Negima 4-7

These latest volumes have Negi run ragged, as he takes his excitable class of misfits on a field trip looking for clues to his father's past. And to be honest, if he were a secret agent, he'd be demoted to simply "agent" in seconds - the kid just can't keep his magic to himself!

That said, he is attacked by a group of magicians eager to kidnap the Principles grand-daughter, Konoka. It seems that the world of magicians is full of rivalry, and Negi is about to enter the battle of his life.

As Mei from the forums pointed out, Negima is a shade short of Hentai, with so much fan service crammed into each volume you might as well pop it on the top shelf. Compounded by the age of the main characters, it makes it all the more likely the Daily Mail will be citing it as the tome of Lucifer before long, but you know what? It's still a thumping good read, regardless.

In fact, were Ken not so keen to shoehorn in so much panty flashing, he could have the second Harry Potter on his hands. Certainly, the series is popular in Japan - so much so that when the first anime recieved a lukewarm reception, they remade it entirely with a different tone and better animation WITHIN A YEAR - I can't think of any precedent for this, and it shows that the appeal isn't just the huge female cast, but also a fantastic fantasy adventure that really is engaging.

The combination of excellent artwork, nicely thought out backstory and engaging male lead make this a must have for anyone who loves a riping yarn... Just don't read it in public.