kuroi_shinigami wrote:Well, you guys make me want to read this novel now
Too bad there's too many volume out already and it's practically impossible for me to catch up unless it get translated lightning-speed like Index (my Japanese reading speed is only tenth of my English reading speed
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What make this series special in your opinion? I actually like Index because I like Touma(including his long preach too, even if a lot of people hate it), not to mention likable side characters and heroine(although main heroine Index barely pass). What about this one? What's the series strong point? Plot? Character? Humor? World Setting?
I shall compare RM with Index, being the fact that both are based off Magic, or at least at first.
Index, in its first part, has many different girls introduced, however, does not have character depth. RM on the other hand, has built a lot of character, while covering a lot of their pasts. (P.S. there are a few girls in Index I kinda like too, but due to their lack of eventual appearance, or their appearance destroying their initial character, I kinda hate Index, so you can treat it as a personal grudge)
Index eventually lost the magical touch, mainly being at first they mentioned how hard it is to pull off the really powerful magic and stuff, but later on, you see them pulling off such stunts at the snap of a finger or so, at the same time being overly far-fetched. RM maintains that idea all along, which at one point put the company at crisis as they have to pay for each of their jobs, eventually they got out of it, but you get what I mean.
Index tries very hard to make Touma "plain and unfortunate", despite the fact that he isn't so. He is actually very lucky and overly powerful. He seems to be just saying that he is unfortunate from time to time to give that impression, which is so fake. The protagonist of RM on the other hand is plain and useless. He has an eye that grants him great strength, but this power, as it was eventually revealed, is not his. He eventually has to seek out his own powers, through martial arts and long training and reading all kinds of magical books. In short, Index gives very big jumps in Touma's power level. RM really has to move on slowly, as he slowly struggles to do what he can, which is almost nothing at first.
Plot wise, Index focuses on Magic VS Science, whereas RM focuses only on Magic. Plot wise, I guess both are acceptable in their own ways, but as the author for Index tries to hide Magic from the Science area or so, it becomes very draggy. On the other hand, RM has several very well-formed arcs, such as the betrayal of one of the main heroines, the loss of some of his members, thus forcing him to take on a bigger role, and many others. Furthermore, from the latest few volumes of RM I read, it becomes rather tactical and intellectual, since in terms of magical powers, their company can't do anything, as compared to the big organizations that are formed centuries ago. So the idea and methods used is rather interesting. Index seems to be just pushing it through, thinking "I am the author, so anything I say goes".
In world setting, Index is based off a fictional world, with references to religions. On the other hand, RM is based off religions, with depths into the magic used and the ideas behind the magic in some points. For example, the knights of RM is based off the exorcism in the past, so their equipment is rather unified, allowing close cooperation between them. Each of the religion and magic they use have their own requirements and needs. One of the enemies uses a magic that requires the internal organs of people, some uses runes, or perhaps wood. Interesting ideas such as the activation of magic by drawing with their tongue so others are unable to see, or mere steps are taken in a certain fashion to activate magic. It is vast and explained, whereas I think Index is a little lacking in this sense, though it cannot be blamed as it is not a purely magic novel.
As for heroines, I would take the female leads to be Index and Biri biri? For RM, the heroines would be one, his childhood friend, which is one reason for his accursed eye. Later on, upon reunion, the daughter of a great company, together with great talents, earning her the title by some as "Princess of Solomon", meets the protagonist. But as he is just an average school kid, he tries to bend the magic world to what he knows, the normal daily lives he has been, so he attracts these people instead. Most magicians are usually binded by their chains of magical knowledge, and fails to seek new possibilities, but due to him being an abnormality, he eventually led the magicians to think that perhaps there is more than what they know currently. Despite this, the two heroines are currently away from the protagonist. Reason being that in order to save the protagonist, who was considered a "taboo" due to his eye, offered herself to be the lackey of the biggest organization taking care of magicians world-wide. The other heroine wanted fair competition, and due to her position, she was forced to kill the protagonist when he was considered a "taboo" as she needed to protect her own organization. Furthermore, she soughts great strength, and thus would need to offer a suitable sacrifice to the minions of Solomon to do so. In such, her greatest treasure would be her memories, or perhaps feelings... (NOTE: She has already once offered her "future" to one of the greatest minions)
Overall, I think RM is a very very good novel, definitely worth reading, and I think Index cant beat RM, but it is my personal opinion. In terms of humor, RM does not have much humor, despite how peaceful it can be at times, giving you a smile on the face, but not that much of a laugh.
). Nor am I saying RM wins Index (just highlighting some differences, that's all). DYD and RM also have their own issues, which I will not elaborate. It's just that I always find it a pity, even if I'm making a relative comparison, that such a great series has such lacklustre characters, which I feel is as important as the story, if not more so.
. I'll talk about RM another time when I've caught up, I think I'm about 7 or 8 volumes behind IIRC, I've stopped for over a year (close to 2) because I was swamped by my work then. Maybe I'll pick it up again sometime later this year.
