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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] #10
A Certain Scientific Railgun, Vol. 10
BRAIN DRAIN!
In this pulse-pounding climax to the Daihasei Festival Arc, Misaka's allies split up to fight their own battles. Friend and foe and even mild acquaintances team up to save the only thing they all share in common—Academy City. With the giant brain Exterior thrown into the mix, this fight is a real puzzler! In the meantime, the doomsday clock has started ticking...and Misaka's time is almost up!
In this pulse-pounding climax to the Daihasei Festival Arc, Misaka's allies split up to fight their own battles. Friend and foe and even mild acquaintances team up to save the only thing they all share in common—Academy City. With the giant brain Exterior thrown into the mix, this fight is a real puzzler! In the meantime, the doomsday clock has started ticking...and Misaka's time is almost up!
280 pages, Paperback
First published July 26, 2014
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104 people want to read
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August 3, 2023
As this is the last volume of the Railgun side of the Daihasei Festival Arc I will be writing my review for the arc here.
Railgun and the Toaru series overall will always be strong from a plot execution standpoint. Railgun however takes the generally serviceable plot that the Toaru series is known for and perfects it. The Daihasei Festival Arc covered in these volumes, while having the unfortunate luck of following up (in my opinion) the single best arc in anime/manga, maintains the quality of the plot providing an increasingly more intriguing story reminiscent of a thriller/mystery that the characters slowly uncover culminating in a fantastic action sequence to close off the arc. For the execution of plot alone the story is worth reading.
Going to discuss character writing now.
The handling of characters in Railgun is fantastic. While the plot is great, as I mentioned previously for the mainline series as well, the way Railgun handles its main character and side characters is unbelievable. For a story presented as a slice of life school experience with superpowers the amount of depth explored/self-introspection dealt with involving the characters is truly a joy to read. Where Railgun sets itself apart from not only its contemporaries in the genre as well as fiction as a whole is in how it deals with its characters, and more specifically its side characters.
Moving onto a more "meta" analysis of written fiction as a whole before I get back into the review of the content of Railgun itself. My general impression of the media I've consumed so far in my long and illustrious career is that most stories either dont have the "time" or care to flesh out their cast. In most cases, the single main character or most important character (in consideration of how prevalent ensemble casts are in modern media) is generally the only character given a proper conclusive character arc where the internal and external trials that the character has to face are properly dealt with by the author/showrunner. Maybe one or two side characters/secondary main characters will have a few moments where some effort is given in exploring their character to some degree but in my experience it is very rarely on the level to which the main character is handled, and more often than not most side characters serve as single-faceted tools (cant find a better word) to highlight the struggles of the main character. It is as though the people writing these stories forget that their side characters are characters too.
Now that I am done with that I can talk about Railgun's single greatest aspect. Every character is handled as though it is the main character of the story. There is not a single character that is wasted in this series. I truly applaud the author in their ability to perform this truly herculean task. It is a feat that I can only recall being performed once before, although in my opinion to a lesser degree, in the "First Law Series" by Joe Abercrombie. The character writing is truly exceptional. Misaki Shokuhou and Mitsuko Kongou go through absolutely exceptional character arcs worthy of their own series.
That is pretty much it for this review. Objectively, Daihasei Festival is a 9/10 arc but including my personal bias it is a 10/10. The anime adaptation is great for this arc as well. If for some reason youre reading the Railgun manga and havent seen the anime definitely check out Railgun T if youre up to this point.
Railgun and the Toaru series overall will always be strong from a plot execution standpoint. Railgun however takes the generally serviceable plot that the Toaru series is known for and perfects it. The Daihasei Festival Arc covered in these volumes, while having the unfortunate luck of following up (in my opinion) the single best arc in anime/manga, maintains the quality of the plot providing an increasingly more intriguing story reminiscent of a thriller/mystery that the characters slowly uncover culminating in a fantastic action sequence to close off the arc. For the execution of plot alone the story is worth reading.
Going to discuss character writing now.
