Magical Karina

A witty and at the same time touching action manga that lends the magical-girl genre a new, thoughtful note – perfect for fans of Sailor Moon and Cardcaptor Sakura.

Karina never wanted to be a magical girl. Just hours after the sudden death of her beloved grandmother, a boy approaches her on the street and demands that she transform. But how is a sarcastic student from a working-class family supposed to juggle grief, school stress, her waitressing job, and the fight against death itself?

In the morning, Karina is still wiping up her grandmother's spilled miso soup; shortly afterward she is called out of class to say goodbye at the hospital – with a piece of seaweed still clinging to her uniform. After her shift at the family restaurant, on the way home she sees a shimmering, elephant-like figure in the sky. A teenage boy shoves her out of the line of fire at the last moment. Death stalks Karina's town in a form only she can see – and the boy gives her two options: die, or transform and fight. She barely understands what is happening, yet her clothes change and the staff in her hand has enough weight to do serious damage. But is there room in Karina's already overloaded life for revenge for her grandmother and the fight against magical monsters?

• Magical-girl action with heart and humor
• Themes: grief, responsibility, work, and school
• New series – ideal for newcomers starting with volume 1