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Naruto 500
[chapter link]
Quite the milestone for this series. It hasn’t all been smooth sailing, but recent chapters have brought the series back to enjoyable shonen.
Like the supposed symbolism behind Naruto’s orange jumpsuit, the whirlpool symbol on the back is an interesting touch.
Walls of text here. Not too much to comment on. Acceptable writing, at least.
So the Kyuubi was released because of Naruto’s birth? It was Naruto’s fault all along!
You jinxed it, lady
I can’t recall reading a vivid illustration of childbirth in manga before. Didn’t think Naruto would be my first instance of that.
Damn. Naruto’s had a pretty horrible life from day one. Minute one, even.
Final Flash: Nothing amazing, but nothing boring, either. A bit lackluster as a milestone chapter, though.
Naruto 499
[chapter link]
Nice to see Naruto becoming calm as he advances towards mastery of the power available to him, rather than becoming a berserker type. Also, his positivity here is a huge plus. This series got too bogged down in angst and negativity. Hopefully Naruto will soon be strong enough to back up his convictions and return the series to its enjoyable roots.
Assuming Naruto can use Rasengan Barrage outside of his own body, he’s becoming a far more formidable fighter already, even before the upcoming upgrade.
P8: Excellent art, and such ridiculous strength.
P12: What a moment. It’s going to be interesting to see exactly what Naruto will be capable of henceforth. Also, stand by for imminent Naruto re-tiering in our Great Shonen Tier List project.
Cracks are beginning to appear in Kyuubi’s strong facade. For his importance to the story, he’s barely been developed. Naruto’s reassuring statement to him seems to hint at a possible development in both Kyuubi as a character and the symbiosis between the two.
Kushina being the previous Jinchuuriki may not be hugely surprising, but it’s great that we’ll tackle the entirety of the past of Kushina, Minato, and Naruto within this arc. Also, a truth-unveiling flashback is a fitting time for the series to hit chapter 500.
Final Flash: Naruto is firmly back in the echelon of good shonen. Pleased by this chapter and excited for the next.
Naruto 498
[chapter link]
Good punchline from Naruto’s mom. Good punch, too.
Naruto realizing who she is and hugging her is a pretty touching moment. Well done.
“Just thinking how glad I am to see my mom’s a babe!” Uh… Naruto…
On the other hand, “You definitely take after me!” is a great line.
Her chakra being special will surely come into play shortly.
The flashback scene is sweet, but it’s also thought-provoking. It makes me consider the possibilities of the Naruto story without Sasuke. Minato certainly seemed to do well for himself without a pouting, unconvincing rival-turned-villain that taints what plot he touches.
Excellent last page.
Final Flash: Very nice chapter. One of the few instances I’ve found myself accepting a break in intense action.
Naruto 497
[chapter link]
For all this series’ missteps over the last couple years, the Naruto vs. Kyuubi cover art on this issue of Shonen Jump makes this feel like a truly monumental chapter. Let’s hope it doesn’t disappoint.
Naruto rapping to himself is not exactly the start I’d hoped for.
P4: What a fantastic spread. Excellently drawn. This is what power looks like, Kubo.
Gargantuan Rasengan? I would love to see this against a different type of opponent.
I shouldn’t be surprised that Naruto can lift Kyuubi, but I admit I am, if only a little. He’s grown so much since the last time we’ve really seen him interact with Kyuubi.
P11: Another excellent action scene. Great use of white space, speed lines, and slight sketch-art. Kubo and Togashi could both take note.
This entire chakra tug-of-war thing may never have been explained, but it’s being used in an interesting fashion.
What?! Out of nowhere, Naruto’s mother. Consider me surprised.
Final Flash: I am legitimately impressed by this chapter. Superb art, good plot progression, and a genuinely interesting twist. It wasn’t flawless, but this chapter proves to me that Kishimoto still remembers how to make enjoyable manga.
Naruto 496
[chapter link]
The architecture and lore Kishimoto has created in the first few pages is rather interesting. Too bad someone is rapping over it.
Okay, Naruto faking his own beheading was actually pretty funny. Yamato sold the scene perfectly.
Cone on, Naruto, enter this hyperbolic time cha– I mean, this room.
Finally, this is actually going to happen. Conquering the fox will be fun.
It’s a little odd not to even hint at an explanation of this whole chakra-sucking business. I guess we’re just supposed to go with it.
Bee and the Oxtopus can only help a little, too. We may have had a lot of uninteresting developments to deal with on the way to this moment, but this is still pretty meaningful for Naruto the series and Naruto the character.
Final Flash: I’m looking forward to the following week’s Naruto chapter for the first time in… well, I can’t remember when last I did. This series still has a little magic left in it, so long as Sasuke isn’t around.
