I Reads You Juniors April 2018 - Update #53

Support Leroy on Patreon.

Leroy's Amazon Comics and Graphic Novels Page:

From BleedingCool:  268 comic book creators will be signing on Free Comic Book Day 2018, May 5th, 2018.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #161 in English
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #161 in French

From TheMainichi: A lawyer has sued Nippon Telephone and Telegraph (NTT) overs its plan to block sites that link to pirated anime and manga.

From AnimeNewsNetwork:  Kodansha announces five digital-first manga licenses for May 2018.

From BleedingCool:  Alan Davis will contribute art to Captain America #703.

From BleedingCool: "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? is going bi-monthly with issue #93.

From JapanTimes:  Japan's Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (NTT) will block sites that link to pirated anime or manga.

From Newsarama:  2018 Glyph Award nominees announced.  Winners to be announces May 19th, 2018 at the East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention.

From AnimeNewsNetwork:  Dark Horse Licenses Mob Psycho 100 Manga

From BleedingCool:  Brian Michael Bendis is rumored to be curating some times, perhaps a "Flash" comic book written by David F. Walker ("Cyborg).

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #160 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #160 in French.

From Vulture:  Jim Starlin, the creator of Marvel Comics' mega-villain, Thanos, hates Marvel Comics.

From AnimeNewNetwork:  The worldwide master of horror comics, Junji Ito, spoke about the anime adaptation of his horror manga during a story signing.

From BleedingCool:  No Matt Fraction. No "Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen" revival... for now.

From ArtNetNews:  Check out the public murals and graffiti that are part of the "Peanuts Global Art Collective."

From Geek:  Japan takes emergency action against anime and manga pirating websites.

From BleedingCool:  Next week in Diamond Previews (May 2018)... Ta-Nehisi Coates and Lienil Francis Yu's "Captain America" and Rob Guillory's "Farmhand."

From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics' July 2018 solicitations from Diamond Distributors.

From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing's July 2018 solicitations from Diamond Distributors.

From ComicBook:  Eiichiro Oda talks about the unprecedented sales of his manga, "One Piece."

From BleedingCool:  BleedingCool talks to Bruce Canwell of The Library of American Comics, which publishes collections of the American newspaper comic strips.

From Forbes:   Inside The Big-Money, 24-Hour World Of Comic Books

From JapanTimes:  The Japanese government wants calls for "emergency measures" to block access to websites that pirate manga and anime.

From CommercialAppeal:  Sheree Renee Thomas organizing Afrofuturism event in Memphis, TN, on Saturday, April 21st.

From ComicBook:  Hiro Mishima ("Fairy Tail") previews his new manga, but the title has not been announced.

From BleedingCool:  Raina Telgemeier's "Drama" makes the American Library Association's "banded books" list again.

From BleedingCool: DC Comics Reveals Solicits for Superman #1 and Action Comics #1001.

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From TheRorschachTest:  A podcast interview of longtime writer about comic books, Augie De Blieck, Jr.

From PipelineComics:  The subject of the above interview, Augie's piece, "The Inevitable Direct Market Implosion."

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From BleedingCool:  President Trump makes an appearance in "Suicide Squad."

From AnimeNewsNetwork:  Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto has apparently announced that his new work will debut at the end of 2018 and will be a long-form series.  Previous speculation is that it is a science fiction manga.

From AnimeNewsNetwork:  The venerable manga, "Detective Conan" (known as "Case Closed"), will get a spinoff.

From Techaeris:  Manga piracy in Japan is hurting the creators of the art form

From io9:  Evan Narcisse tells the truth: "Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez Might Be the Most Under-Appreciated Superhero Artist of All Time."

From BleedingCool:  Here is a preview of Mark Millar and Olivier Coipel's "The Magic Order."

From SyFyWire:  Mark Millar talks to "SyFy Wire" in a video interview.  Millarworld, Netflix, and Marvel vs. DC Movies are some of the topics discussed.

From AnimeNetworkNews:  VIZ Media announces that it will publish another Junji Ito short story collection, "Frankenstein."

