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.'