October Magica - 'Wraith Arc Volume 1'

WELCOME TO OCTOBER MAGICA!

'Wraith Arc' is set between the original 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' series and the 'Rebellion' movie.

A new story is developing.

The seeds are planted. The stars are aligned. The Law of Cycles is working and guiding away.

The wrath of the wraiths has been felt. Painfully. Fatally.

The ribbon of space-time has been stolen. An omen is beginning to be born...

But let's not dwell on that, for now.

Next up, I'll be revisiting the subsequent, consequent 'Rebellion' movie - in manga form, specifically its first volume.

Happy October Magica!

'Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Wraith Arc, Vol. 1' rereview link here.

October Magica ' 'The Different Story Volume 3'

WELCOME TO OCTOBER MAGICA!

Incredible. Extraordinary. Clever. Ingenious. Glorious.

'The Different Story' is a near-perfect spinoff and "What if?" manga companion to 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica', one of the greatest anime ever made.

Throughout the third and final volume, and especially the ending, I was left teary-eyed; mystified, in a good way.

'The Different Story' is a different way for things to go; for the characters to go, in their different choices, despite how they'll all end up meeting the same fate as in other timelines at the end...

...And it is wonderful, devastating, heartbreaking, and breathtaking to behold.

I am now halfway done with October Magica. I will only be rereading and rereviewing the first volumes of sequel and spinoff manga material from this point on.

Next, I'll briefly touch on the 'Wraith Arc'.

Happy October Magica, everyone.

Never give up hope, no matter what.

Even in a zero-sum, hope-and-despair world.

Read my rereview of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Different Story, Vol. 3' here for more.

October Magica - 'The Different Story Volume 2'

WELCOME TO OCTOBER MAGICA!

'Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Different Story, Vol. 2' - It's a solid drama piece, and direct follow up to 'Vol. 1'. It's about team-up trauma, inevitability, and history repeating itself. And humans, even the most noble and altruistic, always being inherently selfish and self-serving in their actions?

Read my rereview for more.

Extra: an excerpt from the end of that rereview:

I love each character, as different and unique as they are, in this different 'Madoka' story/timeline. Everybody is so complex, and capable of doing and saying unexpected things, without them seeming out of character. It will, in fact, be inevitable - nay, inescapable - for them. In their locked fates...

Above all, it is all exceedingly, extremely exciting, as well as shocking; even for readers who are familiar with the 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' anime. You bet I can't wait for the conclusion in 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Different Story, Vol. 3'. Even if it won't be as epic, smashing, cathartic, satisfying and gratifying as the OG canon finale.

Even if, for the reveal of some unanswered questions, nothing matters in the end anyway...

Taste the bittersweetness.

Feel the friendship turmoil... and fallout.

The imminent doom.

The choices we make.

...

And what about Walpurgis Nacht?

...

Ah, happy endings.

Happy October Magica, everyone!

October Magica - 'The Different Story Volume 1'

WELCOME TO OCTOBER MAGICA!

Today I reread the first volume of the first 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' spinoff manga I checked out, 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Different Story, Vol 1'.

I confess to remembering pretty much nothing of 'The Different Story' spinoff before embarking on the October Magica quest. All I knew peripherally was that it is a, well, different story and retelling from the canon; it is from an alternate timeline, as opposed to the timeline we follow in the anime (time travel in stories opens up so much potential, doesn't it? As long as it's written thoughtfully and carefully). But I'm glad to be revisiting it, because it is really excellent, and it holds up well.

'Vol. 1' is, oddly, both a comfort read, and a deep dive depressing reel.

Read more on my rereview here.

Hope and horror, dreams and despair, wishes and warnings, miracles and melancholia, teams and tears and tragedy, soul sisterhood and cynicism, no light without darkness and vice versa, let's go!

October Magica - 'Volume 3'

WELCOME TO OCTOBER MAGICA!

The end is nigh.

Of the main series, that is.

My rereview of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Vol. 3', in all its 'Madoka Magica' glory, emotion, triumph and heart, can be read here.

