chaos—feels like a family. Not one that tolerates quirks, but one that sees them as integral parts of the whole. And it’s this kind of environment that allows Kana to grow. Her diligence, her precision, her quiet creativity don’t just affect the team—the team shapes her too. You can feel how deeply they influence each other. It’s a subtle kind of magic—not the kind with glitter and incantations, but the kind born from care and mutual respect. This dynamic culminates in a small but powerful moment: when Kana receives her first commission bonus. It’s such a mundane act—and yet, in this world, it’s her first real proof that she’s needed. That her work counts. That she counts. It comes at the end of a long, internal journey, and it’s the first time she truly feels she can help—not in theory, but in practice.

And that’s where the tonal rupture hits. The volume closes with a magical girl being fired by a major corporation—cold, clinical, her worth broken down into numbers. Kei, the CEO, lays out exactly how much profit she brought in—and how little she’s now worth. That moment shatters any illusion that magic in this world has purpose beyond economics. It’s a market. And in that market, Magilumiere is an anomaly—a place that refuses to reduce people to metrics. This final scene casts a long shadow over all the warmth that came before—a reminder that in this world, humanity is something you have to actively fight to protect from the grind of efficiency.

And that’s one of the manga’s greatest strengths: Magilumiere explores the tension between bureaucracy and heroism in a quiet, but incredibly effective way. In a world where every action is tracked, every battle logged, every transformation regulated, the word “hero” loses its mythical glow—and gains something else: responsibility. The manga shows that real heroism isn’t found in grand gestures, but in understanding systems, navigating rules, and lifting each other up. Kana isn’t chosen. She’s someone who learns, adapts, shows up. And that’s what makes her powerful.

It also matters that Magilumiere isn’t just any company—it’s a startup. And that’s not incidental. With its incomplete structure, its closeness between employees, and its scrappy survival strategies in a hostile market, Magilumiere feels like a space where new magic can exist—not one born of profit, but of passion. The startup becomes a small utopia in the middle of hypercapitalism, a system that assigns value through performance data. And the fact that this utopia isn’t defined by financial success, but by small acts of care and solidarity, gives it even more resonance.

In the background, we have the Kaii—the so-called “monsters”—who show up unpredictably, throw things off balance, spread chaos. In a typical magical girl story, they’d be narrative tools, enemies to defeat. But here, they feel like more: the Kaii are disturbances to be managed, not destroyed—echoes of stress, social pressure, irrational fears. They’re the things that knock our world off-kilter. And Kana, with her calm perception and quick response, becomes not just a fighter, but a manager of chaos—someone who doesn’t erase threat, but restores order. That, too, is a modern idea of heroism.

This also plays beautifully into her dynamic with Hitomi. Hitomi is loud, impulsive, borderline chaotic. Kana is structured, quiet, analytical. But their relationship isn’t some typical mentor-student hierarchy. It’s mutual growth. They learn from each other—Hitomi discovers the value of control and foresight, Kana realizes you don’t have to be perfect to act. And the fact that this never veers into romance, but stays rooted in mutual trust and respect, is refreshing. It opens space for a kind of female alliance that isn’t built on tropes, but on complementarity.

And then there’s the magic itself. The app doesn’t just replace the mascot—it replaces the wonder. And yet, something mythological still lingers. Magic isn’t gone—it’s just been translated into a technological format. The app becomes a modern oracle—a digital pact that offers control, but breeds dependence. And the fact that Kana can still find purpose in this system isn’t about the tech—it’s about how she chooses to engage with it. In a world where magic has become a matter of licensing, Kana becomes an exception: someone who still discovers meaning inside it.

All of that is what makes Volume 1 of Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc. so special. It’s a story unafraid of deconstruction, yet deeply human in its core. Amid spreadsheets, payment charts, and management software, something unquantifiable keeps flickering to life—and that’s what lingers when you close the book.

