June 11th, 2014 
AstroNerdBoy ユーキューホルダー! Manga Review
UQ Holder Chapter 37
SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:
Kuroumaru stands with Kirie and thinks about how Fate had saved Kuroumaru’s hometown sixty years ago, never realizing that Touta’s grandfather had been a part of that mission. As such, Kuroumaru decides to save Touta no matter what.
With Fate’s sudden arrival, Touta sees his two friends Nikumaru and Mihashi. Touta reports the situation to Ikkuu, requesting he not shoot. Kirie decides to call of the operation, but since Fate’s seen Touta, it is too late. Ikku says they should continue with the operation since they will be resetting, thus nothing that happens will have happened. Kirie objects to this since UQ Holder’s policy is to not harm civilians. Kuroumaru advises that they proceed as well.
As Nikumaru and Mihashi see Touta, they exchange greetings. Kuroumaru signals Ikkuu to fire the Al Iskandaria satellite weapon of Yukihime’s, but as he goes to fire, a waitress shows up and cuts off his hand with a sword.
As Touta and his friends do some catching up, Fate comes up behind them, then flashes a smile, introducing himself and revealing that he knows their names. He praises them as disciples of Yukihime, and accuses Touta of being jealous. Touta questions this, so Fate explains that he knows about Touta’s lack of a past and his fears of being a nobody. As such, Fate offers him a chance to lead a worthwhile life like Touta’s grandfather (Negi) if he comes with Fate.
Kirie is in a panic over this turn in the situation, but decides to let things play out. Fate tells Touta that not only are his two friends at his disposal, but he has the power to destroy all the people at the gate terminal. With that, Fate orders Touta to uses his old fashioned cell phone and tell the other members of UQ Holder to put down their weapons. Touta calls Kirie, who confirms that Fate can do what he says, but she doesn’t want to give up. Touta says they’ve lost, so if he goes with Fate, everything is solved. Plus, he’ll get to learn about his grandfather.
Fate is pleased with Touta’s choice, but he insults Yukihime as a result. Touta isn’t happy about that, and asks what Fate thinks of Yukihime now. When Fate accuses Yukihime of being a liar and greedy who caused Negi’s death, Touta changes his mind and despite being afraid, puts on a brave front. Fate asks what he’s going to do as Touta gets Gravity Blade tossed to him. With that, Touta says he’s going to go all out.
Thoughts/Review:
Lots of exposition, but some interesting stuff to set up an apparent fight.
First, there’s the waitress who cut off Ikkuu’s arm. Speculation runs rampant about whether or not this is Tsukuyomi or not. Initially, I was thinking I wouldn’t like that, but then I thought, “Well, seeing her in a somewhat older form who’s now an immortal could be quite interesting.” Since Tsukuyomi held the Hina Blade in Negima, I can see a means by which she could become immortal. Whether this is Tsukuyomi or not, I’m looking forward to getting a reveal of whom this mysterious swordswoman is.
I found Kirie’s reflection on the situation to be interesting. The implication in her thoughts is that they’ve encountered Fate multiple times, but this is the first time that it hasn’t gone into a battle.
This brings me to Touta’s friends. There are two things here. First, Fate seemed to appear out of nowhere. Akamatsu-sensei has double emphasized this point by also mentioning it in the previous chapter. Second is the unexpected arrival of Touta’s two buddies, whom Fate knows. While it could be a coincidence, in the words of Garek from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — “I believe in coincidences. Coincidences happen every day. But I don’t trust coincidences.”
If they’ve done they’ve encountered Fate on multiple occasions, I can’t believe that Touta wouldn’t have noticed his friends on other encounters. So as a bit of speculation, could Fate have helped get those boys here at this time to try to get Touta?
Considering that Fate was aware of the UQ Holder members there waiting for him, and considering that he had an ally to take care of Ikkuu, I think that Fate did get sent back in time when Kirie killed herself in their first encounter. As such, I think that Fate put 2 and 2 together and came up with a plan to deal with UQ Holder.
That leaves Touta’s friends. Considering that Fate is well aware of time travel, it is not out of the realm of possibility that he might have done a bit of time travel himself to arrange for Touta’s friends to be there. That might explain why he suddenly seems to appear. If you recall how folks reacted when they saw Negi (and whomever he was with) appear during a time jump in Negima, it seems like Fate has just time jumped in. We’ll see if that’s right or not.
