Customer Reviews

Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 3

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

With vol. 3,. "Negima: Magister Negi Magi" fully hits its stride and matures into the amazing series we knew it could be, instead of a quasi- Love HIna / Harry Potter crossover. Akamatsu Ken has found a unique voice for the series, with a darker-edged story, and more attention and affection for the characters with every page. This is definitely my favorite volume so far.

The main story of volume 3 is the appearance of a challenging villain for Negi Springfield. One of his own students, Evangeline, is revealed to be a vampire who stalks the students of the Mahora school. There first encounter leaves Negi soundly defeated, in large part to Evangeline's robot slave (and also Negi's student!,) Cha-cha Maru. In order for Negi to fully realize his powers, and defeat Evangeline and Cha-cha Maru, he must find a partner to magically link with and boost their powers. An old friend of Negi's, Kamo-kun, shows up to help him along. Because this is an Akamatsu comic, to achieve the magical link Negi needs to kiss his new partner, and all the girls of the Mahora school are ready and willing.

Who will become Negi's partner? The obvious choice to Kamo-kun is Negi's crush, the cute but timid Miyazaki Nodoka. However, a new character is introduced, Negi's student Nakase the super-ninja, and there is always Asuna as well as many others vying for the spot.

I feel the need to set the record straight on a few points regarding "Negima: Magister Negi Magi".

There is a firmly held belief among a certain segment of the American population, largely among older females, that any entertainment form with artwork in it must only appeal to small children. This has not been true in this country for more than a decade and for far longer in other countries. KEN AKAMATSU's entertaining sagas are not "cartoons" or "comics" they are "mangas", an entirely different art form, and one whose audience in America is largely college and high school students (although I myself am quite a bit older than that). Mangas include love stories, sports stories, mystery, science fiction, and just about every other genre you can imagine. They became popular in Japan because they are a convenient pastime on public transportation, and that is KEN AKAMATSU's target audience: adults traveling back and forth to work and school.

There is a further commonly held erroneous assumption that the movie always precedes the book. While that is often the case in the USA, that is almost never true in Japan. The manga comes first, and popular manga series are made into animated series called "anime". Negima is not the retelling of an anime; "Negima: Magister Negi Magi" is a totally original work. Stating otherwise in another review of this book was a serious disservice to the author.

The Negima series of mangas was a huge hit in Japan, and recently an anime was produced from those mangas. The Negima anime was likewise a huge hit IN JAPAN. However because of language and financial considerations it may be years between an anime's broadcast in Japan and its release in America. So far, despite what others have said, not a single episode of the animated Negima series has ever been broadcast to any television screen in America.

Most parents will not find this title suitable for their young children, but many of the books that Amazon sells fall in that category, the collected works of FYODOR DOSTOEVSKY and ALBERT CAMUS spring to mind. The difference between those books and this one is that in this case the publisher has actually taken great pains (shrink wrap and a 16+ sticker) to indicate the proper audience for the book. What more could parents ask? Good work Del Rey.

In summary if you are over 16 years old enjoy humorous stories with a bit of intrigue, a bit of fantasy, a bit of romance, and a bit of foreign culture, then this is your book. Furthermore if you are the parent of a mature young adult, mangas such as Negima are an entertaining gateway to another culture. One they will never see in the classroom.

All of the previous volumes mostly involved Negi trying to gain the respect of his all-girl class, and failing miserably in the process. This volume, however, presented an antagonist that actually wants to do physical harm to Negi, and we get to see what Negi is capable of with his magic. It was a refreshing and welcome change of pace from the fan-service based comedy while still keeping with the traditions set in the earlier volumes. In other words, it isn't a jarring change of pace but one that comes gradually.

In this volume, Negi finds himself the target of a mysterious female wizard who just so happens to be a vampire as well. Yet after the first battle, many problems are presented to Negi. One, he must find a way to get past his fear of the vampire and teach his class, and two, he must find a partner capable enough to protect him while he must cast the intricate spells needed to battle the wizard/vampire. Along the way, Negi ends up getting closer to a few more of his students who, in some way or another, help Negi in his future fight with the vampire.

What made this so volume so great was that it presented the vampire conflict in the first chapter and ended it by the last. It's not a continuation from the previous volume nor does it go on into the next. It can be read in one shot, without any cliffhangers along the way.

For me, Negima continues to get better. It may not have achieved that perfect point for me, but I'm still laughing at the jokes and I was excited when the action really started in this volume. I highly recommend this volume to the more skeptical Negima reader, especially if you felt that Negima wasn't going anywhere soon. It gets a little deeper into the plot and finally lets Negi be a wizard first and a teacher second. And, of course, a pimp third.

After the first two volumes of Akamatsu-sensei's "Negima!" manga, I can't say I was super impressed with what I'd seen. Sure the art was great, there was some ecchi humor and TONS of ecchi images of his lolicon babes, so if you were into that, I'm sure things were great. But I'm interested in story and it really hadn't gripped me that much. Still, two volumes is not enough to judge a title on, thus I purchased Volume 3. Boy am I glad I did that!