The handling of characters in Railgun is fantastic. While the plot is great, as I mentioned previously for the mainline series as well, the way Railgun handles its main character and side characters is unbelievable. For a story presented as a slice of life school experience with superpowers the amount of depth explored/self-introspection dealt with involving the characters is truly a joy to read. Where Railgun sets itself apart from not only its contemporaries in the genre as well as fiction as a whole is in how it deals with its characters, and more specifically its side characters.
Moving onto a more "meta" analysis of written fiction as a whole before I get back into the review of the content of Railgun itself. My general impression of the media I've consumed so far in my long and illustrious career is that most stories either dont have the "time" or care to flesh out their cast. In most cases, the single main character or most important character (in consideration of how prevalent ensemble casts are in modern media) is generally the only character given a proper conclusive character arc where the internal and external trials that the character has to face are properly dealt with by the author/showrunner. Maybe one or two side characters/secondary main characters will have a few moments where some effort is given in exploring their character to some degree but in my experience it is very rarely on the level to which the main character is handled, and more often than not most side characters serve as single-faceted tools (cant find a better word) to highlight the struggles of the main character. It is as though the people writing these stories forget that their side characters are characters too.
Now that I am done with that I can talk about Railgun's single greatest aspect. Every character is handled as though it is the main character of the story. There is not a single character that is wasted in this series. I truly applaud the author in their ability to perform this truly herculean task. It is a feat that I can only recall being performed once before, although in my opinion to a lesser degree, in the "First Law Series" by Joe Abercrombie. The character writing is truly exceptional. Misaki Shokuhou and Mitsuko Kongou go through absolutely exceptional character arcs worthy of their own series.
That is pretty much it for this review. Objectively, Daihasei Festival is a 9/10 arc but including my personal bias it is a 10/10. The anime adaptation is great for this arc as well. If for some reason youre reading the Railgun manga and havent seen the anime definitely check out Railgun T if youre up to this point.
September 3, 2024
¬The tenth volume of Railgun marks the culmination of the series' longest and most extensive storyline thus far, serving as its apex. On one hand, it depicts the final showdown with Gensei Kihara, who has been orchestrating events from the shadows throughout the entire story. On the other hand, it brings together the Level 6 Shift and Level Upper plotlines, acting as a catalyst for awakening Mikoto's long-suppressed anger, which was hinted at during her conversation with Mitori in the previous volume. This detail effectively explains how Mitori managed to exert control over Mikoto, compelling her to attack Aleister's facility despite her immunity to Mental Out, by stirring up memories of the city's leadership involvement in the Level 6 Shift experiment and the suffering it induced. This required both the Level Upper to manipulate Exterior and Exterior itself to manipulate Mikoto. Beyond the narrative, the volume also delivers an emotional climax, notably in the exchange between Mikoto and Touma.
This passage often seems to spark confusion, despite, in my humble opinion, offering little room for ambiguity: when Gensei destroys Exterior through Misaki's ploy, Mikoto regains consciousness but loses control of her body. As Touma approaches, she implores him not to intervene, recognizing that her current form is not a product of her abilities but rather a manifestation of her inner hatred, akin to the AIM Burst from the Level Upper arc. She voices this concern, fearing that Imagine Breaker would prove ineffective—an intuition validated when Touma loses his arm due to a power beyond his neutralizing capacity. Following the subsequent Deus ex Dragina moment, Touma addresses the root of Mikoto's fury, understanding her grievances against the city's corruption but advocating against violent change. Instead, he urges her to effect gradual, positive change through her influence on others, acting in a positive manner while inspiring others to follow suit. What he’s trying to tell her is that she can change the world little-by-little and her friends can help her in doing so, not that, as some people seem to interpret this scene, she should learn to rely on her friends, as this arc already showcased that she is absolutely willing to do so. This principle of leading by example and turning the world into a better place little-by-little, reminiscent of the Touri Seikei concept from the Kongou chapters in Volume 7, finds immediate resonance in Mikoto's exchange with Mitsuko. As Mikoto seeks to apologize for the damages Mitsuko received due to her involvement, Mitsuko reveals that she would have willingly helped her at any time, even if it had turned out worse for her, underscoring her unwavering support. In this moment the Touri Seikei principle comes full-circle: By being caring and empathetic, Mikoto inspired Mitsuko to become more caring and empathetic herself. Even though Mikoto does not see herself as a role model, she is perceived as such by others. However, it doesn’t end with Mitsuko – by influencing her, she has, additionally, influenced Wannai and Awatsuki, who only found the strength to fight for something important to them due to their relationship with Mitsuko.
