Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Different Story: The Complete Omnibus Edition

Puella Magi

by Magica Quartet, Hanokage (Artist)

Before Madoka, there was Mami Tomoe...If things had been different, if events had been changed, what would her story be? The Puella Magi series returns with The Different Story, collected into one omnibus!

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Comics

504 pages, Paperback

First published November 17, 2020

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: The Different Story revisits the popular anime/manga series through the eyes of two supporting characters: Mami Tomoe, the "veteran magical girl" whose style and poise so impressed us in early episodes and Kyoko Sakura, a tough cookie with a chip on her shoulder and an endless supply of Pocky. Part prequel and part alternate universe, Different Story shows that Mami and Kyoko were friends before the series: Mami was senpai to the eager Kyoko, grateful for her companionship, until Kyoko's family tragedy and differing views on how to fight witches drove them apart. Mami survives her encounter with Charlotte in this manga, but mourns over her fractured relationship with Kyoko, which provides the story's backbone. The result, as expected from the Madokaverse, can only be tragic.

Mami and Kyoko are fan favorites despite having the least screen time among the main cast, and it's delightful to learn more about them. Kyoko's endearingly cute and friendly, declaring her purpose as a Magical Girl to "protect everyone's happiness," until her family discovers her secret, then she (understandably) turns into the sour, cynical girl we all know and love. Mami cast a huge shadow over the events of the series, as the ideal mentor Madoka and Sayaka idolized, but we only received glimpses of her personality. Here, while her sweet, outgoing persona remains intact, we see that she's deeply lonely and desperate for affection. With Mami's parents dead and her schoolmates unable to comprehend her exploits, she grasps eagerly onto Kyoko as a potential partner. Theirs, unfortunately, is never a relationship of equals, and it's predestined to fall apart as Kyoko comes into her own. Mami only realizes this when it's too late to do anything about it, a failure reinforced when her mentorship of Sayaka turns similarly sour. 

Artist Hanokage returns from the series' manga adaptation and this time, her art style is much more dynamic and in-line with the show; the action scenes pop and the character drawings seem more consistent (no more cutesy Kyubey here). But about halfway through, the story slides inexorably towards the status quo; the creators evidently resolved that these characters can't fight fate in any timeline (which another spin-off, Homura's Revenge, further reinforces) and it eventually feels like so much wheel-spinning. For Madoka fans, The Different Story is worthwhile, but mostly for shining a light on two of the anime's secondary characters. On a thematic and narrative level, it's more of the same; whether that's good or bad depends on the reader. 

[Mercedez · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5/5)

The omnibus is a definitive edition, and the best way to read this three-volume series. If you’re a Madoka Magica fan, I definitely think this is worth picking up, especially for best girl Tomoe Mami. I think you’ll find a solid story about two girls trying to be heroes, though there are definitely some tough themes in the back half of PMMM Different Story. Still, I think this omnibus is worth a read, or at the very least, borrow from a friend.

Read My Full Review: butwhythopodcast.com/2021/03/29/revie...

[Szahra · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5
Some of the fight scenes were difficult to read (for me) at times so I've docked .5 stars, but how could I not be biased for the spin off for my all-time favourite anime??
I was expecting this to be sad and deep but I was still NOT READY
I'm just so so glad that Mami got her time to shine 💕

[Hange Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this collection. I thought it was refreshing, more so from the anime, but I also missed some parts that make the anime absolutely awesome. But I like all the alternate stories that this author presented. It makes it really fun to read just to find all the differences. I know there are more Magi Magica series out there. I just have to find them all. I fully intend on owning all of them, in due time.

[Britt ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Different Story presents an alternate timeline from the Madoka anime that gives Mami and Kyoko a more detailed, shared backstory and changes some major events. I like that the original plot allows for this kind of tinkering and exploration of different ways that things could have turned out, even if the way they turn out is always depressing. But hey, no one comes to the Madoka franchise to be happy. We come to it for the magical girl trope subversion and lesbian subtext.

[VividlyVIVI · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did you also want more Mami? Here's more Mami!

Firstly, this is a spin-off/alternative version of Puella Magi Madoka Magica., and it expects the reader to be familiar with the original. Concepts are explained, but someone unfamiliar with the series would definitely struggle to fully enjoy this manga.

PMMM: The Different Story shifts the role of protagonist from Madoka Kaname to Mami Tomoe, the "Magical Girl Senpai", as well as showcasing her relationship with Kyouko Sakura.

In the original PMMM, we are separated from Mami a quarter of the way into the story, her death serving as the tone-shift for the series. This of course means she is given the least characterization, being dead. Her relationship to Kyouko isn't established much in comparison to the other magical girls.

The Different Story gives us the time with Mami Tomoe that we didn't have the first time around. We learn more about her and her desire to not be alone set in one of the timelines that Homura Akemi gives up on. Things unfold differently (however ultimately follow the tragedy of the series), and give us another look at the cast.

Hanokage returns as the artist for this spin-off. The art is more consistent throughout and characters more on-model compared to PMMM manga adaptation, and the action sequences are also a little easier to follow (however are still a little incomprehensible at times).

★★★★☆ 4/5. There are definite improvements in Hanokage's art/direction, and the alternate view of the characters made me enjoy this more than the original PMMM manga adaptation.

Thank you gm1993 for gifting this manga via my Throne Wishlist!

[Aaron Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah man it was pretty hard reading a rewrite of the original where Mami lives. I liked Mami so seeing her die in the original was bad and seeing her live here was great yet there was something nagging at me. I was ecstatic about getting more backstory on Kyouko, just adore her as well attitude and all, her life was very sad after becoming a magical girl. By the end of the story my nagging concerns became reality when we closed the book with that final frame. To be honest I just sat there not really wanting to process it. Such a drag.

[krispy · Rating 5 out of 5]

even though much of the story is quite similar to the main story i like the different themes of friendship and sacrifice and virtue that this alternate version takes on separate from the main story, i especially related to kyouko in certain ways after exploring her background more and seeing a more compelling explanation for her behavior that the main story didn’t have the time to get into

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the many failed timelines, though mostly through the lens of Mami. You get to see more of her character and understand her more then the show sadly allowed... but in the end of it all, it's still heart-wrenching in the best possible ways

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am obsessed with this series and the emotional damage it gives me. 10/10 will probably read it again sooner than later

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were things that I liked in this and things I didn't, but I loved that Best Girl Mami gets to have more adventures

[Rocio Panchu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Al igual que la primer parte, la historia siguió espléndidamente. No me dejó de sorprender. Aunque es una historia compleja se puede entender perfectamente.

[Ivye · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quite interesting AU! I really liked the further exploration of Mami and Kyoko and their stories.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this alternate story from the Madoka universe.

[m · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

[Ferris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good!
Mami 😭😭😭😭😭
Doomed yuri 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
It gave me a new appreciation for the whole cast and the anime itself. Can definitely recommend for any Madoka fans

[Morgan Morison · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Kristina Trombley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mami and Kyouko were my two favorite characters from the original series, so it was great to get to read a story based more around them. I really enjoyed getting to see more of Kyouko and learn more about her powers and her family beyond just hearing it retold by her. It lacks the same emotion that the first one had but it's still great if you liked the original series.

[lupin mayhew · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved seeing the relationship between mami and kyouko being explored. im a long term fan of puella magi madoka magica and i’d call this a must read for fans of the story as well

[Rowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started the book:
Silly :D
I finished the book:
Sad :(

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

⎯ ✩✩✩✩ ⎯

So awesome to read about Mami and Kyoko's first meeting! This was a great side story I thoroughly enjoyed.