Regarding Al Iskandaria, there have been questions regarding how Chachamaru’s pactio artifact can be used here. The thing is, even in Negima, I never thought that this satellite weapon was her pactio artifact. I’ve always thought her artifact was the trigger device, by which she accessed Al Iskandaria, which was supposed to be from Chao’s time in the future. I never could understand how the satellite traveled back in time to be used by Chachamaru, but since time travel plays a large role in both Negima and UQ Holder, I suppose the satellite was always Eva’s, thus the reason Chachamaru could access it in the past.
I need to wrap this since I’m out of time, but I can’t help but think of Fate and his disdain for Eva. I know a lot of fans question whether Negi is dead or not. Whether he ends up being dead or not, I believe that Fate believes Negi to be dead, and he blames Eva for Negi’s death. I’m not sure how the fight will go (I’ve predicted that we will see another jump back in time), but at the end of everything, Akamatsu-sensei has to give us an exposition chat between Touta and Eva. I really, REALLY want this conversation to end up exploring Eva’s past as well, but I admit, that’s a long shot since Akamatsu-sensei only teased her past in Negima.
Regardless, this was an interesting chapter, setting up an apparent fight. I’m thinking we’ll get something unexpected, but we’ll see how things go in a week. ^_^
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“since time travel plays a large role in both Negima and UQ Holder,”
Unless you mean Kirie’s relatively short time jumps, which I’m sure won’t be used too much since they’d become boring, repetitive, stalling and confusing soon (can you imagine a situation like the current one in every arc from now on?), time travel hasn’t played ‘a large role’ in UQ Holder. Certainly not time traveling of the kind Lingshen used.
By the way, neither of the first two volumes for UQ Holder showed up in the list of the 100 best sold tankoubon in Japan during August 2013-March 2014.
Yeah, I should have worded that better. However, in my mind, since Kirie has made who knows how many trips back into the past, it is already a lot of time travel.
Regardless, now that we are in the future, the tech that Chao had to do time jumps should be available. I really would not be surprised if Akamatsu-sensei used this element.
Yeah, it doesn’t surprise me. The combination of the bad taste in everyone’s mouth over how Negima ended (which I still think had to do with that new decency law for manga and anime — notice how there’s really no lolicon fanservice any more in UQ Holder) and the poor character development for Touta are keeping folks at bay. I think that’s why we are seeing a lot more Negima references than I thought we would.
Touta (or someone) states that time travel using magic should be impossible in one of the earlier chapters, if I recall correctly, so I doubt normal time travel is a thing yet. Not to mention hat Chao one of the smartest inventors in the world (and was further in the future than UQ Holder, I believe), not only had to use incredibly advanced technology even by her standards, but also needed the magic power of the World Tree.
It’s extremely unlikely that time travel exists yet outside of visitors from the future and strange powers like Kirie’s.
She needed the magic of the World Tree to make such a massive jump back in time.
That being said, I would agree that time travel is not a “normal” thing. Indeed, I rather suspect it is limited to a very few people. Fate should be well aware of time travel from Negi’s adventures in it. Being an artificial construct, it wouldn’t surprise me if he has such a device. All he’d need to do is jump back a day (or less), get some help, and allow the fun to begin.
“(which I still think had to do with that new decency law for manga and anime — notice how there’s really no lolicon fanservice any more in UQ Holder)”
I doubt that a lot. Not only there wasn’t any actual need to keep the loli fanservice to keep Negima running (especially since the characters were growing up and the series was growing more serious and action oriented) but we’ve already had Loli Eva fanservice in UQ Holder (leaving aside the other kinds of fanservice seen so far). I suspect more of Akamatsu writing himself into corners, especially with Negi’s exaggerated power spike making finding action challenges for him all but impossible (which makes it even weirder why he doesn’t seem to have learned that lesson with this series).
The Eva loli fanservice has been quite mild, brief, and she’s hundreds of years old could be the excuse. Akamatsu-sensei is a massive lover of fanservice, including lolicon fanservice. Akamatsu-sensei has been quite vocal on that law, as have other manga-ka and anime production teams. Indeed, I saw an episode of an anime recently where they were starting to go down the fanservice route for the loli character, then everything was stopped with the joke being about that law in Tokyo.
The other reason I think he stopped Negima was that once he had control over his copyrights, I think he wanted to do a manga series where he didn’t have Kodansha telling him what to do. Akamatsu-sensei has the copyrights to UQ Holder, not Kodansha. Kodansha is publishing it, and no doubt they have some say on what can and can’t be published in terms of content, but with UQ Holder, Akamatsu-sensei is boss and I think he’s doing what he wants within the boundaries of the law.