These parallels become even more pronounced when Mitsuko reacts with the same sense of shame that Mikoto did when she realizes that Wannai and Awatsuki put themselves in danger for her sake. However, she adds that, yet, she is somehow happy, which gives Mikoto a new perspective on the matter. Thus, simply by being herself, Mikoto acts as a catalyst for positive transformation by setting off a spiral that gradually changes the world around her for the better. In that moment, she realized that what Touma tried to teach her is not what she needs to learn, but what she has been doing all the time already, only that she never consciously realized it. Among all the messages conveyed by the Toaru series, this is one of the the most heartwarming and valuable one, offering a beacon of hope and guidance in a world too often mired in despair
The culmination didn't just tug at my heartstrings because of its themes though; it was also the way the character arcs wrapped up after the conflict simmered down that really resonated with me. Take Mikoto and Mitsuko's relationship, for instance. Initially, Mikoto hesitated to use their team name, but after their victory and her hospital stint, she proudly utters it herself during their joint match. This subtle moment shows how much they've both grown together and underscores Mitsuko's significance to Mikoto, just as much as Mikoto's importance to Mitsuko. Mitsuko's actions and words have stirred something within Mikoto herself, making Mitsuko herself a carrier of the Touri Seikei principle. Then, there's the beautiful conclusion to Mikoto and Touma's storyline. The revelation that Ruiko and Touma were acquainted smoothly transitions into the dance scene perfectly, since Ruiko fits the bill of a friend who would instantly pick up on a friend's romantic feelings and eagerly play matchmaker from the sidelines. Plus, Ruiko and Kazari immediately picking up on Mikoto’s feelings towards Touma helps to highlight their close bond with Mikoto that has gradually developed in the anime but had been somewhat overlooked in the manga. Additionally, Railgun seamlessly integrates the dance which was already referenced in Index into a Railgun-fitting setting by weaving the railgun-exclusive character Ruiko into the storyline.
The most poignant moment, however, comes from Mikoto's post-conflict chat with Touma. It's revealed that his words deeply touched her when she admits she could never forgive Academy City yet still acknowledges the good it's brought her— at which point she stammers emotionally that Touma saved her once again. This rescue defines their relationship and what Touma means to Mikoto. It's not just about physical salvation from danger; it's deeper. Touma has been there for her at her lowest points, pulling her back into the light from the depths of despair. Their bond isn't superficial. Mikoto wants to help Touma because she fears he may one day face similar struggles—and she wants to be there to pull him out of the same darkness he pulled her out of. Their feelings are portrayed realistically, deeply resonate, yet still grounded. It doesn't spiral into a melodramatic romance, nor does Mikoto become possessive, nor does she forsake her own individual life for Touma’s sake. She remains independent, as shown in Index's OT5 where she was able to move on after she felt rejected by Touma. Yet, due to Touma's profound impact on her, he's someone she doesn't want to lose and wants by her side, if possible. That's why their relationship is one of my favorite fictional romances, even if it may be one-sided from Mikoto's perspective.