Visually, the manga is just as compelling. Kana’s sense of overwhelm is brilliantly captured—through tight, almost claustrophobic panel layouts, tangled thought bubbles, and constant shifts between external shots and internal perspective. You see what she’s thinking before she even says it. Her insecurity isn’t loud—it shows up in glances, pauses, slight hesitations—and the manga consistently nails those subtle beats. The panels are often dense with UI overlays, checklists, app popups—it’s a visual overload that makes her workplace anxiety not just clear, but visceral.

The action scenes hold their own, too. They’re fluid, dynamic, and most importantly: readable. You can follow movement, space, and stakes. And even with all the tools, apps, and analytics flying around, the fights never feel sterile. The series understands that precision, cooperation, and quick thinking can be just as exciting as a giant fireball.

If anything feels visually underwhelming, it’s the transformation sequences—which is almost ironic, since they’re usually the centerpiece of magical girl aesthetics. Here, they’re minimal, almost flat. Clear, yes, but not poetic. Functional, but not majestic. And maybe that’s exactly the point: the transformation isn’t a spiritual awakening—it’s a shift in job mode. The manga isn’t mishandling it—it’s demystifying it. The magic isn’t in the sparkle. It’s in the attitude. It’s not about how a magical girl looks—it’s about how she acts. And that’s the real enchantment in this world: not in dazzling light shows, but in the quiet triumph over insecurity, disconnection, and systemic pressure.

So no, Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc. Volume 1 isn’t just a clever genre remix. It’s a smart, warm, and socially perceptive story about labor, value, identity, and what it means to care. It completely rethinks the magical girl formula without losing its emotional core. Kana isn’t a typical heroine—she’s someone to identify with. Someone doing her best in a world that prioritizes productivity over personhood. And that’s where her strength lies: she doesn’t grow through power, but through trust—in herself, in others, in a different kind of togetherness.

With sharp humor, vibrant storytelling, and a keen eye for everyday drama, the manga manages to tackle big questions while keeping its humanity intact. And even as the looming shadows of the system start to creep in, it’s that small, stubborn community at Magilumiere that shows us where resistance begins—not with noise, not with glory, but with people choosing to matter to each other.

I can’t wait to read Volume 2.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc., Vol. 1 is a fresh take on the magical girl's genre in which being a magical girl is a profession in a world that destroys monsters like pest control. Kana Sakuragi is struggling to find a job even after studying hard prior to each interview. While sitting in one such interview, a monster attacks and she is able to assist the magical girl that comes to vanquish the creature. Seeing potential, she is hired by the tiny magical girl startup where she will learn the ins and outs of the business.

This was a cute manga that had elements of battles that reminded me of mechs. There isn't a whole lot of spellcasting and magical transformations are minimal. Instead, the magical girls use their mechanical brooms to shoot out beams of magical energy at their enemies. There are also no cute animal sidekicks and the uniforms are a little cute but less so than say Sailor Moon or CardCaptor Sakura.

I loved the LGBTQIA+ rep in this as the boss dresses in a classic full magical girl costume. I don't know what his identity is but he is definitely a non-traditional character that you would not typically see.

The art is of great quality, but I did find following the fight scenes to be difficult at times as sometimes I could not tell what was being depicted in some panels. The fights also felt like they lacked originality as they really are only shooting magical beams. There was some problem solving required that held some tension, but seeing how each time the problem is solved by shooting a magical beam, I was finding myself putting the volume down. It usually does not take me several days to finish a manga, but this one did as it did not hold my attention.

The volume ended on a positive note with hope for future progression for the main character, but due to not keeping my interest, I will not be continuing this series.

Thank you to Viz Media and NetGalley for proving me with an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Viz Media for my arc in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Sekka Iwata's Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc., Vol. 1 is such a fun and fresh take on the magical girl genre! Instead of being chosen to be a magical girl, you can apply for it! In this mangaverse, being a magical girl is a lucrative job that anybody can apply and interview for. We follow Kana Sakuragi, a recent college grad (I think!), with no job prospects...until she spontaneously helps a magical girl contractor. Now, she's got prospects!

