Negima!: Magister Negi Magi, Vol. 11 Paperback – August 29, 2006

MAJOR SPOILER AT END

The girls are back to school, and their trip to the magic world seems all but a dream. Except that Negi and Asuna are not in class, and why is Fate teaching class 3-A? This series of stories focus on the girls who went over to the magic world and their feelings to Negi - the little lady killer. But as the days pass, certain girls wonder if there was a price for their victory and if so why must two of their number bear it alone - and can they ever go back to things the way they were.

This was a very well authored story, full of the usual laughs and hijinks youcome to expect from Negima, but also you feel the undertone of something more serious taking place. As you read the story and discover the near final secrets that Negi is hiding you feel more for the girls that have taken Negi into their hearts but also the pain that he must be going through as well.

now for the spolier - Number 38 is the final class.

As the battle for the survival of the Magical World rages, Team Negi continues to battle the leader of the quabal determined to rewrite the existance of everything. But when the dark magic rapidly begins to consume Negi and he injures one of his own, the rest of the girls bring him back around only to have him enter a petrified state. While the leader mocks the girls, they and Kotoro make a plan to continue the mission to rescue the Princess of Twilight and steal the Main Lifekeeper key. But the body count rises as three other Fates arrive on the scene to recapture what was stolen from them. Can a message from inside Negi's mind as well as unexpected help from the other side restore our hero and be able to pull of the save of a lifetime and finish what his father started?

This book continues where the action left off from #33, with a darker plot, a dynamic twist, and one young lady coming into her own in this book really will pull you in and clamor for the next books to see how this story arc finishes.

Later.

...just the way I like my manga. Starts with a dynamic flashback/feature film that goes over the climax of Nagi's and Arika's relationship, and then immediately dives back into the action as the castle-thing they're in is attacked by cosmo entelekheia. Meanwhile, Rakan is locked in one of his toughest fights ever against Fate. Just when it looks like Rakan's about to win, Fate pulls out his trump card, or rather, key, and things get a whole lot crazier. Besides all of that, the narrative also switches over to Eva back in Mahora for more comedy-laced plot exposition with Ku:nel aka Albireo Imma. There's enough going on it might make your head spin, and by now there are a LOT of characters to keep track of, but it will definately hold your attention all the way through. And the plot twist at the end of this book will keep you itching for more.

AUGH! The cliffhanger... Always the ending that leaves you hungering for more, and then whimpering that you must wait until November to get it...

I feel a bit like Akamatsu gave us a double-whammy here, though, as both the ending of Vol. 11 AND the preview of Vol. 12 leave me going, "Uh, wha???"

Here's the deal: Vol. 11 brings us Day 1 all over again for the 4th time (after all, Negi still has to visit the remainder of his students during their different club's exhibits and events during the festival), and then follows up with the next round of fighting in the martial arts tournament.

The beginning of the story gives us Negi and Kotaro enjoying the festival simply as 10 year old kids; no patrolling, no magical battles. Just plain fun and standard hi-jinx (skirts flying up, students thrilled or embarassed by Negi's attentions, etc.).

After going through an exhausting 4th run of day 1, Negi begins to really dwell on his upcoming match with Takahata. How can a 10 year old possibly be expected to compete against a man, not just of Takahata's age, but also of his experience?

Negi begins his fight with Takahata at a very strong advantage, using a technique Kotaro teaches him with only hours to spare... But even this technique has its limits, and it is only the beginning of a very long, passionate battle with a few good surprises.

This covers the latter part of the story and is, as the previous reviewer said, the "meat" of it. Ku Fei and Asuna inspire Negi to give the fight his all, just as Negi inspired Ku Fei not to give up in her fight against Tatsumiya.

In addition, speculation continues with regard to Chao Lingshen. Who or what is she? What is she up to? Why did she purchase the tournament? And what is her purpose for controlling it and as many of the players as she possibly can?

And does she control anyone besides Tatsumiya, whom she - spoiler alert here - has paid off to take the fall in her fight with Ku Fei?

I was disappointed to see just how much of a merc (mercenary) Tatsumiya really is at the end of the story. When Takahata follows Setsuna's paper mini-me's trail to Chao's hideout, he is stopped by Chao and Tatsumiya. Tatsumiya says to Takahata, "I'm on the job."

Is this because Tatsumiya really is a merc at heart? Is the price simply right or is there a different reason for her to accept Chao's employment?

This is where the story ends - Takahata facing Tatsumiya on one side and Chao on the other, after Chao has told him that she needs him to stay put until the festival is over... What are her plans?

And can I handle waiting until November to find out???

Good story - a deeper look into Chisame Hagesawa's personality (the student with the website/blog and tons of fans), a little better understanding of Takahata's past and what influences him now (born into the world of magic, but unable to use incanted spells), and another appearance by Evangeline's adorable puppet, Chachazero (whose lines are just as cute as can be! I fell in love with the character the moment she said, "So many victims, so little time.").

Most enjoyable was Negi's determination and resolve to win his battle. The story just goes to show that passion can get you almost everything you strive to gain.