Del Ray Negima

[LordKaos]

Is it any good? Any edits or mistakes?

[apple pro]

I think they do a good job. the first volume printing had a few pages come out but i think they fixed the binding problem. lots of translation notes, the sound effects are left intact with a small translation on the side... not any noticeable edits to me, akumatsu naturally covers nipples

if you don't have a problem with akumatsu's weird semi-pedophilesque story, then i say buy it

[Professor H]

it's good

the only slight diffrence between the del ray vertion and the scanalated vertion was asuna came across as slightly more angry at negi rather than frustrated at the situtuation she was in but thats just a tiny point and (for at least the first 3 volumes that i have) the quality is great

[The Real Nemo]

It's good for the most part, no edits that I know of. There are a few translation problems in the early volumes (such as calling Negi's father "Southern Master" instead of "Thousand Master") but these are cleared up later on.

[Paploo the Ewok]

it's good

the only slight diffrence between the del ray vertion and the scanalated vertion was asuna came across as slightly more angry at negi rather than frustrated at the situtuation she was in but thats just a tiny point and (for at least the first 3 volumes that i have) the quality is great

Seeing as Del Rey had professional translators, and access to Akamatsu and his editors, I'd trust Del Rey more ^_^. There was some kerfuffle over some planned slight editing to Vol.1, but Del Rey opted to shrinkwrap it instead, and up the age-rating. Be warned though, like most Akamatsu manga, it may look cute, but it's kind of skanky, as Apple-Pro noted.

The colour pages should be included, though I noticed in reprint versions of their books, Del Rey tends to leave out the colour pages and just included the b=w versions of them. I wonder if we'll see crosspromotion from Funimation?

[apple pro]

actually, i want to say the the "pedophilia" problem has a solution as of the latest volume (8)

and with that... I LIKE THE TITLE ATLEAST 25% more!

[G_Man]

actually, i want to say the the "pedophilia" problem has a solution as of the latest volume (8)

and with that... I LIKE THE TITLE ATLEAST 25% more!

I take it you mean Evangeline's training room where time passes differently? It's not like the Room of Spirit and Time/Hyperbolic Time Chamber from DBZ. He doesn't get a year for one day, he gets one day for every hour. He'd have to spend weeks in there nonstop just to get a year older. A better solution would be the aging pills that debut in the next volume.

[The Real Nemo]

I take it you mean Evangeline's training room where time passes differently? It's not like the Room of Spirit and Time/Hyperbolic Time Chamber from DBZ. He doesn't get a year for one day, he gets one day for every hour. He'd have to spend weeks in there nonstop just to get a year older. A better solution would be the aging pills that debut in the next volume.
They only provide a false aging not much different from Eva's glamor spell though...

[apple pro]

I take it you mean Evangeline's training room where time passes differently? It's not like the Room of Spirit and Time/Hyperbolic Time Chamber from DBZ. He doesn't get a year for one day, he gets one day for every hour. He'd have to spend weeks in there nonstop just to get a year older. A better solution would be the aging pills that debut in the next volume.

Well, as long as he keeps on going to her room and let's say trains during a summer break and stays in there for 30 days — he can catch up quite efficently with Asuna as much as akumatsu wants

there will be nothing better than negi coming back the same age as all the girls and having the harem to end all harems

i can suffer through the pedophilia now for that huge payoff later on

[Hikari Tsukishiro]

Really? I like it better with young Negi being lusted after by all the girls.

But then again, I have serious issues myself.
*points to Ren avatar*

On a serious matter though, I like it better because when Negi is young, he tends to be not nearly as abused as other Akamatsu leads like Keitaro.
and Asuna feels like a good big sister character, and only a okay couple with Negi.

[Professor H]

i just want a bigger vertion of that picture of megane nekomimi eva in schollswimsuit and sailor fuku

[Hikari Tsukishiro]

i just want a bigger vertion of that picture of megane nekomimi eva in schollswimsuit and sailor fuku

Agreed. So cute!

[Lord Darkwolf]

They only provide a false aging not much different from Eva's glamor spell though...


Not really . Eva has to concentrate to maintain her glamor . The pills dont and gives physical presence . For all intents and purposes they DO have 18 or 6 year old bodies ... just the mind stays the same.