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STAN LEE MELODRAMA - From BleedingCool:  Stan Lee sues Jerry Olivarez of "Hands of Respect" for elder abuse.

From YahooMoviesUK:  In an online video, Stan Lee says that he is not a victim of elder abuse.

From ABCActionNews:  Stan Lee's blood was apparently used to sign comic books in Las Vegas.

From BleedingCool:  Fans express concern about Stan Lee after his appearance at Silicon Valley Comic Con.

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From BleedingCool:  Joelle Jones will write and draw an ongoing "Catwoman" comic book series.

From ComicBookBin:  New webcomic Johnny Bullet episode #159 in English
From ComicBookBin:  New webcomic Johnny Bullet episode #159 in French

From BleedingCool:  Marvel's "Fresh Start" will include dual issue numbers and a new trade dress/graphic design.

From CBR:  The Justice League has a new villain, debuting in "Justice League #41."

From BleedingCool:  "All-New Wolverine #33" has a Marvel characters as President of the United States.

From ComicBookBin:  New webcomic Johnny Bullet episode #158 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New webcomic Johnny Bullet episode #158 in French.

From MangaTokyo:  "Detective Conan" ("Case Closed" in the USA), from creator Gosho Aoyama, is ending its short hiatus and returns in a week.

From Crunchyroll:  The "Hunter x Hunter" manga, from Yoshihiro Togashi, is going on hiatus again.

From JapanNews:  Here is a review of a French graphic novel, "Matsumoto."   He was the cult leader behind the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack.

From BleedingCool:  Comics creators writer letters in support of 1980s-90s comic book creator, Gerard Jones.  Jones recently entered a guilty plea to two felony counts concerning his possession and distribution of child pornography.

From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics co-CEO Nancy Silberkleit celebrates "World Autism Awareness Day with the recent addition to Riverdale, Scarlet.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #157 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #157 in French.

From MarvelNews:  The Fantastic Four returns to comic books in "Fantastic Four #1" this August.

I Reads You Juniors December 2017 - Update #61

Support Leroy on Patreon.

Leroy's Amazon Comics and Graphic Novels Page:

From Newsarama:  December 28th 2017 was Stan Lee's 95th birthday and industry pros wished him a happy birthday.

From ComicBook:  Batman co-creator, the late Bill Finger, had a street in New York City named for him - "Bill Finger Way."

From ComicBook:  Dr. Strange is apparently set to become the "God of Magic."

From BleedingCool:  The Max Landis story that was removed from The DC Holiday Special 2017 is available again on digital copies bought via comiXology.

OBIT - From BleedingCool:  British comic book creator and artist, Jim Baikie, died at the age of 77, Friday, December 29, 2017.  A mainstay of the venerable British comics magazines, "2000AD," Baikie created the alien science fiction comic strip, "Skizz" with Alan Moore.  He also created with Moore the comics, "The First American," for Moore's America's Best Comics (ABC) line.

From TheBeat:  In his column, "Tilting at Windmills #266, Brian Hibbs writes an open letter to new Marvel Comic EiC C.B. Cebulski, with some good suggestions for the publisher - that will ultimately be ignored.

From BleedingCool:  A list of rumors about upcoming creator changes at Marvel, including Nick Spencer on "The Amazing Spider-Man."

From AldotCom:  Alabama.com profiles Alabama favorite son, Jason Aaron.

From BleedingCool:  Marvel's "Weapon X" comic book could become "X-Men: Black."

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics is launching an app that will allow fans to create their own comics - which Marvel will completely own.

From ComicBook:  There is a controversial "Boruto: Naruto Next Generations" cover that has fans fuming.

OBIT - From Newsarama:  Veteran comic book inker, Victor Llamas, has died at the age of 41, Friday, December 22, 2017.  He broke into the industry via Top Cow and inked then emerging artists like David Finch and Joe Benitez.  There is a GoFundMe page here to help his family with expenses.

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COMIC BOOK THEFTS:
From ABCActionNews:   Thousands of dollars in comic books stolen from IDC Comics Toys & Collectibles in Avon Park, Florida.