Hunter x Hiatus (Again)
News in Issue #26 of Weekly Shonen Jump indicates that Togashi Yoshihiro’s Hunter x Hunter will once again be going on indefinite hiatus beginning in the following issue. This news is not surprising to any longtime fans of the series, as Togashi has frequently taken breaks for unconfirmed reasons. Rumors abound as to the reasons for so much time off, ranging from a serious medical condition to personal issues regarding the merchandising of his works to an overwhelming, life-ruling love for the Dragon Quest series of video games. These rumors are all speculation (well, except for his love of DQ), so it’s difficult to formulate an opinion of Togashi as a mangaka. Is he lazy for taking so much time off? Is he brave for drawing as much as he can while his health allows him? Is he foolish for not expecting Shueisha to capitalize on the popularity of his series, given that he previously wrote the successful YuYu Hakusho?
Regardless of the reasons for his absences, Hunter x Hunter and its fans have suffered. This most recent run of HxH began this year, in Issue 5-6 (double issue), 2010, with chapter 291. Issue 26 contains chapter 310, the last chapter before the new hiatus. In that span of 20 chapters, we’ve seen two major, conclusive fights (Netero vs. the King, Gon vs. Pitou), two minor fights (Killua vs. Palm, Ikarugo vs. Werefin), one huge plot point (Kaito), some other minor / inconclusive action (various people vs. Pouf, King vs. Melereon & Knuckle, the “game”), and whatever the hell chapter 299 was.
This run for HxH has actually been one of the better ones. 20 chapters is enough for two volumes, an improvement from Togashi’s recent tendency to release one volume’s worth at a time. Also, the amount of action and plot advancement in those 20 chapters would be considered good for most shonen series, and is laudable when compared to other HxH runs, but this Chimera Ant arc began way back at the end of chapter 185. 125 chapters in WSJ without breaks would span over two and a half years, and would clearly be considered a long arc for any series. In terms of publishing schedule, though, Hunter x Hunter isn’t just any series; chapter 185 ran in Issue 28, 2003. Seven years ago. This arc has continued for seven years, but without the satisfaction of actually progressing through plot along the way. That, combined with the fact that some of the characters who helped the series reach its peak in popularity (Kurapica, Hisoka) aren’t even in this arc, makes for a frustrated audience.
Even when the series is running, it may not provide a fully enjoyable manga-reading experience. Since he began his frequent hiatuses, Togashi’s returns have sometimes been marred by poor artwork. Here is a comparison of an earlier chapter, when he was releasing at a reasonable rate, with a chapter in the hiatus-intense years. (Click images for full size.)
 Chapter 127, Page 2 |
 Chapter 252, Page 12 |
Clearly, at his best, Togashi is a talented artist, and to his credit, he cleans up his work and creates proper art for volume releases. That said, sketches like this, for which he has become infamous, are unacceptable for a series in a major shonen magazine, let alone one by an established mangaka.
Most glaring, though, are the hiatuses themselves. Here are the shocking statistics:
- From its debut (Issue 14, 1998) to present day (Issue 26, 2010), Hunter x Hunter has been absent from Weekly Shonen Jump 276 times.
- The longest hiatus was 79 straight missed issues (2006-2007).
- The series was absent the most in 2009, missing 46 of 48 issues that year.
- There have been 585 issues of Weekly Shonen Jump since HxH began; Togashi has missed over 47% of them.
- Given 48 issues of Jump in one calendar year, that’s 5.75 publishing years missed.
- By comparison, One Piece (debut: Issue 34, 1997) has missed 33 issues to date. Naruto (debut: Issue 43, 1999) has missed 19 issues to date. Amazingly, KochiKame, which began in Issue 42, 1976, has never missed a single week!
Of course, most of these figures will be obsolete beginning in a couple weeks, as yet another hiatus begins. The future of the series remains worrisome, not in terms of publication (Shueisha is unlikely to choose now to cancel the series, over any other opportunities it has had to do so) but in terms of the story. For all these shortcomings and legitimate issues, Togashi remains a creative and engaging author who devises fascinating stories, clever powers and fighting styles, and interesting characters. His biggest failing is an inability to see his ideas through to an acceptable conclusion, as was evidenced by the end of YuYu Hakusho, and as has been unfolding before us for years now with Hunter x Hunter. Feeling appropriately frustrated, some fans have called for the series to end with the climax of this arc, but that would be a disservice both to those who have stuck with the series through all the delays and scribble-art, and to Togashi’s own unresolved plot. Other fans clamor for Togashi to hand artistic duties over to another mangaka and concentrate on the writing, which Togashi surely is unwilling to do, or it would have happened years ago.
In any case, Hunter x Hunter deserves a proper finale beyond this arc. Will Gon ever find his dad? Will Kurapica ever achieve the full extent of his revenge? Will Leorio ever… matter? This series is too good to die without suitable resolution for its most important storylines, but whether said resolution is acceptable or otherwise, it seems we’ll be waiting quite some time before we get there.
Source: Jump Intelligence Agency
Naruto 495
[chapter link]
Naruto rapping on the cover page does not fill me with confidence.
P3, top-right panel: This panel is to be saved for posterity.
The entire discourse between Naruto and Dark Naruto is poor. No specifics to comment about. Just poor.
Those guys were just sitting there watching him? That’s… bizarre.
We’re done with the pre-training arc stuff. Now, to the actual training arc. I’m a little depressed to say that.
Final Flash: Not a good chapter, and very little to talk about, but at least we’re moving forward.