It's more like an instant Juensenko curse or Hinako type deal than a glamor .

[G_Man]

Not really . Eva has to concentrate to maintain her glamor . The pills dont and gives physical presence . For all intents and purposes they DO have 18 or 6 year old bodies ... just the mind stays the same.

It's more like an instant Juensenko curse or Hinako type deal than a glamor .

Darkwolf old buddy! It's been ages! I'm surprised you haven't been taunting us mercilessly with spoilers what with the tournament arc reaching it's climax and all. :p

[Professor H]

more like anti-climax ... i can't help but feel there isn't a very distinct plot direction .... i don't mind the much because i only read it for the banter and my love of the charactors not because of any overarching plot .. but i have to say some of the sections of plot seamed a little pointless

[The Real Nemo]

Not really . Eva has to concentrate to maintain her glamor . The pills dont and gives physical presence . For all intents and purposes they DO have 18 or 6 year old bodies ... just the mind stays the same.

It's more like an instant Juensenko curse or Hinako type deal than a glamor .
Well, Chamo's exact words in my scan were "But, this is only an external illusion. Kinda like Eva's spell." In any case they wear off, so I don't see how they'd help here. Even if you discount that Negi'd still be a kid on the inside...

[The Real Nemo]

more like anti-climax ... i can't help but feel there isn't a very distinct plot direction .... i don't mind the much because i only read it for the banter and my love of the charactors not because of any overarching plot .. but i have to say some of the sections of plot seamed a little pointless
To fair, the tournament is only supposed to be one part of the overall festival arc...

[apple pro]

Really? I like it better with young Negi being lusted after by all the girls.

But then again, I have serious issues myself.
*points to Ren avatar*

On a serious matter though, I like it better because when Negi is young, he tends to be not nearly as abused as other Akamatsu leads like Keitaro.
and Asuna feels like a good big sister character, and only a okay couple with Negi.

negi is just too young. if he was 12... then maybe but being 10... too young. it's unrealistic and disgusting to see fan service performed on a kiddie.

for half of Love Hina, keitaro was abused. the other half of it, if you notice — is the complete opposite. although keitaro is being physically harmed, the girls are the ones who are going through difficulties in life

[Hikari Tsukishiro]

negi is just too young. if he was 12... then maybe but being 10... too young. it's unrealistic and disgusting to see fan service performed on a kiddie.

Because Negi is young, he also gets the benefit of the doubt most of the time by the girls storyline wise.
The whole beating up on Keitaro gets old, and tough times or not I don't like it.
Doesn't bother me that much anymore though.

And the whole premise of Negima is unrealistic. Negima's main selling point to me is the fun interaction between characters and the kick ass action. And Eva.

And I already said am a pervert. I think regular Eva is sexy. But it's fine that you don't like that kind of fanservice with Negi.
Different strokes for different folks.

[apple pro]

i buy negima, so i dont have a problem

the part about 14 yr old girls "lusting" after negi to me is kind of sick and makes me feel weird. Asuna's relationship is ok kind of because they know each other from being roomates, but Ayaka's overt lusting is just plain weird.

just thinking about it now... it's not too bad. most of the females have a innocent lusting for him. but it looks like eva's resort is Ken's answer to the future of this series.

[Professor H]

And I already said am a pervert. I think regular Eva is sexy.

a pervert with good taste at least. Eva is far better in normal form as it shows off her attitude much better. plus she seams to have a much better taste in clothing in her regular form.

as for the age issue the fanservice with negi as the recipiant does tend to be played for laughs. in fact through most of the manga it does seam to be used rather blatantly. i think it's got to the point where the story is reveling in it rather than just having it.

and yes the tournament is just a subsection of the festival arc but for me the whole festaval arc seams slightly disjointed at the moment. it could just be because of the large number of storyline it is trying to cover

[Lord Darkwolf]

Darkwolf old buddy! It's been ages! I'm surprised you haven't been taunting us mercilessly with spoilers what with the tournament arc reaching it's climax and all. :p



Been a little busy the last few weeks ... But will soon be back to bring you your weekly torture very soon . :D

[SAMAS]

i buy negima, so i dont have a problem

the part about 14 yr old girls "lusting" after negi to me is kind of sick and makes me feel weird. Asuna's relationship is ok kind of because they know each other from being roomates, but Ayaka's overt lusting is just plain weird.

just thinking about it now... it's not too bad. most of the females have a innocent lusting for him. but it looks like eva's resort is Ken's answer to the future of this series.

