HARIDAMA: MAGIC CRAM SCHOOL by Atsushi Suzumi(2008).
© Del Rey

Mania Grade: B-
Manga Series: Haridama: Magic Cram School
Rating: Teen (13+)
Story and Art By: Atsushi Suzumi
Publisher: Del Rey
Price: $10.95

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HARIDAMA: MAGIC CRAM SCHOOL

One of the charming aftereffects of the success of Harry Potter is witnessing the creation of inspired works from around the world. Japan in particular has pumped out magic school manga at a champion pace. These stories, though admittedly derivative, add a touch of Japanese history and culture that make them worth viewing on their own merits.

Regardless, it's always just a matter of time before the homogenisation curse that plagues popular manga genres takes hold. Haridama: Magic Cram School won't immediately remind the reader of Harry Potter, but the split between swords and magic, the discovery of hidden powers and the usual lessons about teamwork and friendship is reminiscent of most manga inspired by J.K. Rowling's books.

Kokuyo and Harika are the sole two students of a magic cram school run by their adoptive father, a wizard named Sekiei. Though most humans are born with an inner balance between yin and yang and thus posess the power to manipulate them for the sake of casting magic spells, Kokuyo and Harika posses only yang and yin respectively. This lack of balance marks them as “Obsidians”--outcast wizards who must attach globes of obsidian onto their sword hilts to correct their yin and yang flow. Lacking traditional magical powers, Kokuyo and Harika come to depend on each other for companionship, but it's not long before they discover their supposed lack of power isn't as concrete as they thought.

The idea behind Obsidians is interesting, but Haridama doesn't present it in a particularly compelling fashion. There is a lot and somewhat boring explanation on Obsidians at the start of the manga, whereas a demonstration through the story itself would have been far more appreciated. In fact, the manga quickly gives up on all its original and interesting story points in favour of nurturing the usual stereotypes: Flashbacks of Kokuyo's resolve being made stronger through childhood taunting about his deficiencies, skeptical pupils who think Kokuyo and Harika's beloved Sekiei is 'round the bend because he teaches differently and bad pupils who cheat during wizardry exams. Nothing about Haridama is surprising, especially not the romantic advances of the brash tagalong wizard Nekome.

The manga doesn't totally lack charm, however. Kokuyo and Harika's pairing might be a typical lesson on the power of love and friendship, but they make a fun couple. The characters' outfits, which are a mix of traditional Japanese clothing and magical attire, are really cute. And Harika wields a sword just as effectively as Kokuyo: There's none of the usual typecasting with weak female magic users and burly male swordsmen.

Haridama spans one volume, so it's meant to be more of a fun side-story than a deep spiritual journey. Still, the potential for a truly memorable read is there, and squandered.