Having grown up with Sailor Moon, CardCaptor Sakura, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Shugo Chara, Tokyo Mew Mew, and other magical girl stories, I knew I needed to read this. It's such a hopeful and fun reimagining of the genre and it's something we sorely need after the likes of Madoka Magica, which I do like, but I mean, come on. At some point it's not deep if we're just continuously watching young girls suffer before viciously being killed. I have a lot more to say about it, but that's not the point here. The point is that Magilumiere is uplifting, funny, serious, and wonderfully illustrated. If you need a positive boost to survive in our capitalist society, this is the one for you!

[MajesticalLion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yo, this is PROMISING. It is insane how much better the Jump+ series are in terms of consistent quality. Kaiju, Diamond in the Rough, Spy x Family, even Chainsaw Man is moving to +. Anyway, enough poetic waxing. The series itself is incredibly inventive. The twist it puts on the magical girl genre feels so much more genuine than other series that have tried. The cast isn't just one note, and the story takes itself more seriously than I usually associate with a satire manga. I don't want to speak too soon, but I expect this to be a series I recommend every chance I get.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

This manga has a unique magic system that incorporates technology and a decent amount of action, though I found both the magic and the action a little difficult to follow.

[Artemis Crescent · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Magical girls... are strong, cool, and graceful. It's a sought-after, high-paying job. The kind of career every girl dreams of!'



'Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc.' - a hot new magical girl manga and anime, taking off like a shooting star in a storm. Of course I had to check it out.

After reading the first volume of the manga, here is my verdict and critique:

It is like a manga version of 'A Magical Girl Retires', only more comedic and far less depressing. Other comparisons include 'Flavor Girls' and 'magnifiqueNOIR' (I'm a versatile Magical GirlTM connoisseur, what can I say). And it is like a magical girl version of the anime 'Tiger & Bunny'.

In 'Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc.', it is companies and corporations galore, and its magical girls employ science and technology instead of magic (yes, that includes the transformation sequences). The one thing they share in common is they fly on tech "brooms", which double as weapons. Plus magic wands or "devices". The only thing that can be called a supernatural phenomenon: the creatures the magical girls are deployed to fight and contain to protect their cities, called the kaii. Kaii are gooey, blobby, teethy monster contaminants at this point. Magical girls are employed as the exterminators.

Why are only women the exterminators and heroes? And what makes them "magical" exactly? Is the term "magical girl" used just for the geeky aesthetic? For a cuteness factor? Maybe we'll find out in future chapters.

Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc. is a small, independent magical girl company that is more a family unit than a business; not a cold, ruthless business, anyway. In its employment are the sassy, confident, spirited, impulsive magical girl Hitomi Koshigaya, and our protagonist, the new grad and magical girl recruit Kana Sakuragi. Kana is a shy and meek, but incredibly resourceful and organised young woman, with an eidetic memory. She was merely job hunting until she stumbled into a kaii contamination on the office floor of where an interview was to take place, and she ended up helping Koshigaya defeat the dangerous threat.

It's a one-in-a-million chance encounter that will change the course of Kana's life.

She can be useful. She can be appreciated for her efforts and talents.

She can help people.

Others in Magilumiere are Shigemoto, a middle-aged male magical girl cosplayer who is the president of the company, and Midorikawa, a sales rep and Koshigaya's tech assistant (a temp who's not a temp, basically), and Kazuo Nikoyama, a "magic engineer" and the biggest computer nerd and otaku ever. These three men are magical girl fanboys, and crybabies in the best way. They're cheerleaders who are not afraid to show their emotions.

There's no room for toxic masculinity in Magilumiere! Everyone helps each other out there, and supports and encourages each other; no negativity, no toxic work environment in this establishment.

Kana may have found a new family in the most unexpected of places.

'Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc., Vol. 1' - simple, funny, fun, action-packed, and major in its themes of heroics, altruism, finding your purpose, and lifting one another up. It's a good introduction to the series. There is nothing gross, fanservice-y and fetishy in this modern manga, thank goodness. It could have come dangerously close to it easily; for example, with a character like Nikoyama, since in any other manga he would be a pervert and predator (he's an otaku, bordering on hikkiomori, who designs and programs the magical girls' transformation sequences, need I say more?). But it doesn't rise to the bait - there is restraint and subversion.

