A Certain Scientific Railgun Manga Reaches its Grand Finale After 19 Years
It is truly the end of an era for manga fans. The legendary series A Certain Magical Index Gaiden: A Certain Scientific Railgun, which is written by Kazuma Kamachi and beautifully illustrated by Hajime Fuyukawa, has finally reached its last episode. This final chapter was featured in the May issue of Monthly Comic Dengeki Daioh by KADOKAWA, which just released today on March 27th. For many of us who have grown up with these characters, seeing the story conclude is quite a heavy moment.
If you didn't know, A Certain Scientific Railgun started out as a spin-off of the main A Certain Magical Index series. The story is based in the high-tech Academy City, where students are always working hard to develop their supernatural powers. It mainly follows the daily lives of four girls, with the focus being on the powerful Misaka Mikoto. The manga actually began its journey way back in the April 2007 issue, meaning it has been running for a solid 19 years. It is really amazing how long it stayed popular. Fans can look forward to the final 21st volume of the book, which is scheduled to release sometime around the summer.
Celebrating a Legacy: Special Articles and Cast Comments
To make the conclusion even more special, the May issue of Dengeki Daioh has included a very detailed commemorative article. It is filled with heartfelt comments from the original author Kamachi and the character designer Kiyota Haimura. There are also some really nice contributed illustrations from Chuya Chikakino, Arata Yamaji, Yasuhito Nogi, and strelka, who are all famous for drawing other manga in the A Certain Series universe. This kind of collaboration shows just how much this franchise means to the creators.
The voice actors have also shared their thoughts on this A Certain Scientific Railgun milestone. We have comments from Rina Sato, the voice of Mikoto, along with Satomi Arai, Aki Toyosaki, and Kanae Ito. Even Satoshi Yaginuma from fripSide, who gave us those iconic opening songs, joined in to say something. It really feels like the whole team is coming together for one last goodbye.
Where to Watch: Free Broadcasts and Re-runs
If you are feeling nostalgic or want to start the series from scratch, there is some good news. Several platforms are celebrating the manga's end:
- ABEMA: They will be broadcasting the first and second seasons of the TV anime for free for a limited time.
- AT-X: They are planning a full rebroadcast of the entire anime series for the fans.
- Official Sites: You should definitely check their respective websites to know the exact broadcast timings.
The impact of this series on the A Certain Scientific Railgun franchise cannot be overstated. Even though the manga has ended, the legacy of Academy City and the adventures of Misaka and her friends will stay with us for a very long time. It has been a wonderful 19-year-long ride, and we can’t wait to see what the final volume brings this summer.
