December 8th, 2016 
AstroNerdBoy ユーキューホルダー! 魔法先生 ネギま！2 Manga Review
UQ Holder! Mahou Sensei Negima 2
UQ Holder!: Magister Negi Magi! 2 Chapter 131
UQ Holder Chapter 131
SPOILER Summary/Synopsis:
Eva is stunned to see Asuna. The Mage of the Beginning, Ialda Baoth the Lifemaker, realizes that the Imperial Princess of Twilight was within Touta. Asuna uses her abilities to create clothing for everyone. Asuna identifies herself as Touta’s grandma, though she and Negi weren’t a romantic couple. MotB attacks, but Asuna easily cancels the attack, then teleports everyone to Inverse Mars.
Eva and Asuna explain that where they stand is the ruins of the ancient kingdom of the city of Ostia on Inverse Mars. This is still part of the phantasmagoria. Asuna’s physical body is at this location. She explains that as part of Touta’s creation, a shadow of herself resides within Touta. The real her is controlling this version that Eva and Touta see. Eva suspects that this isn’t the Asuna persona, but rather the Imperial Princess of Twilight. Asuna reveals that the Asuna persona is now merged with the Imperial Princess of Twilight and the two are one.
Asuna tells Touta that while she can’t help him, her Magic Cancel abilities that have passed to Touta can defeat MotB. She tells Touta that he will have to handle this, but she can break them out of the phantasmagoria. The rest of Touta’s companions join him, to his surprise. MotB arrives, so as Asuna defends them, she reminds them that in reality, it is 2087, they are on Earth at the Airbike Race. She gives them details on Jack, Yue, Dark Honya (Nodoka), Al, Cutlass, and Negi Ialda. She scolds Touta for whining about their tough opponents since he’s immortal, then lays out a plan.
After Asuna breaks them free, less than a second of real time has passed. Karin, Santa, Kuroumaru, Eva (as Yukihime), and Touta launch their attack successfully. Touta uses Magia Erebea to attack Cutlass while Kirie counters her Time Stop. Negi Ialda attacks Touta, demanding Touta come with him.
Thoughts/Review:
I’m surprised that UQ Holder chapter 131 had no spoilers come out prior to release. This chapter was actually quite good for me.
Explaining Asuna
Now that we have an explanation for Asuna’s appearance, I am fine with her appearance here. Her physical location is still sealed on Inverse Mars. Her projection in the phantasmagoria makes sense to me since a part of her is in Touta. I can see Touta consulting with Asuna from time to time as the manga progresses. This would give Akamatsu-sensei another means of providing backstory exposition.
While Asuna was used to provide exposition and additional information on Negi’s apostles (telling me that even Yue and Nodoka are the real McCoy), I noticed that we didn’t get an explanation of Asuna being Touta’s grandma. Sure, Asuna said she’s his grandma due to abilities, but she didn’t go into any details. Hopefully, we’ll get more of that information down the line.
I liked learning that Asuna and the Imperial Princess of Twilight have merged and become one. However, this makes me suspect that we aren’t in any of the Negima timelines. After all, in Negima, Asuna’s persona was all but faded. But here, that’s not the case. Further, Asuna had no memories of events, which one would think she would have had. Yeah, UQ Holder wasn’t around at the end of Negima, but the easiest resolution to this conflict is to say that this is another timeline.
All in all, I loved seeing Asuna back in action.
UQ Holder Returns
I know a lot of fans had understandable concerns that with Asuna and Negi showing up, combined with the manga taking the Negima 2 moniker. However, when Akamatsu-sensei drew the panel with Touta in front of Santa, Kirie, Kuroumaru, and Karin, that told me that the core UQ Holder team is going to remain the same.
I really enjoyed the battle that UQ Holder gave to Negi Ialda and his apostles. The best part from the Negi side is seeing Yue and Nodoka work as a team. Seriously, I’d love to see a one-shot, single volume manga showing those two on an adventure together. I think that would rock.
What doesn’t compute is Eva’s Yukihime body being that of an android with a bomb in the head. The only explanation I have is that Kirie stopped time and did this. Eva couldn’t have foreseen this.
I’m glad to see Touta use Magia Erebea against Cutlass. It is about time he used this power. Now, how will he fare against Negi Ialda?