Honestly, I doubt it.

First of all, I've heard from mostly reliable sources that the manga will last only a year story-time. That is, up until the girls graduate to High School. At best, Negi will only be 12 by the end of the manga if they tried that.

Secondly, it assumes that the story will end at that point. This is probably one of the few romantic comedy animes that could actually get away with a mostly ambiguous ending relationship-wise.

(Although if they do pair Negi up with someone, my favorite is Nodoka, but for some odd reason, something in my gut says Chisame.)

[apple pro]

asuna is the obivious pair (who i'm betting on) and akumatsu put so much work into this comic and invested so much of his life making it — it will have a monster ending and it will have closure.

in love hina, he did not have to do that final wedding part... but he did. and he knows the fans want closure. it's the difference between a good series and a legendary series.

[SAMAS]

I think that if Akamatsu does closure, he'll do it in a time skip rather than having Negi spend several years in Eva's resort. He'll probably make it obvious before the skip which girl made her way into Negi's heart before that, though.

The only reason I'm against a Negi/Asuna pairing is because I really, really like the brother-sister thing they have going on now.

[apple pro]

sorry to break it to you, but they kissed on the mouth and I don't think Asuna is meant to be a "sister"

look at how Asuna gets jealous...


don't set yourself up to get heart-broken by the storyline

[Lord Darkwolf]

sorry to break it to you, but they kissed on the mouth and I don't think Asuna is meant to be a "sister"

look at how Asuna gets jealous...


don't set yourself up to get heart-broken by the storyline



What you think that would matter even if they WERE brother and sister ? This is a Ken Aka story you know . :D

[Hikari Tsukishiro]

And that would just make it hotter.

[apple pro]

this isn't "silky whip"...

but i think it's pretty obvious Asuna will be "the one". in Love Hina — i think Motoko was my fav. especially after she was humiliated and had her hair cut off... but he ended up with Naru and i'm cool with that.

[LordKaos]

Is it me or does Nagi seem like a dick? He left his family and Eva-chan and he was more than a little obnoxious during the the tournament. Overall he doesn't seem like a nice guy, a person he could be Negi's father.

[LordKaos]

this isn't "silky whip"...

but i think it's pretty obvious Asuna will be "the one".

Is it really obvious? Asuna might end up with Takamichi.

[apple pro]

the most meaningful relationship in the manga so far is Negi and Asuna. it's the relationship that is building the entire series.


i don't know if i'm getting old or what... but i seem to be seeing story-telling hints much better than in the past. that's my prediction for Negima and I choose Paulie over Frankie for One Piece. I can be wrong... we'll see. Maybe Akumatsu and Oda will prove how dumb i am! :)

[SAMAS]

sorry to break it to you, but they kissed on the mouth

Which was done to seal the Pactio.

and I don't think Asuna is meant to be a "sister"

According to Akamatsu, their relationship at the moment is brother/sister. A role that they both fit quite well.

look at how Asuna gets jealous...

That's the thing. She doesn't get jealous. The one time she got jealous in the conventional sense was when she ate the love potion chocolate. You're confusing her with Ayaka(or maybe Naru).

don't set yourself up to get heart-broken by the storyline

Why would I? I just said that I feel their relationship is better, character-wise, than going along with the cliche' pairing. According to Akamatsu, the final paring, if any, is supposed to be a suprise. Which is why my gut seems to lean towards Chisame.

[The Real Nemo]

Which was done to seal the Pactio.
Yep, and he's done that with three other girls.

There is one other time they kissed, but Negi was possessed so it doesn't really count...

[apple pro]

IMO — Asuna's pactio was different. to me, asuna is the obvious match — she's just in the story a lot. i don't get the "sister" vibe at all and i see her get jealous all the time.

we'll see, i may be wrong.

[SAMAS]

Yep, and he's done that with three other girls.

There is one other time they kissed, but Negi was possessed so it doesn't really count...