Another moment that really touched me was the scene where Dolly, Mitori, and Misaki finally reunited. The importance of both friends to Dolly became evident, especially in Mitori's flashback, where she sparked Dolly's desire to go to the sea, which became the core of her wish expressed to Misaki - to take her to the sea. Misaki was once again paralleled with Mikoto, as they were both placed in similar roles during the epilogue: while Mikoto visited Mitsuko in the hospital with a guilty conscience and received unconditional affection instead of reproach, Misaki experienced something similar with Dolly. She initially only wanted to reunite her with Mitori but, like Mikoto, eventually found it within herself to apologize, only to be embraced by Dolly with a heartwarming hug afterward. Through the two flashbacks, it became clear that Dolly had shaped the lives of Misaki and Mitori with her personality, making her a carrier of the Touri Seikei concept. The same applies vice versa: in Dolly's dialogue, it's evident that the only positive memories in her life stem from her time with Misaki and Mitori and thus, both also shaped her life positively. Similar to the friendship between Mikoto and Mitsuko, it's apparent that the three friends positively influenced each other and therefor are able to look forward together. Additionally, the reunion moment was also visually captivating, with several panels exclusively showcasing images to convey the emotions between them from their expressions and body language alone, which went beyond words.
The connection to Mikoto's group was also emphasized by a brief comment from Mitori during the flashback, where she, referred to as a lab rat, pointed out that "rats have sharp teeth" - the same phrase Ruiko used toward Therestina in Episode 24 of the anime. Another theme linking Misaki to the group is her cellphone. Particularly in the Railgun anime, but also in the manga, the different styles of the girls' cellphones subtly convey visual statements about their characters. Mikoto has the Gekota phone to express her love for Gekota, Kuroko has the futuristic, slim phone with a pronounced GPS system that can double as an AirPod to reflect her role as a Judgment officer, Ruiko has the wide, MP4-player-inspired phone with Hajime Hitotsui as the background to showcase her love for pop culture and music - especially Hitotsui's - and Kazari has the red, somewhat outdated flip phone to express her shyness and urge for secutiry. Now, Misaki's cellphone case is depicted in a very feminine style adorned with many stars. These stars allude to both her outer appearance (her eyes) and her inner emotional world, where she uses this glittering, sweet personality as a facade to hide her vulnerability and true emotions (she carries this personality as a cover). All these aspects help establish a relationship between Mikoto and Misaki independent of Touma. Yes, he is an important link, and this made especially clear in their subsequent encounter that Misaki had an equally intense - if not greater - connection to him than Mikoto currently does. But Touma is just the tip of the iceberg, where these connections diverge, and along the way to the top, it becomes evident how parallel the life paths of both women truly run.
However, before I leave, must still touch on the finale. As I previously mentioned, the moment between Touma and Mikoto was deeply moving, as was the interaction between Touma and Sogiita. It was intriguing to see two characters, so different yet strangely alike, come together to tackle the problem and be surprised by each other's unique abilities. Also, the way Misaki and Gensei constantly one-upped each other, only for Misaki to win due to playing the ultimate mind-trick forcing her to manipulate her own memory and erase any memories of her doing so, was one of the most fascinating conflicts of the entire show. Yet, the resolution of the conflict by the dragons left me somewhat torn. The scene was undeniably well-executed, but it felt like a rather simplistic and uninspired way to bring things to a close. Essentially, none of the characters' actions led to resolution; instead, the dragons appeared almost like a divine intervention to solve the problem, only to vanish afterward - a "Deus ex Dragona" moment, if you will. Generally, I'm not fond of this narrative device, but I can overlook it because it still results in a significant character moment for Mikoto afterward. While the resolution didn't involve the characters directly, its impact was still keenly felt. That's why I still hold the finale in high regard, despite considering the actual resolution of the conflict one of the weakest in the entire Toaru series thus far. This sentiment extends to the similar moment in OT2, where a dragon also delivered the decisive blow, but Touma's cleverness and Stiyl's manipulative efforts had already turned the tide of the conflict.
