WELCOME TO OCTOBER MAGICA!
'Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Homura's Revenge!, Vol. 1' - an interesting and entertaining "What if?" time travel/alternate timeline story for 'Madoka Magica', that I first read two years ago.
The artists and artwork are very different from the previous 'Madoka Magica' manga I read - the art looks rounder, smoother, slightly Westernised, and much more comedic. And speaking of, the tone of 'Homura's Revenge!' is odd and inconsistent. It is what I'd call oddball, or maybe just not-caring-much-for-tone-ball, and there's a humorous side to it, with no edges (aligning it to the art's light roundness); yet it follows through with the tragic plot beats, elements and introspections of the original series. It's nowhere near as off in its irreverent, OTT comedy and satire as, say, 'Puella Magi Homura Tamura', but it has that not-so-serious ring to it.
I'm not as on the edge of my seat and full of dread and foreboding when reading 'Homura's Revenge!' (even the title isn't serious) as I am whenever I watch the OG anime and read the manga adaptations and spinoffs of that. There's also the plot holes and inconsistencies between the timelines. If I'm feeling any negative emotion (and energy) towards this manga, it's a toss-up between confusion at the tone, and annoyance at Kyubey, who is more devious and manipulative - and inexplicably bloodthirsty - than ever before.
And I'm still not sure why it is called 'Homura's Revenge!', when, so far, there isn't really anything of the sort present. With how the course of events play out, it should instead be called "Sayaka's Revenge!'. Sayaka actually says she wants revenge for Mami (meaning: revenge on Homura, in so few words); and it becomes part of the reason why she chooses to be a magical girl.
Give Sayaka her own spinoff spotlight for a change!
But 'Homura's Revenge!, Vol. 1' is entertaining and enjoyable on its own all the same. A guilty pleasure 'Madoka' manga for me.
Next up, I will relook at one of the mainstream 'Madoka' spinoff titles that do not directly involve Madoka or any of the original cast (except Mami, to an extent) - one that started as a mobile game, and then received its own anime.
That spinoff is:
'Magia Record'.
'Side Story'. First volume.
Happy October Magica!
My original review below still applies.
Oh, what the witch's hex and curse, I'll leave off with a few good, heartbreaking quotes from 'Homura's Revenge!':
HOMURA: I came prepared to toss aside everything but Madoka. When I start trying to save everyone... It never goes as well as I want.
MADOKA: You're trying really hard for everyone's sake... But nobody is willing to see that...
HOMURA: Well, that's been true all along. [...] At least... This time... You can see it.
Final Score: 3/5
EDIT: On further thought, I can see how 'Homura's Revenge!' fits into the original anime canon, based on its beginning, its entire premise. Meaning, it ties into one of the series' core ideas and aspects: Homura desperately trying to take Madoka's choice(s) from her, out of what would turn out to be for her own selfish and thoughtless gain. It will end in both of their demise.
Original Review:
A 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' manga I hadn't read yet. Well, now I have, at last, and here's what I think:
It's an interesting "What if?" premise and scenario. It is fairly entertaining on its own. Dynamic and well paced.
However, overall the execution isn't that solid, or well thought out. The characters are not that strong, and some are just bizarrely out-of-character altogether, without reason, or those reasons are wishy-washy. There's the big, unignorable plot hole regarding Mami Tomoe's "fate"/"destiny". Like, did the writers forget there were previous timelines before the main one in the series? Every one of them is different, depending on Homura's actions and involvement. Characters' fates change every time. Except for Madoka's. And perhaps Sayaka's.
I don't know why this series is called 'Homura's Revenge!', when it's not really about that - Homura's objective hasn't changed in any way, and she somehow seems less certain and assertive now. Less cold, gloomy and forlorn. If anything, Madoka is more of a protagonist here, as she's more fixed and thoughtful in her goals as she teams up side-by-side with the tragic Homura; helping her, as she never had the chance to before.
Kyubey has become unflinchingly bloodthirsty all of a sudden (new objective? Out of desperation?) (this is one example of bizarre character derailment).
Nevertheless, I'd recommend 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Homura's Revenge!, Vol. 1' to 'Madoka Magica' fans. Just don't expect the same kind of tone and excellent, high quality, star-striking writing as in the original anime series.
It might not be a very strong addition to a fan's manga collection, but it's appealing, and some parts (story and character beats) are competently executed, and it has a good twist ending, so I'll keep it.
Homura and Madoka (and Mami and Sayaka and Kyouko) forever. For all time. For infinity. For eternity.
For hope. Towards hope, every time.
Final Score: 3/5
Original Review:
A 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica' manga I hadn't read yet. Well, now I have, at last, and here's what I think:
It's an interesting "What if?" premise and scenario. It is fairly entertaining on its own. Dynamic and well paced.
However, overall the execution isn't that solid, or well thought out. The characters are not that strong, and some are just bizarrely out-of-character altogether, without reason, or those reasons are wishy-washy. There's the big, unignorable plot hole regarding Mami Tomoe's "fate"/"destiny". Like, did the writers forget there were previous timelines before the main one in the series? Every one of them is different, depending on Homura's actions and involvement. Characters' fates change every time. Except for Madoka's. And perhaps Sayaka's.
I don't know why this series is called 'Homura's Revenge!', when it's not really about that - Homura's objective hasn't changed in any way, and she somehow seems less certain and assertive now. Less cold, gloomy and forlorn. If anything, Madoka is more of a protagonist here, as she's more fixed and thoughtful in her goals as she teams up side-by-side with the tragic Homura; helping her, as she never had the chance to before.
Kyubey has become unflinchingly bloodthirsty all of a sudden (new objective? Out of desperation?) (this is one example of bizarre character derailment).
Nevertheless, I'd recommend 'Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Homura's Revenge!, Vol. 1' to 'Madoka Magica' fans. Just don't expect the same kind of tone and excellent, high quality, star-striking writing as in the original anime series.
It might not be a very strong addition to a fan's manga collection, but it's appealing, and some parts (story and character beats) are competently executed, and it has a good twist ending, so I'll keep it.
Homura and Madoka (and Mami and Sayaka and Kyouko) forever. For all time. For infinity. For eternity.
For hope. Towards hope, every time.
Final Score: 3/5
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