Throw-Back Thursday Review: Naruto V.02

Title: Naruto
Volume: 2 (of 72)
Creator: Masashi Kishimoto
Format: Unflipped
Original Publisher: SHUEISHA
US Publisher: VIZ
Release Date: 12/3/03
Pages: 206
ISBN: 1591161789
MSRP: $7.95
Genre: Shonen Jump
Rated: T (For Teen)

Description: Twelve years ago, a giant fox demon with seven tails attacked the ninja village of Konohagakure. Defeated by the Hokage, the village champion, the mighty demon's soul was sealed into the body of an innocent orphan child: Naruto Uzumaki. Now, Naruto is a 12-year-old ninja-in-training, struggling to be the best, together with his classmates Sasuke and Sakura. Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura have passed the final test to become junior ninja - but now the real challenge begins. Tired of finding stray cats and doing day care, the young ninja ask for a tougher assignment, and find themselves - together with their teacher, Kakashi - body guarding a cranky bridge builder from the faraway Land of the Waves. But Tazuna the bridge builder is in more danger than anyone realizes: he's the target of elite ninja assassins, including Zabuza, "the demon," the most murderous of the Mist Ninjas. And to even have a chance of defeating Zabuza, Kakashi will have to use the secret power concealed in his always-hidden left eye...

Contains Chapters 8-17:

• Number 8: You Failed!
• Number 9: The Worst Client
• Number 10: Target #2
• Number 11: Going Ashore
• Number 12: Game Over!!!
• Number 13: Ninja!!
• Number 14: The Secret Plan . . . !!!
• Number 15: Return of the Sharingnan
• Number 16: Who Are You?!
• Number 17: Preparations For Battle

Review:

Cover: Volume 2 of Naruto has stuck the same with the cover. It is almost exactly identical to the Japanese Version. The front we have a nice white background. We have out three Genin Ninja’s, Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke, doing some attack poses, which I find rather nice with the content of this Volume. In the back of them is a picture of Konohagakure Village. Under our heroes is the Series title, which stays true to the original as well. Then we have the Mangaka, followed by the Volume Number in Orange letters. The front cover truly stands out and its not a bad stand out either.

The Spine from top to bottom is the same as all the other Jump Mangas. We have the Shonen Jump Logo, the Series Title, the Volume Number, the Mangaka, a profile shot of Sasuke, and the Viz logo. I don’t mind the spine all that much. Putting it up against Naruto Volume 1 is still rather a nice look. Maybe we will see a Box Set one day and it may look even nicer.

The Back Cover had a different fighting pose of out three ninjas, which is kind of nice to see as well. The top of the cover we have the Shonen Jump Logo, the Series Title, and the Volume Number. To the left of out ninjas we have the Volume Title, The Worst Client, followed by a nice summary explaining the contents of the Volume.

All in all the cover is quite nice. The only problems I have is the same problems I have with the other Shonen Jump Volumes, the repeating of the Series Title and Volume Number at every corner of the book.

Artwork: The Artwork in Naruto flows rather nicely together. All the images are of the same style, which is pleasant to see when reading a manga. The lines are done very clean as well, which is also very pleasing to look at as well.

Translation: The translation is VERY ACCURATE. I have read the original and Fan Translations, and VIZ did an excellent job with their translation of Volume 2. The only thing I did not care for was the dubbing of sound effects. This can easily be looked over though, as I find I am getting used to this by the Shonen Jump line.

Content (Warning: May Contain Spoilers): Naruto Volume 2 continues from where the last Volume left off our 3 Genin Ninjas have failed Kakashi’s test, leaving them down. He lets them try to pass again but the only way that they can pass is if Sakura and Sasuke eat the prized food, and not give any to the tied up Naruto. Sakura eventually gives in and this is what let’s the ninja’s pass his test, the showing of Teamwork.

After the first Chapter we move on to the second ARC of Naruto, the Zabuza and Haku ARC. This Volume mainly takes up this ARC as well, as well as the next 2 or 3 Volumes. Our ninjas are assigned the task of bringing a bride builder back to his own country so he can finish the bridge his country has been building. Along the way, the ninjas are attacked by Zabuza, an evil ninja who works for a rich man named Gato. Gato does not want the bridge to be finished so he will stop at nothing to kill the bridge builder.

Zabuza has other plans as he finds out that the Genins teacher is Kakashi. Kakashi does battle with Zabuza and is eventually caught in one of Zabuza’s Ninjutsu techniques. Naruto and Sasuke work together and free Kakashi. Kakashi then uses his Sharingnan Eye and mirrors all of Zabuza’s attacks. As the battle continues, another ninja, Haku, steps in and supposedly kills Zabuza. He says he will take Zabuza from here and takes away Zabuza’s body.

Haku does not really kill Zabuza, just injures him. The two work together and they now must regroup and attack as one next time. The volume ends with Kakashi teaching his students about Chakra as they are about to do some more training (Tree Climbing).

All in all it was a rather pleasing Manga. If you are a fan of Shonen Titles I would suggest picking it up. There is a lot of action and suspenseful scenes. The only real problem with the volume is the lack of back story and character development. There is some, but not enough for my interest.

Objectionable Content:

• Language: No
• Violence: Yes
• Nudity: No
• Sexual Situation: No

Overall Rating: 4 (Out of 5)

Where Purchased: Walden Books
Original Review Date: 12/2/03