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A Certain Magical Index Reading Order: A Guide to the Toaru Majutsu no Index Universe


Welcome to the world of A Certain Magical Index, where science and magic coexist and collide! Created by Kazuma Kamachi in 2004, this science-fantasy manga started with Touma Kamijou, a high school student living in Academy City, a high-tech city dedicated to the scientific development of psychic abilities. He is a Level 0 esper, with no psychic talent whatsoever. However, he possesses a rare ability in his right hand called Imagine Breaker, which can cancel out supernatural powers, though it leaves him constantly unlucky.

His life changes when a mysterious nun named Index appears on his balcony. Locked within her memory are forbidden magical grimoires, making her a target for powerful magic-side factions. Touma finds himself drawn into the hidden conflict between the scientific world of Academy City and the world of magic.

One of the most popular light novel series that is still ongoing, A Certain Magical Index has naturally grown into a franchise with spin-offs, side stories, manga, games and anime, offering different ways to discover the story and explore this world.

Today, we’re taking a closer look at the manga adaptations and spin-offs of the series in our A Certain Magical Index Reading Order.

A Certain Magical Index: Series Guide

Not all stories have been officially translated. The following list focuses primarily on publications in English.

A Certain Magical Index Light novel series is broken down into three sets of light novel series:

  • A Certain Magical Index: Old Testament (2004–2010) — Toaru Majutsu no Index. 22 volumes + 2 Index SS volumes.
    • A Certain Magical Index SS Vol. 1 is set between The Old Testament Vol. 13 and 14.
    • A Certain Magical Index SS Vol. 2 can be read between The Old Testament Vol. 16 and 17.
  • A Certain Magical Index: New Testament (2011–2019) — Shinyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index. 23 volumes (ongoing English translation)
  • A Certain Magical Index: Genesis Testament (2020–present) — Souyaku Toaru Majutsu no Index. The series is still ongoing. (not translated in english yet)

Manga Spin-Offs and Adaptations that expand the story:

  • A Certain Scientific Railgun (2007-2026) — Manga spin-off of A Certain Magical Index and original side story, taking place during the events of Index: Old Testament and featuring some retellings of pivotal moments from a different point of view.
  • A Certain Magical Index (2007-present) —Launched after Railgun, Toaru Majutsu no Index is the ongoing manga adaptation of the light novels.
  • A Certain Scientific Accelerator (2013-2020) — Toaru Kagaku no Accelerator is a manga spin-off and original side story set after the fifth volume of the Old Testament, focusing on Accelerator. 12 volumes.
  • Astral Buddy (2017-2020) — A spin-off of a spin-off! Astral Buddy is a manga spun out from Railgun, whose story takes place in parallel with the Dream Ranker arc.

Material not available in English includes the light novel Toaru Anbu no Item, the manga Toaru Nichijou no Index-san (5 volumes), Toaru Idol no Accelerator-sama (4 volumes), Miracle of Endymion (manga adaptation of the film of the same name), Toaru Kagaku no Mental Out (5 volumes, ongoing), the manga adaptation of Toaru Anbu no Item (2 volumes, ongoing), as well as various crossover stories and other side material.

A Certain Magical Index: A Simple Manga Reading Guide

A Certain Magical Index: The Manga Adaptation

Toaru Majutsu no Index is an ongoing manga series based on the light novel series of the same name by Kazuma Kamachi, with illustrations by Chuya Kogino. The manga has been serialised in Square Enix’s Monthly Shonen Gangan magazine since 12 April 2007, and Yen Press has licensed it for publication in North America.

At the moment, the manga adaptation has covered 19 volumes of the light novel (and one SS Volume).

A Certain Magical Index Manga by Story Arcs

Index Arc (1-10) | Sisters Arc (11-22) | Three Stories Arc (22-33) | Orsola Aquinas Rescue Arc (45-57) | Tree Diagram Remnant Arc (58-65) | Daihasei Festival Arc (66-85) | La Regina del Mare Adriatico Arc (86-97) | Academy City Invasion Arc (97-116) | Skill-Out Uprising (116-122) | Document of Constantine Arc (123-132) | Battle Royale Arc (133-149) | Acqua of the Back Arc (150-164) | British Royal Family Arc (165-196) | DRAGON Arc (197-211) | World War III Arc (212-)

A Certain Scientific Railgun: An Original Side Story Manga

Toaru Kagaku no Railgun is the first manga series launched in the franchise and an original side story written by Kamachi Kazuma and illustrated by Fuyukawa Motoi. The story focuses more on Academy City and the third-ranked of the seven Level 5 espers Misaka Mikoto. With her best friend Kuroko Shirai and the other members of Judgment, a student-run law enforcement agency, Mikoto delves deep into the dark heart of the scientific sprawl she calls home, and uncovers secrets she wishes she hadn’t!

Although the series (outside of flashbacks) takes place alongside A Certain Magical Index and characters cross over from one series to the other, the events of Railgun and Index are only really intertwined during the Sisters Arc. For this reason, it could be better to read the Railgun version first, as it provides a more detailed account of the events.

A Certain Scientific Railgun by Story Arcs

Level Upper Arc (1-17) | Sisters Arc (18-39) | Intermission (40-42) | Daihasei Festival Arc (43-70) | Dream Ranker Arc (71-97) | Jailbreaker Arc (98-130) | Railgun Past Arc (131-170)

A Certain Scientific Accelerator: Another Side Story Manga

Similar to Railgun, Toaru Kagaku no Accelerator is a manga spin-off relating an original side story written by Kamachi Kazuma and illustrated by Yamaji Arata. The story focused Level 5 esper Accelator, beginning after the Three Stories Arc, and concluding around the time of the Tree Diagram Remnant Arc.

A Certain Scientific Accelerator by Story Arcs

Necromancer Arc (1-36) | Nectar Arc (37-62) | Tree Diagram Remnant Arc (63)

A Certain Scientific Railgun: Astral Buddy

A spin-off of Railgun, Astral Buddy was written by Kazuma Kamachi and illustrated by Yasuhito Nogi. The story focuses on Junko Hokaze, a third-year student known for her ringlet-styled curly hair. A Level 4 esper, she discovers she is being stalked by a “ghost” named Senya Yūri and begins to investigate. These events occur during the Dream Ranker story arc (Chapters 71–97 of Railgun).

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