UQ Holder!

UQ Holder!
Cover of the first volume, as published by Kodansha, featuring main characters Kurōmaru Tokisaka (left), Tōta Konoe (center) and Yukihime (right)
UQ HOLDER!
Genre	Action, Adventure, Comedy, Science fantasy, Harem
Manga
Written by	Ken Akamatsu
Published by	Kodansha
English publisher	^NA Kodansha Comics USA
Demographic	Shōnen
Magazine	Weekly Shōnen Magazine
Original run	August 2013 – present
Volumes	10

UQ Holder! is a manga series by Ken Akamatsu. Set in the same universe of his previous work Negima! Magister Negi Magi, but over 70 years later, it follows the adventures of a young boy who is transformed into a vampire and joins a secret society composed of immortal beings.

UQ (ユーキュー Yūkyū) stands for 悠久 ("eternity"), the kanji that entwines inside the UQ logo, which alludes to the immortal nature of the characters.

Plot

The series is set in the year 2086, ten years after magic is revealed to the world. Tōta Konoe is a young boy who has always dreamed of leaving his home village and find out what lies atop the high tower in the capital. But his teacher and guardian Yukihime claims that it will only be possible once he defeats her, a feat that seems impossible for him. However, once Tōta is mortally wounded by a bounty hunter coming after Yukihime's life, she reveals herself as a vampire and saves his life by transforming him into one of her kind. Thus begins Tōta's adventures in the world of immortal beings in a society where magic and technology are highly advanced to the point of being almost indistinguishable.

Characters

Main Characters

Tōta Konoe (近衛 刀太 Konoe Tōta)

Ranking number 7 of UQ Holders, Tōta is the main character and a 14-year-old boy who was raised by Yukihime after his parents died. After being mortally wounded while protecting Yukihime, he is transformed by her into a vampire, becoming an immortal being. Always cheerful and optimistic, Tōta is similar in hair color and family name with Konoka Konoe, a character from Negima! and is implied to be a relative of hers, making him part of the Konoe family. His grandfather was Negi Springfield, a legendary magician and Negima!'s protagonist. Tōta later receives a sword that can have its weight increased or decreased thousands of timesfold according to the will of its user (actually a adjustable dial) that becomes his main weapon and it is revealed that his body possess the secret power of "Magia Erebea", allowing him to absorb magic into his own body, bonding it to his soul. Tōta's personality strongly resembles his great-grandfather's, Nagi Springfield's personality. Later it is revealed that Tōta's father was not Negi's biological son but a clone of his, as Negi himself can't have children because he turned into an immortal being incapable of aging before reaching puberty during the events of Negima!.

Yukihime (雪姫) / Evangeline A.K. McDowell (エヴァンジェリン・A.K.・マクダウェル Evanjerin A.K. Makudaweru)

A 700-year-old immortal vampire and a main character from the Negima! series. After parting ways with her friends from the Mahora Academy - possibly from outliving them - Evangeline adopted the alias "Yukihime" (lit. "Snow Princess") and founded the secret "UQ Holder" society for immortal beings. She usually appears as a tall and attractive woman instead of the usual child-like appearance seen in Negima! She becomes Tōta's foster parent after his birth parents are killed in an incident, later transforming him into a vampire to save his life. Later it is revealed that she had met Tōta centuries before becoming his guardian due to a temporal paradox and bonded with him at that time, implying that she also fell in love with him at the occasion. She also still harbors feelings for Negi, but she claims that she intends to uphold her promise to him of ending his life should the Lifemaker succeeds in taking over his body.

