魔法少女まどか☆マギカ[魔獣編] 1 [Mahou Shoujo Madoka★Magica: Majuu-hen 1]

Puella Magi Madoka★Magica: Wraith Arc #1

by Magica Quartet, Hanokage (Illustrator), ハノカゲ (Illustrator)

すべての宇宙、過去と未来の魔女が消えたが、その代わりに人の感情をエサとする"魔獣"が人々を襲うようになっていた。見滝原の平和を守るべく、魔法少女たちの戦いが再びはじまる……。劇場版[前後編]と[新編]を繋ぐ[魔獣編]、堂々開幕! !

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Fiction, Comics, Action

162 pages, Paperback

First published December 12, 2015

About the author

A group collaboration consisting of director Akiyuki Shinbou, writer Gen Urobuchi, the original character designer Ume Aoki, and the producer Atsuhiro Iwakami.

Reviews

[Christopher Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Wraith Arc is another installment in the long-running anime/manga franchise, debuting in English later this week. (Somehow, my B&N had a copy before the formal release date, I'm not trying to figure it out). Set between the main series and the Rebellion movie, it follows Homura, Mami, Kyoko and Sayaka as they try to navigate a Madoka-less world, battling Wraiths who feast on human emotions rather than the Witches of the series. It's a little more slight than the original story, and the wraiths aren't terribly compelling antagonists. But artist Hanokage's return is welcome and the dread atmosphere is as good as anything in the original series. The main reason to read this, as usual, is for the further adventures of our protagonists: Homura is the emotionally fragile keeper of Madoka's legacy (the others having no memory of her), with Kyoko and Sayaka constantly fighting and Mami acting as their exasperated senpai. It's a bit more typical Magical Girl stuff than you'd expect, although the last chapter(s) raise the stakes sufficiently to achieve PMMM-standard angst and misery. Looking forward to the future volumes.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is literally my favorite manga/anime ever so of course its a 10/10 from me but I am bias.

[Aiko Bettens · Rating 2 out of 5]

Anime is beter

[Ellie Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

very gay, angry gays and magical girls.

I am gonna explodes why won't they just get together already get over your denial and go kiss you little homosexuals

[Lilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting to see the aftermath of the original anime! Excited to read more

[Nick · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only recently found out Wraith Arc was even a thing by spotting it half mentioned in a reddit thread posted years ago, so I'm entirely surprised to find that they went back and filled in the blanks between the original series and the Rebellion movie.

Now, do I think it was even necessary to do that? Not at all! But I'm intrigued all the same. I'm very curious to see what they can tease out of this gap in the timeline - there's a lot of potential at the very least, and they could do something quite interesting.

In saying that this volume so far is Not It. We've already seen this scenario - or at least, the end of this scenario, IN the original series, and the actual sequence of events that lead up to what happens was left up to the viewer. I liked that original ambiguity for a few reasons; it lets the viewer think up their own scenario, which can be as dramatic as they like; it suits the ambiguity of the rewritten timeline, considering we are plonked into it halfway through with only context clues to figure out what happened, since the universe itself was going through the same thing; and it put us on the same level as Homura, who also had to piece it together as she went. This volume, though, goes back and fills out all the details sideways so we can see a step by step process of HOW that scene happened.

And unfortunately, it's way less effective! Sayaka's arc is much less impactful without the original context - her angst and incredible suffering are now just, like, mild stubbornness, and so the situation this leaves her in has none of the same impact as before. Even the emotional reactions of other characters to what happens are muted all the way down to a reaction so mild that they are easily distracted by Homura appearing in frame - which matches the scene we saw in the anime, but as a result ROBS the entire arc of any emotional impact! If they were going to have even a fraction of Kyouko's closeness with Sayaka it would have had to have shown in that scene. Instead it's entirely absent - for continuity purposes, sure, but it falls flat all the same.

So, this volume as a whole feels unnecessary from a storytelling perspective. I've started Volume 2 and it's already miles ahead in what it's playing with, so it's just a bit of a shame we had to start so far back in the timeline and couldn't have leapt straight into the new ideas. It's not like it was for the sake of new readers, after all - this is incomprehensible without a full memory of the original show from page one.

[Artemis Crescent · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Wraith Arc, Vol. 1' - it's exactly what you'd expect if you've seen the original anime all the way through. Especially its ending.

The manga is supposedly set between the original series and the 'Rebellion' movie, and it aims to explain how the events of the latter came to be.

Strangely, Homura Akemi barely appears, and she's front and center on the cover. Though she takes center stage at the end, in a gigantic wraith battle mirroring Walpurgisnacht.

The first volume is mainly about the magical girls Mami Tomoe, Kyouko Sakura and Sayaka Miki trying to work as a team as they fight the wraiths in their city. Mami is the levelheaded leader, though she has questionable and even manipulative motives, and Kyouko and Sayaka are constantly fighting each other, physically and verbally. It is ultimately about Sayaka dealing with her own issues and heartache (Kyousuke and Hitomi remain key players.)

Yet again, it is about a magical girl's loneliness...

