A Certain Magical Index Spinoff ‘Toaru Anbu no Item’ Manga Chapter 1 Launches in Japan; Free Preview Available

Kadokawa has announced that the first manga chapter of the A Certain Magical Index spinoff, Toaru Anbu no Item, is now available in Japan via Dengeki Daioh. Additionally, a free preview is now available via Comic Walker.

Featuring artwork by strelka, the next update to the manga is planned to launch on November 20, 2023. A light novel series of the same name has also been progressing.

This series, roughly translated to A Certain Dark Side ITEM, follows ITEM, a group residing in the dark side of Academy City. This story delves into how this group managed to form, initially comprised of four members.

The fourth-ranked Level Five of Academy City, Shizuri Mugino, also known as Meltdowner, can be seen as the leader of ITEM. Another core member is Rikou Takitsubo, who is able to track other Espers via her ability, AIM Stalker. The other two members are Frenda Seivelun and Saiai Kinuhata, who use explosives and the Offense Armor ability, respectively.

Shiage Hamazura joins ITEM in the later parts of A Certain Magical Index Old Testament, where they become an integral focus for a while. Moreover, A Scientific Railgun prominently focuses on ITEM, especially Frenda.

You can view the manga cover for the first manga volume of Toaru Anbu no Item below:

Artist strelka also shared artwork of Frenda celebrating the start of the manga’s serialization, viewable below:

A Certain Magical Index originated as a light novel series before expanding into several other media, such as video games and manga adaptations. In fact, entire spinoffs have been birthed from Magical Index, including the significantly more popular A Certain Scientific Railgun.

Regardless, the Magical Index light novel is still ongoing, as it’s in the midst of its third series, Genesis Testament. The three seasons of the anime have adapted the first light novel series, known as the Old Testament. As of now, the second light novel series taking place right after the first, New Testament, has yet to receive an anime adaption.

• Every Opening for the A Certain Magical Index Anime Adaption
• Every Opening for the A Certain Scientific Railgun Anime Adaption
• Every Opening for the A Certain Scientific Accelerator Anime Adaption
• A Certain Magical Index: Imaginary Fest Coverage

While countless events and developments occur, A Certain Magical Index primarily follows protagonist Touma Kamijou, a high schooler residing in Academy City, a locale full of Espers. He is a Level 0, those whose Esper abilities are the lowest of the low.

However, Touma is different from the rest of the city since he seemingly has no latent Esper ability at all, instead possessing a mysterious power known as the Imagine Breaker in his right hand, which negates all supernatural phenomena. After meeting a young girl named Index, Touma ends up entangled in various plots involving the Science side and veiled Magic side of the world.