If you are looking for a fun, sci-fi, action-packed manga series, definitely give Ryu Mizunagi’s “Witchcraft Work” a try!
Image courtesy of © 2014 Ryu Mizunagi All Rights Reserved.
MANGA TITLE: Witchcraft Works Vol. 2 (ウィッãƒã‚¯ãƒ©ãƒ•ãƒˆãƒ¯ãƒ¼ã‚¯ã‚¹)
STORY AND ART BY: Ryu Mizunagi
FIRST PUBLISHED IN JAPAN: Kodansha, Ltd.
PUBLISHED IN USA BY: Vertical Inc.
RATED: N/A
Available on December 9, 2014
So far Honoka Takamiya has been your typical clueless rom-com action lead. But the teen is also at the core of a grand power struggle between witches and is completely unaware of his place within this increasingly tense war between magic users. In atypical form though, Takamiya is willing to take on his new rivals and to do so he must learn his share of magic.
Mastering magic will take repetition, so in the meantime, Takamiya and his magical – and beautiful – caretaker Ayaka Kagiri will soon come to learn who exactly is after his “body” and about the extremes both sides would go through to posess what he contains within.
As Honoka Takamiya is paired with the beautiful and popular Ayaka Kagiri and is being trained on witchcraft, he is in for a surprise when he learns a few family secrets in volum 2 of Ryu Mizunagi’s “Witchcraft Works”!
What is “Witchcraft Works”?
In 2010, Ryu Mizunagi’s “Witchcraft Works” was serialized in Kodansha’s “Good! Afternoon” publication. Meanwhile, a 12-episode anime series from J.C. Staff aired on Japanese television in 2014 and was streamed on Crunchyroll.
With a total of eight manga volumes printed in Japan, Vertical has picked up the series and is releasing it in North America.
“Witchcraft Works” revolves around a normal student named Honoka Takamiya. He sits next to Ayaka Kagari, the most popular girl on campus and despite sitting next to her, he has never talked or interacted with her.
And when he does, he is often beaten up by her fanclub.
But one day, Takamiya is attacked by a Tower witch and he is saved by Ayaka Kagari, a Workshop Witch, who reveals to him that she is a witch and her job is to protect him. And it is revealed that the Tower witches are after him for some apparent reason.
But because of the danger he is in, Kagari now spends a lot of time with him, drawing the ire from his fellow classmates and her fan club.
In volume 2, Takamiya becomes an apprentice and tries to learn the basics of witchcraft. But one day, he is attacked by Chronoire Schwarz VI, the Tower Witch for some apparent reason.
Meanwhile, as more Tower Witches try to target both Takamiya and Kagari, Takamiya learns important secrets about his sister and also a family secret that will change his relationship with Kagari.
“Witchcraft Works” is a fascinating, humorous and fun manga series from Ryu Mizunagi.
The manga showcases Takamiya, a normal guy who is often protected by a witch named Ayaka and of course, she happens to be gorgeous, well-endowed and very powerful.
And while Takamiya is often the target of Tower Witches for some apparent reason, there are major revelations in regards to Takamiya’s sister and also his mother that will definitely change things for the series and will probably bring Takamiya and Akane much more closer together, to the chagrin of many of their classmates.
But while this series of a weak guy and female protector can be just as banal as other similar stories, the difference with Ayaka’s character is that she is rather stoic and emotionless.   She is smart, beautiful but her emotions rarely change. So, while Takamiya, being a guy who is seen around a beautiful woman may make him feel good, her reaction to him is the same.
So, it’s going to be interesting to see how the story develops overtime.
The artwork by Mizunagi is very good with many characters and good use of closeups and action sequences. But also, I like how he is able to bring out emotion and action through each panel.
Overall, it may be too early to say how cool a manga series “Witchcraft Works” really is. But from volume 2 alone, I can say that I enjoy it a lot so far and I look forward to volume 3!
If you are looking for a fun, sci-fi, action-packed manga series, definitely give Ryu Mizunagi’s “Witchcraft Work” a try!