What did resonate with me about the final showdown was how the core Railgun team collaborated to resolve the conflict. On one hand, Kazari and Ruiko provided invaluable support from afar, assisting Kuroko in locating Mitori and manipulating the cameras. Meanwhile, Kuroko strategically escalated the conflict and emerged victorious by constantly one-upping Mitori, similar to Misaki. It’s refreshing to see how many conflicts in Railgun are not decided by brute strength, but by adaptability, swift thinking, taking advantage of your surroundings, and having support from others behind the scene. It was also touching to see that, despite her memory loss, she swiftly came to aid Mikoto, driven by the friendly affection and deep trust she felt from Mikoto that resonated even more with her after Kuroko lost her own affection towards her. This moment served as a poignant reminder of the bond they've forged since the story's inception and how far they've come in understanding each other, even without words.
Overall, I have to say that Daihasei was a truly exceptional experience, showcasing that the manga, after some hiccup, has now firmly established its own identity. Fuyukawa has brought over many of the anime's strengths, particularly its focus on the camaraderie within the group of friends and the theme of friendship itself. Moreover, there's a greater focus on balancing heavy, action-packed sequences and quieter, slice-of-life moments that subtly develop characters and lay the groundwork for future narrative threads and make them feel more meaningful. This arc also skillfully intertwines elements from previous Railgun arcs, including those unique to the anime, while also connecting with the broader Index universe. It parallels the Index Daihasei arc and sets the stage for future Index storylines down the line. It does an excellent job of building up Misaki as a character, positioning her as the true protagonist of the story, much like Ruiko was during the first season of Railgun. Yet, this doesn't detract from Mikoto's role as the main protagonist, whose internal and external journey reaches a tragic yet ultimately hopeful climax. The focus on Mikoto's relationships with her friends, especially Mitsuko, Touma, and Misaki, is more pronounced than in previous arcs. Daihasei feels like the culmination of a first narrative phase and stands strong even without the anime-exclusive material. However, I believe that the same arc is even more effective within the anime continuity. Nevertheless, this is likely the pinnacle of Fuyukawa's storytelling prowess thus far, and it's something I truly enjoyed.
This passage often seems to spark confusion, despite, in my humble opinion, offering little room for ambiguity: when Gensei destroys Exterior through Misaki's ploy, Mikoto regains consciousness but loses control of her body. As Touma approaches, she implores him not to intervene, recognizing that her current form is not a product of her abilities but rather a manifestation of her inner hatred, akin to the AIM Burst from the Level Upper arc. She voices this concern, fearing that Imagine Breaker would prove ineffective—an intuition validated when Touma loses his arm due to a power beyond his neutralizing capacity. Following the subsequent Deus ex Dragina moment, Touma addresses the root of Mikoto's fury, understanding her grievances against the city's corruption but advocating against violent change. Instead, he urges her to effect gradual, positive change through her influence on others, acting in a positive manner while inspiring others to follow suit. What he’s trying to tell her is that she can change the world little-by-little and her friends can help her in doing so, not that, as some people seem to interpret this scene, she should learn to rely on her friends, as this arc already showcased that she is absolutely willing to do so. This principle of leading by example and turning the world into a better place little-by-little, reminiscent of the Touri Seikei concept from the Kongou chapters in Volume 7, finds immediate resonance in Mikoto's exchange with Mitsuko. As Mikoto seeks to apologize for the damages Mitsuko received due to her involvement, Mitsuko reveals that she would have willingly helped her at any time, even if it had turned out worse for her, underscoring her unwavering support. In this moment the Touri Seikei principle comes full-circle: By being caring and empathetic, Mikoto inspired Mitsuko to become more caring and empathetic herself. Even though Mikoto does not see herself as a role model, she is perceived as such by others. However, it doesn’t end with Mitsuko – by influencing her, she has, additionally, influenced Wannai and Awatsuki, who only found the strength to fight for something important to them due to their relationship with Mitsuko.