From BostonHerald: $20,000 in comic books stolen The Hall of Comics store in Southborough, Massachusetts.

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From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #148 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullete episode #148 in French.

From BleedingCool:  Sony Would Have Liked the Rights to a Gay Miles Morales Spider-Man.

From BleedingCool:  Brian Michael Bendis announces that his "Punisher" comic book, "Punisher: End of Days," has been cancelled, as well as some of his other Marvel projects of which we have never heard.

From BleedingCool:  Rumor is that Brian Michael Bendis will write a Superman book in 2018.

From Mashable:  This article explains the difference between the 2003 film, "Old Boy," and the manga from which it was adapted.

From BleedingCool:  It's Alive is bringing back Trina Robbins' long out-of-print graphic novel, "The Silver Metal Lover" with a Kickstarter campaign.

From CBLDF and LatuffCartoons:  Lawyers for Turkey‘s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan pressure Twitter to delete the content of 80 of Brazilian cartoonist, Carlos Latuff's posts, including 11 of Latuff's ‘toons,

From ScienceFiction:  Gail Simone has advice for aspiring comic book writers.

From FortressofSolitude:  An embarrassing (and typical) "best comic books of 2017" list.

From NYT:  The New York Times profiles a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania comic book store, Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse, that promotes diversity.

From BleedingCool:  Joe Quesada takes to Twitter to discuss Marvel Comics' recent cancellation of titles starring LGBTQ characters, characters of color, and female characters.

From BleedingCool:  Joe Glass examines the victims of the Marvel Comics cancellation bloodbath.

From BleedingCool:  Writer David L. Walker has confirmed that his "Luke Cage" series is being cancelled due to low sales.

From CBR:  The site ranks every comic book movie in 2017 from worst (Netflix's "Death Note") to best ("Logan").

From Newsarama:  The "Black Comic Book Festival" is back.  According to Newsarama:  "The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture has opened registration for its "6th Annual Black Comic Book Festival" that will be held on January 12-13, 2018 at the Schomburg Center. Registration is free and open to the public and is available at schomburgcenter.eventbrite.com."

From THR:  Joe R. Lansdale has announced a comic book prequel to his prose novella, "Bubba Ho-Tep," which inspired a 2002 cult film from director Don Coscarelli (creator of the "Phantasm" film franchise).

From WashPost:  Novelist Brad Meltzer has also written comic books, like "Justice League" and "Identity Crisis" for DC Comics.  Now, he is announcing a graphic novel about "Ghandi."

From MyAJC:  Two brothers launch a line of Black superhero comic books in hopes to catch the upcoming "Black Panther" movie wave.

From Crunchyroll:  Masashi Kishimoto, the creator of the manga, "Naruto," has a new manga due next year.  Japanese fans caught to see a sneak preview of draft pages from the upcoming and still unnamed manga.

From BleedingCool:  Japan's "Shonen Magazine" (Kodansha) is running a "Marvel manga" contest to recruit new talent.

From BleedingCool:  Trade paperback and collections from Dynamite Entertainment for March 2018.

From BleedingCool:  The DC Comics imprint, "Young Animal," curated by Gerard Way ("The Umbrella Academy") will be relaunched in March with four new titles.

From JeffLemireBlog:  Acclaimed writer, Jeff Lemire, talks about his plans for 2018.

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From BleedingCool:  In Lafayette, Louisiana, comic shop owner, Teresa Moran, is trying to buy the shopping center, where her store, Acadian Comics & Collectibles, is located.  She has started a GoFundMe campaign to raise one million dollars.  [I know Teresa Moran a.k.a. "Miss Teresa," and her shop is the descendant of the comic shop I first patronized when I entered college. - Leroy]

From GoFundMe:  Teresa Moran's GoFundMe page to buy a shopping center.

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From Kotaku:  The "Terra Formars" returns to Japan's "Young Jump" next April.

From Newsarama:  Yen Press March 2018 solicitations.

