007 – The Baka Rangers and the Secret Library Island. The Big Game Plan for the Final Test, Part 1
The titular Library Island
A nice chapter; Negi is become less and less naive and thinking more along the lines of how to properly do his job as a teacher. The yakyuken part was funny, as well as class 2-A seemingly not caring for their grades and how they’re the worse class. So far, this multi-part story arc has captured my interest, although I have my doubts about a ‘magic book’ on Library Island…
008 – The Baka Rangers and the Secret Library Island. The Big Game Plan for the Final Test, Part 2
Let's go!!! The group sets out on the dangerous journey.
I like how this chapter has turned out; there was a lot of humour in it, albeit none of them were laugh out loud, all of them made the chapter fun. Story-wise, it is just continuing on from where part 1 left off and they made it to the book (it exists!) and apparently it’s a really powerful magic book. The journey to the place was funny due to how the library has so much hidden things such as lakes and really tall bookshelves, just something you would expect from a video game…
009 – The Baka Rangers and the Secret Library Island. The Big Game Plan for the Final Test, Part 3
Golem attacks the group, yeah...
Playing a game of twister that involves translating English in Japanese, and Negi feels some sort of magical energy that he seems to know from somewhere. Coupled with that they fall into a surrounding that is perfect for studying, maybe there’s some person conjuring up all of this? Anyway the latter half of the chapter turns all ecchi and fanservice-y, and it ends with another attack by a golem, not too bad I guess. It was hilarious when Asuna said that she wouldn't even have come to this place if she hadn’t know what she heard of the rumours were true. Negi also seems to have developed feelings for Asuna?
010 – The Baka Rangers and the Secret Library Island. The Big Game Plan for the Final Test, Part 4
yes... there's nothing suspicious about a circular stairway that requires you to answer English questions
The story gets more and more far-fetched (as you would call it), and this time, the Baka Rangers (seriously love the name, I find it so funny) escapes the Library Island. Yes, they writer has caused situations in which the girls has to undress, and I like how I can recognise the cast now by name. Again there’s a lot of humour in this fun chapter.
011 – The Baka Rangers and the Secret Library Island. The Big Game Plan for the Final Test, Part 5
*gasp*, the results are revealed, sooooo exciting, -_-
This was a good ending to the five chapter story arc. I thought that Class 2-A would not be the last, but when the results were shown and they were, I was a bit surprised. As I had suspected though, it was the work of the principal with all that had happened in the Library Island (I mean, study related questions in the challenges?!). However, with the recounted results they were the top of the grade, which I find might have been a bit of a stretch, since they were the worse class, that’s too big a jump. Anyway, this chapter was good, with how everyone went back for Negi when he was leaving, seems like he has developed a strong bond with a few of the students now.
012 – Egirl Life
Is it even possible to make such a dramatic transformation such as this?
The beginning and the middle wasn't that great, but the ending was funny. We get introduced to another class member, and this one is a secluded one, and doesn't like Negi, and that didn't change in the chapter. A bit of a pointless chapter (unless something later builds up on this, but I highly doubt it).
013 – Recommended! The Child Strolling Brigade
The mischievous twins
Another chapter, another spotlight for a class member, in this case, two of them, twins. Pretty mischievous but Negi has it lucky though… Again, there were a lot of humour throughout the chapter but it’s not really something special.
014 – Yesterday’s Enemy is Tomorrow’s Nemesis
Young Incho and Asuna when they first meet... not exactly a great start
All these chapters seems to feel the same, not to say that it’s bad, but they feel uninspired. Had some laughs, and plotwise it wasn't anything special, pretty overdone, with supposedly arch enemies but knowing each other really well, and cheering the other up by doing something that annoys and distracts them.
015 – Negi-Sensei’s Wedding?!
Bam! Big crowd of girls chases Negi! Normal guys wouldn't mind but Negi? Nooooooo
Slightly more interesting than the previous few chapters we’ve had. A little bit more is revealed on the mage’s world and seems like Negi might find a partner, and then there’s Konoka with her marriage prospects. They meet up, and the fortune telling was a good scene. It ends with a promise that it’s continued in the next volume, hmmmm…
Overall
I actually quite liked the Library Island story arc, since it was a longer story arc, and it was fun to read. I find that the humour was a lot easier to pick up and get, it seemed better constructed somehow. Chapters 12, 13 and 14 are a bit of a time waster, not adding that much, but still fun to read.
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Credits: due to it being faster and more efficient I just took these pictures from scans online instead of scanning the tankobons themselves. These were scanned by the group "Mahora"