Kurōmaru Tokisaka (時坂 九郎丸 Tokisaka Kurōmaru)

Ranking number 11 of UQ Holder. Originally an assassin initially sent to murder Yukihime; 14-year-old Kurōmaru is defeated by Tōta who "convinces" him to become his friend and brother-in-arms. As he also displays traits of immortality, Kurōmaru accompanies Tōta to join UQ Holder. Despite claiming to be a boy, Kurōmaru displays a feminine appearance and behavior and is usually mistaken as a girl. This is because he comes from a tribe of demi-humans where children are born genderless but becomes male or female once they reach the age of 16. Kurōmaru claims he wants to become male and stay by Tōta's side as his brother-in-arms, but feels conflicted because of his growing romantic feelings for him. Later on, after realizing his feelings for Tōta, Kurōmaru's body begins to develop into that of a female despite not being age 16 yet. Kurōmaru is similar in appearance with Setsuna Sakurazaki from Negima!, and just like her, is an adept of the Kyoto Shinmei-ryū sword style and other Eastern battle techniques.

UQ Holder

Jinbei Shishido (宍戸 甚兵衛 Shishido Jinbei)

Ranking number 2 of UQ Holder. 1400 years ago, Jinbei ate the flesh of a mermaid, achieving immortality. Due to his immortality being weak, Jinbei has several scars on his chest as a result, in various sizes and locations, which he received throughout his life. Despite his power and status within the organization, he's generally laid-back and has a reputation for being a slacker.

Karin Yuuki (結城夏凛 Yūki Karin)

Ranking number 4 of UQ Holder. She is very devoted to Yukihime after having been saved by her in the past and is jealous of Tōta's close relationship with her. Her immortality is said to come from divine origin, as all her wounds heal instantly instead of just regenerating fast like in most immortals and because of it she was branded as a witch and hunted when she was a small child centuries ago.

Kirie Sakurame (桜雨キリヱ Sakurame Kiriwe)

Ranking number 9 of UQ Holder. Despite having the body of a 10 year old girl, she has already lived much longer. Kirie has the power to rewind time, averting adverse events like her own death by returning to specific instants in time she marks with what she labels as "save points", she used this power to make a fortune in the stock market and become the main sponsor for the organization. She also has the power to bring other people to the rewinded time with her, having them remember the erased events as well. Kirie has the habit of badmouthing Tōta, but usually shows signs of affection towards him, and after an accident involving both in which her powers get temporarily out of control, she develops the special ability of stopping time completely around the pair when they share a kiss, an effect that only wears off when they kiss again.

Ikkuu Ameya (飴屋 一空 Ameya Ikkū)

Ranking number 10 of UQ Holder. Contrary to the other members who achieved immortality through supernatural means, Ikkuu obtained his by replacing almost all of his body with cybernetic implants, which not only give him enhanced strength and speed, but several types of weaponry at his disposal, including the "Al-Iskandariya Orbital Cannon" which used to be Chachamaru Karakuri's pactio weapon in Negima!. He can also easily change his appearance by just transfering himself to a different cybernetic body with other physical features.

Santa Sasaki (佐々木 三太 Sasaki Santa)

Ranking number 12 of UQ Holder. He was a student at Amano-Mihashira Academy City, which was established at the site of the old Mahora Academy, until he is murdered by some bullies. Instead of passing away, he is turned into a Revenant, a powerful vengeful spirit by his close friend, a necromancer named Sayoko. First appearing as Tōta and Kurōmaru's roommate, he is initially suspect of a series of murders occurring at the school, but the real culprit is Sayoko instead, who intends to unleash a zombie apocalypse in the world after being possessed by hundreds of thousands of vengeful spirits. Assisted by Tōta and his friends, Santa stops Sayoko's plan and have her reform, but she passes away soon after. With no one else to turn to, he is then invited by Tōta to join UQ Holder.

Returning Characters

Negi Springfield (ネギ・スプリングフィールド Negi Supuringufīrudo)

The main protagonist of Negima! Magister Negi Magi and Touta's grandfather. After his adventures in Negima, Negi helped his former teacher, Yukihime, form UQ Holder and made a name for himself in the magical world where he is known as "The Greatest Mage." At first believed to be deceased, it is later revealed by Fate that Negi is still alive though his whereabouts are unknown. Unlike his former master and grandson, Negi possesses a complete version of Magia Erebea.