From Newsarama:  A first look at "Rise of the Black Panther #1."

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #147 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #147 in French.

From BleedingCool:  Marc Silvestri's "Cyber Force" returns (again) with Matt Hawkins and Bryan Hill writing and Silvestri "overseeing" the project.

From BleedingCool:  Marvel announces a digital first Avengers comic books, "Avengers: Back to Basics," written by Peter David.

From BleedingCool:  Editorial changes are happening at DC Comics, including for the Superman line, which Brian Michael Bendis will apparently join as a writer (Action Comics?).

From Gizmodo:  The site explains Patreon's recent fee change announcement, which has caused an uproar.  The changes will affect small press and indie comics creators who use the platform.

From IrishTime:  Controversial film director Takashi Miike talks about how important manga was to his generations of boyhood.

From KotakuAustralia:  The best selling manga of 2017 in Japan - actually December 5, 2016 to November 27, 2017.  "One Piece" is #1.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #146 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #146 in French.

From BleedingCool:   An article about calculating history and the sale of the color cover proof for Action Comics #1 - the one that introduced Superman.

From IGN:  What the Star Wars comic books and novels can tell us about "The Last Jedi."

From BleedingCool:  Upcoming "Power Rangers" comic book will featuring killing off of some Rangers.

From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics will release "Dave McKean: Short Film as a hardcover  book and a Blu-ray.

From ComicBook:  "One Piece" creator Eiichiro Oda makes a statement about his manga's record breaking sales.

From DangerousMinds:  A look at the comic book story that inspired John Carpenter's 1988 film, "They Live."

From ComicBook:  The "Hunter x Hunter" manga returns next year (2018) in Japan's "Weekly Shonen Jump."

From LRMOnline:  Kouhei Horikoshi, the creator of the manga, "My Hero Academia," will create a poster that brings Star Wars and his manga together.  The poster will appear in a February 2018 issue of "Weekly Shonen Jump."

From Kotaku:  "Junji Ito Collection" is an upcoming anime series that will adapt the super-creepy horror comics of mangaka, Junji Ito.

From LawOfficer:  Police officer Greg Granderson creates a comic book as an outreach to kids.

From ComicBook:  Marvel announces a six issue New Mutants miniseries, "New Mutants: Dead Souls."

From SideshowToys:  Sideshow talks to pretend comic book artist J. Scott Campbell about his new line of statues/figures from Sideshow.  They call Campbell a legend, apparently not really knowing what a legend actually is.

From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #145 in English.
From ComicBookBin:  New Johnny Bullet episode #145 in French.

From Twitter/BBCArchive:  This archival video is from a 1975 BBC profile of the great and influential artist, Frank Hampson, who created the classic British sci-fi comic, Dan Dare.  Hampson apparently had been experiencing hardship at the time.

From BleedingCool:  When a monthly Batman comic book artist lives on the edge of poverty.

Review: BORUTO: Naruto Next Generations Volume 1

BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

CREATOR/SUPERVISOR: Masashi Kishimoto
ART: Mikio Ikemoto
SCRIPT: Ukyo Kodachi
TRANSLATION: Mari Morimoto
LETTERS: Snir Aharon
EDITOR: Alexis Kirsch
ISBN: 978-1-4215-9211-4; paperback (April 2017); Rated “T” for “Teen”
208pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

The long-running manga series, Naruto, was the story of Uzumaki Naruto, a young shinobi (ninja) who lived in the shinobi Village of Konohagakure.  Naruto had an incorrigible knack for mischief and was the biggest troublemaker at the Ninja Academy.  However, Naruto was serious about his quest to become the world’s greatest ninja and the Hokage, leader of his village.

Under the supervision of Naruto creator, Masashi Kishimoto, artist Mikio Ikemoto and script writer Ukyo Kodachi present Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.  This is the sequel to Naruto and focuses on Naruto's son, Uzumaki Boruto.  Naruto did achieve his dream and his face sits atop the Hokage monument, but this is not Naruto's story.  A new generation of ninja wants to take the stage, including Boruto, who wants to topple his father's face from the Hokage monument.

