Manga Review: Madoka Magica Homura's Revenge Volume 1 Part 1: Room for one more?

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 Well apparently this is finally happening, with this and this mobile game getting an anime adaptation I think it's time for me to get serious about covering the spin-off mangas again. Especially considering that some of the characters introduced in these books; including Kazumi, Oriko, Yuma etc are involved in this game I figure that I need to get back to work. While this series doesn't feature any new characters it does ask a question that most fans have been asking once they learned about Homura's time travel powers. "What if Homura took Madoka back in time with her before she made the contract?" This story attempts to answer that but honestly kind of stumbles with the response. 

 We open with the familiar scene of Homura getting her ass kicked by Walpurgisnacht when Madoka says that she's going to make her wish. But this time Homura has a revelation, so she grabs Madoka for a hug and takes her with her back through time. 

"The f**k just happened?!"

 Homura wakes up in the usual hospital room and thinks to herself why she did what she did.

So you didn't even know it would work?! DUMBASS!!! It honestly wouldn't surprise me if Madoka accidentally let go, got stranded in the feudal era and had to hitch a ride back with the Dende-damned Ninja Turtles, gold star thinking right here.

 But thankfully Madoka was still in school when Homura came inside the class and best of all her theory worked! 

Insert FF victory Fanfare music here, you can choose which one you want.

 The two bolt for the nurses office and along the way Homura starts to chew Madoka out for nearly making the wish, but Madoka suggests that with her future knowledge she can help Homura save Mami, Kyoko and Sayaka.

"Hey Madoka how many fingers am I holding up? That's the exact amount of craps I give about these two, ya dingus."

 But since Madoka has her future knowledge she can back up Homura's arguments to the three to help keep them alive; she figures that it could work and agrees. Later on Madoka and Sayaka head for the music store and she waits for Kyubey's telepathic plea for help. She does hear him but he catches her off guard by telling her to meet him where they first met. So she heads to the construction area where Kyubey and Homura are waiting for her. He explains that when Homura took Madoka back through time Kyubey managed to grab on and so he retained his memories of the last time line too. 

 Kyubey says that he's all for their plan of changing the future but the two aren't stupid and dispute his crap; but they do still need the proper events to play out before they can be changed so Homura knows exactly what to do next.

"Did you just spin kick him? I know right, I always wanted to do that. Please don't do it again. My body, my rules!"

 Right on cue Sayaka shows up, uses the fire extinguisher on Homura, they end up in Gertrude's Labyrinth and get attacked by the most iconic familiars in the franchise aka the demon mustaches!

 Madoka knows the drill they get attacked, Mami saves them, brings them into the Magical Girl training course blah blah blah. She saves them and the first chapter ends with Kyubey swearing to make Madoka into a magical girl this time. Chapter 2 starts with Mami about to transform but not before Madoka jumps to give her a big big hug. After the familiars are dealt with Homura asks if Mami's all right. But Mami quite blatantly tries to play it cool, essentially "nope nope it's all good here everything's under control here, now; how're you?"

Till next time Batman Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo!

 Afterwords Madoka tells Homura that events played out pretty much like before except that Kyubey covered for Madoka's slip of the tongue as an attempt for the two to trust him, but they're still not buying it. While Madoka gushes over seeing Mami in action again with hindsight Homura brings the mood down by reminding her that when she fights Charlotte at the hospital she's doomed. While Madoka does suggest keeping Mami from fighting it Homura reminds her that unless the witch is dealt with the hospital will become her buffet table. So she plans on beating Mami to the punch to save her from the witch, but there is a tiny, tiny white problem. THEY DISCUSS THIS PLAN WITH THE WHITE DEMON RAT RIGHT BEHIND THEM!!! 

 So of course on the next day when the Grief Seed is ready to hatch Mami shows up almost instantly to follow Sayaka into the Labyrinth. Because a little white rat told her where it would be, and more as showcased when she tries to use her ribbon lock trick on Homura.

What?! How can she move within the frozen time?!

 Mami then engages Homura and manages to overpower her with another trick she stole from another hero. 

"Dai Kaigan, Nobunaga, Omega Drive!"

 She manages to jam Homura's shield with her ribbon bullets and lock her up as usual. 

