Pop Culture Paper Ephemera
Showing posts with label Masahi Kishimoto. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Masahi Kishimoto. Show all posts
Monday, November 11, 2024
Monday, October 16, 2023
Recently Read: Naruto Vol. 24, by Masashi Kishimoto
Naruto's complex narrative, previously in danger of becoming repetitious, picks up in Vol. 24 with the very welcome return of Rock Lee. Also welcome: the return of the Sound Ninja Four, now fighting on behalf of Konoha.
Meanwhile, the story ping-pongs with great suspense between Shikamaru's entanglement with Tayuya and Gaara and Rock Lee's battle with the body-horror based Kimimaro. There are also alternating interludes with Lady Tsunade, working behind the scenes to confront Lord Orochimaru's threat, and the schemings of Orochimaru and Kabuto.
The art is, as always, amazing.
Friday, October 2, 2020
Recently Read: Naruto, Vol. 12
The final rounds of the Chunin exams begin. Naruto spars with Neji of the Hyuaga Clan Cadet Branch, in a 105-page battle as philosophical as it is physical, with warring ideas on destiny and free will. Naruto has opportunity during the standoff to tap into the power of his incased fox spirit. Naruto's comrade Sasuke has yet to show up for the tournament (glimpses are shown of a previous and mysterious scene with Gaara, Sasuke and Kakashi), so Kanjuro and Aburame Shino match up instead. This volume doesn't have as much room for the layered and complex political intrigue that the preceding volumes had, but is still suspenseful, top-notch cartooning.
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