Synopsis
Long, long ago, there lived a beautiful mage. The mage had but one spell: the strange ability to turn the twinkle of life into gemstones. It was a powerless magic, incapable of saving anyone. Yet the mage believed in it, witnessing the comedies and tragedies unfolding across the universe and weaving them into tales of wondrous luster.
Thank you Kodama Tales for gifting us these volumes for review!
The Story
Minimal spoilers: Volumes 1 & 2 | CW: fairytale violence, moralizing food, harm to animals, drug use
Based on the synopsis, I went into Magica expecting something akin to Steven Universe. A whimsical adventure with an epic unfolding beneath a sweet, comedic surface. Instead, I found a collection of fairytale parables exploring the value of life and what it truly means to be alive.
Volume 1 introduces us to a charming little witch and a deer-like entity named Magica, who reads her fairytales. Each chapter tells a different story, exploring philosophical questions about life, morality, and what makes existence meaningful. There are weighty ideas, but they’re presented with a childlike simplicity that makes the stories feel comforting rather than overwhelming.
Each chapter reads like its own little one-shot, making Magica an ideal read for anyone who doesn’t necessarily have the time to sit down and finish an entire manga in one go. The stories are largely self-contained, with the mysterious mage serving as the thread that ties them together.
We’re told from the beginning that the mage is powerless. They can’t save lives or intervene in the tragedies they witness. All they can do is turn the “twinkle of life” into gemstones. But as the stories unfold, it becomes increasingly apparent that the mage’s gift for truly witnessing life may be more powerful than any conventional magic.
The mage’s power lies in truly witnessing the lives of others.
They simply have to see them, understand them, and preserve their stories. It’s a kind of magic that we, as readers, can carry with us. To love something is to truly see it, to feel its significance, and to hold space for its existence.
If this sentiment resonates with you, I’d recommend listening to David Foster Wallace’s commencement speech, “This is Water.” It explores a similar idea, the importance of paying attention to the lives and experiences of others, even when those experiences might otherwise pass us by.
My personal favorite stories from this collection are “The Beautiful Land,” which depicts a society where people preserve their youth and beauty by consuming the flesh of mermaids, and “The Diabolical Utopia,” which imagines a world where taking lives is the only way to ensure one’s own survival. Both stories explore unsettling moral questions, and they’re the kind of stories that linger in your mind long after you’ve finished reading.
Volume 2 is darker than its predecessor.
The stories are darker, the messaging feels less clear, and the philosophical concepts are more difficult to grapple with. This volume seems intent on exploring the uglier side of the human experience. Grief, loss, and the more painful aspects of being alive take center stage. While it still made for an impactful read, I found that the longer stories sometimes became convoluted, making their central ideas harder to follow. Though I will say that the story about the Rainbow Dragon made me ugly-cry. Full on sob.
Overall, Magica is for the tenderhearted readers of the world. For those of us who think deeply about life’s many nuances and find meaning in its smallest details. Some might call us soft, but there’s power in the way we see the world. If you prefer your fantasy to be straightforward, focused on concrete answers, and even a bit literal, Magica might not be for you. Its philosophy is more interested in asking questions than resolving them. But if you’re willing to sit with those questions, this manga is sure to delight and devastate in equal measure.
The Art
*Chefs Kiss*
Honestly, Magica is like stepping into a dreamscape painted in soft watercolors. I always appreciate manga that dares to step outside the usual visual conventions, and the artwork is probably the first thing that will draw you into this series. The free-flowing lineart, charming fairytale characters, and exquisite use of color bring each vignette to life, making the stories’ emotional impact all the more powerful.
You might initially balk at the price tage, but every page is in full color, and those colors absolutely do NOT disappoint. The soft pastels and dreamy illustrations give the stories a gentle storybook quality, and the softness makes the darker subject matter easier to approach without diminishing the impact.
There’s something especially effective about the contrast between the cozy fairytale artwork inviting you in and the stories that confront you with difficult questions about life, death, and morality. It’s a gentle read, even when it’s ripping your heart out.
The Details:
Magica is a manga series written and illustrated by Yuzuko Hoshimi. The series currently consists of two volumes and is published in English by Kodama. Both volumes are currently available, so be sure to pick them up for your next cozy reading session.
Volume 1:
Volume 2:
Pros
- Whimsical, Distinctive Art Style
- Cozy Introspective Parables
- Emotionally Resonant Storytelling
Cons
- Open-ended Philosophical Explorations