Since the cover of Volume 3 gives away the central characters featured within, it won't be a spoiler to say that the entire volume is about Negi-sensei's fight with the vampire-mage Evangeline McDowell, who's also a student in Negi's class. Eva-chan is partnered with the android Chachamaru, who's also in Negi's class. Negi soon learns how important a partner is to a mage and fortunately for him, Asuna is watching his back.

Joining the cast is the ermine Chamo-kun, who speaks and whom Negi saved in the past. Chamo-kun becomes Negi's closest advisor, but he has his own agenda and really wants Negi to make as many probationary partnerships with girls as possible. While Asuna agrees to be a partner, Negi decides he can't put others at risk and flees to the nearby wooded mountain region, where he runs into one of the Baka Rangers on ninja training - Nagase-san. She manages to be what the doctor ordered and Negi finds his confidence again.

As the battle with Eva-chan and Chachamaru continues, Negi learns that Evangeline has a connection with his father, the man known as the Southern Master who was supposed to have died when Negi was born. As Eva's plot to free herself of the curse of the Southern Master continues, Negi must learn to trust his partner Asuna and Asuna must be willing to go that extra mile in order to gain the full benefits of being a mages partner. Can they do it in time?

I have to say that I was completely taken by surprise with the volume of the manga. Shifting the focus away from ecchi romantic-comedy aspects to creating an enemy for Negi to fight was very good. Not only that, but Evangeline being a vampire-mage was a very good stroke in my opinion. She's a very interesting character made more so with her connection to Negi's father. The mini-Chachamaru that Eva used to use (and may still use) was pretty cool and in a weird way, freaky. Combine this with some nice writing and you've got a real winner.

Del Rey continues to do a good job. In the extras, we have a spell lexicon, initial character sketches by Akamatsu-sensei, translator notes, and a preview of Volume 4 in Japanese.

Bottom line: If you passed the series because it didn't seem like more than a lolicon ecchi-fest, you might want to reconsider as this volume proves the series will be much more than that. Well worth picking up.

With Negima Volume 3, manga creator Ken Akamatsu finally starts to give his new series some oomph. First, he introduces a terrific villian to pit against his hero, naive wizard-in-training Negi Springfield: Evangeline, a wizardess/vampire who's not only a student of Negi Springfield but also his deadly enemy, for she bears a grudge against his family and suffers a curse that only Negi's blood can lift. Evangeline's icy stare and icy sarcasm are delightful contrasts to Negi's innocence and wide-eyed determination to do what's right, no matter what the cost. When he tries to reform her evil ways, she beats the tar out of him, not once but twice, in magical battles that are beautifully drawn and cleverly written. Soon Negi has to face the fact that he needs help - but who can he recruit to aid him in his struggle? The answer comes in the form of a white ermine daemon from his past, who presents himself as Negi's familiar and who recommends that Negi team up with his nemesis Asuna, a fierce but basically good-hearted Amazon who, up to this point, usually torments her unwanted teacher/roommate. But Asuna comes to the rescue during Negi's initial battle with Evangeline, saving him from a terrible death - and the aftermath, when Negi breaks down in tears and clings to Asuna for comfort, is easily one of the most affecting moments in this manga's entire run. Asuna is initially reluctant to team with Negi for several reasons, many of them dealing with her continuing self-denial of her growing affection for her 10-year-old roommate. But finally she's persuaded to enter a Probationary Contract with Negi - a magical binding that will allow her to protect him magically during battle - and the scene where she and Negi seal the bond with a kiss is the second-most affecting moment. Sure, he's only 10, but his reaction to the kiss is one of stricken awe, and it's one of the touches Mr. Akamatsu has added to the character that has made him so endearing. The second battle with Evangeline is intense, believable and ultimately triumphant, although it does serve to soften Evangeline a hair too much - I like her much better as deadly enemy than reluctant ally. At any rate, Volume three marks this manga's high point; "Negima" as a series never gets better than this, and that's important: while the books that follow have their moments, none of them thus far have quite lived up to volume 3. This volume is highly recommended. Hopefully the manga will have an ending as satisfying as this one lone volume.

At last, Negi Springfield is getting a villain. After two volumes of hijinks and wizardly trials, Ken Akamatsu's "Negima" introduces us to dark forces that can seriously threaten Negi Springfield -- and even worse, it's one of his students. What's a preteen teacher to do?

After Makie is attacked in a dark street, Negi is determined to find the magical force that harmed her. He barely rescues Nodoka from a cloaked figure, Evangeline McDowell -- one of his students, and apparently also a wizard, a vampire, and with a lethal robot partner.

What's more, she has a grudge against Negi for a curse his father laid on her, and only Asuna's intervention gets Negi away with all his blood. Now it's more important than ever that Negi find a magical partner, but who will it be? Timid Nodoka, cheery ninja Kaede, or street-smart Asuna?

Negi learns more about kind-hearted robot girl Chachamaru, who feeds stray cats, and about the "school hell" curse that the legendary "Thousand Master" -- his father -- put on Evangeline fifteen years ago. But will he and his new partner have the combined strength to defeat the "Dark Evangel," or will Negi become her latest victim?

