This is a combat heavy omnibus. You can really see it that with the fight Kagetaro of Bosporus and, of course, the start of the tournament arc. Without Mahora Academy as the setting, the harem comedy elements that originally defined the series have been swept away. There are still romance jokes, naturally, such as Ako's crush on Negi's older alter ego and Asakura taking a picture of her pactio, but they are further back; jokes and side plots.
We also have the introduction of Jack Rakan. I've heard of him but this is my first time seeing him in the manga itself. I can see why he is so popular. He has endless comedic potential with his eccentrics and buffoonery ("ETERNAL NEGI FEVER!" hahahaa) but can shift to serious easily. He definitely has a battle-hardened war veteran vibe to him, which is displayed in both his badassery and also his contemplation about the last war and regret during it. Being of Nagi's comrades also plugs him into plot-and-background heavy stuff.
Magia Erebea. That is some creepy stuff. Its presentation and set up give it the gravitas deserving of something that could be called "dark magic". On that note, fantastic character development for Negi and Chisame. They've come far from their roots in earlier volumes but still the same.
The side plots with the other students, those still separated from the A-Party of Negi, are also fantastic. Yue joins a magic knight academy and without certain mental hangups to inhibit her, she is no longer a "baka ranger". That is so fun I think it could stand on its own. There's also Nodoka the treasure-hunter/adventurer. Now THAT is definitely something I want to read more about. The way Ken Akamatsu introduces it, her party running away from a collapsing dungeon, is irresistibly tantalizing.
Trickster Eric Novels gives Mahou Sensei Negima omnibus 8 an A+
Click here for my next book review (for fun): The Last Days of Socrates
Click here for my previous book review (for fun): Medieval Military Technology
Brian Wilkerson is a independent novelist, freelance book reviewer, and writing advice blogger. He studied at the University of Minnesota and came away with bachelor degrees in English Literature and History (Classical Mediterranean Period concentration).
His fantasy series, Journey to Chaos, is currently available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback
We also have the introduction of Jack Rakan. I've heard of him but this is my first time seeing him in the manga itself. I can see why he is so popular. He has endless comedic potential with his eccentrics and buffoonery ("ETERNAL NEGI FEVER!" hahahaa) but can shift to serious easily. He definitely has a battle-hardened war veteran vibe to him, which is displayed in both his badassery and also his contemplation about the last war and regret during it. Being of Nagi's comrades also plugs him into plot-and-background heavy stuff.
Magia Erebea. That is some creepy stuff. Its presentation and set up give it the gravitas deserving of something that could be called "dark magic". On that note, fantastic character development for Negi and Chisame. They've come far from their roots in earlier volumes but still the same.
The side plots with the other students, those still separated from the A-Party of Negi, are also fantastic. Yue joins a magic knight academy and without certain mental hangups to inhibit her, she is no longer a "baka ranger". That is so fun I think it could stand on its own. There's also Nodoka the treasure-hunter/adventurer. Now THAT is definitely something I want to read more about. The way Ken Akamatsu introduces it, her party running away from a collapsing dungeon, is irresistibly tantalizing.
Trickster Eric Novels gives Mahou Sensei Negima omnibus 8 an A+
Click here for my next book review (for fun): The Last Days of Socrates
Click here for my previous book review (for fun): Medieval Military Technology
Brian Wilkerson is a independent novelist, freelance book reviewer, and writing advice blogger. He studied at the University of Minnesota and came away with bachelor degrees in English Literature and History (Classical Mediterranean Period concentration).
His fantasy series, Journey to Chaos, is currently available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback
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