The only info that was worth something from this chapter was Negi and Fate being involved in saving (For what that’s worth, they seemed like complete pricks) Kuro’s hometown, and maybe-maybe not Tsukiyomi. Outside of this, there was nothing substantial aside from Fate having a hate boner for Eva. For a week long break, there being nothing of substance from this chapter is disappointing.
STILL open bottles of alcohol, it is there also agreements. I also found this chapter pretty … empty. That said, I’m glad the magical world have been rebatisé. March reverse it sounds I find property and its inhabitants so its inverse martians. I prefer that to “people of the world-magic” lol, was heavy as a formula!
Anyway, after kiba (an important member of the Francophone forum or I’ll), chapter 40 will color AND ESPECIALLY pages will take longer than a normal chapter. I attands to very good for future chapter:
Arrival of life-maker? Flashback to 2065, exploring the past Tota? I can not wait!
*LOL* Sorry, but that just made me laugh. Probably because it has been a VERY long week, but thanks nevertheless. ^_^
I knew it, I knew that something bad could happen with the plan XD
Is Kuroumaru from magic world? she/he told that Fate saved his hometown 60 years ago… Kuroumaru thinks that Fate also is an immortal, If she/he knew the truth…
Who will the swordswoman be? I think that maybe she is tsukuyomi, but, Is she immortal?
Fate is intelligent, he told Touta that would help him about his past and about Negi so that Touta goes with him, but, he didn’t realize that Touta has very fond of Evangeline, that’s why Touta didn’t like that Fate told those things about Evangeline XD
About what Fate told about Evangeline, it can be truth or lie, I think until that Evangeline doesn’t explain all, I won’t trust about it.
The person that gave the sword to Touta, I think that the person is Karin
I feel like that the small person to side of Evangeline with his face covered in the image is Fate…
If the Al Iskandaria is Chachamaru’s pactio artifact, then Chachamaru is alive, isn’t it?, I remember that if the person die, then the pactio card is unusable, it is what Albireo explained once
Agreements not to me Fate knew that birn Tota was attached to eva. As godel knew that even if he did not know, negi was attached to Arica.
The small hooded figure for me is not Fate but Gravekeeper. Put their pictures side ribs, you will see the resemblance … ^ ^
Well , If this Al Iskandariya is from Chachamaru , Then she is alive , But if Negi is dead , Wouldn`t the pactio disappear ? So why would it be there ?
They could`ve created a new one , But who knows.
Eva is still alive, so if Al Iskandaria is the pactio artifact of Chachamaru, and Chachamaru is still alive, I kinda like the idea of Eva having a pactio with Chachamaru. Of course, the pactio system has not come up yet and may not if the system has been destroyed.
The trigger was the only thing to manifest when brought forth through the pactio, the satellite itself was most likely a separate entity set up by Chao from before hand, so no, you don’t need a inactive artifact to use it. That said, its still assuming Negi is dead to begin with.
That’s always been my thoughts, ever since Al Iskandaria was introduced in Negima.
That’s certainly the implication.
Yeah, Eva certainly hasn’t told Touta stuff. She’s not perfect, so she may have said something that she thought Negi could handle, but he couldn’t. That being said, I think it has something to do with Magia Erebea.
That’s what it appeared.
Somehow, I think it is someone else.
Overmaster: Open bottles Alcohol! Is a day of celebration! FOR ONCE we agreements! I also do not like (and I do not think) that the power of kirie will be used often. It would become, in fact, very repetitive. After, we must see what other powers she would, especially in combat. No, because at the moment it serves to … NOTHING except bellow and pleindre Serious … if you Tota you angry, I the person I want to see cut, dipped in acid, burned (add all tortures imaginable xd) is property kirie! (Sigh)
After I would anyway like you to explain why you rub your hands (because that’s the impression you give anyway) whenever you see what might look like a failure UQ-Holder. Already I’m not sure Negima’s been a best start (although I know lol), then a maga not necessarily need to be in the top 100 sales from the outset to be successful (even if s is sure that his help lol). Finally, given the thousands of manga published in Japan if only the first 100 lasted bah would have quickly made the rounds!
Astro: you forgot to mentioned that seems to know Tota finally used his brain, he thinks with kirie alternative solutions and is even able to recognize that Fate has completely blown when he took the crowd hostage. For his fit of madness about wanting defied Fate in the end I Leui forgive. After all even Negi reacts like that when Godel avai insulted Arica ^ ^
Regarding sales I hope anyway despite my optimism, it does not harm the future of the series and UQ-Holder is mounted in sales. I want to know me more! I do not want an abrupt end as in Shaman-King, to finally have the true end 10 years later! Even the end of Negima was better now that this kind of end there!