We have truly come a long way. 'Magilumiere' is accessible and unalienating.

There is no romance, either, and Koshigaya and Kana look to become a great magical girl team, and the best of friends. Opposites attract, and aid each other massively. And listen to and support each other, to bring out the best of their individual qualities.

Thus ends my verdict and review. 'Magilumiere' is a cool new addition to my Magical GirlTM collection. Now to watch the anime.

Final Score: 3.5/5

[Bentgaidin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting premise - a young woman ends up interviewing to join a Magical Girl company. That said, I feel like this is sort of aimed just sideways of what I'm actually interested in, so while I'll read the next volume or two I don't know if I'm as excited as I was in my initial imaginations. Specifically, the big theme so far is 'small startup companies will save the world by breaking the rules' in ways that remind me too much of tech-bro finance that wants to 'disrupt markets.' Kana is introduced interviewing for large mega-corps that are too hidebound and checked out to see the worth of her passion and diligence, but she ends up working for a place that gives lip service to training, but also is too understaffed to let her complete it before she has to deploy dangerous magic to compensate for her partner's busted equipment; this is supposed to be a good thing, and not a harbinger of multiple expected safety and labor violations to come. I would love if future volumes talk about how many regulations are written in blood, but since they almost literally say 'move fast and break things' and 'we're like a family here' I don't expect it to come up. Also, some mild transphobia about how weird it is that her boss is a guy wearing a magical girl dress and no one else comments on it. (Also also, disappointing that the other weird employee is 'glasses guy who does all the computer coding' which in this world means 'makes their magic spells' - if this is going to be a show about adult working magical girls, one of the things I want to see is them doing their own programing/spell-work.) Anyway, overall interest but I don't know if I'll stick with it long-term; I'm sure there's a person for whom the valorization of startup culture is the antidote for their office-job ennui, but that's not me.

[Stephanie Yuzuki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kana Sukuragi is fresh out of college and looking for work. After a string of rejections, she finds her calling assisting magical girl Hitomi Koshigaya stop a monstrous kaii. Kaii are dangerous creatures that invade Earth and only magical girls can stop them, leading to a proliferation of magical girl businesses. Magilumiere Co., Ltd. is the small start-up Hitomi works at and now Kana's learning how to be a magical girl herself.

There's not much plot here; instead it's episodic stories were Kana learns more about being a magical girl, her determination, attention to detail and excellent memory making her as magical girl material. Kana's a good POV character since her inexperience makes it convenient to explain things to her while her intelligence allows her to explain finer details to the rest of the cast. Hitomi steals the show as the cocky veteran magical girl that gives Kana someone to look up to and strive to match. They bounce off each other extremely well. The eccentric workers of Magilumiere are a colorful bunch, especially the boss, Shigemoto, a magical girl fanatic that cosplays as a magical girl. They make Magilumiere look like the most fun job imaginable. With corporations being a major theme, there is some pointed commentary of the callous, conservative nature of large corporations. Yu Aoki's art is clean and bold, the details popping from the page. It's a great start to the series and my one problem is the pronunciation of "Magilumiere" doesn't make sense. The French word "lumière" is approximated as リュミエール ryumiēru, not ルミエ rumie as it is here. I don't know how Sekka Iwata got this pronunciation.

[Haleigh Gravgaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc., Vol. 1" by Sekka Iwata offers a refreshing take on the magical girl genre, blending action, humor, and workplace dynamics into an engaging narrative.

From the get-go, readers are immersed in a world where being a magical girl isn't just about fighting monsters but also about navigating the corporate landscape. The premise of magical girls being part of a structured industry adds depth to the story, offering a unique perspective on the typically whimsical trope.

Protagonist Kana Sakuragi is a relatable character with her struggles to find employment despite her qualifications. Her journey from job seeker to magical girl employee is both entertaining and endearing, making her a protagonist worth rooting for.

The artwork complements the story well, with dynamic action sequences and expressive character designs. The monster designs are imaginative, adding excitement to the battle scenes.