Finally, I loved Touta confronting Karin, Kuroumaru, and Kirie about their erotic actions toward him. Kuroumaru had attacked him for being incompetent for not noticing them, but his belief that they were all fake is completely understandable. So his comeback causing them all to blush and flounder made me laugh.
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
As usual, I’m very pressed for time, so here goes.
- Here’s a plus for officially making UQ Holder into Negima 2: Cutlass has the Horaria Porticus artifact. This makes the second pactio card we’ve seen in UQ Holder (we didn’t see Al’s, did we?) and the first new card. So finally, Akamatsu-sensei is apparently going to use the pactio system.
- I have a feeling that UQ Holder could go two ways. First is that the battle against Negi Ialda and company ends the series once and for all. The other way is that MotB doesn’t get defeated yet and the manga goes on for a while longer. I’m kinda hoping for the latter.
- Eva’s tsundere reaction to Asuna keeps cracking me up. 😀
In the end, UQ Holder chapter 131 is a good chapter. We got some exposition, action, and a nice cliffhanger. Here’s hoping we get timely spoilers for chapter 132!
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Uggghh CR can burn in hell! I can’t find an english scan anywhere.
I’m surprised no one has shared the CR stuff. That’s usually what happens. Are you in the US?
Yeah, that’s odd. I don’t support piracy, hell I buy the official US releases.. I hate waiting for UQH volumes because its so long. But I just read the scans cause I’m not using a CR for one manga series.
I read a few manga series from CR. And anime as well. That way I can support stuff.
I hate Crunchy Roll too, but don’t mind paying for manga in general. If 99 cents is a decent price per chapter for you, Comixology has it available in english.
The one thing that’s a plus about the CR model is that I can read new manga without feeling I wasted 99¢ on something I’ll hate.
Definitely a nice chapter after the last one. Lots of action, some exposition, appearances by almost all the major characters (The Konoe twins, Fate, and Ikkuu seemed to fade back into the background though).
I think the Eva clone was a fixture of Ikkuu’s, similar to what he did with Kuromaru earlier. There were some spoilers on animesuki that said Yue/Nodoka were constructs but Asuna definitely talks about them like they’re the real deal. I also feel like Eva would’ve pointed out if they’re not real. Still begs the question of why they haven’t aged though. Also in regards to Yue, her hair was back to being braided after Eva cut it off. My guess is regeneration. Definitely not the kind of magic I was expecting my favourite Negima character (obviously) to use. Reminds me heavily of Nico Robin from One Piece. In Negima (as well as that one flashback) she was still using lightning magic… Not sure what element hand magic falls under… We’ve seen it a few times from the shadow users but those were definitely not shadow.
Asuna is still as nice as ever. I really miss her. She came a long way in Negima and while it’s sad she’s sealed away her interactions with Touta were very nice and heartfelt. Asuna also didn’t call Touta a clone at all. Just her grandson. Never pictured Asuna as a motherly type but here we are. She also clearly loves Eva a lot. She surprisingly didn’t even tsun when asked if she was Negi’s girlfriend (Eva does though). Love the mention of the Baka Rangers, as both she and Yue were the most prominent members of that oft-forgotten group. Even Eva remembers that group!
Cutlass’ artifact I believe is the same as Koyomi’s from Fate’s party. Looked very similar, don’t remember the name but… Interesting she has a pactio card. Pactios and the cards were some of the best things about Negima, and we even got a peek at what her card looks like (we didn’t see any of Fate’s cards). Would assume her master is Negi. On the subject of pactios and you mentioned it in your review… Albiero and Rakan don’t appear to have their artifacts. While they’re both fine warriors on their own no doubt their artifacts would give them a nice advantage. If Albiero brought out a Sayoko book and did his thing no doubt Santa would be rattled. But given Nagi is probably gone, so too are those artifacts.
On a final note, really sad to see Asuna sealed in crystal (much as she was as a kid) with a smile on her face, knowing what she wakes up to makes it all the worse. If she could comment on it, she’d probably say how distressing it is to see Eva fight her former friends.
This chapter was a very nice marriage of the two series, and shows what Akamatsu can really do. Probably the best chapter in a long time. This is when it being a monthly series makes it so painful. I just hope Negi and his apostles don’t get scrubbed out too soon. This is really fun.
