Stellar Witch LIP☆S ends with this volume, and as such, volume 5 has to include final revelations and the last battle. While this series has always been an homage to the fighting magical girl teams a la Sailor Moon, it’s just too bad that it’s more unique features don’t have time to shine here.
Case in point: Ryusei. After heading off with Mineo, he returns as a mage. But while he could have essentially functioned as the sixth ranger of the group, most of his post-return scenes center around the Miku-Scarlet issue.
The manga also takes cues from Phantom Thief Jeanne with God (who is not shown in a humanoid form) playing a role in the story and Marivan and Grim’s backstory being inspired by Adam and Eve. Or maybe they were actually Adam and Eve? Doesn’t matter, as the two have been reborn many times. The final twist regarding their reincarnations is rather confusing, and you kind of have to brush off questions about how it works as “magic” or “manga logic”.
Again, like with other aspects in the series, another volume could have given these rushed explanations more breathing room.
However, the biggest victim of winding down the manga here is Ray. All the members of LIP☆S are similar to the heroines of other shoujo sentai teams, but going back to the Sailor Moon comparisons, Ray is undoubtedly like Haruka/Uranus, particularly her manga/Crystal incarnation. However, there isn’t a Michiru character, and so Ray’s longing for the heroine is clearly romantic in nature versus a more idol or royal subject-like adoration like Haruka has for Usagi. It’s those feelings that give the Witches’ enemy a weak point, and Ray ends up turning to the dark side.
Yes, Stellar Witch LIP☆S volume 5 is a lesson in missed opportunities. I can’t wholly blame the manga though, as other manga in this genre have or could have been improved in an anime adaptation. But since this is almost assuredly the only version we’ll get, the story will always be considered lackluster. Plus, the manga is shorter than most other magical girl series from the 90s/00s. Even if it were picked to be animated, I imagine there would be some slight alterations since God, in this story, is seen as the one in the wrong by Miku and company. Of course, God here doesn’t necessarily represent the real world’s God from the Bible, but with the Adam and Eve allegories, that’s going to be the connection most people make. I’m not trying to be all political here, but in these times, I can imagine the idea of Witches facing off with God (plus Ray’s sexual orientation) being very contentious and perhaps Stellar Witch LIP☆S will be challenged in some libraries and school districts.
This is all too bad, as the art continues to be gorgeous. While the gang may not be firing off many spells here, Ray’s and Miku’s final forms are dazzling, and even Marivan has a stunning outfit here.
Volume 5’s ending doesn’t prevent the creators from creating a Stellar Witch LIP☆S 2 should they ever want to revisit this world, and if Tokyo Mew Mew and Pichi Pichi Pitch can be revisited, well, there’s always a chance for this series. However, while it has its strengths over the classics (the art, a love interest who wants to learn to fight on equal footing, LGBTQ+ characters), Stellar Witch LIP☆S just doesn’t have enough time (or any multimedia crossover) to be a stellar example of this genre.