After I against what challenge by the fact that as some claim here, Uq-Holder does not sell to the USA. Ok, this is a top-selling dating from late March 2014 but I do not think quen three months trend can really be reversed. This top has been provided by the end of March “Kiba” a member of the French import Akamatsu forum where I am registered ^ ^:
“Leave to remain in the theme of the topic, I just see something that rather surprised me.
I usually do not interest me too much on U.S. sales but I just noticed that the first volume of UQ Holder is part of bestsellers last week and is filed Nisekoi behind the attack and the Titans attack Titans Before the Fall.
Must believe that the Crunchyroll system for manga it works well
* 1. Attack on Titan: Before the Fall Vol.1
* 2. Attack on Titan Vol.1
* 3. Attack on Titan Vol.2
* 4. Nisekoi: False Love Vol.2
* 5. UQ Holder Vol.1
* 6. Attack on Titan Vol.10
* 7. Alice in the Country of Clover: March Hare
* 8. Attack on Titan Junior High Vol.1
* 9. March Story Vol.5
10. Blue Exorcist Vol.11
So that it does not help us more because I think the others were already on sale the previous week and more there are no figures to compare.
I finally priori I would say that it sells enough that the series does not go unnoticed. ”
We can see that UQ-Holder sells not so bad in your country actually ^ ^.
After as “kiba” said himself, the other mangas were probably already on sale in the past weeks. Moin but it shows that this manga is not a total flopped in the U.S., contrary to what some shout loud here xd… ^ ^
There’s no doubt that UQ Holder‘s sales numbers are way down from Negima‘s sales numbers. When volume 1 came out for UQ Holder, it was only in the top ten for one week, then gone. Some manga, like Fairy Tail or the like stay in the top ten for weeks.
I have mentioned that before, but yeah, I didn’t mention it this time. That being said, he did get suckered into a fight. ^_~
I can’t imagine how confusing this series must be to people who’ve never read Negima.
I’ve read all of Negima and I’m finding this series very frustrating, although I still think the first few chapters were very promising, I do hope the series gets an anime, I’d love to see chapter 1 and 2 animated and with a soundtrack.
Pretty much all I’m reading this series for is to find out what happened in that arc we never saw at the end of Negima.
Also, I hope to god that Akamatsu doesn’t recycle “Nagi is possessed by Lifemaker” for this series with “Negi is possessed by the Lifemaker” .
You`re not the only one getting frustrated and To be honest , I`m also reading UQ Holder just for the Negima stuff.
*lol* I hear this a lot.
I hear ya.
I think that’s what’s keeping a lot of us around. ^_^;
To be honest, that was never explicitly stated in Negima. Fans have done a lot of assuming that this was the case, and they may be right, but it was never stated outright that the Mage of the Beginning possessed Nagi.
Akatmatsu quite smart… The only reason people are reading this now is because of the old negima cast and what happened to them like fate, why he a ‘baddie’, Eva cause she being a ‘good’ person and the mysterious death of the beloved Negi Springfield
That to me is a point against it, since it says that the series cannot stand on its own legs without bringing in things from Negima that should have been dealt within its own series to begin with. Its like putting the cart in front of the horse after you killed said horse in the first place.
Aki & dargor :
Aki: “The only reason” … You’re in people’s heads? I hate this kind of pretentious sentences! To know that your government:
1. I read UQ-Holder early and goods before items such as “mage of the begining” or Fate are mentioned. I like the Univer Negima, not only Negima. And if I thought like that do you think I am the only one? If is the case you are presumptuous.
2. Akamatsu himself said in an interview just Aores the end of Negima, this university was so vast that it would take another 100 volumes treaty and told éoque not exclude to make a sequel . UQ-Holder has been designed from the beginning as a result (excluding harem phew!) of Negima. Why would argue that this choice for “prevented his manga cast” as you claim? ThIs wrong …
Dargor: What I told Aki is for you but I would add this.
How does the hero of a manga can not do any more and trensmette to the next generation is ininterressant? I think it’s good, no obligation Negi and 3-A to make it happen perfectly in their plan. They succeeded but there were problems. And is Tota and others to set. ^ ^ When the life-maker I love the idea of really nasty indestructible. Why must wicked should always be definitively defeated in the end? I think the idea is original personally.
Following up to the next generation. Is very boring. This shows us that perfect success does not exist, even in fiction.