That’s my feeling as well. The two of them being constructs would explain why they haven’t aged, but nothing in the manga has stated they are constructs. For me, it would be MUCH more meaningful if Yue and Nodoka had become immortal in order to help Negi.
One thing I neglected to mention in my review is how much I loved reading that Yue had become such a powerful mage.
I agree with your assessment of Asuna as well. That’s why I hope she’ll show up as an advisor at times in Touta’s mind.
I think you are right. Koyomi never did get to use it though. 😛
Well, I have a theory that Nagi isn’t actually dead yet. But even if he is, Al and Jack could have a pactio with Negi.
And yeah, Al becoming Sayoko would be an interesting element for Santa to deal with.
I’ll probably be wrong, but I think that we are in a completely new timeline. I like to think that Touta will save Negi, Asuna will wake up, only the adult Negi will be there for her and this version of Asuna won’t go back in time.
No, Koyomi used it. The difference was that she had it paired with Tamaki’s spacial artifact, and the other time she used it on Negi dilate time within an AoE, and not full on time stoppage.
I didn’t realize it was paired.
In the end of negima There were two asunas one sealed one from the Future or not
In the one timeline, that’s correct. 🙂
I know UQH won’t be Negima long… But an anime is coming next year with a manga series that’s monthly just says that possibly UQ Holder might not be going to see a volume 20. I thought the manga was going to be a modest length. We will need to wait and see.
I’m assuming UQ had to go monthly since it needed the funds for the upcoming anime. Monthly magazines cost higher than weekly for some series, and i’m guessing akamatsu needed the extra income as well so that he can attend to his health as well as handle the topics on where to get the funding for the anime.
I don’t know if that’s the reason or not. I do know that a monthly manga is easier on Akamatsu-sensei since it is less pages per month than a weekly. Funding for the anime comes from a production “committee,” who use the anime as an advertisement. In this case, it will be advertising the UQ Holder manga and the relrease editions of Negima.
We’ll see how things go from here.
The chapter appeared much later than it should’ve on Amazon Kindle, but it’s manga reading capacity has been fixed, with regards to landscape reading.
If Asuna gets to state that she’s Touta’s Grandmother, then I want Konoka to do the same.
The new two-in-one Japanese negima volumes look exciting, if only because we can get some high quality character assets, without waiting for the anime to release character(s) key art.
Which assets are you talking about, please? Do they have new art? If so, where can we see it?
@OverMaster high quality character images for the negima re-release/reprint? In Japan, that was most likely done completely digital.
Take a look at @KenAkamatsu’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/KenAkamatsu/status/807029870920286208?s=09
Nodoka always needed some good artwork.
He made also this pic recently for the drawing exhibition in March 2017: http://www.akamatsuken-exhibition.com/
I love that image. Been a long time since we saw 30-chan (Saati).
Thanks for that link! 😀
Well, I’m glad that problem was fixed. Not sure why it was delayed though.
If she shows up. 😛 She should, assuming the manga goes on.
“What doesn’t compute is Eva’s Yukihime body being that of an android with a bomb in the head. The only explanation I have is that Kirie stopped time and did this. Eva couldn’t have foreseen this.”
I suspect Ikkuu had something to do with this. Somehow, it looks like the kind of thing he’d help pull off, and he’s the team’s android guy after all. It was a smart looking, cleverly funny move, too, so congrats.
That was pretty much the only part I liked, though… Basically, now we’re back exactly where we were more than half a year ago, with the Mage of the Beginning going “Dude, come with me!” and Touta going “Dude, no!”, and neither of them’s going to change their mind. The players are still the same and still where they were back then, a lot of the time was spent recapping things we already knew (and in ways I doubt would be very helpful for a newbie either), and Asuna’s not joining the team, so her appearance was just a fleeting, glorified Deus Ex Machina fan-bait. The manga’s feeling like it’s dragging in place now, while even at its worst, it usually looked like at least it moved quickly.
I think it’s mostly because Akamatsu’s stalling for time until he can see whether the anime succeeds or not, and hence if he has to cut the manga short or not.
