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The New York Times bestselling series continues! Welcome to a world where mysticism and science collide, and supernatural powers are derived from either science or religion. At the heart of this world is Academy City, an advanced metropolis whose population is comprised mostly of students. The majority of students are enrolled in the city’s "Power Curriculum Program," where they must learn to master their latent psychic powers. Out of several million students, only seven are deemed powerful enough to have Level 5 status. Meet Mikoto Misaka, the third most powerful Level 5 esper in Academy City. Together with her best friend Kuroko Shirai and the other members of Judgment, a student-run law enforcement agency, Mikoto delves deep into the dark heart of the scientific sprawl she calls home, and uncovers secrets she wishes she hadn’t! A Certain Scientific Railgun is a must-have manga series for fans of stories that blend science and magic like Psychic Academy and Full Metal Alchemist.
186 pages, Paperback
First published October 27, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 20 reviews
November 16, 2016
Review for volume 4 to 7.
The Sisters arc is here! Boy, the manga moves fast as lightning. We are already on S2 material. On the one hand I am delighted with that, on the other hand? I think I prefer the anime more. Mostly because it fleshes out the characters more, it gives us more insight in the lives of Misaka and her friends. Now it just feels hurried, rushed, like the author just wants to go through all the exciting bits. :| Also there is just no calmness. There might be a few pages with some random stuff, but it is so so rare, and I miss it. It is what made me love the anime. Some people didn't like the filler, but as for me? Especially now after reading this, I prefer them. Slice of life, some friendship, yes please.
Also it feels disconnected and off at times. For instance at the middle of Volume 7, we have a moment of reprieve, but actually it is more a build-up to the next arc. However, there are things happening there that we didn't see, and which are just really weird. Kuroko got injured? Uiharu apparently had something to do with it? Suddenly Kongou knows Misaka's name, while when we saw her last she didn't know. After the final battle with Accelerator we find ourselves suddenly in the hospital, how did they get there? Did Misaka carry Touma? Or did the Sisters help? Again, I am sure it wouldn't have hurt if you added some more scenes to make them connect better.
The Sister arc is pretty awesome, though even more than in the anime, I wasn't happy with the way Misaka acted. Yes, we know the Sisters have your DNA, that you gave your DNA. But hello, you were 6 to 8 years old during that time. They should NEVER have asked you, and even if you gave permission they should have asked your parents/guardians to also get their permission. You are a kid. They need an adult as well. I am not sure about the laws within in her world, but it worries me.
But Misaka completely works herself to death because she feels like she is the one to hold the blame. She has some wonderful friends, Kuroko especially, who would be more than willing to help her out. I know that Misaka wouldn't want Kuroko to get wounded, but come on, haven't you got any idea how it would be for her if you died? Or got wounded badly?
I just wanted to smack Misaka on the head. On the other hand I also admired that she was so willing to go so far (and she was pretty awesome finding out all those things, fighting those people, fighting against the places that held the research), but mostly I just wanted to smack her for endangering herself so much, not relying a bit more on others.
I was delighted to see the Sisters, they are so much fun. With how they talk, but also how they see the world. I felt terrible with what happens to them, no one deserves that kind of treatment. :(
I do hope that with the end of this arc it won't mean that we won't see them any more. I do hope we will see them more, even a bit of a small hint to it would be nice.
The battles were pretty kick-ass though, and I definitely like the final boss battle.
What more? Mm, well I loved the Touma at the end of this arc. He never really is a big favourite of mine, but he does show a wonderful side (though also a bit stupid) to himself.
Accelerator. Well I don't want to say anything about him. Bah! I think that says enough about how I feel about this character.
I guess I will have to get the rest of the volumes soon if I want to know what happens next.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com
The Sisters arc is here! Boy, the manga moves fast as lightning. We are already on S2 material. On the one hand I am delighted with that, on the other hand? I think I prefer the anime more. Mostly because it fleshes out the characters more, it gives us more insight in the lives of Misaka and her friends. Now it just feels hurried, rushed, like the author just wants to go through all the exciting bits. :| Also there is just no calmness. There might be a few pages with some random stuff, but it is so so rare, and I miss it. It is what made me love the anime. Some people didn't like the filler, but as for me? Especially now after reading this, I prefer them. Slice of life, some friendship, yes please.