If you’re not convinced by the concept of the hero who partially fails and leaves the rest to the next generation, look at the animated “jojo bzarre adventure”, Specially the seasons 1, 2 and 3.^^ And you will see and understand, that Akamatsu follows the same logic for UQ-Holder and I love the idea!
I also stated that Jojo is a very vieu manga from 1980 and it is STILL NOT OVER!
The originalitée this shonen is proposed history not a hero but a family of heroes. And nobody took the idea to … Akamatsu with UQ-Holder.
I would add that the first 3 arcs that I advised you are grouped in Season 1 and 2 (still in court) of the animated. Look after them and dare tell me that Akamatsu made bad choices scriptwriting Dargor .
Personally, I find His ideas are excellent contrary
I still wish UQ Holder had been more about Eva teaching Touta about immortality as they journeyed on foot with Kuroumaru. Then once they reached UQ Holder HQ, the story could have shifted rather than having it happen the way it did.
Yeah, I think he realizes at this point that the Negima story is all that’s going to help. That being said, I get the feeling that he was always going to use UQ Holder to continue the Negima story, but I think he’s had to up the Negima elements a great deal.
Ha I just noticed that Fate expressions have improved… XD before in Negima he couldnt really make any decents ones… XD perhaps he downloaded something.
Yeah, I figure he’s gotten a few upgrades since we last saw him in Negima. That would explain why he’s currently the most powerful mage.
Regarding about Chachamaru`s Artifact , It could probably that she has 2 Artifact at once , The Cat Trigger and Al Iskandariya , I mean Makie has 5 Artifacts in her Pactio , Asuna has that Slapping fan and Demon Exorcising Sword.
But going On-topic , I was kinda surprised that Fate was blaming Evangeline for Negi`s death , We really need to know what happened after this , Also , I`m laughing at Touta for acting like a tough guy against Fate… They don`t call him ” The Greatest Mage in The Solar System ” for nothing.
I’m sad to say that at the moment (and I dare not take the time to look it up), I can’t even remember Makie’s artifact(s).
That being said, Asuna’s artifact was technically the same artifact. The harisen was just the weak version of the giant sword-thing.
For Chachamaru, I really think the trigger was the artifact. I don’t think I ever expressed it, but I always wondered if Chao brought the satelite with her from the future. After all, she was using a lot of advanced weaponry from the future, as seen at the end of the Mahora Festival. That had to come from somewhere.
I totally agree.
Yeah, Touta doesn’t know what he’s in for.
I’m quite curious as to what data you’re looking at. Oricon’s data for first half 2014 runs November 2013-May 2014, not August 2013-March 2014.
As for them not appearing, that’s not particularly surprising. Known volume sales for them are:
UQ Holder! 1 – 65,505
UQ Holder! 2 – 73,127
And they only charted first week. Given the cutoff for the Oricon top 100 first half 2014 is 272,902 copies, they definitely wouldn’t make it as they’re likely somewhere around 100k copies sold. Which is down a lot from Negima, but still pretty good considering that UQ Holder is a new series that’s doing a number of things different from Negima, and it’s basically aiming at a slightly different demographic.
Thanks for the numbers. I’m actually kinda surprised that volume 2’s numbers are up. I don’t think the same will be said for US numbers.
About Al Iskandria I gave it a bit of thought.
It’s a bit unlikely that the sattelite was summoned from the future but what if Chao built it in the past and somehow bound it to Chachamaru in case she gains access to a Pactio card. Sort of farewell gift to her daughter.
This would also explain the differences between Chachamaru’s Al Iskandria and the one Ikku is using. Chachamaru thought she might not get a chance to use it because of it’s great firepower but here Ikku says that the minimal radius of the attack is just several meters.
This would mean that the Al Iskandria Chao built was much less advanced than the one they have now. For all her knowledge she had to work with inferior tools and materials so she couldn’t create something up to the level of weaponry from her times. Now however they are much closer to the times Chao lived in so they could upgrade the thing, make it more precise and probably more powerful.
Apparently, it gets fired in chapter 38.
I’ll just say the same thing I saind in Tumblr: I can’t help but wonder about the circumstances of Negi’s death, and exactly what happened to make Fate despise Evangeline so much. I mean, they never seemed to be the best of friends in Negima, hell, they almost didn’t interact in the entire series, but at the very least I think they were neutral towards each other – as working companions – when Fate joined Ala Alba, considering she was the one to greet him with a smile when he became a teacher back in the day.
I’m rather hoping that Magia Erebea ended up consuming him. But that’s just because I’m in one of those kind of moods. 😉