The next 'Madoka' manga I'll be taking another look at is... a different story.

"They're saying that it's a mistake to embrace hope. I want to show them that they're wrong. And I'll repeat it as many times as it takes. I'll keep saying it forever."

"So now I understand everything. Every little bit, even how you gave your all for me, Homura-chan!" [...] "All those times you were driven to tears and all the countless scars... But still you kept fighting, just for my sake... Here I had this extremely precious friend... And I never even realized it. I'm sorry!"

"[...] magical girls are those who have their hopes and dreams come true! So it's possible that a tiny miracle might happen."

"Don't forget. Always, somewhere, someone is fighting for you.

As long as you remember her, you are not alone."

Happy October Magica, everyone.

October Magica - 'Volume 2'

WELCOME TO OCTOBER MAGICA!

"[Sayaka] has a sweet and brave side that's willing to do just about anything when it's for somebody she cares about!"

"That could be fatal for a magical girl. Too much of that sort of kindness leads to mistakes. Those who are reckless let their guard down. And there is no reward given for self-sacrifice."

"Why can't you realize that there would be people who'd cry if you were to vanish!? What do you think would happen to someone who's been trying to protect you!?"

"In the end, what was so important? What was I trying so hard to protect? I don't really know... anything about anything anymore.

You know what you said about hope and despair coming out to a zero-sum game? It's only now that I've figured that out. It's true that I've managed to save a number of people's lives... but the same amount of hatred and spite has filled my heart. I've even hurt the friend I love the most... If you're praying for somebody else's happiness, you have to curse somebody else the same degree. That's the whole setup for us magical girls, huh?

What an... idiot I am!"

'She will not know yet if this encounter is a mere coincidence or a necessity.

Which would be an encounter that will change her destiny.'

We are continuing October Magica, with the second volume of the manga adaptation of 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica'.

'Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Vol. 2' rereview link here.

October Magica - 'Volume 1'

WELCOME TO OCTOBER MAGICA!

"I want you to contract with me... and become magical girls!"

"These wishes... do they absolutely have to be for yourself?"

"Do you truly want that person's dream to come true? Or is it that you want to be that person's savior for making that dream come true?"

'Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.'

Fresh off of September Moon, comes another month where I reread another popular magical girl manga series.

This time it's October Magica, where each day I will reread and rereview a manga volume based on the anime, 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica'.

'Madoka Magica', while more recent than the classic 'Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon', has no less become almost as synonymous with the magical girl genre as the latter franchise - the dominating cultural phenomenon across the globe. Considerably a "dark deconstruction" of magical girls, that is overall a darn great, intricately and solidly written Faustian story - and really a perfectly written, characterised and animated twelve-episode anime, as compact as they come - 'Madoka''s success and popularity in both Japan and the West are more than deserved. It has remained a beloved anime darling since its first airing in 2011.

The fact that I remember vividly when it came out, and when I first saw it online, fifteen years ago... time is scarier than any monster and existentialist theme.

That said, I have to wonder why the magical girl genre is still not respected and taken seriously in the mainstream pop culture sphere, compared to anime and other media aimed at "boys". Why is it still not talked about nearly as much - not even close - as other genres in anime and manga, like those in Shōnen Jump? Deep rooted, persistent misogyny, and the patriarchy's insecure and pathetic hatred of all things "girly" and "feminine", definitely come to mind...

'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' is a freaking goddess-send of an animated series, that everyone should watch, and it is one of my favourite anime, period; not only of the magical girl genre.

My way of celebrating 'Madoka Magica' in 2026, and, appropriately, in the witchy month of October, is to spend each day rereading and rereviewing a volume of the various manga adaptations and spinoffs I own - and only what I own; I haven't read every manga spinoff series, as I don't have the time, money, or inclination to.

I'll start with the very first manga adaptation, 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Vol. 1', for October 1st.

Rereview here, for your (re)reading pleasure.

'Feel the witches' curses and wards, and the horrifying aura, and step into the dark.

But whatever you do, never, ever make a contract with Kyubey.'