Critical Writ: magical girls

Jade Street Protection Services #3 gives a chance to world-build as we learn a bit more about this illegal magic stealing gang that’s been going after Magical Girls. So far we have villains who seem pretty standard, but also hints of emotional conflict that might come into play later. Not only do we learn our villain's plans but we also get a better understanding on how magic works in this world, something I would've preferred be covered in the first issue but it’s fine here.

This issue gives us some moments to see how our protagonists are handling the situation they are thrown into, going from magical girl students to being targets.This issue gives us some solid character moments and balances the attention between a sizable cast.

The joy of settling into something new is undercut by the sense of dread as our leading ladies are offered the choice between hiding out like other magical girls have done before them, or doing something more than mere surviving. The concept of being “unsuitable” by the standards of the academy and the way it controls magical girls and the resignation to being considered unsuitable in society is a theme that once again pops up in this series. Unfortunately, before we can linger on about this concept our girls are once again thrust into a fight to save a certain someone we haven't seen in awhile. What revelation will we see in Issue #4? I don’t know but I can’t wait to find out!

As always this series is brought to us by series creators Katy Rex and Fabian Lelay on writing duties, and LeLay on art. The issue is colored by Mary Jayne Carpenter. The flats are done by Elizabeth Kramer and smooth lettering by Taylor Esposito. This book is published by Black Mask Studios.

Elizabeth Ledwell is a witch who has a certificate in graphics communications she doesn't use.

(I hope this kid doesn't get a flat tire!)

The American wave of Magical Girl genre comics has been a treat these past few years. We’ve seen an influx of Magical Girls who are queer, racially diverse, and with unique body types. Jade Street Protection Services stands out with its inclusion of (to my knowledge) the first ever Autistic Magical Girl—who’s also nonverbal and the lead to boot!

I was in love with the series before it came out, and by the end of issue one I was hooked, with it’s foundation for the world our protagonists live in, and a strong sense of coherent pacing. Issue #2 lost that clarity and solid structure for a good chunk of the issue. While usually that’s what one would chalk up to bad pacing or poor plotting, here it adds to a sense of what our characters are going through while processing the events of the previous chapter and what’s going to happen next. They're starting to question the adults that were supposed to guide them into the world. Magic is one of the many things that they’ve never thought too much about, but now these characters are starting to see how magic affects those who aren’t able to wield it. The seeds for new friends and foes are spread across the pages, tucked in between quick fight scenes.

(Love is sure to blossom!)

The information for all this comes at us somewhat sporadically and quickly, with many questions still unanswered. Emma the narrator also feels the effects of this near information overload, in a scene that strikes close to home for anyone who's suffered through a panic attack. This issue serves its purpose in building onto the story the previous issue hinted at.

While it wasn’t as dramatic as the first issue, we can’t forget that this is clearly a comic made by people who love the Magical Girl genre as much as there fans. Katy Rex and Fabian Lelay have created and written a magical girl series befitting of the Black Mask Studios punk mindset to comics.

Lelay's illustrations offer a sense of loose and tight art that would befit a magical girl zine, and Mara Jayne Carpenter bring us the color needed to set the mood. Taylor Esposito does a wonderful job at
lettering that allows this book to be an easy read for the eyes.

Elizabeth Ledwell is a witch who has a certificate in graphics communications she doesn't use.