The Irregular at Magic High School

I started off watching the first season of The Irregular at Magic High School and was absolutely blown away. Alternate universe? "Scientific magic"? Political themes dealing with the military and espionage? Unstoppable main character? The show had everything I wanted, and I craved for more. I'm happy to tell others that enjoyed the series as much as I did that the light novel series is even better. This was my first entry into the world of light novels, and it was great. Story: Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the series, Irregular does a great job at portraying the vast relationships in a world that takes placedecades after a hypothetical World War 3, in which powerful magic technology was used. Where Irregular shines particularly is in its worldbuilding. For those interested in modern conflicts, the series will certainly interest you. From dealings with the mafia and JSDF, to combating a new Soviet Union and China, the series tackles many different sides of the world. In this world lies our two siblings, Tatsuya and Miyuki. Do you like overpowered characters? These are some of the most overpowered characters you'll get. With power comes great responsibility, and we'll be seeing how various challenges present themselves to them. As a reader, we are confident that they can overcome anything that gets thrown at them; the enjoyment comes from seeing how they do that. At the same time, we journey alongside them as they explore not only a hostile world, but also their own "sibling" relationship. There are a few faults, however. One of the most glaring ones is the dragging out of plot lines. While the beginning was more quick and fast paced, it faltered out particularly towards the final volumes. It is obvious that Tsutomu Satou, the light novel's author, is inexperienced in his writing. There is also a generous amount of "technobabble". There are complex explanations given for different magic theories and spells that can take up pages of text. I didn't mind it too much, but others may be dissuaded by it. The series has been accused of being a hotbed of Japanese right-wing nationalism. While I won't go in depth to that, I will say that the setting takes place in an incredibly hostile world with a human population that's less than half the population in our real world. It is no surprise that nationalism would be present in this series. That being said, I was still entertained and engulfed in the world he created. Art: Kana Ishida did a good job with the art. It got the job done and portrayed key events in each volume well. Reading volume by volume, you will also see how Ishida's art improves and evolves. By the time we get to Volume 32, her art is miles better than the art from Volume 1. It was quite pleasant to see this advancement. Character: The Irregular mentioned in the title, Tatsuya Shiba, also nicknamed Godsuya. He is by far the most overpowered character in the series. He is not only physically strong but also extremely intelligent. His emotional growth is stunted due to circumstances explained in the novel, but we see him progress as a character through the series. The second one of the siblings is Miyuki Shiba. She is, in short, a "brocon". Her own character centers around Tatsuya, so I do feel like her character growth is diminished in some ways, but she can certainly stand on her own as well. The relationships between the siblings are a topic of contention in the series as well as the fanbase. I won't give spoilers, but I personally really enjoyed seeing how their relationship grew throughout the series. Don't expect fleshed out side characters however. While they do get attention, some more than others, the main focus is centered on the pair of siblings. Overall Enjoyment: The Irregular at Magic High School proves itself to be a classic in the light novel medium. From its engaging storyline to its action packed fight scenes, the series never fails to keep you entertained. There is just "badassery" all around. All hail Godsuya.