Follow TV Tropes

Following

Context Manga / MagicalRecordLyricalNanohaForce

Go To

1[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/N_Force_4929.jpg]]
2
3''Magical Record Lyrical Nanoha Force'' is a manga, part of the ''[[Franchise/LyricalNanoha Nanoha]]'' franchise. It's set six years after ''[[Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikerS StrikerS]]'' and is considered the fourth season, even though ''[[Manga/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaViVid ViVid]]'' chronologically predates it by two years InUniverse and a few months in RealLife. It began serialization in 2009 in ''Nyantype'', ''Newtype'''s SpinOff magazine.
4
5The plot revolved around a new [[LostTechnology Lost Logia]] called the forbidden Bible of the Silver Cross, which is somehow linked to a mysterious affliction known as the [[TheVirus Eclipse Virus]]. When a young traveler called Thoma rescues a girl called Lily from a series of cruel experiments involving the Forbidden Book, he too becomes infected with the Eclipse Virus. This grants him superhuman strength, incredible magical power, a potent HealingFactor and near-perfect AntiMagic abilities, but also [[SuperpoweredEvilSide an uncontrollable thirst for murder]].
6
7Meanwhile, Section Six of the TSAB mobilise to confront a new group of villains wrecking havoc across the non-administered worlds: the Hückebein Family, whose members all carry the Eclipse Virus. Finding that conventional magical weaponry is useless against the AntiMagic of the Eclipse Virus, the TSAB attempt to bring Thoma into their fold while the Hückebein try to do the same.
8
9Notice how the [[GenreShift "Magical Girl"]] was dropped from the title. Indeed this installment departed from the signature ''Nanoha'' style, going further into DarkerAndEdgier territory than ever before, in rather sharp contrast to the concurrently running ''[=ViVid=]'' manga. Fandom reactions have been sharply divided.
10
11Like ''[=ViVid=]'', ''Force'' has full colored tankōbon called ''Magical Record Lyrical Nanoha Force true colored''.
12
13Nyantype also ran a companion feature called ''Magical Record Lyrical Nanoha Force NEXT'', which was a sneak peek with illustrations and detailed descriptions of new weapons and equipment that would be appearing in the upcoming chapter.
14
15A four-panel comic based on the series, called ''Magical Record Lyrical Nanoha Force Dimension'', began serialization in Kadokawa's 4koma Nano Ace magazine on March 9, 2011.
16
17For various reasons, ''Force'' was put onto a prolonged hiatus in September 2013, and is more than likely QuietlyCancelled.
18
19'''NOTE:''' Only general tropes for the series are listed here. For character-specific ones, check out the [[Characters/MagicalRecordLyricalNanohaForce character]] [[Characters/LyricalNanoha sheets.]]
20
21----
22!!''MRLN Force'' provides examples:
23
24* AngerBornOfWorry: Agito gets furious at Signum for refusing to stay in the hospital until completely healed, but ultimately yields to her argument that even if her body heals, such forced idleness will weaken her spirit.
25* ArtEvolution: Early chapters had a noticeably different art style than the later chapters.
26* BarbieDollAnatomy: Only used in the transformation sequences.
27* {{BFG}}: ''Force'' has without a doubt [[http://safebooru.org/index.php?page=post&s=view&id=473762 the most oversized weapons yet]] and they are even mass based for the first time.
28* {{BFS}}: The series has almost reached the point of [[PoesLaw intentional parody]] with this, with it being nearly impossible to fit both of the swordswomen and their [[{{BFS}} current blades]] into one panel.
29* BigDamnHeroes:
30** Done so far by Fate and Subaru, both saving Nanoha in the nick of time from a certain death. Then shortly thereafter, pulled off by LILY, of all people. Who remembers her purpose, and dives in to save Thoma by [[Franchise/MassEffect Assuming Direct Control]] of the Bible of Silver Cross.
31** Also inverted with the Hückebein saving each other from the heroes.
32* BloodierAndGorier: Apart from being darker than the rest of the franchise, as well the antagonists being more ruthless and unforgiving, ''Force'' also averts the GoryDiscretionShot and provides more NightmareFuel and NauseaFuel, thanks to the Eclipse.
33* ContinuityCameo: Einhart from ''Manga/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaVivid'' appears in chapter 17 when Lily asks who Vivio is, as well Vivio's Device, Sacred Heart/Chris, acknowledging ''[=ViVid=]'s'' continuity with ''Force''.
34* ContinuityNod: Nanoha tells Thoma that "this may hurt a little", just like she told Vivio in ''[[Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers StrikerS]]'', before blasting him in the face with her Fortress.
35* ContinuitySnarl: In chapter 29, Fate states that she's not familiar with age-changing magic [[spoiler:when she sees Curren do so]], almost as if she'd never been through the events of ''Manga/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaVivid'' where Vivio and Einhart have such abilities.
36** On the other hand, Fate never really fought someone with this abilities, even during the mock battles. And [[spoiler:Curren's]] case is reverse.
37* CriminalFoundFamily: The Hückebein and the Grendel "families" are tightly-knit groups of otherwise unrelated [[HumanWeapon Eclipse Drivers]] who banded around a parental figure (Curren Hückebein and Kurt Grendel, respectively) to escape prosecution for their crimes (mostly armed robbery and terrorism).
38* CustomUniform: Most members of Special Duty Section 6 wear the blue Navy uniform, with a few exceptions.
39** Nanoha and Vita wear their white Aerial Combat Instructor uniforms. However, they wore their Dimensional Navy uniform at least once.
40** Fate and Teana wear their black Enforcer uniforms.
41** Subaru wears her silver Gulf Special Rescue Unit uniform. But she wears the Dimensional Navy uniform, too.
42** The three new Forward recruits, Thoma, Lily and Isis, wear light blue uniforms.
43* DarkerAndEdgier: Maybe a bit too dark. The first villain is introduced sitting at the altar of a church, which he ransacked, and killed the three nuns there while waiting for Thoma to arrive.
44* DeconstructorFleet: ''Force'' is taking the realistic approach to some of the Nanoha franchise's concepts. So far, the more friendly the approach taken by Section 6, the more stubborn, aggressive or evasive the criminal's response.
45** What happens when TheMagocracy encounters AntiMagic strong enough that they can't train or power through it? They're forced to throw out their old magic-based playbook. Furthermore, due to the dependence on magic, the kinetics they invent to try and circumvent the problem are {{Flawed Prototype}}s.
46** A sledgehammer is taken to the series mainstay of DefeatMeansFriendship. The friendlier the approach made by Section 6, the more the villains think they can get away with things, leading to more stubbornness and aggression or running away rather than HeelFaceTurn.
47* DispelMagic: The [[LivingWeapon Eclipse Drivers]] are capable of instantly dispelling magic of any kind almost at whim, which makes them extremely dangerous to the magic-dependent society at large and to the magic-using main characters in particular.
48* EndOfAnAge: Force shows the start of the end of the magic age, with the Eclipse having AntiMagic strong enough to actually obsolete magic and force the (re)introduction of physical weapons, unlike ''[=StrikerS=]'', where the heroines could simply power through it.
49* EvilCannotComprehendGood: A lot of Eclipse infectees are baffled at Thoma's merciful behavior and reluctance to kill.
50* EvilVersusEvil:
51** In chapter 19, Veyron and Arnage engage in a fight against other two Eclipse infected guys.
52** Again in chapter 23 where Cypha fights against the equally infected Grendel family.
53* ForgottenPhlebotinum: The Numbers from ''[=StrikerS=]'' appear very little in this series, despite getting quite a bit of screen time in contemporary production ''[=ViVid=]''. [[StoryBreakerPower Probably because the whole point of the Numbers is that they don't use magic and would therefore easily take the Huckebein apart, invalidating the entire plot.]]
54* GenreShift: As noted, ''Force'' doesn't even bill itself as a MagicalGirl series. As the lead character Thoma is a male, and almost all of the Special Duty Section 6 personnel are adults already, "Magical Girl" does not fit this series at all.
55* GratuitousEnglish[=/=]GratuitousGerman: Averted with Thoma's[[note]]Steed and Bible of the Silver Cross[[/note]] and Isis'[[note]]Perfume Glove[[/note]] Devices, which are the first non-unison types that speak Japanese and have proper conversations with their masters.
56* GunBlade: Pretty much every Divider is pretty much just a blade stuck on a gun in their default form, until they're [[SuperMode Reacted]]. Notable exception is Cypha (a knife).
57* GutPunch: The DarkerAndEdgier tone of the series is settled quickly on chapter 4 with Veyron welcoming Thoma in a church filled with nun corpses, and specially cemented shortly after in chapter 7 when Cypha nearly killed Signum who was never truly defeated onscreen until that point. Things were never the same after that.
58* HatePlague[=/=]MindVirus: The effect of Eclipse when infecting the victim.
59* HeKnowsTooMuch: The fate of [[spoiler: Marty]]. [[spoiler: Kurt]] reveals that [[spoiler: Hades Vandein]] plants explosives in the brains of all of their Eclipse infectee experiments, [[spoiler: Grendels included]], in case of such an event. Thankfully, it seems he survived.
60** Pretty much what happens to anyone the Huckebein encounter, as they kill everyone to make sure they don't leave a single trace.
61* ImmuneToBullets: Marty has this power above and beyond standard Eclipse healing. [[spoiler: So Arnage converts her [[ShapeshifterWeapon Divider]] to WaveMotionGun mode.]]
62* {{Jerkass}}: Almost every Eclipse infected individual suffers this symptom, except Thoma.
63* KineticWeaponsAreJustBetter:
64** Since the appearance of the Hückebein, who are completely immune to magical attacks, the TSAB ban on mass based weapons has been relaxed somewhat. As a result Special Service Section 6 is now equipped with experimental hybrid weapons that convert magical energy into pure kinetic energy or plasma.
65** Meanwhile Thoma, Veyron and Arnage are using Dividers that look and behave like mash-ups of conventional Earth weapons, though how they work has not been explained.
