Naruto, Vol. 28

By Masashi Kishimoto
Viz, 200 pp.
Rating: Teen

Set two years after the previous installment, this volume opens with Naruto returning to Konoha after years of training with Jiraiya. Unfortunately, the happy homecoming and reunion is short lived as the shadowy Akatsuki make a move on the Leaf Villages ally, the current head of the Sand Village, Gaara, in an attempt to remove the tailed beast that resides in his body.

Kishimoto’s art style is simple and clean with an easy to follow visual flow. The few action sequences were interesting and clearly told–no getting lost in crazy close ups or oddly framed shots here. The more distinctive characters, Gaara, Naruto, Temari, and Sakura, all have nice eye catching outfits that set them apart from the uniformed ninja masses that make up the cannon fodder. It didn’t light me on fire, but I was a bit surprised at just how clean and simple yet unique everything looked. I’m not really sure what else to say about the artwork actually. Oh, I still hate the open toed boots.

The writing is OK but there are too many humorous asides and goofy moments that feel terribly forced. They really stick out like a sore thumb. On top of that we get about seven pages Naruto expressing his moral indignation at the unfair life Gaara. Seven pages of Naruto ranting on about how he and Gaara are the same and how poor Gaara shouldn’t suffer yadda yadda yadda. You’d think that one page of “Gaara’s gotten the short end of the stick for too long” would have sufficed, but no… seven pages. Aside from that and the not particularly funny comedic moments, volume 28 actually hasd an interesting adventure story and mystery. The revelation of who one of the Akatsuki is was interesting and actually did more to pique my interest then anything else in the volume.

The book isn’t as horrible as I feared, but it just doesn’t click with me. On the other hand, knowing what kind of comics I was reading as a teen, I can kind of see the appeal for that audience. Anyway, if you’re not really familiar with the series and haven’t been reading it from day one, this volume is a pretty good jumping on point. It has a brief summary of the plot so far, introduces you to some of the cast by way of a reunion, and has a fairly nifty fight in the middle of the book. On top of that it’s the begining of “Shippuden” period in the manga, so it’s as good a entre as you’ll probably find for a series that’s 28 volumes into its run.

Volume 28 of Naruto will be available on March 4th.