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, Vol. 1 (entitled Uzumaki Boruto!! – Chapters 1 to 3) finds young Boruto making his way through the life of a ninja-in-training.  He lacks patience and wants to be powerful now, so he is just like his father once was.  The Chunin Exams are coming up, and Boruto sees this as his chance to shine... even if has to take help from the Scientific Ninja Tool Corps.

[This volume includes the bonus story, “NARUTO: The Path Lit by the Full Moon.”]

As a Shonen Jump manga reader, I am glad to be back in the world of my favorite Shonen Jump title, Naruto.  I have been waiting for the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations manga, and while it is not the manga that Naruto was, Boruto is off to a good start.

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Volume 1 contains three chapters (and an extra story starring a big-time Naruto villain), and those three chapters quickly go about the job of establishing this next generation of shinobi.  Although Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto is no longer the lead writer and artist on Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, he is supervising a creative team, artist Mikio Ikemoto and script writer Ukyo Kodachi, that is thus far hitting all the familiar Naruto notes, while adding some beats of their own by defining new personalities.

The truth is Boruto is a good Naruto substitute.  It may also end up being a good manga all on its own.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: NARUTO: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring

NARUTO: THE SEVENTH HOKAGE AND THE SCARLET SPRING
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Masashi Kishimoto
TRANSLATION: Mari Morimoto
LETTERS: John Hunt
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8493-5; paperback (January 2016); Rated “T” for “Teen”
216pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

A young shinobi (ninja), Uzumaki Naruto had an incorrigible knack for mischief, and he was the biggest troublemaker at the Ninja Academy in the shinobi Village of Konohagakure.  Naruto was an outcast.  There was, however, something special about Naruto.  When he was a baby, Naruto's parents (father Minato and mother Kushina) imprisoned a nine-tailed fox spirit (Kurama) inside his infant body.  In time, he became a ninja with his classmates Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke.

Then, the story of young Naruto ended...

Naruto, the long-running ninja manga from creator, Masashi Kishimoto, ended with Chapter 700, published in Japan's Weekly Shonen Jump on November 10, 2014.  However, a few months later came a miniseries that focused on the children of the main characters in Naruto.  It was published in Weekly Shonen Jump from April 2015 to July 2015, and it was entitled  Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring.

The setup is basically this:  Naruto the teen learned special ninja techniques, and he helped save the world.  He achieved his dream of becoming the greatest ninja in his village, and now, he is the Seventh Hokage.   Time has passed, and Naruto is a father, but he also faces new troubles bubbling up in the shinobi world.

As Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring (Chapters 700+1 to 700+10) opens, some time has passed since the Fourth Great Ninja War.  Naruto does the mundane work of leading Konohagakure, but his son, Boruto, and his pranks demand attention – like father, like son.

Meanwhile, Sarada, the daughter of Sasuke and Sakura, is troubled by her parents' relationship.  Sasuke is always away on missions, so she wonders if he really cares about his wife and daughter.  When new trouble arises, Naruto leaves the village to find Sasuke, so Sarada and her friend, Akimichi Cho-Cho, follow the Seventh Hokage.  What Sarada discovers will fill her with doubt.

The last volume of the Naruto graphic novel series, Vol. 72., was published in North America this past October.  That was a little less than a year after the final chapter of the Naruto manga (Chapter 700) was published in Japan (November 2014).

Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring is a stand-alone volume that finds our favorite ninja teenagers now adults and parents.  In this 10-chapter tale, Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto focuses not on Naruto or his son, Boruto, but on Sarada.  Sure, this would not be a Naruto manga without Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura battling some ninja enemy.

Instead, Kishimoto shows off his skill at creating engaging characters.  Sarada is a wonderful and complex and wonderfully complex character with her own desires and questions and with the magical inscrutable teenage nature that makes for attractive teen characters.  I had a blast reading this.  It gives me hope that when Kishimoto revisits Naruto, he will be able to make it worth the wait for his readers.  And he'll have a superb character in Sarada if he chooses to use her again.