Anyway, regarding what you told Hata at Animesuki, I think I have to side with you this time. Asuna, who is apparently all but omniscient now, doesn’t seem to treat Nodoka and Yue any differently than the definitely alive Cutlass and Negi, while otherwise she wouldn’t only say they can’t compare to the originals (because, come on, what kind of manga is going to say some copies are just as good or better as the actual heroes, and what kind of manga heroine is going to say that about her friends?) but also would outright tell Touta something along the lines of “They aren’t even real, don’t hold yourself back at all, slice them to ribbons if you want to”.
Oh, and Kuromaru once again proves being the team’s weak link. Everyone else puts a good enough fight, but once again he proves being the easily disposed of jobber who doesn’t get to do much other than attacking directly and being swatted away. He really needs starting to fight more intelligently.
The real shame of all of this is we’ll never get to see the ‘Good End’ final battle between Ala Alba and the Mage of the Beginning, the one Negima’s finale skipped completely and the one the manga actually was building to. Instead, we get this half-baked erratical and awkwardly paced poor man’s replacement.
I guess Kirie could have done a time reset and got Ikkuu to build this to send it into battle. Kirie’s ability allows Akamatsu-sensei to do things at will without having first established things.
I kinda hope that Asuna shows up from time to time in Touta’s mind to give him advice. But we’ll see.
I agree here. At the moment, I suspect Akamatsu-sensei has two storylines constructed. The first is if the anime bombs and UQ Holder manga sales don’t improve. Under this condition, Sensei will simply use the storyline where everything ends and the Negima stuff is mostly wrapped up.
The second condition is if the anime does well and manga sales improve. Then he writes things so that everything isn’t wrapped up and UQH continues.
Hata has an awesome record of being right way more than not. So Hata may well be right again, but the manga just doesn’t seem to be pointing that way yet.
Also, I really like to think that UQH is yet another timeline. In this one, I can see Touta saving Negi, then Negi being there when Asuna emerges from sleep.
Well, to be fair to Kuroumaru, she ( 😉 ) went up against the dynamic duo of Yue and Nodoka. Kuroumaru’s role was to be a distraction so android-Yukihime could do its thing.
I agree. However, I’ve been prepared for this since the first chapter (assuming I’m remembering correctly).
Free english chapters from CR has ended. Idiots from CR set chapter 131 for premium users only.
I was thinking that since it went monthly, they haven’t been sharing the chapter for free.
Considering your desire for a Nodoka/Yue one-shot, I have an idea for an offshoot of the Negima universe, too. My number one in the entire harem is and always will be Nodoka, of course, but let’s hear about Natsumi’s adventure in the Magic World to propose to Kotarou. It sounded badass. That afterword for her at the end of Negima was by far the most compelling.
Yes, I would be down for a Natsumi story as well. ^_^
One another thing i like about this chapter is the part which shows the real Asuna sealed inside the Palace.
The image of the sleeping Asuna with a smile on her face as opposed to the times of her past when she was shown sealed, it really seems different in a nice way.
I agree. This image is another reason that makes me want to think that we are in another timeline, one where Asuna is at peace. She’s made peace with herself, as we discovered in her chat with Eva.
The page where Asuna sliced through the phantasmagoria (cutting the Lifemaker in half along with it) greatly reminded me of a scene from Umineko EP7 where Will sliced through an illusion world (cutting Kirie in half along with it). The latter can be watched here: https://youtu.be/VjvHUE7tC_E?t=17m49s
I wonder if that’s a coincidence or a deliberate reference.
It is possibly a reference. Hard to say though. Manga-ka often reference stuff they like.
A question regarding the new Negima volumes. The covers will be the only differences or all the manga pages will have Akamatsu’s current art style?
I’m guessing there will be some additional extras, as happened with Love Hina. However, the chapters themselves will be the same.
Akamatsu-sensei still has his story-telling and how this story can change so quickly. I enjoyed this chapter, and this wait for a month is tough. At least for December, there is some movement to the story, and there is some hope for the good guys for the coming new year – something positive. For once we have a clear explanation on what is happening, and how Asuna was involved.
I’m happy to see the UQ side fighting for once, as a team, fight back with a stronger fighting spirit and determination with their own abilities, where we see the improvement results of Dana’s training. This past year looked so hopeless and one sided.