Naruto 494
Was not looking forward to this flashback at all, so entering with low expectations.
Just as expected: halfway through the chapter, and this has all felt pointless. We already know how tailed beasts ruin kids’ lives. We saw that whole flashback with the title character of the series. Speaking of which, can we go back to him already?
There he is, brooding over the awful truth of this world: That everyone hates you until you save their asses multiple times.
The squid moment elicited a half-smile from me, but I can’t help but feel like this isn’t the time for humor.
Really don’t care at all about Motoi.
And Motoi’s issues with Bee are resolved? How? Was Bee listening the whole time? This doesn’t make sense. You can’t use the audience to convey plot from character to character.
Final Flash: Unnecessary flashback featuring an uninteresting character.
Naruto 492
[chapter link]
I’m enjoying Naruto’s reluctance to accept Bee. That fairly well sums up how I feel; he could still impress me, but I’m initially turned off.
Ballad-rapping? No one find inspiration in this, please.
I didn’t know Gai-sensei could get seasick, either. Of course, I didn’t even remember that he was on this trip.
Bee’s house looks more like an ox than his beast.
No, I don’t want Naruto to rap.
I would be happy with more Yamato, though. I’ve yet to find anything to dislike about his character.
We’re really doing this, Kishimoto? We’re going down the “evil twin / embodiment of my faults” route?
Final Flash: Maybe he’ll turn into Paladin Cecil and the series will get better.
Naruto 491
[chapter link]
What the hell? Why does Naruto have to eat a frog?
Naruto the celebrity will be hard to get used to.
Officially tired of Kage meetings. This is an action series, Kishimoto.
Gaara is further establishing himself as a mature leader. Surprising character evolution.
Same-chapter prediction-to-development is so shallow. The frog says you’ll find the octopus on an island, and mere pages later, Naruto heads to an island.
They finally meet. I’ve already been sick of Bee. This is going to be difficult.
Final Flash: Frogs, a meeting, and a boat ride. Fairly inconsequential chapter.
Naruto 490
[chapter link]
Kabuto could yet prove to be the redeeming villain this series has needed for years. His pure interest in ninjutsu, as long as it remains unaffected by personal motives on either side of the war, is refreshing.
Ten bucks says Konohamaru was in the obscured coffin.
Wait, who’s Tokuma? Was it really necessary to create another Byakugan user when Negi and Hinata don’t get nearly enough face time as it is? That’s too bad. I was actually excited for a moment.
A plotline loosely involving Orochimaru develops and, all of a sudden, Anko reappears.
Whoa. What Naruto is doing is exactly the same as what Negi is doing in Negima. Neither author is copying the other, obviously, but… how strange.
Time to go find us an octopus! … that’s actually an ox. … inside of a Bee. I’m lost.
Final Flash: For a developmental chapter, it was enjoyable. Let the coffin-theorizing begin! Friend of the site Clint has presented the theory that the body contained in the coffin presented to Madara is none other than… Madara! Quoth Clint: “If you look at his reactions, and what he’s saying, in the context, it makes a ton of sense. Tobi actually isn’t Madara, and he had to join up with Kabuto, or Kabuto would reveal him.” A fascinating theory!
Naruto 489
[chapter link]
A color cover full of characters I don’t like.
Don’t even think about eating Tonton. She’s far more interesting than any of those guys on the cover.
Okay, Naruto digging in to the bug stew right away did make me chuckle.
The Octopus is obviously Killerbee, and everyone with a hint of a brain synapse already knew Naruto would fight Sasuke. Great job, old frog.
If Kishimoto were to maintain character consistency since the beginning, Naruto would refuse to unlock the seal.
I liked Kabuto when he was the clever, intelligent, shady right-hand man. I’m not sure if I like this Kabuto. Also, is every death in Naruto for the purpose of a summon later in the series?
Final Flash: Next chapter will be pivotal in determining the quality of the end of the series.
Naruto 488
I know this is not the first instance of technology in the series, so I’m not surprised to see monitors, but they feel horribly out of place.
Karin is slowly being reduced to yet another irrelevant girl to pine after Naruto, to no avail.
It’s nice to see all the side characters who are more interesting than Naruto and Sasuke, but it’s also frustrating to know that this is about the extent of their relevance for another 50 chapters.
Did Kakashi just get Hokage-blocked?
Final Flash: It’s difficult to go from endgame-type fight scenes to village camaraderie. This is okay for maybe a few chapters, but it can overstay its welcome quickly.
Naruto 487
Did Sakura finally admit to herself that she’s useless? That’s quite the achievement.
Sasuke, continuing his descent into terrible villainy. Not in the “his actions are heinous” way, but the “this character is horribly written” way.
Sakura: Worse than useless. Actually a detriment to her own team.
I was just worrying about the lack of rap.
I don’t mind several Akatsuki members, but I really don’t care about Zetsu.
Oh wow. There’s a face we haven’t seen since… well, since the series was good with any reasonable measure of consistency.
Final Flash: Not looking forward to any of this Zetsu/Kisame/Bee business, but the last page could prove for an interesting future.
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