Q1) You are using an official digital release? (I presume this official digital release is Japanese?)

@shellshock A1) Yes, we are using the Kanzenban 16-volume edition (which is its most recent edition) for the scans, but are following the original run's 33 volumes in terms of our release. With full knowledge of the series lore going into the process, we are releasing both an updated translation that follows the original Japanese names and terminology, as well as a recreation of the official English version that was made by VIZ Media back in 2005. You can refer to the new translation as our (SUB) variant and the official VIZ recreation as our (DUB) variant.

This is AMAZING. I hope to see this project to completion!

@Rillant Thank you! We've got all the resources and motivation to do the rest of it, so we're thrilled to provide this for all the fans of this outstanding series!

This is definitely a much better translation than the old Null version. The only thing, and this is just my opinion, is that it seems like some of the spell names would make more sense in their dub readings, e.g. "Gravirei" instead of "Guravirei" or "Ion Gravirei" instead of "Aian Guravirei". Just a thought. Keep up the good work.

@Zeke_Green Thank you very much! We did consider localizing the spell names, but it always carries a risk with it... Unfortunately, the official English version made some inconsistencies in those names. There were some severe lapses in their usual naming sense that would ultimately mean we'd need to provide a NEW localized name for the spell that is different from the official English localization, and we feared that would cause serious confusion among the fanbase. A strong example of this would be some of the spells that will later be used by Patty/Penny, the English dub butchered the names of a lot of her spells. Akuru Kiroro (Officially localized as "Akur Kiro") Oruda Akuron (Officially localized as "Oruda Kuron") Suou Giakuru (Official localized as "So Giaku") Mostly, VIZ truncated spell names a lot when it wasn't even necessary. We also have to consider the pronunciation of the "Zakeruga" spell... if we were to localize it, it would become "Zakerga" yet the official English version is transliterated as "Zakeruga." There are also spells like "Saifojio" and "Jioruku" which become "Saifogeo" and "Jioruk," respectively... if one is "geo" and the other is "jio" then it makes an inconsistency. There are also certain spells whose romaji make literal English words, like "Raajia" becoming the word "Large" or "Ganzu" becoming the word "Guns"... so if we're to localize all of the spell names, we can't go only halfway... any "Raajia" spell would have to be called "Large" instead, and most agree that this comes across as kind of silly-looking. In the end, we decided it would be best to leave the spell localization up to the official VIZ Media recreation, and then transliterate the spells for the fan translation. That way, there isn't TOO severe of a disparity between our fan translation and the one people have been reading (and watching via anime) for two decades. All that being said, volume 4 is complete and will be joining those first 3 volumes as soon as tomorrow! :D

I see your point. I'm a translator too, so I definitely know how badly official dubs can butcher things. At least you had the sense not to do like the Null version and spell it "Gurabirei" xD

Yes, poor Null hadn't realized that part of the word "gravity" was in the spell name at the time. I would hope that if he had, he would've made the same correction. lol

Thank you so much for the hard work! I've really wanted to read the manga but the older scans were just too rough for me. The quality is great and love the translations, really hope to see this completed, il be keeping up with each volume release!