The Story, (8/10)
The story is fairy unique if you compare it to other shounen manga, if you read the story description it takes place in a scientific city that is far ahead of the rest of the world technology-wise and the only place in the world that has people with abilities. I personally enjoy the story because it touches upon many scientific themes (that are actually interesting) than it's main counterpart, Toaru Majutsu no Index. Mind you that Railgun is actually a spin off of that series, and is usually regarded as better than it's main counterpart.
The Art, (8/10)
I especially love the art, how it is simple-ish yet very appealing to me. I myself have included certain parts of the art into my own drawing style (eyes and nose) and overall Motoi Fuyukawa does a very good job portraying the scenes in the manga. Now of course the art would never be up there like the artists of Berserk and Vagabond, but for what the manga is in a whole, it fits it perfectly.
The Characters, (6/10)
Now the characters aren't anything amazing, you have Misaka Mikoto the 3rd ranked level 5 in academy city, she has her tsundere persona only around her, I guess you could say crush, but she also has a kiddie tomboyish side that most people do not know about, since if they do not know her personally, they generally view her as a prim and proper girl, especially if you consider she goes to a prestigious all-girls school, Tokiwadai. Then you have Shirai Kuroko, Misaka's partner, she is generally a pervy lesbian (only to Misaka) but has a strong sense of justice and is part of Judgement, academy city's form of police. Then you also have their friends Uiharu and Saten, which both are not too special, but they have their odd quirks. Uiharu is shy, but has a strange thing with flowers on her head, (which you may think might grow out of her head at some point) and Saten which has a strange thing for flipping only Uiharu's skirt, and she loves urban legends.
MY OFFICIAL OPINION:
The Good,
Now I originally watched the anime series, which became my favorite, which led me to the manga.
But since I've read the manga, I actually dislike the anime more since I've seen the original content now. I mainly dislike the anime for it's filler arcs and strange change of personas of the characters sometimes, but I'm not here to rant on the anime.
Now the good, is the art, Motoi-san draws the action scenes very well and they are definitely unique.
I also like the arcs better in the manga then the filler ones in the anime. The only arcs in the anime and manga that relate is the Level Upper arc and the Sister's arc. But there are basically 2 arcs in the manga not in the anime, and three arcs in the anime that are not in the manga.
I also like the development of certain characters in the manga. While Shirai, Uiharu and Saten get much less development, you see more development especially with Shokuhou and Kongou (if you've watched the anime)
While in the anime you get so little development of Shokuhou in the anime you're left saying,"Shokuhou Misaki? Hmph, she's a bitch" But in the manga you get much more insight into her and her sense of purpose and justice.
With Kongou, you're left with a rich girl who is very prideful and stubborn but is actually kind of humble with praise, but in the manga, you get to see just how much she can be humbled, and how much she cares for her friends and respects people.
Also, as the series goes on, the volumes gradually get larger, which I find awesome.
The Bad,
Now, as much as I'd like to fangirl because this is my favorite manga (I have not read much)
I have to reveal it's bad points. Now I have read all 11 volumes that are out right now. And in volume 11 they begin a new strange arc, which I don't find very promising. At the end of volume 11 you're literally left with a stupid mystery that is very opposite of all the other arcs you have seen before in the manga. But granted volume 11 is pretty funny and maybe a new fresh lighter-hearted take than the other arcs.
But still you will definitely be left wondering, "What?"
Another thing that I don't quite like is multiple plot conviniences that kind of annoy me, (I'm talking about Uiharu's ridiculous hacking skills) But other than that, not much more to say until the series continues.
So, why should you read it?
If you want a fresh take on the shounen genre definitely give this a go, considering 90% of the characters are girls. Also if you like sci-fi, but not too much sci-fi like space and gundams this is a good read too. Also read this if you want better development of the characters and hate those filler arcs like I do!
So yeah, that's my review!
