Madoka Magica is a legendary anime, but what’s to expect from an old spinoff manga? To me The Different Story was an excellent read, resonating in a way reminiscent of the source material. This tale centers on Mami & Kyoko, bringing forth a new perspective on the struggles faced by Magical Girls with familiar characters and fresh drama. I can confidently recommend this manga to fans looking for more quality Madoka content, especially if you’re fond of Mami or Kyoko and left craving more.
The Different Story sets the scene with a budding partnership between Mami and Kyoko. We’re treated to a Kyoko not dissimilar to Mami, with a close look at her idyllic family life after contracting with Kyubey. Before disillusionment and tragedy would rattle her to the core, she wore her heart on her sleeve, unabrasive and wholly pure. It's almost surreal, yet familiar and adorable.
Mami conducts herself in the same manner we first see in the anime, alone and seeking a kindred spirit before landing in sync with an immature Kyoko. Mami and Kyoko were a perfect pair once upon a time, but once Kyoko grew into her own and decidedly rejected Mami’s selfless lifestyle, she instigated and threatened her before parting ways on a rough note. It was evident neither sought to compromise their moral stance on killing familiars.
Skipping forward, the manga shifts to the familiar scene of Sayaka and Kyoko’s first conflict, except Mami is present to intervene. The anime’s story diverges from this point, following a larger cast as they butt heads and struggle to coexist in the same space. Their lives continue to fray at the seams, as a series of difficult circumstances test them all; Sayaka’s rigid justice and self-loathing make her reclusive, Mami’s attempts to compromise appear fruitless, and Kyoko’s gritty demeanor and worldview struggles to mesh with others. Kyoko continues to instigate Mami and kindle confrontation as things get complicated between herself, Mami and Sayaka. It’s not until things start to go wrong, however, that the girls begin to understand one another…
While battles with despair and solitude were the lifeblood of the source material, I appreciate this story for its laser focus on developing unexplored character relationships to a natural conclusion, without addressing the incredible scope and implications of their magic system at large. To me, this story is a glimpse at how most magical girls live their life, just as Sayaka had in the anime – Their experience as they are blindsided by terrible truths, coping with pain in uniquely extreme ways.
I find it touching how the characters clash and bond in this story, zeroing in on how their choices affect their own fulfillment and survival; It shows us the missed opportunities that could have led to a better resolution, but nonetheless leaving us to empathize with the girls in true Madoka fashion without underselling the misery they’ve been through. The lessons learned are powerful and say a lot about the characters, enabling this story to stand on its own.
Although context from the original PMMM is recommended to appreciate this manga, I still believe it to be a solid Magical Girl story regardless - It upholds the virtues of Madoka Magica in a new context, taking its own path without the concluding events of the TV series. If you’re a PMMM or Mahou Shoujo fanatic like me, definitely give this manga a read - I loved it, and I hope you enjoy it too!
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