These parallels become even more pronounced when Mitsuko reacts with the same sense of shame that Mikoto did when she realizes that Wannai and Awatsuki put themselves in danger for her sake. However, she adds that, yet, she is somehow happy, which gives Mikoto a new perspective on the matter. Thus, simply by being herself, Mikoto acts as a catalyst for positive transformation by setting off a spiral that gradually changes the world around her for the better. In that moment, she realized that what Touma tried to teach her is not what she needs to learn, but what she has been doing all the time already, only that she never consciously realized it. Among all the messages conveyed by the Toaru series, this is one of the the most heartwarming and valuable one, offering a beacon of hope and guidance in a world too often mired in despair
The culmination didn't just tug at my heartstrings because of its themes though; it was also the way the character arcs wrapped up after the conflict simmered down that really resonated with me. Take Mikoto and Mitsuko's relationship, for instance. Initially, Mikoto hesitated to use their team name, but after their victory and her hospital stint, she proudly utters it herself during their joint match. This subtle moment shows how much they've both grown together and underscores Mitsuko's significance to Mikoto, just as much as Mikoto's importance to Mitsuko. Mitsuko's actions and words have stirred something within Mikoto herself, making Mitsuko herself a carrier of the Touri Seikei principle. Then, there's the beautiful conclusion to Mikoto and Touma's storyline. The revelation that Ruiko and Touma were acquainted smoothly transitions into the dance scene perfectly, since Ruiko fits the bill of a friend who would instantly pick up on a friend's romantic feelings and eagerly play matchmaker from the sidelines. Plus, Ruiko and Kazari immediately picking up on Mikoto’s feelings towards Touma helps to highlight their close bond with Mikoto that has gradually developed in the anime but had been somewhat overlooked in the manga. Additionally, Railgun seamlessly integrates the dance which was already referenced in Index into a Railgun-fitting setting by weaving the railgun-exclusive character Ruiko into the storyline.
The most poignant moment, however, comes from Mikoto's post-conflict chat with Touma. It's revealed that his words deeply touched her when she admits she could never forgive Academy City yet still acknowledges the good it's brought her— at which point she stammers emotionally that Touma saved her once again. This rescue defines their relationship and what Touma means to Mikoto. It's not just about physical salvation from danger; it's deeper. Touma has been there for her at her lowest points, pulling her back into the light from the depths of despair. Their bond isn't superficial. Mikoto wants to help Touma because she fears he may one day face similar struggles—and she wants to be there to pull him out of the same darkness he pulled her out of. Their feelings are portrayed realistically, deeply resonate, yet still grounded. It doesn't spiral into a melodramatic romance, nor does Mikoto become possessive, nor does she forsake her own individual life for Touma’s sake. She remains independent, as shown in Index's OT5 where she was able to move on after she felt rejected by Touma. Yet, due to Touma's profound impact on her, he's someone she doesn't want to lose and wants by her side, if possible. That's why their relationship is one of my favorite fictional romances, even if it may be one-sided from Mikoto's perspective.
Another moment that really touched me was the scene where Dolly, Mitori, and Misaki finally reunited. The importance of both friends to Dolly became evident, especially in Mitori's flashback, where she sparked Dolly's desire to go to the sea, which became the core of her wish expressed to Misaki - to take her to the sea. Misaki was once again paralleled with Mikoto, as they were both placed in similar roles during the epilogue: while Mikoto visited Mitsuko in the hospital with a guilty conscience and received unconditional affection instead of reproach, Misaki experienced something similar with Dolly. She initially only wanted to reunite her with Mitori but, like Mikoto, eventually found it within herself to apologize, only to be embraced by Dolly with a heartwarming hug afterward. Through the two flashbacks, it became clear that Dolly had shaped the lives of Misaki and Mitori with her personality, making her a carrier of the Touri Seikei concept. The same applies vice versa: in Dolly's dialogue, it's evident that the only positive memories in her life stem from her time with Misaki and Mitori and thus, both also shaped her life positively. Similar to the friendship between Mikoto and Mitsuko, it's apparent that the three friends positively influenced each other and therefor are able to look forward together. Additionally, the reunion moment was also visually captivating, with several panels exclusively showcasing images to convey the emotions between them from their expressions and body language alone, which went beyond words.