A+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

Review: NARUTO Volume 72

NARUTO, VOL. 72
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Masashi Kishimoto
TRANSLATION: Mari Morimoto
LETTERS: John Hunt
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8284-9; paperback (October 2015); Rated “T” for “Teen”
216pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 U.K.

Created by Masashi Kishimoto, Naruto began as a one-shot manga that was published in the August 1997 issue of Akamaru Jump.  Naruto the series began its serialization in Weekly Shōnen Jump on September 21, 1999 and ended on November 10, 2014.  The final 10 chapters of Naruto arrive in North America, collected in the graphic novel, Naruto Volume 72.

Naruto focuses on Uzumaki Naruto.  As a young shinobi (ninja), Naruto had an incorrigible knack for mischief and was also the biggest troublemaker at the Ninja Academy in the shinobi Village of Konohagakure.  He was an outcast because there was something special about him.  When he was a baby, Naruto's parents (father Minato and mother Kushina) imprisoned a nine-tailed fox spirit (Kurama) inside his infant body.  In time, he became a ninja with his classmates Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke.  Now, 16-years-old and incorrigible as ever, Naruto has to save the world.

As Naruto, Vol. 72 (entitled Uzumaki Naruto – Chapters 691 to 700) opens, the Fourth Great Ninja War has ended, and its instigators, the Akatsuki, have been vanquished.  Naruto and Sasuke sealed away the rogue Rabbit Goddess Kaguya.  Now, the reunited classmates, fueled by opposing ideals, will fight each other in one final battle in order to determine the future of the world.

I have made no secret that I think Naruto has been one of best comics published in North America over the last decade.  In fact, there were a few years, when I thought that Naruto was the best comic book of the year.  So I'm sad that it has ended.  I didn't see it coming.  I simply believed that the Fourth Great Ninja War would end and that the series would move on to the next world beaters.

Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto has a note at the beginning of Vol. 72 in which he says (basically) that he'd be honored if, in the future, we occasionally recall that there was once a character named Naruto.  Kishimoto-san, because of your work, Naruto will never be a “was.”  There will always be a character named Uzumaki Naruto.

Readers, old and new, looking for the best in shonen battle manga will have 72 volumes of the Shonen Jump title, Naruto (the king of ninja manga), to enjoy.

A+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

Naruto: Naruto and the Sage of Six Paths

I read Naruto, Vol. 70

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.  Follow me on Twitter and Tumblr or at Grumble.  Support me on Patreon.

Naruto: The Start of Crimson Spring

I read Naruto, Vol. 69

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin, which is seeking donations.  Follow me on Twitter and at Grumble.

Naruto: Path

I read Naruto, Vol. 68

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin, which is seeking donations.  Follow me on Twitter or at Grumble.

I Reads You Review: NARUTO Volume 67

NARUTO, VOL. 67

Creators: Masashi Kishimoto; Mari Morimoto (Translator), John Hunt (Lettering)
Publishing Information: VIZ Media (@VIZMedia); 192 pages, $9.99 (US), $12.99 (CAN), £6.99 U.K.
Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-1-4215-7384-7 (ISBN), paperback (October 2014)

Rated: “T” for “Teen”

The star of the manga, Naruto, is Uzumaki Naruto.  He was a young shinobi (ninja) with a knack for mischief, and he was the biggest troublemaker at the Ninja Academy in the shinobi Village of Konohagakure.  However, Naruto was also two things:  special and an outcast.  When he was a baby, his parents (father Minato and mother Kushina) imprisoned a nine-tailed fox spirit (Kurama) inside his infant body.  Now, 16-years-old and incorrigible as ever, Naruto is still serious about his quest to become the world’s greatest ninja.

Guided by their secret ally, Uchiha Obito, Akatsuki villains Uchiha Madara and Kabuto declare war on the Five Great Nations of the ninja.  This begins the Fourth Great Ninja War, and the five great shinobi leaders, known as the Gokage, form the Allied Shinobi Forces to fight this war.  Obito and Madara's goal is to revive the monstrous tailed-beast, Ten Tails, but Obito has even more diabolical plans.

