Emily Forster recommends Naruto
Ninja have seen a lot of action in comics, but no series has reimagined the idea of a “ninja” quite like Naruto. In Masashi Kishimoto’s fictional world, ninja are assigned missions ranging from pet-sitting to assassination. Naruto, an orphan with a loud mouth and a dedication to the color orange, is determined to become the most powerful ninja and win the respect of his whole village - but he doesn’t seem to have much talent. On top of that, he carries the stigma of the dreaded Nine-Tails, a demon fox of enormous elemental power that happens to be sealed inside him. Still, he won’t give up on his dream, though he soon finds himself fighting for a lot more than his own reputation.
Like other great Viz titles, Naruto is defined by the themes of friendship, teamwork, and the will to never give up. The action is fantastic - the focus on strategy and deception makes for a much more exciting read than your basic face-punching. But what really makes Naruto special is the pure heart of its characters; the kind that get under your skin until you want to cry when they’re suffering and cheer when they’re victorious.
Naruto is sometimes silly (get past Naruto’s battle with indigestion before you pass judgment) and sometimes tragic (you only have to read until Vol. 4 to know if this manga is going to give you feelings - trust me.) It’s an incredibly fun read and there’s plenty of it - dive in!
For fans of: Action, Martial Arts, Humor
Emily Forster is a Digital Editor at ComiXology and a cartoonist. She likes comics about food and fights to the death.