Fate Averruncus (フェイト・アーウェルンクス)

Also returning from Negima, he was Negi Springfield's main rival and comrade. He is currently heralded as the greatest wizard in the Solar System and the current leader of "Ala Alba", the brigade Negi founded with his students 80 years before. He opposes UQ Holder, claiming that Yukihime was responsible for Negi's disappearance. However, Fate claims that there is a way to save Negi and the fate of the entire Solar System depends on it. To do so, he claims that he needs Tōta's cooperation, but instead became the target of Tōta's hatred, after revealing that he was the one responsible for the death of Tōta's parents.

Mana Tatsumiya (龍宮 真名 Tatsumiya Mana)

One of Negi Springfield's former students; she is a half demon, thus she ages much slower than a normal human making her one of the few classmates of Yukihime's who are still alive. She is currently the acting director of the Amano-Mihashira Academy City, filling up for some "old friend of hers".

Nagi Springfield (ナギ・スプリングフィールド Nagi Supuringufīrudo)

Negi's father and Touta's great-grandfather. A legendary mage known as "The Thousand Master," he led the group "Ala Rubra" during the Great War a hundred years ago that was started by the Mage of the Beginning. He reappears in an illusion alongside his son, Negi, before members of UQ Holder and Fate.

Ayaka Yukihiro (雪広 あやか Yukihiro Ayaka)

One of Negi Springfield's former students, she reappears now as an aged woman with her great-granddaughter, Mizore as guests of Yukihime.

Chachamaru Karakuri (絡繰 茶々丸 Karakuri Chachamaru)

One of Negi Springfield's former students and partners who was once Yukihime's servant. She reappears alongside Ayaka, whom she seems to be in service of now.

Other Characters

Dana Ananga Jagannatha (ダーナ・アナンガ・ジャガンナータ Dāna Ananga Jagannāta)

Also known as the Witch of the Rift (狭間の魔女 Hazama no Majo), she is a true, natural born vampire, unlike Evangeline and Tōta who obtained their vampiric traits by magic, thus her powers are far greater, capable of instantly regenerating herself from any damage and her powers allow her to perform higher feats such as opening rifts in the space-time continuum. She was Evangeline's master when she was younger, but somehow they currently have a strained relationship, and takes Tōta, Kirie and Santa to train under hers for a while as well.

The Mage of the Beginning

The immortal mage responsible for transforming Evangeline into a vampire 700 years ago and the instigator of the war on Inverse Mars a hundred years ago. Also known as the Lifemaker, she appears to have an interest in Touta. It's said that she is currently possessing Negi's body, just like she once possessed Nagi's body before he was destroyed by his son, and thus Fate looks desperately for a way to remove her from his body without killing him since them, while Yukihime seeks to uphold her promise to kill him should she ever obtains control of his body.

Honoka and Isana Konoe

Granddaughters of Konoka Konoe who are part of Fate's new Ala Alba. They appear before Tōta with the intention to convince him to join their ranks.

Mizore Yukihiro

Great-granddaughter of Ayaka Yukihiro and heir to the Yukihiro Conglomerate who wishes to marry Tōta. Like Ayaka, Mizore has a very proud personality but is also a very kind girl at heart.

Shinobu Yuuki (結城 忍 Yūki Shinobu)

A young girl Tōta befriends during his travels, Shinobu dreams of competing in the Neo Olympics as a racer. Shinobu later reunites with Tōta at the UQ Holder Headquarters where she starts working as part of the staff. She is similar in name and appearance with Shinobu Maehara, a character from Akamatsu's work Love Hina.

Media

Manga

UQ Holder! is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Ken Akamatsu. It began its serialization in the manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Magazine on August 28, 2013. Its individual chapters have been collected into ten tankōbon volumes by Kodansha, the first released on December 17, 2013. The series is licensed for English language release in North America by Kodansha Comics USA, who published the first volume on March 18, 2014. As the series is published in Japan, it is also released simultaneously in English digitally by Crunchyroll.

References

External links

• UQ Holder! (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia