When Chimaka was younger, she had been a magical girl. But when it came down to saving the world, she didn’t have what it takes and failed to defeat evil, or realize her eternal fated love. Now she’s a bitter adult in a day job and is at loose ends.

In Mahou Josei Chimaka, (one of several Yuri works put out by Sparkler Monthly, the English-language josei magazine) the creative team KaiJu takes on the tropiest trope and decides to look at it from a completely different perspective: What if it doesn’t all work out? The cynic in me thrilled to the premise…and as I read, I found a lot to like in the treatment.

The art is competent and I like the inclusion of a WoC as the main character. More important to me than the art, always, is the story – and in this I think this book excels. Not only is it a unique rendering of a magical girl story it is, I dare say, a “magical” love story, between two characters who would be more than welcome to come over for lunch. ^_^

Chimaka is available in a Digital edition or in Print and I recommend it highly. Not only do you get the satisfaction of supporting Sparkler Monthly, which is  fine thing to do, and domestic Yuri manga, which is equally dopamine-inducing, but also you get a very fun story, with a lovely ending for the money. All in all, I wouldn’t mind a sequel. Hint Hint. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 7
Story – 8
Character – 8
Yuri – 7
Service – 1 on principle, because people are weird

Overall- 8

Congratulations to KaiJu and Sparkler Monthly for winning a DINK award this past weekend!