As Naruto, Vol. 67 (entitled An Opening – Chapters 638 to 647) begins, Obito reveals himself.  He absorbed Ten Tails into himself and is now the ultimate jinchuriki.  Not waiting, the Lords Hokage attack, and are met by Obito's awesome new powers.  A power that can stop Obito-Ten Tails and save them is discovered.  They will need it, as Ten Tails reaches his final form, the Divine Tree.  Learn how that development reveals the origins of the shinobi (ninja).

After an almost 11-month hiatus from reading the Naruto manga, I read two in three weeks.  And I want more.  Naruto is my favorite comic, and I think that it is currently among the world's best comics.  Creator Masashi Kishimoto has a way of usually offering surprises in Naruto – from new characters to sudden reveals.  Naruto Volume 67 presents a history of the ninja that is practically a throwaway item, but it would make a good story arc by itself.  Kishimoto is stretching out this battle with Obito, but that does not read as a stunt.  This Ten Tails battle is simply too good to end.

A+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

I Reads You Review: NARUTO Volume 66

NARUTO, VOL. 66

Creators: Masashi Kishimoto; Mari Morimoto (Translator), John Hunt (Lettering)
Publishing Information: VIZ Media (@VIZMedia); 192 pages, $9.99 (US), $12.99 (CAN), £6.99 U.K.
Ordering Numbers: ISBN: 978-1-4215-6948-2 (ISBN), paperback (July 2014)

Rated: “T” for “Teen”

Uzumaki Naruto is a young shinobi (ninja) with a knack for mischief.  Once, he was the biggest troublemaker at the Ninja Academy in the shinobi Village of Konohagakure.  However, Naruto was also two things:  special and an outcast.  When he was a baby, his parents (father Minato and mother Kushina) imprisoned a nine-tailed fox spirit (Kurama) inside his infant body.  Now, 16-years-old and incorrigible as ever, Naruto is still serious about his quest to become the world’s greatest ninja.

Guided by their secret ally, Uchiha Obito, Akatsuki villains Uchiha Madara and Kabuto declare war on the Five Great Nations of the ninja.  This begins the Fourth Great Ninja War, and the five great shinobi leaders, known as the Gokage, form the Allied Shinobi Forces to fight this war.  Obito and Madara's goal is to revive the monstrous tailed-beast, Ten Tails.

As Naruto, Vol. 66 (entitled The New Three – Chapters 628 to 637) begins, Obito and Madara have indeed revived Ten Tails.  While Madara guides Ten Tails, Obito faces his one-time teammate, Hatake Kakashi, who is also Naruto's teacher and mentor.

All is not lost for the shinobi forces.  The Four Lords Hokage arrive, including someone dear to Naruto.  Speaking of our favorite teen ninja, Naruto and Sakura Haruno are reunited with their prodigal teammate, Sasuke Uchiha – Cell 7.  Will they be enough to stop Ten Tails?  Meanwhile, troublemaker Lord Orochimaru and his partners, Suigetsu and Karin, make their play.

It has been almost 11 months since I last read a volume of the Naruto manga.  Naruto is my favorite comic, and I put off keeping up with it, as I read other things.  I recently snagged two volumes, including Naruto Volume 66.

A year ago, in a review of Vol. 65 for the ComicBookBin website, I wrote that Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto was doing some of his best storytelling.  That is still true.  Naruto is on the precipice of making its next big leap, but first this, long war of the tailed-beast needs to wrap up.  Kishimoto is using this time in the narrative to not only make shocking reveals, but also to reunite many characters and to dig into the past of some.  As always, Kishimoto gives his readers a reason to keep reading, because Naruto Vol. 66 is as good as the promise made by Vol. 65, which sets a high standard for Vol. 67.

A+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

Naruto: Hashirama and Madara

I read Naruto: Hashirama and Madara, Vol. 65

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (and follow me on Twitter and please, visit my Indiegogo campaign).

Naruto: Ten Tails

I read Naruto, Vol. 64: Ten Tails

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free smart phones apps and comics).