The connection to Mikoto's group was also emphasized by a brief comment from Mitori during the flashback, where she, referred to as a lab rat, pointed out that "rats have sharp teeth" - the same phrase Ruiko used toward Therestina in Episode 24 of the anime. Another theme linking Misaki to the group is her cellphone. Particularly in the Railgun anime, but also in the manga, the different styles of the girls' cellphones subtly convey visual statements about their characters. Mikoto has the Gekota phone to express her love for Gekota, Kuroko has the futuristic, slim phone with a pronounced GPS system that can double as an AirPod to reflect her role as a Judgment officer, Ruiko has the wide, MP4-player-inspired phone with Hajime Hitotsui as the background to showcase her love for pop culture and music - especially Hitotsui's - and Kazari has the red, somewhat outdated flip phone to express her shyness and urge for secutiry. Now, Misaki's cellphone case is depicted in a very feminine style adorned with many stars. These stars allude to both her outer appearance (her eyes) and her inner emotional world, where she uses this glittering, sweet personality as a facade to hide her vulnerability and true emotions (she carries this personality as a cover). All these aspects help establish a relationship between Mikoto and Misaki independent of Touma. Yes, he is an important link, and this made especially clear in their subsequent encounter that Misaki had an equally intense - if not greater - connection to him than Mikoto currently does. But Touma is just the tip of the iceberg, where these connections diverge, and along the way to the top, it becomes evident how parallel the life paths of both women truly run.
However, before I leave, must still touch on the finale. As I previously mentioned, the moment between Touma and Mikoto was deeply moving, as was the interaction between Touma and Sogiita. It was intriguing to see two characters, so different yet strangely alike, come together to tackle the problem and be surprised by each other's unique abilities. Also, the way Misaki and Gensei constantly one-upped each other, only for Misaki to win due to playing the ultimate mind-trick forcing her to manipulate her own memory and erase any memories of her doing so, was one of the most fascinating conflicts of the entire show. Yet, the resolution of the conflict by the dragons left me somewhat torn. The scene was undeniably well-executed, but it felt like a rather simplistic and uninspired way to bring things to a close. Essentially, none of the characters' actions led to resolution; instead, the dragons appeared almost like a divine intervention to solve the problem, only to vanish afterward - a "Deus ex Dragona" moment, if you will. Generally, I'm not fond of this narrative device, but I can overlook it because it still results in a significant character moment for Mikoto afterward. While the resolution didn't involve the characters directly, its impact was still keenly felt. That's why I still hold the finale in high regard, despite considering the actual resolution of the conflict one of the weakest in the entire Toaru series thus far. This sentiment extends to the similar moment in OT2, where a dragon also delivered the decisive blow, but Touma's cleverness and Stiyl's manipulative efforts had already turned the tide of the conflict.
What did resonate with me about the final showdown was how the core Railgun team collaborated to resolve the conflict. On one hand, Kazari and Ruiko provided invaluable support from afar, assisting Kuroko in locating Mitori and manipulating the cameras. Meanwhile, Kuroko strategically escalated the conflict and emerged victorious by constantly one-upping Mitori, similar to Misaki. It’s refreshing to see how many conflicts in Railgun are not decided by brute strength, but by adaptability, swift thinking, taking advantage of your surroundings, and having support from others behind the scene. It was also touching to see that, despite her memory loss, she swiftly came to aid Mikoto, driven by the friendly affection and deep trust she felt from Mikoto that resonated even more with her after Kuroko lost her own affection towards her. This moment served as a poignant reminder of the bond they've forged since the story's inception and how far they've come in understanding each other, even without words.
