Mahou Josei Chimaka Chapters 2 & 3 Review
by Geordi Demorest
So what feels like
a thousand years ago I wrote a review of the first chapter of Mahou Josei
Chimaka as well as many, many other titles that I have not come back to
reviewing. I put my Cartoon Geek Corner writing on hold mostly because of
things beyond my control but also because of work I found elsewhere. Before I go back and begin reviewing new
things I’d like to go back and finish up what I can, things such as manga box
where there is no legal way to go back and review the earlier chapter any
longer as well as titles from sites like JManga that are long gone obviously
not but titles still legally available I’d like to get back to. Boring tangent
done let’s get back into the actual content.
It’s
become clearer over time that Mahou Josei Chimaka pulls heavily from other
series in particular Sailor Moon. This becomes very evident in its climax in
chapter 3 but that is not to say that Chimaka is not its own thing. It has its
own colorful cast of characters and story as well as great pacing. In fact,
despite the title, this seems to pull from other cultures mythology for its
climax (sadly I don’t feel equipped enough to say which cultures specifically)
and despite being self-described as a parody it still feels like its own thing
to some degree complete with its own themes such as a more modern view of
feminist fiction something Sailor Moon I feel was lacking in from my
recollections of it.
Chimaka
is a light and fun read that, once started, you cannot put down. The final
chapters in particular are gripping while to a degree staying true to the
original spirit of the comic’s first chapter. Despite being a “parody” Chimaka
still has its deeper moments which are, naturally, character development and
the budding LGBT romance with her co-worker who was introduced in the first
chapter but finally has time to develop and breathe as a person instead of just
being someone meant to forward the plot. I would say give Chimaka a read if you
are looking for a more playful magical girl series with a more feminist as well
as LGBT slant.
Grade: B+
Available on Sparkler Monthly’s website.
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