I hoped Jinbei and Gengorou would also join in and see their ability. I guess we still have to wait for these two guys. I would like to see both of them go against Jack or Al.
Kirie and Cutlass may have that time stop ability, but Kirie has a edge over Cutlass that she can reset time and can know what will happen. I don’t see Cutlass talking about that ability, so I don’t think she has it.
I hope the series isn’t ending soon, and we get to eventually see Negi and Nagi back to themselves, and who ends up with Eva….AND the three other UQ holders that haven’t been introduced.
Hmm, if all this time Eva was a robot/bomb, then where is the real Eva?
I hear ya. And not getting spoilers was a disappointment as well.
Who? 😉 Kidding, of course.
Well, if Kirie reset time, she could be coming with the cavalry.
On the 5th page – when Asuna gave the MotB the ‘eye-ball’, said ‘Nyah’ and took everyone to inverse mars – I had to laugh — thats dating one’s self by recognizing it, and my own memories of doing the exact same thing back in the day.
The english translation – calling the Negi Ialda’s team description as ‘disciples’ does define them more as the real person, and as willing, believing, loyal, and faithful followers. But not sure if followers of Negi or the MotB or both. Here I agree with ANB’s theory that they might have followed Negi’s lead. We still don’t know why they are following the MotB. Its clear they want Tota – the only person and threat that can take down the MotB – just as others and now Asuna has confirmed too.
‘apostles’ not ‘disciples’….
Understood. 😀
I suspect that as with Fate, everyone knows that Touta is the key to resolving things. It is just a matter of how it gets resolved.
ugh – yeah its a shouen. Cutlass now joins in the full female nude fighting theme. Of course Kuromaru has to be taped up so as not to give up that story theme. The guys except for Tota (in the phantasmagoria) are clothed. Thank you Asuna for at least doing the right thing and giving the girls some cover.
I loved Eva’s small bit of sarcasm with the ‘baka’ ranger comment. Even Eva looked cute like a puppy dog/innocent-like face *sigh* and acting soo un-aware when Tota was drilling Asuna about her relationship with Negi. Yeah — is it really fooling anyone? ohh and Kuromaru is a guy and not a girl.
Yes, Asuna has matured quite a bit, but still within her character in the moment.
Finally after 131 chapters, we officially have now included use of a pactio card.
Still M.I.A. is Zazie and Mana.
I’m kinda in agreement if this manga continues, Negi lalda will be the main antagonist through the whole thing. I’m thinking that the Negi Lalada group will fail in getting Tota and retreat, to return sometime later in the manga. Leaving the UQ team in a messed up and partially destroyed arena, and the world is watching them,
I was thinking she was there earlier, but I could be mistaken.
Which was cool for sure.
Kuroumaru will be a lovely girl. 😛
Yes, you are correct, basically standing or more exactly kneeling with the entrance of Negi Ialda, losing her clothes to Negi’s sneeze, then grabbing a robe, and then watched the other apostles confront the UQ team. We saw then she’s part machine. She was on the side and not engaging.
One more thing… had to re-read the last two chapters since its been some time … but
Where is Fate?
Last was before Alberio did his trip to the past, Fate was fighting Jack 0.76 sec earlier throwing spears at him. Its like he appeared and now disappeared…
Now I need to go back and reread chapters. I’d forgotten that Fate was around.
Something is missing, basically it leaves out what is Asuna’s plan – seems she tells the UQ team, but its not shown, and only after we see Asuna asking “What do you think?” and Tota states “Its not like we have any other options.”
So whatever plan Asuna has made, Tota agrees, and Eva didn’t go against it either.
Seeing that one panel with Asuna’s facial expression and asking Tota to take care of that idiot Negi, says she still cares very much for him…. is that Negi x Asuna ship still be afloat? … but maybe it was Chisame that Negi chose, and another promise made to another girl by Tota.
If the anime is successful, I think there can be a drinking game with a shot every time Tota makes a promise to a girl character – since Negi is possibly english, instead of whiskey, it should be a ale or Guinness.
We saw Asuna’s plan in action, at least in part. It is part of the “show don’t tell” element in writing. Further, it allows Akamatsu-sensei to have Asuna say more stuff if he wants, then reveal it in a flashback.
😆
Did you realize that Fate is missing? He was with them in the last chapter before the switch to monthly.
