Title: Naruto
Author: Masashi Kishimoto
Genre: Action (Shonen Style)
Some manga just isn’t good. Others are fun, but forgettable. Then there are those that come along and change the entire face of the manga/anime fan community. Naruto is one such story.
Brief Synopsis
Uzumaki Naruto is a loudmouthed kid with big ambitions. In a village filled with powerful ninja, he boasts that one day he’ll be Hokage (Lit: Fire Shadow) or chief ninja of Konohagakure (Lit: Village Hidden in the Leaves; Hidden Leaf Village) despite his pathetic performance at the academy. In traditional shonen manga style, he conquers his weaknesses, makes friends that help him along the way, and fights intense battles with bizarre villains.
Art: 8.5/10
Kishimoto-sensei’s got some real talent for creating distinct characters. Unlike some manga, Naruto’s characters each have well-defined facial features that don’t get the reader confused as to who’s who. The jutsus are very cool and imaginative with nifty effects. The only major weakness of the art is the density of the action in the fight scenes. Between the sound effects and the combat, the frames can sometimes get too crowded for easy viewing.
Characters: 9/10
No matter how well they’re drawn, characters can still be dull and uninteresting; however this is not the case here. Each one has a story to tell, a unique personality, and beliefs they live by. Kishimoto-sensei fleshes out the main characters very well without bogging the reader down with minutiae. The secondary characters get decent attention without detracting from the main story.
Story: 8/10
A common theme in Naruto is a desire for power. The heroes want it, the villains want it, and the anti-heroes really want it. When you pare it down to the bare bones, it’s not the most original of plots, but the uniqueness of the characters and the tough decisions they must make saves it from mediocrity. The villains have plots as intricate as they are dastardly, and the heroes give their all to stop them.
Language: Mild (PG level cursing; some suggestive references)
Violence: Moderate (severed limbs, stabbing, bloody combat)
Fanservice/Nudity: Mild (Women partially concealed with smoke, cleavage)
Overall: 8.5/10
Naruto is a fine manga; lots of action, humor, and drama in a good balance.