Overall, I have to say that Daihasei was a truly exceptional experience, showcasing that the manga, after some hiccup, has now firmly established its own identity. Fuyukawa has brought over many of the anime's strengths, particularly its focus on the camaraderie within the group of friends and the theme of friendship itself. Moreover, there's a greater focus on balancing heavy, action-packed sequences and quieter, slice-of-life moments that subtly develop characters and lay the groundwork for future narrative threads and make them feel more meaningful. This arc also skillfully intertwines elements from previous Railgun arcs, including those unique to the anime, while also connecting with the broader Index universe. It parallels the Index Daihasei arc and sets the stage for future Index storylines down the line. It does an excellent job of building up Misaki as a character, positioning her as the true protagonist of the story, much like Ruiko was during the first season of Railgun. Yet, this doesn't detract from Mikoto's role as the main protagonist, whose internal and external journey reaches a tragic yet ultimately hopeful climax. The focus on Mikoto's relationships with her friends, especially Mitsuko, Touma, and Misaki, is more pronounced than in previous arcs. Daihasei feels like the culmination of a first narrative phase and stands strong even without the anime-exclusive material. However, I believe that the same arc is even more effective within the anime continuity. Nevertheless, this is likely the pinnacle of Fuyukawa's storytelling prowess thus far, and it's something I truly enjoyed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2021
私がこの本を読んだのも何年も前のことで、先にアニメを見て、その後に漫画を読んだ。
この本を読んだ以降、記憶にはとても深い印象がのこっているわけである。紙幅の制限のため、ただざっとコメントせざるを得ないとおもう。
この漫画は豊富な内容が持って、魅力的であり、アイデアにも深い核を持っている。マンガのないようからみて、わがままであったり独断にやりがちことがあったりの学院都市の役所、むてきの能力を持ちたくてらんぼうに命を殺戮するひと、そのようなひともいる。けれども、重い病気を抱えた少女に温かい気持ちを持ち、危機に瀕した都市全体の命を救う人たちもいることである。この善と悪のコントラストは、読者を深く感じさせ、考えさせるようにするべし。
この本を読んだ以降、記憶にはとても深い印象がのこっているわけである。紙幅の制限のため、ただざっとコメントせざるを得ないとおもう。
この漫画は豊富な内容が持って、魅力的であり、アイデアにも深い核を持っている。マンガのないようからみて、わがままであったり独断にやりがちことがあったりの学院都市の役所、むてきの能力を持ちたくてらんぼうに命を殺戮するひと、そのようなひともいる。けれども、重い病気を抱えた少女に温かい気持ちを持ち、危機に瀕した都市全体の命を救う人たちもいることである。この善と悪のコントラストは、読者を深く感じさせ、考えさせるようにするべし。
June 28, 2018
Wasn't really sure how to feel about this as a whole.
The art was a little better than the previous ones, but I felt like the plot didn't really go anywhere and it was a lot of fighting and similar scenes.
The art was a little better than the previous ones, but I felt like the plot didn't really go anywhere and it was a lot of fighting and similar scenes.
June 2, 2019
After the last volume, this one felt a little mediocre? They seem to have beat to death the idea of having sympathy for a dying clone. Apparently, Misaka's real ultimate power is getting people who think she's going to die have sympathy for her. Imagine Dragons.
December 28, 2019
Good volume, I liked how the storyline was wrapped up. Well paced and good artwork.
*Please see first few volumes (and eventually the final volumes) for more detailed reviews that put whole series into perspective without being repetitive.
*Please see first few volumes (and eventually the final volumes) for more detailed reviews that put whole series into perspective without being repetitive.
November 13, 2021
I definitely like the story; it's just that it's hard to follow at times.
November 2, 2023
1.5 stars.
August 9, 2024
3.5 stars
August 1, 2015
I kind of forget about this story in between volumes, and while I do enjoy it well enough when I do read each volume, Railgun is not a series I look forward to releases with any sort of impatience.
Volume 10 wraps up the arc in a very satisfactory way, so much so, that I would be fine if the series stopped right here. Looks like there is more, so I'll keep it in mind if my library continues picking up the series.
Volume 10 wraps up the arc in a very satisfactory way, so much so, that I would be fine if the series stopped right here. Looks like there is more, so I'll keep it in mind if my library continues picking up the series.
May 19, 2015
Well that was bonkers even for a manga
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews