Maria the Virgin Witch (純潔のマリア, Junketsu no Maria, lit. "Maria the Virgin"), subtitled Sorcière de gré, pucelle de force ("witch by choice, virgin by obligation"), is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masayuki Ishikawa. Kodansha USA licensed the manga and released the series and its spin-off Exhibition from February 24 to August 25, 2015.[2][3][4] An anime adaptation aired from January to March 2015.[5]
Plot
Set in France during the Hundred Years' War, it follows Maria, who is one of the most powerful witches of her era. She intervenes against the warring nations by using her succubus and incubus familiars to manipulate the opposing factions, as well as large-scale illusions, all for the sake of helping the people and maintaining peace. As a result, she has gained the appreciation of several villagers and the hostility of the Church, which considers her a heretic. Yet Maria is still a virgin and her own familiars tease her about it. As news of her actions spreads, Archangel Michael focuses on Maria and rejects her interference in human affairs. After a direct confrontation, Michael ultimately decides that Maria will lose her magical powers if she loses her virginity and also forbids her from publicly using magic, sending an angel called Ezekiel to oversee this decree.
A very powerful witch that hates conflicts, and because of her interference in the battles, she's forced by Heaven to stop using magic in front of common people, and the moment she loses her virginity, she will lose her powers. Later, she falls in love with Joseph. It has been hinted that she may be much older than she seems.
Maria's incubus familiar who, unfortunately, lacks a penis since Maria doesn't know male anatomy very well. The same as Artemis, he is protective of Maria.
An angel sent by Heaven to ensure that Maria doesn't use magic in public, although Maria and her familiars always find loopholes to do so. She takes the form of a white dove and is nicknamed Popo by Anne and Marias familiars. She eventually comes to sympathize with Maria and prevents herself from killing her when Michael gives her the order. For this insubordination she's sentenced by the archangel to become fallen, but is promised to be reincarnated as a human. Michael commands her to choose the one who will be bearing her and, without hesitating, Ezekiel chooses Maria to become her mother.
A young man serving under Guillaume, who gets Maria's protection and becomes infatuated with the young witch and her dreams. He's also a virgin and tries to support Maria in any way he knows.
Anne (アン, An)
Voiced by: Ai Kakuma[6] (Japanese); Lara Woodhull (English)
A girl that takes a liking towards Maria. A surprising fact is that the female narrator is Anne as a grandmother.
A witch from England who fights for whoever pays her. She takes an interest in Maria and tries to convince her of losing her virginity. Later she becomes friends with Maria.
A shy witch who gives Maria the ingredients to make her medicines. She uses her cat familiar as messenger and to communicate with the other witches. She keeps to herself and hides away in a rundown stone building. She finally leaves her home to help Maria from burning at the stake.
A mercenary of the French army who gets upset when Maria interferes with battles, since it means he doesn't get paid. He's assigned by Bernard and Guillaume into killing Maria if she keeps interfering. After killing Yvain, he loses his left arm by a straight cannonball during battle. He survives and fully gives his support to Bernard, receiving a metal arm and becomes the leader of the mercenary group.
The leader of the mercenary force Garfa belongs to. He's murdered by Garfa during a battle when he threatens to take away all his earnings and insults his Moorish descent.
A cunning and ruthless monk from the Roman Catholic Church, who starts manipulating Maria's actions into benefiting him and the French army. He later has a divine revelation when he questions Maria's interventions in jail. He dies when trying to choke Michael in the last episode.
The old God of Celtic mythology, whose influence has dwindled with the expansion of Christianity and tries to convince Maria in joining him.
Anime
An anime adaptation aired on January 11, 2015 and ended on March 29, 2015.[6] "Philosophy of Dear World" by ZAQ is the opening song of the anime while "ailes" by TRUE is the ending song.[6]
Maria is a witch living in France during the events of the Hundred Years' War. Loathing war and strife, she usually interferes in the battles between the French and English, drawing the attention of the heavens.
2
"Against the World" "Contra Mundum: Sekai ni taisu" (CONTRA MUNDUM: 世界に対す)
January 18, 2015 (2015-01-18)
The Archangel Michael descends from heaven to reprimand Maria's meddling with the humans' affairs, but she refuses to comply and just when she is about to be killed, her friends Joseph and Anna intervene at her favor.