Right. I almost forgot the whole Kiss Terminator arc.

[SAMAS]

IMO — Asuna's pactio was different. to me, asuna is the obvious match — she's just in the story a lot. i don't get the "sister" vibe at all and i see her get jealous all the time.

The closest Asuna's ever come to non-love potion-induced jealousy was when Nodoka helped Negi in the fight against Kotaro. And that was because Asuna wants to be Negi's Partner, not his girlfriend. She's had no problems with things like Nodoka's date with Negi during the school festival(although the whole Kiss Terminator thing that happened at the end, she could've done without). On the other hand, she has protected Negi, as it were, from some of the more "predatory" attentions of a few of the other girls, namely Ayaka and Eva. But that's because Negi is still a kid. The other girls who are more friendly with their affections, like Makie, she's never gotten jealous about.

[NeoSapien]

The closest Asuna's ever come to non-love potion-induced jealousy was when Nodoka helped Negi in the fight against Kotaro. And that was because Asuna wants to be Negi's Partner, not his girlfriend. She's had no problems with things like Nodoka's date with Negi during the school festival(although the whole Kiss Terminator thing that happened at the end, she could've done without). On the other hand, she has protected Negi, as it were, from some of the more "predatory" attentions of a few of the other girls, namely Ayaka and Eva. But that's because Negi is still a kid. The other girls who are more friendly with their affections, like Makie, she's never gotten jealous about.
Remember that Asuna is immune to love potions.

Also, she totally had the hots for 15-year-old Negi on their "date".

And she and Nodoka were arguing over who would "sacrifice" themself to the Kissing Terminator. "I'll do it!" "No, it's all right, I'll do it!"

At any rate, as the female lead who has the most interaction and development of feelings with Negi, Asuna is by far the 1st-place runner for the final pairing with Negi. If Akamatsu really said that it's going to be a surprise, though, then I guess it can't be her because she's way too obvious.

[SAMAS]

Remember that Asuna is immune to love potions.

The very first story in vol. 7 is about her accidentially eating one, and feeling the effects of it for the rest of the day.

[NeoSapien]

The very first story in vol. 7 is about her accidentially eating one, and feeling the effects of it for the rest of the day.
The very second chapter of the entire manga has her force-feeding a love potion to Negi that makes every woman who sees him instantly fall for him (yeah, like he needs it...) ... except Asuna herself.

Plus, the summary narrative text on the last page (not included in the volume 7, only in the chapter scanlation) asks "Can love be born from thinking to much? Huh!? ... But, isn't Asuna immune to magic?" The love potion was just a device to allow Asuna to dismiss her feelings and go back to normal.

[SAMAS]

Also, she totally had the hots for 15-year-old Negi on their "date".

Who hasn't so far? Hell, he nearly got half the class drooling(literally, in Kakizaki's case) just from a smile in the tournament, and he was still his normal self. :D But that's a physical attraction. It's already a documented fact that Negi is exceptionally cute for his age, and he's going to grow up pretty well, if the age pills and his dad are any indication(Which is why Kakizaki came up with the whole "Reverse Genji" plan).

At any rate, as the female lead who has the most interaction and development of feelings with Negi, Asuna is by far the 1st-place runner for the final pairing with Negi. If Akamatsu really said that it's going to be a surprise, though, then I guess it can't be her because she's way too obvious.

I'm not arguing about wether or not they have a reationship. It's just that who says it has to be a romantic one? :)

[SAMAS]

One morrrrre thing....

As we saw, falling victim to the Kiss Terminator was a pretty devestating experience in and of itself. Of course they wanted the other to get out. :D

[SAMAS]

The very second chapter of the entire manga has her force-feeding a love potion to Negi that makes every woman who sees him instantly fall for him (yeah, like he needs it...) ... except Asuna herself.

Plus, the summary narrative text on the last page (not included in the volume 7, only in the chapter scanlation) asks "Can love be born from thinking to much? Huh!? ... But, isn't Asuna immune to magic?" The love potion was just a device to allow Asuna to dismiss her feelings and go back to normal.

