| Categories | | • | Art, Architecture & Photography | | • | Audio CDs | | • | Audio Cassettes | | • | Biography | | • | Business, Finance & Law | | • | Calendars, Diaries, Annuals & More | | • | Childrens Books | | • | Comics & Graphic Novels | | • | Computers & Internet | | • | Crime, Thrillers & Mystery | | • | Fiction | | • | Food & Drink | | • | Health, Family & Lifestyle | | • | History | | • | Home & Garden | | • | Horror | | • | Humour | | • | Languages | | • | Mind, Body & Spirit | | • | Music, Stage & Screen | | • | Poetry, Drams & Criticism | | • | Reference | | • | Religion & Spirituality | | • | Romance | | • | Science & Nature | | • | Science Fiction & Fantasy | | • | Scientific, Technical & Mediacl | | • | Society, Politics & Philosophy | | • | Sports, Hobbies & Games | | • | Study Books | | • | Travel & Holiday | | • | Young Adult | | • | DVD |
|
|
|
|
Negima: v. 12 | 
 enlarge | Author: Ken Akamatsu
Publisher: Tanoshimi
Category: Book
List Price: £6.99
Buy New: £3.14
You Save: £3.85 (55%)
New (12) Used (3) from £1.50
Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 182465
Media: Paperback
Pages: 208
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 5 x 1
ISBN: 0099506351
EAN: 9780099506355
ASIN: 0099506351
Publication Date: January 4, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New. Shipped from UK Mainland. Delivery is usually 2 - 3 working days from order by Royal Mail, International Delivery is by Airmail.
| |
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 Negi Grows Up March 27, 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...
 Who's the ku:nel? March 10, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
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.
Fest continues February 25, 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.
The past returns February 25, 2007
Old villains return and new ones make their debut in the eight volume of"Negima," where even more problems await the young wizard teacher. Ken Akamatsu is in top form as he reveals some of the secrets of Negi Springfield's past, and provides a sinister new villain for future battles.
After every training session with Evangeline, Negi comes back exhausted. Asuna and other students follow him one day -- and get sucked into Evangeline's "resort," outside of normal time. During their visit, Negi tells Asuna his tragic life story, and why he is so determined to be strong. Meanwhile, students Natsumi and Chizure stumble across a stray puppy -- who turns into a fevered, naked Kotaro Inugami.
The girls take care of Kotaro, but the amnesiac dog-boy can't help them for long. The sinister Graf arrives, and his jelly-like demons start kidnapping girls important to Negi... including Asuna. Negi and Kotaro put their feud aside to challenge the Graf and get the girls back. But will Negi be able to prevail against the Graf, when the learns the old man's place in his darkest memories?
The eight "Negima" volume has plenty of the slapstick, innuendo and goofiness that you'd expect from Ken Akamatsu's storytelling. However, this volume ventures into darker territory, and illuminates characters whose backgrounds were only hinted at before this.
He also explores Negi's past heartbreaks and losses, and his fruitless quest to find his father. It goes a long way toward explaining how a ten-year-old could be so mature. The scene where four-year-old Negi sees his uncle die, and cries "Father" at the sky, is heartbreaking. Akamatsu makes these scenes sorrowful but not maudlin; his talents are obviously not limited to comedy.
It also features the return of Kotaro Inugami, a feisty dog-eared kid who seems like Inuyasha's baby brother. He's also got a rough past, and finds a weird kind of haven among the girls of Negi's class... even if he and Ayaka get along like fire and dynamite. Not to mention that Akamatsu reveals a massive secret about Asuna, and a possible use for Konoka's healing skills.
But the advances of the plot are the best of all -- the Graf and his jellylike minions have a very sinister connection to Negi, and a lot of power at their disposal. Especially when you consider what the Graf is -- a horrific demon whose real appearance is onlyseen for a few minutes. If Akamatsu brings him back to clash with Negi, the story may grow even more amazing.
The only flaw is the translation. I understand the translators' desire to keep it genuine by keeping honorifics in the dialogue. But when a Welsh child addresses an old Welsh man and a young Welsh woman -- while in Wales -- it sounds very strange to hear him using Japanese honorifics. "Grandpa Stan" would have worked a lot better than "Stan ojii-chan."
The eighth volume of "Negima" takes our hero into new and terrifying adventures, and the series into better territory. Excellent work.
The battle continues February 25, 2007
Ten-year-old wiz kid Negi Springfield has been battling some nasty new enemies in the past couple of "Negima" collections, and the battle hits its high point in the sixth volume. Old enemies, new allies and an army of demons make this battle the most intense of Ken Akamatsu's new series.
The gang arrives at the Kansai Magic Temple, which also happens to be the home of Konoka and her dad, the Elder of the West. Negi and Co. are assured of their safety -- but then a strange white-haired boy petrifies everyone except Asuna (who merely loses her clothes and gets tickled almost to death). Konoka is kidnapped, so that her latent magical power can be manipulated.
To get her back, and keep the Monkey Woman from releasing a legendary demon, Negi enters a pactio with Setsuna, and she and Asuna take on an army of ancient demons. Negi sets off to rescue Konoka, but is stopped on the way by the white-haired boy, and by dog-boy Kotaro. But Negi will receive help from an unexpected source: vampire mage Evangeline, who is also his enemy...
This is perhaps the most intense volume of "Negima" so far, focusing on magic, battles, and the friendships that make them possible. The only flaw is that they switched translators somewhere, which means that some characters, like Fei Ku, sound EXTREMELY different. Suddenly she's speaking in pidgin English. Ah well...
And yes, there's still gratuitous nudity, but at least some of it is humorous, such as poor underwearless Asuna being pursued by an army of ogres, wailing, "Why do these things happen to me?" The focus is a lot more on Negi's burgeoning powers, and on the increasingly elaborate fights between characters. Yet Akamatsu still has a knack for humor, such as Evangeline's sick little sidekick doll. Freaky.
And some of the characters get new dimensions: the Elder reveals that Konoka might be even more powerful than Negi's dad, , and Setsuna reveals that she's not really human. And Tatsumiya (whom Akamatsu only noted for her "endowments" before) gets to show off her magical sharpshooting skills by defeating ogres.
Ken Akamatsu's new fantasy series hits its stride, with an epic fantasy battle and lots of new battle pals. Time for some downtime.
|
|
|
| |
|