Naruto: World of Dreams

I read Naruto, Vol. 63: World of Dreams

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.

Naruto: The Crack

I read Naruto, Vol. 62: The Crack

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free smart phone apps and comics).

Naruto: Uchiha Brothers United Front

I read Naruto, Vol. 61: Uchiha Brothers United Front

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin.

Review: NARUTO Volume 60

NARUTO, VOL. 60
VIZ MEDIA – @VIZMedia

CARTOONIST: Masashi Kishimoto
TRANSLATION: Mari Morimoto
ENGLISH ADAPTATION: Joel Enos
LETTERS: John Hunt
ISBN: 978-1-4215-4943-9; paperback (February 2013); Rated “T” for “Teen”
192pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

The worldwide bestselling manga, Naruto, began life as a one-shot comic appearing in the August 1997 issue of Akamaru Jump. Then, it began a still-ongoing serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump #43. The first graphic novel collection (tankoubon) of the series was released in March of 2003 in Japan. VIZ Media published its first Naruto graphic novel in August of 2003.

For the publication of the 60th tankoubon/graphic novel, several artists celebrated the publishing event by contributing pin-ups and art to the book. Naruto Volume 60 contains the work of the following artists: Atsuhiro Sato, Takahiro Hiraishi, Mikio Ikemoto, Yuichi Itakura, Masaki Murakami, Koichi Nishiya, Akira Okubo, Akio Shiraska, and Kenji Taira.

Naruto is the story of a young shinobi (ninja) named Uzumaki Naruto. He has a knack for mischief and is the biggest troublemaker at the Ninja Academy in the shinobi Village of Konohagakure. Naruto is special and an outcast, because when he was a baby, his parents imprisoned a nine-tailed fox spirit within his infant body. Now, 16-years-old and incorrigible as ever, Naruto is still serious about his quest to become the world’s greatest ninja.

The current Naruto story arc continues the Fourth Great Ninja War. The conflict begins when Akatsuki villains Madara and Kabuto declare war on the Five Great Nations, the world of the ninja. The five great leaders, known as the Gokage, form the Allied Shinobi Forces to fight back.

As Naruto, Vol. 60 (entitled Kurama – Chapters 566 to 575) starts, Naruto battles the other tailed beasts. His partner in battle is Killer Bee, the jinchûriki (hosts) to the eight-tailed octo-beast. Naruto’s mentor, Hatake Kakashi, and Guy join them to form a quartet against Madara. Now, Naruto tries to align himself with the other tailed beasts. Will he be successful? Can he also take on Madara? Naruto’s comrades, however, aren’t about to let him fight alone.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Sasuke, Naruto’s former teammate, decides that it is time to fight Naruto again. Kabuto, who revives dead shinobi to fight in the Fourth Great Ninja War, has summoned a special reunion for Sasuke.

The Naruto manga continues the current long story arc, the Fourth Great Ninja War. Once a year or so, we get a volume that shows the evolution of Naruto – how the outcast becomes a hero. It is an ongoing process, as it seems as if Naruto has to learn to become a hero over and over again. Naruto Volume 60 is one of those graphic novels that shows Naruto grasping something, some idea, some technique, etc. essential to his journey to becoming whatever he is supposed to become.

Naruto creator, Masashi Kishimoto keeps the series fresh in this way – not that he really needs to do so. The subplots and characters keep growing, and most of them are fantastically interesting. For instant, this Uchiha family element promises great new fun in the coming graphic novels (or tankoubon).

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Naruto: The Five Kage

I read Naruto, Vol. 59: Nobody (Naruto (Graphic Novels)).

I posted a review at ComicBookBin.

Naruto: Naruto vs. Itachi

I read Naruto, Vol. 58

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free comics).

Naruto: Battle

I read Naruto, Vol. 57 (Naruto (Graphic Novels))

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin (which has free comics).

Naruto: Team Asuma, Reunited

I read Naruto, Vol. 56

I posted a review at the Comic Book Bin (which has FREE smart phone apps and comics).