It depends on the effect, I think. Notice that Asuna was only feeling the physical effects of the potion, and not grabbing on him like Konaka was with Setsuna. Asuna can't completely nullify all magic, as shown when Kotaro's dog spirits and Fate's water tenticles tickled her instead of what they were supposed to do. Powerful enough magic can have an indirect effect on her, and those chocolates were Black Market stuff.

[The Real Nemo]

Who hasn't so far? Hell, he nearly got half the class drooling(literally, in Kakizaki's case) just from a smile in the tournament, and he was still his normal self. :D But that's a physical attraction. It's already a documented fact that Negi is exceptionally cute for his age, and he's going to grow up pretty well, if the age pills and his dad are any indication(Which is why Kakizaki came up with the whole "Reverse Genji" plan).
There wasn't even as much of that with Asuna as with some of the other girls, I think she was serious when she said bishounen guys like that weren't really her type...

[The Real Nemo]

It depends on the effect, I think. Notice that Asuna was only feeling the physical effects of the potion, and not grabbing on him like Konaka was with Setsuna. Asuna can't completely nullify all magic, as shown when Kotaro's dog spirits and Fate's water tenticles tickled her instead of what they were supposed to do. Powerful enough magic can have an indirect effect on her, and those chocolates were Black Market stuff.
It's never made completely clear whether the love chocolates really effected Asuna or not, but it was a bit different from the first love potion incident in that the first time Negi took the potion and everyone who looked at him except Asuna was effected. This time it was Asuna herself that ate it, so that may have made a difference...

[NeoSapien]

There wasn't even as much of that with Asuna as with some of the other girls, I think she was serious when she said bishounen guys like that weren't really her type...
Her reactions to Negi and memories of Naji prove otherwise. Asuna was clearly very uncomfortable on her date with 15-year-old Negi, and it wasn't because she found him unattractive.

[The Real Nemo]

Her reactions to Negi and memories of Naji prove otherwise. Asuna was clearly very uncomfortable on her date with 15-year-old Negi, and it wasn't because she found him unattractive.
She was uncomfortable yeah, but there were a lot of reasons for that. And her memories of Nagi don't say much, she was younger than Negi at the time...

[G_Man]

It's never made completely clear whether the love chocolates really effected Asuna or not, but it was a bit different from the first love potion incident in that the first time Negi took the potion and everyone who looked at him except Asuna was effected. This time it was Asuna herself that ate it, so that may have made a difference...

I think her magic immunity just protects her from status effect spells and the like unless they're directly pumped into her system al ingesting the choclate. I bet if some bad guy slipped her a magic poison she'd be affected. Maybe not as much as a normal person.

Another thing to keep in mind, I can't remember the chapter perfectly, and I'm not home to check it at the moment, but didn't she eat more than one of those things? Konoka was all over Setsuna like a rash (though we don't know how many Konoka had either), but Asuna was just getting a tingly feeling in her heart whenever Negi was interacting with another girl or doing/saying something cool. Hell of a difference.

[SAMAS]

It's never made completely clear whether the love chocolates really effected Asuna or not, but it was a bit different from the first love potion incident in that the first time Negi took the potion and everyone who looked at him except Asuna was effected. This time it was Asuna herself that ate it, so that may have made a difference...

Well, I'm comparing effects with what happened with Konoka, combined with what happened during the "date" with "15-year-old" Negi.

When Asuna ate the chocolates, she was having extreme physical reactions just from being around Negi, yet she managed to keep her mind while Konaka went crazy.

Her reactions during the date, while similar, where nowhere near as severe as they were with the chocolates, despite the fact that Asuna was arguably closer to Negi than she was after the Kyoto arc.

[G_Man]

Finally got to read chps. 119-122. Gotta admit it was a bit anti-climatic. Pity. Oh, well, the character interactions afterwards more than made up for it! When Chisame walked in on Chachamaru and Negi I damn near fell out of my seat trying to hold in my laughter! And we finally learn more about some of the other girls! Maybe they'll finally get to Zazie after Ako's story! :D

[Professor H]

well the festival arc isn't over yet so there may be a twist

[SAMAS]

There's garunteed to be one. Chao told Gandolfini and the other Mages that she'll see them again at the final day of the festival. It's still only day 2. The tournament was just to get the people talking(and chasing after Negi for some reason).