3
"By Faith, Not Arms" "Fide, Non Armis: Bukidenaku shinkō de" (FIDE, NON ARMIS: 武器でなく信仰で)
January 25, 2015 (2015-01-25)
Despite being spared, Maria was sentenced by the heavens to lose her powers should she loses her virginity, and Michael sends the angel Ezekiel to watch over her. Meanwhile, Maria's feats draw her some unwanted attention from the church.
4
"Remember to Die" "Memento Mori: Shi o omoe" (MEMENTO MORI: 死を思え)
February 1, 2015 (2015-02-01)
Having no success in stopping Maria from interfering on the war, Ezekiel learns more about her past from her familiars, the succubus Artemis and the incubus Priapus.
When Joseph's friend, the mercenary Garfa is caught in an affair with a knight's lover, he must fight for his life and honor in a duel, a conflict Maria decides to sit out.
6
"Under the Rose" "Sub Rosa: Bara no shita de" (SUB ROSA: 薔薇の下で)
February 15, 2015 (2015-02-15)
Joseph is tasked to convince Maria to stay out of an important battle that may bring an end to the war, but when she finds that he and Anna's father are involved, she decides to intervene nonetheless, with tragic consequences.
7
"The War Will Feed Itself" "Bellum Se Ipsum Alet: Sensō wa sensō o kuu" (BELLUM SE IPSUM ALET: 戦争は戦争を食う)
February 22, 2015 (2015-02-22)
Despite ordered by Michael to kill Maria should she uses her magic in front of the people again, Ezekiel barely avoids to fatally wound her instead. Meanwhile, Garfa, who lost an arm during the battle, blames Maria for it and swears revenge on her, assisted by the church who views her as a hindrance.
8
"Man Is a Wolf to Man" "Lupus Est Homo Homini: Hito wa, hito ni totte ōkami" (LUPUS EST HOMO HOMINI: 人は, 人にとって狼)
March 1, 2015 (2015-03-01)
Despite not fully healed, Maria returns home just to find that she is being blamed for the French defeat in the last battle and the sudden worsening of Martha's condition. Meanwhile, Brother Bernard conspires to bring her down.
9
"With a Grain of Salt" "Cum Grano Salis: Hito-tsumami no shio o" (CUM GRANO SALIS: 一つまみの塩を)
March 8, 2015 (2015-03-08)
Thanks to Bernard's machinations, Maria is captured and imprisoned by the church. Realizing that she still has not lost her virginity, and her powers as well, her friends join forces to rescue her, as the English prepare another attack.
10
"I Hate and I Love" "Odi Et Amo: Ware nikumi, Ware aisu" (ODI ET AMO: 我憎み, 我愛す)
March 15, 2015 (2015-03-15)
Viv fights Michael and gets injured by Ezekiel. While recuperating at Edwina's, Viv convinces her to come out of hiding and save Maria. Meanwhile, Joseph and Garfa go off to war and confront each other in a church.
11
"If You Wish to be Loved, Love" "Si Vis Amari, Ama: Ai o Nozomu nara Aise" (SI VIS AMARI, AMA: 愛を望むなら愛せ)
March 22, 2015 (2015-03-22)
While Joseph and Garfa fight, Maria has Edwina take her to the town England is occupying to save Joseph. When the fight ends with Garfa's fall, Maria and Joseph argue over each others personal flaws and in the end realize their true feelings for each other. Joseph proposes marriage, and Maria, over come with joy, and regains her magic. After using it to end the battle they are summoned by Michael.
12
"Love Conquers All" "Omnia Vincit Amor: Ai wa subete ni katsu" (OMNIA VINCIT AMOR: 愛は全てに勝つ)
March 29, 2015 (2015-03-29)
As Michael prepares to execute Maria, she is saved by Viv, Edwina, and the other witches. Spurred by their desire to protect Maria, Michael uses his powers to ask persons who have met Maria for their opinions. After passing judgement and sparing Maria, Michael prepared to judge Ezekiel for siding with Maria. It is decided that she will be reborn as a human with Maria as her mother. Joseph leaves the service of his lord, and takes Maria (presumably pregnant with Ezekiel) as his wife, who says her goodbyes to Cernunnos as they live together in Ann's village.
Reception
By February 14, 2010, volume 1 of the manga had sold 81,643 copies.[7] By October 16, 2011, volume 2 had sold 94,578 copies.[8] As of October 13, 2013, volume 3 has sold 57,516 copies.[9]