Also it feels disconnected and off at times. For instance at the middle of Volume 7, we have a moment of reprieve, but actually it is more a build-up to the next arc. However, there are things happening there that we didn't see, and which are just really weird. Kuroko got injured? Uiharu apparently had something to do with it? Suddenly Kongou knows Misaka's name, while when we saw her last she didn't know. After the final battle with Accelerator we find ourselves suddenly in the hospital, how did they get there? Did Misaka carry Touma? Or did the Sisters help? Again, I am sure it wouldn't have hurt if you added some more scenes to make them connect better.
The Sister arc is pretty awesome, though even more than in the anime, I wasn't happy with the way Misaka acted. Yes, we know the Sisters have your DNA, that you gave your DNA. But hello, you were 6 to 8 years old during that time. They should NEVER have asked you, and even if you gave permission they should have asked your parents/guardians to also get their permission. You are a kid. They need an adult as well. I am not sure about the laws within in her world, but it worries me.
But Misaka completely works herself to death because she feels like she is the one to hold the blame. She has some wonderful friends, Kuroko especially, who would be more than willing to help her out. I know that Misaka wouldn't want Kuroko to get wounded, but come on, haven't you got any idea how it would be for her if you died? Or got wounded badly?
I just wanted to smack Misaka on the head. On the other hand I also admired that she was so willing to go so far (and she was pretty awesome finding out all those things, fighting those people, fighting against the places that held the research), but mostly I just wanted to smack her for endangering herself so much, not relying a bit more on others.
I was delighted to see the Sisters, they are so much fun. With how they talk, but also how they see the world. I felt terrible with what happens to them, no one deserves that kind of treatment. :(
I do hope that with the end of this arc it won't mean that we won't see them any more. I do hope we will see them more, even a bit of a small hint to it would be nice.
The battles were pretty kick-ass though, and I definitely like the final boss battle.
What more? Mm, well I loved the Touma at the end of this arc. He never really is a big favourite of mine, but he does show a wonderful side (though also a bit stupid) to himself.
Accelerator. Well I don't want to say anything about him. Bah! I think that says enough about how I feel about this character.
I guess I will have to get the rest of the volumes soon if I want to know what happens next.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com
July 4, 2017
I've only read, what?, like five big-boy books the entire first half of this year. Railgun was being kept aside as a failsafe way of boosting my number of read books, but Punpun's being proving to be adequately literary enough that I could just use the seven books as a simple boost and just read shorter novels to make up for lost time. But, fuck it, I didn't feel like reading anything of true artistic merit today, and I couldn't think of anything that would fit Acid Mothers Temple anyway (as Absolutely Freak Out isn't as rockist as I would prefer for a companion to Vineland), so I killed time with this and the previous volume. Forgot how poorly the Sisters arc was set up in comparison to the Index anime (where Biribiri and the other ESPers shouldn't be nearly as relevant as magic-users anyway), and Accelerator's introduction just makes him out to be the Chunibyo King. Comic books are wack. This does not qualify as a review by any means.
March 30, 2019
I REALLY LOVE IT. IT'S EASY TO FORGET ABOUT TIME.
I REALLY ENJOY THE RAILGUN MANGA. I HAVE ALREADY SEEN THE ANIME SERIES. AND IT'S A BLAST! READING AND WATCH THE ANIME SERIES. I CAN RELATE TO MIKOTO MISAKA , RUIKO SATEN THERE PENALTY IS SO CLOSE TO WHAT I AM IN REAL LIFE SO CLOSE IN MANY WAYS. BUT HEY I LOVE THE SISTERS OF MISAKA IT IS FUNNY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME LIKES OF THINGS BETWEEN MISAKA AND HER SISTER'S. BUT THEY ALL LIKE I'VE CREAM LOL! AND WHO DON'T LIKE I'VE CREAM? I REALLY WISH THAT THE ANIME SERIES HAS MORE EPISODES AND NOW I AM REALLY ENJOY READING THE MANGA I REALLY DON'T WANT ANY OF THEM TO EVER END LIKE NEVER ENDS! KEEP YOUR AMAZING WORK. YOU ALWAYS GOT MY THUMBS UP. I AM HAVING A BLAST READING THEM.