Akamatsu has a knack for slightly raunchy comedy, but in the third volume of "Negima," he shows that he's got an even stronger knack for adventure/fantasy/horror. Things get pretty grim when Negi is cornered in his own classroom, with a student he can't bring himself to hurt, but who is determined to kill him.

No, it isn't devoid of humour. Most of it is provided by criminal pantyphile Albert Chamomile, a wisecracking ermine who smokes a cigarette and wears a fedora. But Chamo is mostly there to provide information to Negi. Most of the plot is a lot darker and more sinister, especially when Evangeline uses students as pawns against Negi.

This volume also brings Negi and Asuna closer together, when they are forced to team up against Evangeline -- Negi has the power, and Asuna has the strength and guts. Akamatsu also hints at Negi's mysterious past. It was revealed that he had a sister, but nothing about his parents -- now we find out that the lovably twerpy little wizard may be a lot more powerful than anyone thought he was.

The third volume of "Negima" proves to be the high point of a series that started off weakly, and promises future adventures for Negi and Asuna. Well done.

Along with having the bad-tempered Asuna as a housemate, battling nasty high school students, and getting lost on Library Island, ten-year old Negi Springfield is confronted with another crisis. What if you're a teacher at a junior high school, and one of your students happens to be a vampire?

Meet Evangeline McDowell, student no. 26 on his roster, a.k.a. Dark Evangel, a dour-looking customer who's in the go and tea ceremony clubs. After the attack on Makie Sasaki, Evangeline is revealed to be the so-called "vampire of Cherry Blossom Street," where the attack took place. Turns out she's not only a wizard, but knows of Negi's father, the Southern Master, who defeated her, and using a spell, trapped her in the body of a junior high school girl. The way to lift the curse is to drink the blood of the nearest relative of whoever cursed her. Guess who that is? And she's so villainous, "even the villains want to kill her." However, despite seeming to be powerful, she lacks natural talent. She needs cloaks and catalysts, and a partner, a Ministel Magi. Evangeline tells him, "while we wizards prepare a spell, we can't defend against attack. Selecting a `ministel magi' [is] about finding someone to block incoming spells while you cast your offensive ones." In Evangeline's case, she has Chachamaru Karakuri, an android given the long prongs she has for ears. "Two evil-doers in my class--as if the regular cut-ups weren't enough!" wails Negi.

The need to defeat Evangeline dominates the third volume of Negima!, as a funny character makes his debut. The slick fast-talking Albert Chamomile, or Chamo for short, was an ermine Negi rescued from a trap, and who's on the run for stealing 2,000 pairs of female undies. Chamo aids Negi in trying to find him a Ministel Magi, and they settle on Asuna due to her fighting abilities and reliability, but they form a partnership under a probationary contract. The last part of the volume involves the first real confrontation between the partnered teams of Negi and Asuna versus Evangeline and Chachamaru.

Negi though, sees Evangeline and Chachamaru as his students, and sees the good side of the latter through her good deeds, taking in stray cats for example, for which he cancels an attack on her, something not missed by the robot. She's not bad, she just has to obey her mistress. And when Evangeline is sick in bed, he doesn't attack her, he sits by her bedside.

But he does get discouraged, and apart from crying-hey, he is ten years old-he flees into the woods where he gets some help from his student Kaede Nagase, who helps him clear his troubled mind with the self-sufficient weekend outing she does in the woods.

And when Nodoka the librarian girl gets all except the very top part of her blouse and her socks blown off, I wondered if I was reading Battle Vixens instead. Yet one mystery arises. Why did his mentor Takamichi, scribble above Evangeline's picture, "ask her advice if you're in trouble"?

The introduction of Evangeline, Chachamaru, and Chamo, as well as the Harry Potter-like casting of dueling verbal spells between Negi and Evangeline ensures the magic continues in Volume 3 of Ken Akamatsu's series.

Akamatsu never stops to amaze... the 3rd instalment of negima is a great volume if ya a vampire lovin hippie or a cyber dude. If your a "love Hina" fan you best pick this up!

Negima is the story of Negi, a 10 year old boy wizard from Wales who is assigned to teach English at a girls middle school in Japan. In this volume, Negi battles a vampire/witch who happens to be one of his students. This story arc takes up the whole book, but of course there are many sub-plots also in the book. Other developments include the introduction of a talking ermine and the revelation that one of the students is a ninja. There are still many students that we have not gotten to know yet, so hopefully we will learn about them in future volumes. I am thoroughly enjoying this series and I'm looking forward to reading future volumes as they are published.

In the third installment of Negima!, a rumor of the "Vampire of Cherry Blossom Street" is abound in Mahora Academy. The vampire is said to attack helpless victims on the night of the full moon. When one of his students is found unconcious on Cherry Blossom Street, Negi decides to investagate the attacks. While investaging the attacks, another one of his students is attacked, but Negi is able to save her. He was able to save his student, but realizes that the attacking vampire is actually one of his students also! Throught out the volume, Negi is put throught many trials and tribulations. He also learns more about his father, and why the attacks on his students are occuring. Negi also finds his partner with the help of a old friend. This is a very exciting volume and you shouldn't miss it!