I only have one different opinion: about Asuna. Asuna’s different personas aren’t what I’d consider split personalities. When she said merged, I think it’s more like she has all her memories intact, including the one which was erased, something which happened in Negima.
I had forgotten that.
The only reason I would disagree is that in Asuna’s mind, we saw the “real” Asuna as a child and the “fake” Asuna as a teen twice in Negima. In this chapter of UQH, Eva recognized that the person she was addressing wasn’t the “faux” Asuna she remembered from her school days. Now, Asuna is still the fun loving person she was in school, but she now has the intelligence of her true self as both are now one.
But that’s just how I read it.
The worst part is *the characters themselves* seem to have forgotten Fate was ever there. It’s as if a black hole had just him retconned away from the fight altogether.
Yeah, looking at it now, it is a weird disconnect.
I just picked up on something, Asuna is AWARE of what’s going on. When she originally went to “Bed” in the timeline, she awoke shocked by all the changes the world went under.
Thus another new wrinkle to the timelime, as well as the merge. Again in the original timeline the two personalities were quite separate from one another and it was the Princess mentally “Kicking” Asuna to pull herself together prior to her awaking from her artificial sleep.
I do wonder if the MOB will turn her eyes on to Asuna herself verses Touta as a secondary route to having new body.
That’s why for me, it makes more sense if the UQH timeline is something completely new. I rather like the idea that in a UQH timeline, Negi is saved, Nagi turns out to still be alive and gets saved, and at the end of the day, Asuna awakens to her surviving Negima friends plus the crew from UQH.
But That Could happiness in the negima time line because There are two asunas and maybe because of touta
That’s possible.
Oh my gods! Until the very moment, ever since UQH got monthly, I had forgotten about your existence! XDDDDDDDDDDDDD
Thanks for the review, merry christmas and happy new year in advance!
Wait, you forgot about me? 😆
Thanks. Same to you. 😀
This probably epitomises what Eva meant about immortals always procrastinating commitment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C11MzbEcHlw
4:10
Ha!ha! Maybe. 😀
So berserk 2016 has been surpassed in the degree of animation heresy it commits.
UQ holder 12 LE https://t.co/HrjspLb0Ws
True it’s negima, but I presume that UQ holder will suffer far worse.
My advice, do a musuo game(s) like Berserk, the PS4 footage thus far has been great. The PS4 pro in-game cutscenes will be greater.
How are they going clean this mess up? Once they get back to the tournament, things are going to be upside down so to speak. I was actually looking forwards to watching them go to the tournament to up the tower and introduce us to the solar system. :/
What is this tournament you speak of? 😉
The tournament was the one thing I was not looking forward to. From a story perspective, there’s not going to be a reason for Touta to enter the tournament. Cutlass already met him before the tournament and got the ball rolling.
As to the tower and the solar system, that could still be done without the tournament.
Besides, the current pace and release schedule of the manga are horribly unfitting for a tournament arc. It’d take at least a full year to get anywhere, especially since the chapters still aren’t that long and you also have to worry about character interaction and worldbuilding answers on top of the fighting.
Plus, the protagonists and the enemies already are fighting. It makes no sense to get them apart… only to immediately make them fight again but within a tournament. It’s redundant and only wastes a time the series doesn’t have anymore.
I agree. I get the feeling that Kodansha wanted tournament stuff ’cause boys like that stuff. So Akamatsu-sensei worked it into the storyline, then found his out. Right now, the story is structured so that the manga can end if Kodansha decides not to press forward with it after the current arc. Assuming UQH continues on, a tournament won’t be in the cards.
Mori’s bride stories debut at number SIX despite some seriously strong competition.
(Shingeki, Conan and seven sins) this volume could’ve taken top three ranking, without the aftermentioned titles
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-12-21/japanese-comic-ranking-december-12-18/.110212
Its previous volume debut at number FOUR.
Fortunately is published by Kodokawa, which has a proven track record of ‘funding’ anime for much lower key series/return like index and LN genre at large.
Sword art online is massive example of such gambits reaping great dividends.
And if the ordinal scale pans out, it could just go for cannon movie adaptions/sequels for the rest of the franchises lifespan.
