Witchcraft Works is a popular manga series written and illustrated by Ryu Mizunagi. It is set in a world where witches exist and have real supernatural powers. The story follows a high school student named Honoka Takamiya, who is unexpectedly thrust into the world of witches when he is attacked by supernatural creatures. He is saved by a mysterious and powerful witch named Ayaka Kagari, who reveals that she is his protector and that he possesses an unknown power that makes him a target for evil witches. As the series progresses, Honoka learns more about the world of witches and his own abilities. He discovers that Ayaka is not only a skilled witch but also the school's "Princess," the most powerful witch in the area.
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Examples include tripping onto a parfait and freezing it solid, spontaneously creating a snowman to hide behind, freezing herself into a block of ice when bullied by Kagari, and creating a glacier when Kagari throws her into a pack of Tower witches. All Just a Dream Takamiya has one at the beginning of episode 7, when his mother makes a shocking announcement that she had another child in an affair and introduces her.
He discovers that Ayaka is not only a skilled witch but also the school's "Princess," the most powerful witch in the area. The manga explores the complex relationship between Honoka and Ayaka as they navigate the dangerous world of witches and fight against those who seek to harm them. One of the highlights of Witchcraft Works is its unique and intricate magic system.
The Manga Test Drive
Now that it's October, it's time to take a look at some spooky manga. What could truly be more spooky than the topic of today's manga: RELATIONSHIPS!
Oh, and witches I guess.
WITCHCRAFT WORKS (Witchikurafuto Wakusu), by Ryu Mizunagi. First published in 2010 and first published in North America in 2014.
PLOT:
Honoka Takamiya is your standard issue ordinary high school boy, albeit one who always seems to end up at the fringes of the crowds that seem to constantly surround the strapping, silent class idol Ayaka Kagari. The two begin to connect when a strange new girl attacks them both, forcing Ayaka to reveal herself as a fire-wielding witch. Ayaka declares Honoka to be her 'princess,' possessing great power that rebellious witches will do anything to possess. Ayaka is determined to protect him no matter what, teaching him the ways of magic and the world of witches.
STORY:
Witchcraft Works is kind of fascinating in how it tries to tweak (if not outright reverse) a lot of standard manga romance tropes. I'm not 100% convinced that all of these changes work, but the effort is appreciate nonetheless.
The most obvious tweak is with our leading couple. Here it's Ayaka who takes the role of the dashing, powerful, protective hero, while Honoka plays the role of the damsel. It's a welcome take on a tired relationship dynamic, but it's somewhat undercut by other choices that Mizunagi makes with their characters. Ayaka is very much the strong, silent type, which makes it hard for the reader to connect with her. She seldom raises her voice or changes her expression, even when she's meant to be furious, and she seemingly takes everything from epic magic battles to fawning classmates in stride. She doesn't even seem to be all that attached to Honoka, saving him more out of obligation than any sort of repressed affection.
Honoka has a slightly different problem. While he may ostensibly the damsel in this scenario and the only notable male character, he still manages to be The Chosen One. He's the one with vague but incredible power that women fight over, all while a woman who is far out of his league swears her eternal devotion to him. It's a move that completely undercuts what the role reversal between the two was trying to achieve, turning what could have been subversive into just another male power fantasy.
Mizunagi's art is a little more engaging than his storytelling. While they do tend to have a bit of same-face syndrome, but they're all fairly attractive. He very clearly savors drawing Ayaka, taking great care to emphasize her height, broad shoulders, strong arms and legs, and (of course) large breasts. He especially loves to contrast her with short, frail Honoka as much as possible, whether it's her looming over him, carrying him bridal-style, or otherwise physically imposing upon him. It happens so often that there's no way that this isn't a fetish for him. He does play a little with visual shojo conventions in their scenes, complete with flourishes of flowers to frame a scene.
Where the art comes to life is when there is magic involved. Ayaka doesn't just wield fireballs; she becomes a being of sentient fire, and the other witches have similar styles of powers. There's also a touch of whimsy to the magical world, be it the fact that the witches do literally wear pointy hats and capes or witches who are armed with giant armies of adorable, well-armed plush bunnies. It lends the whole book a touch of fun.
RATING:
Witchcraft Works makes magic look lively and neat, but its lead aren't engaging enough to make their dynamic work and the whole thing isn't nearly as daring as it thinks it is.
This series is published by Vertical. This series is ongoing in Japan with 13 volumes available. 12 volumes have been released and are currently in print.
Witchcraft Works volume 1 features story and art by Ryu Mizunagi.
The manga explores different types of magic, such as elemental magic, healing magic, and transformation magic. Each witch possesses their own unique abilities and specialties, making the battles and confrontations between witches exhilarating and visually stunning. Another aspect that sets Witchcraft Works apart is its artwork. Mizunagi's detailed and beautifully drawn illustrations bring the story and characters to life. The action sequences are particularly impressive, with dynamic and expressive artwork that captures the intensity of the battles between witches. The world-building in Witchcraft Works is also well-crafted and engaging. The series introduces various factions of witches, each with their own goals and allegiances. Honoka and Ayaka must navigate these intricate power dynamics while also trying to uncover the mysteries surrounding Honoka's powers and the origins of the witches. Overall, Witchcraft Works is a captivating manga series that combines action, romance, and fantasy elements. Its intriguing plot, unique magic system, and stunning artwork make it a must-read for fans of the genre. Whether you are a fan of witches or simply enjoy an exciting and well-crafted story, Witchcraft Works is sure to captivate and entertain..
Reviews for "Discovering The History of Witchcraft Works Manga"
1. John - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Witchcraft Works" manga. The story felt disjointed and confusing, with unnecessary plot twists that added nothing to the overall narrative. The characters lacked depth and development, making it difficult to connect or care about their journeys. The art style was also underwhelming, with sloppy illustrations and inconsistent character designs. Overall, I found "Witchcraft Works" to be a lackluster manga that failed to captivate me.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - I could barely make it through "Witchcraft Works" manga. The plot was incredibly slow-paced and uninteresting, lacking any real substance. The characters were bland and one-dimensional, making it difficult to feel invested in their struggles. Additionally, the artwork was lackluster, with dull colors and uninspired panel layouts. Overall, "Witchcraft Works" was a complete letdown and I would not recommend it to anyone.
3. Michael - 2.5/5 - "Witchcraft Works" manga had a promising concept but failed to deliver on execution. The plot felt rushed and poorly paced, jumping from one event to another without proper development. The characters lacked depth and their interactions felt forced and unnatural. The art style, while decent, did not make up for the flaws in the storytelling. Overall, "Witchcraft Works" had potential but fell short in too many areas for me to truly enjoy it.