66** Isis uses chemical explosives in liquid/gas state, which she then delivers by molding them in the shape of butterflies or birds with her device. So that could also be considered an equal parts magic/kinetic weapon.
67* KnockoutGas: Arnage's knockout gas was used to stop Reacted Thoma's rampage.
68* MoodWhiplash:
69** [[ShmuckBait Do not read this]] back-to-back with the [[LighterAndSofter other]] currently running ''Nanoha'' manga ''Manga/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaVivid'' or worse, ''[[Manga/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaINNOCENT INNOCENT]]'', or you'll be in need of a new metaphorical neck before you know it.
70** Within this story itself, the switch from Thoma's lighthearted travels with Lily to Teana visiting the site of an apparent Hückebein attack with many dead or severely wounded and back also counts.
71** Chapter 27 was basically this in a nutshell the narrative switching between [[GoldfishPoopGang The Grendels]] making an escape attempt and failing (due to Nanoha) and [[spoiler: Curren & Veyron's attack on the holding cell and fighting Hades Vandein]].
72* MurderByCremation: A variation occurs in the first chapter. When Thoma was discovered sneaking into the facility containing Lily and successful gaining a reaction with her, the people in charge of that facility attempts to get rid of both Thoma and Lily by activating the lab's heat sterilization function, burning the entire area at temperatures that could melt metal. Fortunately, the Viral Transformation of Thoma had already completed by then, allowing him to protect both himself and Lily and subsequently escape.
73* NoEnding: The manga was put into hiatus in 2013, and is very unlikely to continue. Thus, the manga ends on a cliffhanger where Thoma is ambushed by Arnage, with the primary plot of defeating the Huckebein and curing the Eclipse Virus never resolved.
74* NoOntologicalInertia: Curren invokes this by [[spoiler: shanking Hayate so the Heimdall iceberg vanishes]].
75* NotSoInvincibleAfterAll: After multiple chapters of being effectively untouchable, the Huckebein try their usual shtick against [[spoiler:Hades Vandein]]... and are utterly ''demolished'', being handed their first real defeat and left with no choice but to book it.
76* OlderHeroVsYoungerVillain: Older member of Section 6 against adolescent [[spoiler:Curren Hückebein]].
77* PeopleJars: The research facility, where Lily was, had some. Though the ''things'' stored in there really couldn't be called "people" anymore.
78* PowerNullifier: Chapter 29 reveals that some of the new Anti-EC equipment include bullets filled with antibiotics to hinder an infectee's HealingFactor.
79* SequelEscalation: ''Force'' carries on and escalates the themes [=StrikerS=] started the series on of a DarkerAndEdgier shift away from idealism, as well as giving an AntiMagic that is actually powerful enough to force a paradigm change rather than the nearly worthless stuff in ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'' that was quickly forgotten about once the characters took off the {{Power Limiter}}s.
80* SternChase: Thoma spends much of the first arc fleeing the TSAB and law enforcement after breaking into the lab and saving Lily.
81* TechnicallyLivingZombie: Almost every Eclipse infectee is this, but most extreme example is Hückebein. [[spoiler:As seen in chapter 30.]]
82* TheTeam: The five girls who saved Thoma from his and the Bible of Silver Cross' berserk rampage.
83** TheHeroine: Nanoha, the titular character who fought Thoma the most.
84** TheLancer: Isis, the girl who wanted to save Thoma by her own and was rather incooperative with the [=SDS6=], and then saved him from his fall after he turned back to normal.
85** TheBigGirl: Subaru, who saved Nanoha from Thoma and destroyed his GunBlade.
86** TheSmartGirl: Fate, who directly damaged the Bible of the Silver Cross, which disrupted the link between Thoma and the Bible.
87** TheHeart: Lily, who finally snapped Thoma out of his crazy state not by fighting him, but rather with "ThePowerOfLove" (SayMyName, CoolDownHug and FusionDance).
88* TimeSkip: Six and two years after ''[[Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikerS StrikerS]]'' and ''[[Manga/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaVivid ViVid]]'', respectively.
89* VehicularThemeNaming: Par for the course for the series, but the four Dividers with known number suffixes are all named after various Porsche models.
90** Divider-996 (Thoma): Porsche 911 (996)
91** Divider-928 (Veyron): Porsche 928
92** Divider-944 (Cypha): Porsche 944
93** Divider-718 (Arnage): Porsche 718
94* WebcomicTime: The manga started in July 2009. It took a year to get from the introduction of the main character to the first battle (about a day in-story), and another year to wrap up said battle (about an hour long).
95* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: Along with potent powers, the Eclipse seems to have a rather detrimental effect on the victim's mind by stripping them of their morality and turning them into sociopathic assholes.
96* TheWorfEffect:
97** Signum and Hayate losing.
98** Also Vita scored her 2nd defeat against a new villain by [[CurbStompBattle curbstomp]].

Top