Madoka is a goddess-like presence, a symbol of hope and light, rarely seen but always there, always felt, regardless.

Only poor Homura remembers her, and believes in her, and cannot stand to lose her again...

'Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Wraith Arc, Vol. 1' is an enjoyable yet bittersweet manga story for any 'Madoka Magica' fan. The action is awesome, as are the characters and their development. Of course it doesn't hold a candle to the original anime - nothing can ever match that self-contained package of perfection, I don't think. But it's a good, fulfilling story in its own right.

For more of my 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' reviewing and gushing, read these links:


'Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Vol. 1'

'Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Vol. 2'

'Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Vol. 3'

'Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Different Story, Vol. 1'

'Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Different Story, Vol. 2'

'Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Different Story, Vol. 3'


Final Score: 4/5

[Luna's Little Library · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley, Yen Press, for this review copy.

I thought this was the first book in a new series but really, it’s a new story that is part of an ongoing collection. Puella Magi Madoka Magica is an anime series from 2011 (so google tells me) and has various manga’s as well. I had no previous knowledge of this show or the other mangas, so I feel like this is hard for me to judge.

I didn’t really enjoy reading this. There is some word building but overall, it felt confusing. There is minimal character development (or introduction) and if you don’t know this franchise it’s hard to care about any of them.

Unfortunately, I don’t think this works as an introduction to Puella Magi Madoka Magica. I think if you’re already a fan this will be good but as an utter newby I wasn’t pulled in.

[Seeker of Knowledge, may he never succeed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of all the Madoka Magica mangas so far, this one has the tone closest to the original series. The dialogue feels natural, the story progression is smooth, progressing quickly but never feeling rushed. Not to mention the the artist renders the character designs beautifully, and the clear style avoid the trap many mangakas fall into for action sequences. That being, defining the surroundings too vaguely, which makes it hard to place what's happening specially. No such issues here, as the battles are always definitive and exhilarating.

Very excited to see how this continues to the together the events of the series and rebellion.

[Noctourniquet · Rating 4 out of 5]

spoilers for the rebellion movie specifically

this is an excellent companion piece to the anime, one that helps bridge the gap between the homura of the anime and the homura who was depraved enough to split god in two and trap her schoolgirl side in a fake reality. a part of me entertains the thought that it's possibly unnecessary, but considering i only read this AFTER having watched rebellion, it does no harm by existing. more meguca is always good! (even if i refuse to watch magia record)

[Santiago Bueno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un comienzo sorpresivo para esta saga de Madoka. Tiene un tono parecido al de la serie original, bien afianzado desde un principio. Logra introducir bien el mundo creado por Madoka al final de la serie de anime de una manera bastante orgánica. No pierde el tiempo con exposiciones largas. Te muestra lo necesario para poder tener una buena base para la historia. Tiene potencial por el momento.

[xenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, we transvaluate the dialectic between hope and despair, and enter into disaffect, the total opting out of the law of cycles. Neither its reversal, nor its irruption, but its total cancellation. The turning away of all affective attachment, the slumber before joyous reclamation of becoming.

[Jade]

It's really sad to see sayaka have the same fate as the OG manga, but it fits into her character well. Showing that she has the same ethics is consistent with her character! And it was lovely to see sayaka taken away by madoka. Ahh the feels

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed a quick pick-me-up and this manga gave me exactly that. I love that it picks up where the previous arc left off, giving us an altered story with the same beloved characters. The dynamic between Mami, Sayaka, and Kyoko is great. Time to jump into volume 2!

[Azbaqiyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plot - 5 ⭐
Character - 5 ⭐
Writing Style - 4 ⭐
World Building - 5 ⭐
Art - 5 ⭐
Cover - 5 ⭐

Overall - 4.8 ⭐ / 5 ⭐

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've waited so long for this. I don't even care how unoriginal it mostly is, FINALLY the WRAITH ARC in ENGLISH!!! Perfect way to wrap up the 10th year anniversary

[Ellen Scheid · Rating 2 out of 5]

...I don't think magical girls are my thing.

[Jon Chaisson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A welcome return to the Magica universe, with a unique twist.

[Devinne W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a good continuation of the original. However, it gets a little confusing at a few parts. Hang on though because I'm sure it's going to be worth it

[vii*ੈ✩‧₊˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

MADOKA SLAYS FR

[ReadingFrog · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars.

[nuvolets · Rating 4 out of 5]

3/3
me sorprende que magica quartet pueda seguir sacando universos nuevos de madoka y siga sintiéndose como algo nuevo

[shanniiine · Rating 4 out of 5]

best arc so far

[b. · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's not canon but still a cute spin off

[Reese · Rating 4 out of 5]

More manga of my favorite anime what’s not to love

[aina · Rating 5 out of 5]

las amaré en todas las realidades paralelas posibles

[Alternis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buen manga que continua justo donde lo dejó el anime

[Megan Mullins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Homura is using a bow now. Like madoka I'm crying 😢

[Dony Grayman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tomo 1 de 3. Parte del pack con el que se distribuyó la saga completa.