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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Who's the ku:nel?, 10 Mar 2007
Ken Akamatsu's Mahorafest storyline has been building to a climax for four volumes now, and the thirteenth volume of "Negima" doesn't quite get there. But it still reveals new mysteries, and gives us three kinetic battles as the Budokai competition ends.
New mages are revealed as Asuna and the newly clothed Takane go on a mission to rescue Takahata, with the help of some magic nuns. But the girls find themselves in combat with a bunch of killer robots controlled by Chao Lingshen, and elsewhere the skeptical Chisame learns that more info on Negi (including about his dad) is leaking onto the web.
Meanwhile, the final rounds of the Budokai are underway as Kaede battles the mysterious Ku:nel, Negi battles Setsuna -- and the winners will get to the final round. But the boy wizard is distracted by the Ku:nel -- is this his long-lost father, the Thousand Master? As the two do battle, Negi discovers the Ku:nel's true identity, and a message meant just for him.
Unsurprisingly the thirteenth volume ends with another cliffhanger, just as we're about to learn of Chao's secret plot involving the mages. But there's plenty of new revelations in this volume anyway, particularly the real identity of the Ku:nel, how he's so powerful -- even for a mage -- and how he knows so much about Negi and Asuna's pasts.
The thirteenth volume suffers from a bit of middle-book syndrome, since not much is actually finished here except for the Budokai. After all, Asuna and the others are apparently still hunting for Takahata. But Akamatsu keeps things interesting with robot henchmen and kinetic magical battles full of gravity orbs and shadow doubles. There's even some comic relief like Takane freaking out at the prospect of losing her clothes for the third time.
And though virtually everyone is doing something, the spotlight is on Negi in this volume, as he tries to figure out if the Ku:nel is his dad. The final battle of the Budokai has a brief period involving Negi and the Thousand Master, which is both poignant and wickedly funny.
The thirteenth volume of "Negima" doesn't take the plot very far, but reveals some important secrets that promise to make number fourteen VERY interesting.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Negi Grows Up, 27 Mar 2007
For those of you who thought that Negi had already had some fairly quick growing-up to do earlier on, volume 13 holds some even greater surprises.
We discover the true identity of Ku:nel Sanders and just why it is that he has entered the tournament. The climax of this volume in particular is at turns funny, action-packed and poignant as Negi ends up fights perhaps the most surprising opponent of all.
Elsewhere, things are just as hectic for the others. We get some really good background and character development for Setsuna, Asuna and even Evangeline, who is not quite the apotheosis of cool detachment she would like everyone to think she is, revealing just what she *really* thinks of the Thousand Master.
But rest assured, the festival's about to get a whole lot more interesting, because Chao is certainly more than she appears to be...
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Fest continues, 25 Feb 2007
Usually the chapters after an epic battle are a letdown. But Ken Akamatsu keeps up the pace in the ninth volume of "Negima," via a bunch of character-development stories that explore Negi's class even further. Thought a vampire, a robot, a ninja and two half-demon kids were weird? It only gets better here.
The entire school is preparing for the massive Mahora Festival, and 3-A isn't sure what their "theme" will be. And Negi is still depressed, believing himself to be weak and a bad teacher. Who will rescue him? Satsuki Yotsuba, a kindly gourmet with a knack for helping others -- both with food, and with her common sense.
Negi also gets to know other girls in his class -- the girls go a-ghostbusting when the timid class ghost tries to get friendly; robot girl Chachamaru suddenly gets klutzy and stuttery, prompting mad scientist Hakase to run a diagnostic. The results are unexpected -- Chachamaru is experiencing human emotions, and has fallen in love.
And while Asuna has had a crush on her hunky ex-teacher for awhile, she's never worked up the nerve to admit it. Eager to help her, Negi tries a magic pill that temporarily ages him four or five years. He's quite the hottie, and Asuna finds herself disconcerted by this handsome teenager. And when the Dean reveals some stunning new facts about the World Tree, Negi finds himself having to defend one of his students -- from other wizards!
When "Negima" started, it seemed like a rather limp cross between Harry Potter and "Love Hina." But as the ninth volume rolls around, it's clearer than ever that Ken Akamatsu has grown into his series' large shoes. He's better than ever at mixing fantasy, comedy and lovable characters.
Peripherally, it's all about the upcoming Festival (which apparently will happen in the tenth volume). But the real focus is on the wizard boy and his students, and Akamatsu doesn't resort to stereotypes to make them likable (especially chubby Yotsuba). And fans of rough dog-boy Kotaro will be glad to see that he's apparently joined the cast full time, as Negi's rival/foil/friend.
There's plenty of straightforward comedy, like various kids having fun with the aging pills, and the disastrous date that Asuna and Negi go on. And while most of the story focuses on the various girls in Negi's class, it ends with a sorcerous scuffle with Negi, Kotaro and Setsuna, promising a great time in the next volume.
Ken Akamatsu's "Negima" series is still going strong in the ninth volume, and things only promise to get better. A solid collection.
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