I REALLY ENJOY THE RAILGUN MANGA. I HAVE ALREADY SEEN THE ANIME SERIES. AND IT'S A BLAST! READING AND WATCH THE ANIME SERIES. I CAN RELATE TO MIKOTO MISAKA , RUIKO SATEN THERE PENALTY IS SO CLOSE TO WHAT I AM IN REAL LIFE SO CLOSE IN MANY WAYS. BUT HEY I LOVE THE SISTERS OF MISAKA IT IS FUNNY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME LIKES OF THINGS BETWEEN MISAKA AND HER SISTER'S. BUT THEY ALL LIKE I'VE CREAM LOL! AND WHO DON'T LIKE I'VE CREAM? I REALLY WISH THAT THE ANIME SERIES HAS MORE EPISODES AND NOW I AM REALLY ENJOY READING THE MANGA I REALLY DON'T WANT ANY OF THEM TO EVER END LIKE NEVER ENDS! KEEP YOUR AMAZING WORK. YOU ALWAYS GOT MY THUMBS UP. I AM HAVING A BLAST READING THEM.
October 30, 2018
First one that really made me laugh, due to the clone's robot like programming.
The Railgun discovers there was a program to clone her and copy her powers. Apparently it was discontinued... or was it?
Misaka is NOT DISAPPOINTED!
Note, there is a lot more fuzzy nudity in this due to the clones, as per the cover.
The Railgun discovers there was a program to clone her and copy her powers. Apparently it was discontinued... or was it?
Misaka is NOT DISAPPOINTED!
Note, there is a lot more fuzzy nudity in this due to the clones, as per the cover.
December 13, 2019
Fun volume with an interesting new story line.
Honestly, when bingeing manga it is hard to come up with comments for the later volumes, the reviews for the first two and last volumes I read are probably the best measure of the series. This volume continues to be good and I like where the story lines are going. I look forward to continuing.
Honestly, when bingeing manga it is hard to come up with comments for the later volumes, the reviews for the first two and last volumes I read are probably the best measure of the series. This volume continues to be good and I like where the story lines are going. I look forward to continuing.
June 13, 2017
i had a hard time keeping my attention with this one
May 23, 2018
This one was actually a lot better than previous ones and there's some really decent plot going on. If it continues down this road I'll definitely continue reading this series.
August 3, 2018
5/5 ⭐️
The clone making storyline was actu really interesting and seeing how they acted in society and what they were made for.
The clone making storyline was actu really interesting and seeing how they acted in society and what they were made for.
July 12, 2020
Added scenes add depth to characters not seen in the anime.
September 5, 2020
This one started out cute and funny and then hit me right in the feels. The story could have been fleshed out to explore the sister aspect more. It felt a bit rushed.
November 2, 2023
1.5 stars.
May 22, 2024
3.5 stars
Wait...is this related to A Certain Scientific Accelerator??
Wait...is this related to A Certain Scientific Accelerator??
December 25, 2025
One of the most painful things. It charms you then crushes your heart.
January 29, 2014
This volume introduces to us the "Misaka Sisters," which (for me) begs the question: what would you do if you had a clone and you encountered him/her? I still don't know what I would, exactly... But the experiments! What is wrong with that guy?!?!?! Beating the c*@p out of that girl just makes me wanna kill somebody myself!
May 13, 2012
Fourth volume marks the start of a new story arc and the introduction of two awesome new characters -- Shinobu and Misaka's clone, both of whom are hilarious. In addition, the new plot ties in with the main Index series so it no longer feels like a side story.
November 13, 2014
it felt like I missed some stuff between volumes 1 & 4, in particular I felt like Misaka's personality was a little different but I didn't know how. It wasn't hard to pick up the new story, which is on the creepy scientific experiment side.
April 17, 2013
Y comienzan a aparecer las hermanas, una tras otra. Familia desconocida, creada, clonada, uff, bueno, ¿quien puede culpar a Misaka de que se ponga un poco agresiva? Cuando te matan a ti misma, frente a tus ojos, ¿qué puedes hacer?
May 16, 2012
It's the start of a new story arc and it was good, really good. I look forward to seeing where this goes. I expect that it will be another three book affair.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 20 reviews