毎週の漫画 - 魔法科高校の劣等生

Sunday, June 03, 2012

Image from MangaUpdates

This week we change things up a bit and go with a light novel rather than a serialized manga.



Title: 魔法科高校の劣等生, Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei, The Irregular of the Magic High School 
Author: Satou Tsutomu
Artist: Ishida Kana
Genre: Shounen, Action, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Serialized in: ASCII Media Works Dengenki Bunko
Total Volume Count: 5 (ongoing)

Series Summary from MangaUpdates:
Magic is a product of neither legends nor fairy tales, but instead has become a technology of reality since a time unknown to people.
 
Supernatural power became a technology systematized through magic, while magic became a technical skill. A "Supernatural Power User" became a "Magic Technician".
Magic Technicians (in short, Magicians) are nurtured through Magic High Schools and Universities.
 
This is a story about:
A defective, low achieving older brother.
A perfect, flawless high achieving younger sister.
After both siblings entered a Magic High School,
The stage of daily turbulence was unveiled ---. 
Kenn's Comment: I've changed some of the wording in the summary so that it reads more naturally. I'm almost certain that it's a rough translation off the back of the first volume, or even off the novel's website.

Anywho, magic exists in this one, but it takes a similar route as the Index series does with the ESPer powers. Magic is essentially science, coupled with super powers. This one also is infinitely more technical than the Index series is. Often, you'll have somewhere up to 10-15 pages dedicated to explaining how someone's spell works. It also delves into various aspects of particle physics, antimatter, and some other stuff (took a year of physics in high school and this is well above that level. Even if you can read Japanese fluently (which I can't) you might find this one a bit more challenging compared to other light novels due to the sheer amount of jargon.

Character wise, Tatsuya is quite possibly one of the most overpowered and badass main characters I've seen in a very, very long time. You'll quickly find that he's not quiet like some of the other characters we're used to. Also, having a cold, emotionless main character is really quite nice, especially after we've gotten characters like Amata in Evol (MIKONO SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN), and, in general, your typical hot blooded, always shouting main character. Someone who's more subdued is always welcome.

The other characters are all interesting in their own way too. You have Miyuki's constant advances, and their classmates all have their own little quirks and quips. All in all, it's a great read, even if it's a little bit heavy on the technical jargon.

There's a manga adaptation of it that's floating around SquareEnix GFantasy, so you can check that one out for those who want to read it in manga form.

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