Enter the vampire
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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.
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Magister Negi Magi
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I thought Negima book 3 was really good. I got both versions of Negima english and Japanese the storyline is funny with Negi vs Evangelion and about Negis Dad great. book 5 in Japanese is good too I recommend this to anyone!!!!!!!
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The Witch, the Ninja and the Robot Girl sounds very familiar
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For some reason, my copy of volume three arrived some time before volume two. Oh well.
It's the humour that you'd expect from Ken Akamatsu. In many ways Negima is Love Hina but made even more funny by the addition of around twenty five girls and making the main character not only nine years old but also a wizard.
This particular volume sees Negi coming to blows with two of his students, not to mention a little ninja training and the arrival of an annoying ferret. Or possibly ermine.
The genius of Negi is the sheer range of characters, as well as the inter-weaving worlds of Japanese highschool and high fantasy. And of course, there's some major plot unrolling somewhere...
By the way, anyone know anyone from Wales named Negi?
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