As an origin story for probably one of the more popular characters from the World Witches franchise, the manga does a solid job of portraying how a naïve young girl becomes the woman she is in the main series. Not only this, it adds a bit more lore to the world of the World Witches. So it has something for Strike Witches fans regardless of whether one feels that Mio Sakamoto is best girl or not.
The story, in and of itself is not dissimilar to that from the first series of the anime. Basically Sakamoto mirrors Yoshika in rising to competence, developing her power, becoming part of the team and eventually discovering the incompetence and malevolence within the brass of the military. Oh, with a chapter dedicated to a bit of hot-springs fanservice, but this is Strike Witches, this goes without saying.
So nothing new with the story, however, two main issues do lie with it. Mostly, that many of the best scenes within the manga are left undrawn. Admittedly there is plenty of action, but much of it is merely implied, rather than shown, which is somewhat disappointing.
Secondly, fans of the series know that Sakamoto did work with Yoshika's father for a time, even implying that Dr. Miyafuji saved Mio's life at one point. This is not a manga about that story, so dispel any notions of uncovering that aspect of Mio's past. No, this is a story about Mio and the witches she runs with and how she grows.
Art is detailed, considering the style of Strike Witches and backgrounds are fluid. Action is drawn in a style that feels a lot like the neuroi battles in the anime. Impactful, laserful and with shields and machineguns flaring. And the all important panty shots are of acceptable roundness.
Characters and their interactions are what drive the series, and the Manga does an admirable job of displaying characters that both work with Sakamoto and help shape her into her later personality and her relations to others.
For instance, Sakamoto's mentor is a dual-wielding bad-ass who is very self-aware of her own abilities and failings and much of Sakamoto's later behavior likely is drawn from her. Additionally, the witch that helps Sakamoto use her powers effectively has strong parallels to Minna from the anime and hints at how their relationship could form.
Furthermore, many of the Fuso witches are given a lot more character in the manga. Such as Junko, Tetsuko and Tomoko who make appearances in other works. One issue that plagues the World Witches series I find is that once you get outside the initial 11 Strike Witches, characters all seem to come back to similar tropes and personalities. The manga, whilst does suffer a little from this, mostly is able to carve out unique identities for the characters.
Generally however this can be viewed as a prequel to the anime series, and closely encapsulates the feel of the series. Fans will likely be able to pull some enjoyment out of the manga, and thus comes recommended. Even those who aren't huge fans of Mio Sakamoto, by the end of the Manga, one might just have a change of heart.
Pros:
- More Sakamoto lore
- Cute girls being bad-ass awesome
- Fleshing out of World Witches canon
- REPUZAN!
- Pantsu
Cons:
- Some action scenes are told, not shown
- Small discrepancies in canon
- Mio is 12 years old