Overall, "Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc., Vol. 1" is a delightful start to what promises to be an enjoyable series. With its well-developed world, likable characters, and clever premise, it's sure to appeal to fans of the genre and newcomers alike.

[Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Magical Girls, but this time as corporations destroying monsters like pest control. Our protagonist is rather unexceptional other than her ability to remember important information- totally not a prodigy at anything but the ability to digest useful information and recall it at key moments gives her a bit of an edge. She's also a lovable failure when it comes to job interviews and desperately trying to find her way in the world despite everyone telling her she's a nobody with no redeeming qualities. This first volume establishes our protagonist, a few members of the supporting cast, and a general feel for how the 'magical girl' service is supposed to work. I'm hopeful for where the series goes from here, the realism hook is nice but I wasn't blown away by anything else.

[The Book Dragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a world where humanity is always at risk of Kaii attacks, magical girls are the front line. Their services are so necessary, magical girl companies have popped up everywhere. Kana, a young girl on the job hunt, gets recruited by a start-up magical girl company (Magilumiere) after helping out on a job.

And that's about all you get in this volume. It's some interesting world building with some wacky characters... but the plot is bland. Also the 'magic' seems more like future tech because the incantations sound like they're setting parameters on a computer program. They even say "Execute function" and then capture the kaii in a flashdrive. Again, not bad, just... odd.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if magical girls weren't a fictional imaginative concept... and were a viable job in today's modern society? That's the question that Magilumiere answers as the protagonist, Kana, stumbles upon it as a career and learns more about the magical and monster-fighting world.

I found Kana to be a fun and relatable character. As someone who also struggled with job hunting after graduating from college and had a love for magical girl anime when younger, I also imagined if this could be something in our society today.

Overall, the characters are likable and care about their line of work, and the battles are easy to follow along. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

[Niche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in a world where techno-magical girls are employed by agencies to fight monsters. Kana, the protagonist, is a fresh out trying to get a job and unable to get her foot in the door. She's a hard worker with an excellent learning/memory skill. Coming to the aid of magical girl, she finds herself recruited into a small company of eccentric characters.

It has that Shonen action-comedy vibe and has a mix of magical girls and small company corporate hustle themes. It seems like there's going to be both magigirl vs monster and company vs company for the plot. I found it entertaining enough. Mecha and magical girl are two of the genre pillars I have trouble with for their drama and romance, this seems humorous and doesn't indicate any romance plotlines, so it gets a thumbs up from me.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting the commentary on start-ups in a magical girls series, but it works for me. It is a bit too optimistic for a perspective on it, I'll gotta say. But, who knows how this series will turn out?

I am having a fun time with the character so far! Kana is a cutie who deserves the world, and I'm glad she has her team plus Koshigaya to back her up. They have already such a great and cute dynamic from the get-up that I'm stoked to see it blossom. The other coworkers are also lively in their own way, especially the boss lol. It is truly a solid start, and it stands tall to why/how it's popular.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting take on the magical girl genre! It reminds me a lot of the book I recently read by Park Seolyeon. The book being A Magical Girl Retires.
Like in the book, the manga follows our main character who is broke and looking for a job but just can't seem to catch a break. Until, she has a random encounter with a magical girl who is looking to hire her.
This was pretty good! I'll probably read the next volume when it is released.

Thank you Netgalley and VIZ for the ARC in exchange for my review!

[Robert Pierson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The artwork is nice and it’s definitely a different spin on the magical girl genre I like how it’s now treated as a job and they’re out fighting monsters like they’re doing pest control or animal control though after a while to be honest for me the jokes just kind of fell a little flat this is a bad series though I just don’t think it’s for me there’s definitely not in South there for it and I can see why people like it I’m just not a big fan I might read the rest of the series but I don’t know if I’ll be in a big hurry

[Ren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was received as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I flock to almost anything with magical girls in it, and this is no exception. The English translation is very well done, and I absolutely love the art and characters here. If you're looking for a cute and fun series that seems to be more of a chat about the genre than one of the heavier types they can be, this is one I'd highly recommend.