Mori-Sensei’s Otoyomegatari hanging on, at number 11. Quite a number of, new debut’s she may make it into the fourth week.
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-12-28/japanese-comic-ranking-december-19-25/.110431
Another news flash on the UQ Holder, Akamatsu-sensei tweeted 12/22/2016, about little tidbits of what coming with UQ Holder.
https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2016-12-23/uq-holder-manga-creator-ken-akamatsu-teases-tv-anime-anime-dvd-in-2017/.110265
Honestly, I wasn’t paying attention. I didn’t know that UQ Holder was renamed to include Negi name with a “2” in it. Sad. Seriously, you can’t lure people to the book alone with the art work, Akamatsu-Sensei?
Thanks for the tip!
With its new title its official as to the connection between UQ and Negima for those that didn’t know that already. A question is how much remains about Negima.
I’m still getting over that Negi got controlled by the MotB, and asking if Nagi is still alive or dead? No full or understandable explanation as yet on how it happened, and many good possible theories.
I think one of the problems with UQ is foundational as in a storytelling basic, outside of Negima, what is this manga about or its goal or quest? We have the UQ organization kinda minimally explained and shown, and that is about it. They have a Inn they run on a isolated Island, allowing them economic stability, and take many hot springs baths, acting like kids for affection. We have Negima characters appear and disappear like having a long and extended class reunion with each individual former classmate, many old and retired or immortal and not aged like the UQ holders.
So is this now the continuing story of Negi and not Tota, since the sub title has Negi’s name, or part is getting Negi back to himself with Tota his successor?
Yes, that was the problem from the start. Akamatsu-sensei made the series supposedly be about the “lofty” goal of Touta getting to the top of the tower (no pun intended). I’ve long stated that I think Akamatsu-sensei didn’t want to be fettered by the bonds that come with crafting a well structured story over time. He appears to have wanted to do what Mashima-sensei did with Fairy Tail — write whatever fancied his whim at a given time and have some tiny, overarching plot thread. Mashima-sensei was able to get away with that due to the nature of Fairy Tail. With UQ Holder being the spinoff of Negima, there was no way Akamatsu-sensei was going to get away with that.
Touta is still the MC, but I think that if the manga is going to end soon, it will just be completing the Negi story. If UQH looks to have legs beyond that, then it will be Touta as Negi’s successor.
@AstroNerdBoy redoing Asuna’s amnesiac/lost monarch for Touta, would’ve worked wonders for UQ Holder’s story, whilst giving strong reasoning as to Touta’s ‘c’imb the tower goal’.
I don’t disagree there.
Was re-reading the last chapter. The MotB knows about Asuna, and knows about Inverse Mars and where Asuna actually is from that phantasmagorica – and encased in that crystal. So … what would stop her now from actually going there to destroy the real Asuna? Negi will not be there to help Asuna…. Unless there is another agenda that has to yet be revealed, and Tota is that key to getting something accomplished. Just thoughts on this…
First, she’s not in full control of the Negi-Maker yet, so that’s not likely to happen.
Second off, she’s likely sealed off the same way she was twenty years prior when the Megalo Senate was after her. The Lifemaker back then was already in full control of Zecht, but decided not to intervene, and only observed the Gravekeepers Palace. That means that the seal on the chamber is strong enough that the Lifemaker cannot physically reach at this point and time, or the Lifemaker has no desire to bother with it. My guess is the latter.
Third, there’s no benefit to doing so. Magic is point blank useless, undoing the seal means the destruction of MM, something the Lifemaker was dead set on avoiding, and worse, it opens up the possibility of botching the job and waking up the one thing that can end her. The Lifemaker has everything to gain from keeping Asuna under lock and key, but risks losing everything from even trying to tamper with the seal..
Interesting. I had not considered that aspect, but you have a good point. There is no reason for MotB to go after Asuna. However, now that Asuna has a connection outside the seal via Touta, I wonder if that changes anything.
@Dargor UQ Holder has pretty much characterised the Lifemaker as ‘unhinged’, Eva herself has an altered personality, not much to be done really.
That’s a very good question. Asuna’s powers are dangerous to MotB, so maybe once Asuna was in her capsule, MotB couldn’t touch her. Just pure speculation on my part.
And interesting thoughts at that. 🙂