Laugh it up fuzz ball. Wait a minute if Incubators don't have emotions don't you all think him being so prideful is more than a tad odd?

 Kyubey tells Mami to finish Homura off but of course she won't and brushes it off. But when Homura tries to warn her she just walks off with Madoka. Even when Madoka tries to tell Mami her ego is so inflated by Kyubey and her victory against Homura she refuses to listen.

She's so freaking dead.

 So chapter 2 ends with Mami and Madoka making it to Sayaka, Charlotte appears and Madoka swearing to herself that she'll save Mami no matter what. Chapter 3 opens with Mami fighting Charlotte and going as usual, while that's going on Homura struggles to break free when Kyubey comes around to gloat some more. He says that he's here to free Homura so she can save Mami. Homura of course asks why the hell he would, he responds that with Mami dead her overall goal would be far more difficult. So she drops a hunting knife from her hammer-space shield so he can cut her down.

Gee, it's almost as if Kyubey was an untrustworthy character or something.

 Back to the main fight it looks like Mami's about to have her head bitten off like an animal cracker. Madoka however, dives towards Mami and saves her. She creates a barrier around Sayaka and Madoka and goes after Charlotte again with a clear mind and no distractions. She notices the regeneration trick so she forces Charlottes' mouth open and teaches it a very important lesson. That, no matter what time line, universe or bra size there is always one constant.

 That's when Homura and Kyubey arrive (Homura says a normal knife wouldn't be enough to kill her but he still could have just climbed up and broke your Soul Gem dumbass!) But that gives Charlotte the opportunity it needed to kill Mami. And Homura couldn't have stopped time to get her out of the way because? Oh right this now an idiot plot never mind. So our chapter ends with Homura killing Charlotte, taking her Grief Seed and telling Sayaka that it only belongs to Magical Girls.

Gee, its almost as if this whole situation could have been prevented if if you stopped time to survey the situation instead of barging in and potentially distracting Mami OH WAIT!! And yes I will ride your ass on this, Phrasing!

 So those were the first 3 chapters of Homura's revenge. For those who don't want to have the rest of the story spoiled here's my overall thoughts. The artwork is pretty damn good, there's much more attention to detail in the backgrounds this time with the artist managing to replicate the looks of the witches and Labyrinths pretty well. The humans also look cute and distinctive; looking pretty close to their anime depictions though with a different design for the eyes. I'm not sure what it is maybe they're just more expressive or the faces are slightly different but it is pretty damn close.

 The story however is where it has its faults. For those who've read this; the first two chapters are more leaning towards this being a comedy. But right when chapter 3 comes around the tone changes with a rather distinctive clunk. With that change the characters actions will have to be put under more scrutiny. As such almost everyone is acting like an idiot, specifically Homura, she Madoka and Kyubey know what will happen in a months time yet she openly discusses her plans with Madoka right in front of the creature trying to undermine her plans. Like I said before this has become an idiot plot and it only gets worse from here.

But if you want to see for yourselves here's the Amazon link.

https://www.amazon.com/Puella-Magi-Madoka-Magica-Homuras-ebook/dp/B00VEQMLAG/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_2?crid=248YPJG3L8SJD&keywords=homura%27s+revenge&qid=1555953890&s=gateway&sprefix=Homura%27s+revenge%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-2-fkmrnull

 But for everyone who's read this follow this link to see how the rest of this train goes off the rails.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica Homura's revenge is owned by, Masugitsune/ Kawazukuu, Magica Quartet and Yen Press.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story: Magia Record is owned by Aniplex, F4samurai and Magica Quartet.
Dragon Ball, Dragonball Z, Dragonball GT and Dragonball Super is owned by Funnimation, Toei animation, Fuji TV and Akira Toriyama.
Dragon ball Z abridged and Hellsing Ultimate Abridged is owned by Team Four Star. 
Gangs of New York is owned by Martian Scorsese, Initial Entertainment Group, Alberto Grimaldi Productions, and Miramax Films.
Nostalgia Critic is owned by Doug Walker and Channel Awesome.
Hellsing Ultimate is owned by Kouta Hirano, Studio Madhouse, Madman Entertainment, Manga Entertainment, Geneon and Funimation.
Hellsing Ultimate Abridged is owned by Team Four Star.