Ultra Maniac, Vol. 3

by Wataru Yoshizumi and Wataru Yoshizuma

Book Overview

But being a witch-in-training isn't as easy (or fun) as it seems. In fact, it's sort of a pain in the neck. There are secrets to keep, all kinds of tricky magical stuff to remember and never-ending... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1421500566
• ISBN13: 9781421500560
• Release Date: November 2005
• Publisher: Viz Media
• Length: 184 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.2" x 7.5"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

A Magical Series

Ultra Maniac is a great series for teens interested in manga (Japanese comic books). Wataru Yoshizumi has an enjoyable style of drawing and writing. This book tells an intriguing (and funny) story about bumbling witch Nina Sakura (who is studying abroad from the magic kingdom)befriending Ayu Tateishi and all the wacky adventures Nina drags Ayu into. Ayu likes Tetsushi Kaji, the star pitcher for the baseball team. So she tries to stay "cool and calm"- even when she's not around him- because that is what he once told her that he liked about her. When Ayu meets Nina, though, Ayu's reputation is threatened. Nina's a bubbly... and kind of crazy... teen witch. Of course, that's Ayu and Nina's secret. But Ayu wants nothing to do wiht this "maniac". Eventually, though, Ayu starts to appreciate Nina's wackiness. In book three the real drama begins when two boys like Nina, Ayu goes on her first date, Nina goes to a night club with a teacher... and Nina recieves a threatening letter telling her to "Go Back to the Magic Kingdom!"

MAGIC GIRL SECRET REVEALED!

Well, it looks like all the love-love relationships are working out for everyone in Volume 3 of Ultramaniac. Ayu and Tetsushi have confessed to each other, and accepted the fact that their public images are sometimes worlds apart from their private lives. But that's ok! Yuta has given up on Nina and has been asked out by the school "Ice Queen". Even Nina is starting to get a little attention, but for all the wrong reasons. Hiroki accidentally sees her using her magic and her secret might be out if he chooses to reveal to the world that she's a witch. Nina also begins receiving some mysterious hate mail telling her to go back to the Magic Kingdom. I really enjoyed this third volume of a series that gets better with each installment. It's better than the anime, which I thought was a little overwrought and dumbed down. The art is beautiful and clean and the characters are appealing to the eye and the heart. There's no back-flip magic girl costume change sequences in this book and it's the better for it. While magic is involved, it is set in a very realistic setting. I really liked the characters, especially Nina, who tries really hard but always seems to goof things up. But I believe in her, and so should you! Also, if you ARE a fan of the anime version, there's a couple of pages of character designs for the anime by Wataru, some of which were never used.