Well the comments are surprise, "that Sakura is actually popular in Japan," is true.
We knew Sakura was popular in Japan. The problem is that somehow they listened to the wrong side of the fandom, due to the editors' taste.
Posted by Derock
on 03 April 2025 - 02:10 AM
Well the comments are surprise, "that Sakura is actually popular in Japan," is true.
We knew Sakura was popular in Japan. The problem is that somehow they listened to the wrong side of the fandom, due to the editors' taste.
Posted by Derock
on 21 November 2024 - 04:54 AM
If you guys hadn't heard months ago, IDW comics pull a shocking announcement with the popular franchise, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, whom had already did crossovers with other franchises, such as Batman, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and even Street Fighter, now crossing over with Naruto, making it for the very first time, a Japanese manga series crossing over to a Western comic book. While both have ninjas and Japanese themes all over, it's kind of ironic to pair them as while one set of audience saw it as the greatest idea of all time, others are not too keen, especially on the Japanese side. And plus, how would it fit as TMNT is based more on real-life settings, while Naruto is more of a fictional Japanese-based setting?
It just so happens, they somehow fit. New York City, with the Statue of Liberty and modern setting and all, is renamed "Big Apple Village"... well, Big Apple is the nickname for NYC, so... we'll find out later. Let's just say for this crossover, Big Apple "Village", is located at The Five Great Nations, at the Northeast, similar where NYC located in the USA.
Anyways, on to the summary!
We start off with Team 7 on an escort B-ranked mission with April O'Neil. And we'll hold on for second. First off, we're back in Part 1. According to the official summary, this event happened between after the end of Search of Tsunade arc and before Sasuke Retrieval Arc. Now, we're looking at April, with a totally different design: red haired, her age is in her late teens, and she's more African American race (which according to one of the creators, Kevin Eastman, mentioned in the original Mirage comics, April was intended to be mixed or Black). She's also a reporter, based on the 1987 cartoon series. Anyways, we see a full page spread of Kakashi holding a scroll, delivering details of the missions and pictures of the cast and bios. Now here's the interesting part: on Sakura's bio, it stated: "Powerful fighter and medical ninjutsu practitioner in training." We all know in Naruto canon at that time, Sakura only has genjutsu training and hadn't train with Tsunade yet. But remember the filler arc before the Sasuke Retrieval Arc? SP did give Sakura some enhanced strength during that filler. So, I guess the writer assumed that arc was canon and roll with it so Sakura cannot be extremely useless here.
Back to the story,
Sakura reprimanded Naruto who is trying to help a turtle off its back. Although he complained about the mission being B-ranked, Kakashi reminded him to show nature respect as turtles can handle themselves. Sasuke began to talk to April, as she was being very quiet during their travel to "NYC". April stated the reason why she went to see Tsunade as she need to talk to a ninja biology expert for her news report on experimental science.
Here's the rundown: Dr. Baxter Stockman was let go from the city's university for undisclosed reasons and went to April to tell his side of the story. He was hired for engineer machinery but instead focused on biological research, which was draining the school's budget. Which became his obsession as he developed the "ooze" to create and control mutant ninjas. Before she continued, the Foot Clan suddenly appeared, led by Alopex (not sure that's her, if no one follows the IDW comics of TMNT, she's once part of the Foot Clan who later left and became Raphael's love interest) or Kitsune (another new antagonist from the IDW comics), demanded Team 7 to hand over April. Naruto noticed her fox tail but then Kurama revealed that the enemy is a fake/mutant. Team 7 is ready to fight until the Foot got ambushed by... the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Splinter! The Foot retreated, not to forget to mention they will have vengeance.
But then, the turtles began to think that Team 7 are the enemy. Words shot fired between the two groups while April tried to diffuse and explain the situation, which somehow then decided to start recording the fight with a video camera... Leonardo began to fight Sasuke, thinking he's the leader and noticing the vengeful looks in his eyes. Then we see Sakura fighting Raphael, who wanted to fight Sasuke, using her enhanced strength that scares Raph! Naruto faced off both Michelangelo and Donatello, using his signature Shadow Clone jutsu (somehow using the literal English translation: art of the doppelganger). And lastly, Kakashi went to fight Splinter, who knows some lightning jutsus. Sasuke almost got his head chopped off by Leo. Raph complimented Sakura's skills. However, Naruto thought he punched Mikey's head off which led him being smacked by Donnie's staff, ending the Shadow Clones. April couldn't get the footage as everyone was fighting way too fast for her camera but before the fight escalated, Splinter stopped the fight, impressed that Team 7 were able match with his sons. While Kakashi was grateful for the Hamato clan giving him and his students a workout, he activated his Sharingan and then began unmasking them! He then recognized Splinter as Yoshi Hamato.
End of Issue 1. Issue 2 will be out in January.
So far, I'm impressed with the characterization, action scenes though short and the artwork. Hardly any childish traits and flaws from Naruto and Sakura's as shown since they and Sasuke are in their Part 1 designs, which is very good. However, because of the conflict of two different universes, especially TMNT realistic universe somehow landed in Naruto's fantasized universe, it is very awkward. Plus, since this is a Western comic book, we jumped right into the major scene instead of how having both universes make sense with April and others having western names (well, with the elephant in the room, we do have a few in the Naruto universes, i.e. Rock Lee and Might Guy, but they would not appear in this crossover event anytime soon.), and how April actually came to Konoha to seek help. So, pacing will be an issue. Another thing that this crossover event last for 4 issues as it will make things worse for pacing. We'll see what happens on the next issues.
Posted by Derock
on 15 October 2024 - 11:07 PM
Meanwhile in the video game industry, looks like Bandai Namco is cancelling projects involving One Piece and Naruto (yes, that's include Boruto), while Dragon Ball gain more success due to Sparking ZERO surpassed in sales by over 3 Million sold worldwide within 24 hours after release! That beat Capcom's Street Fighter 6, which managed to get 3 million in sales in only for a couple of months and also Mortal Kombat 1.
Posted by Derock
on 26 August 2024 - 01:25 PM
And it's SO bad because of how other manga after Naruto ended are being seeing like that too! MHA had that same issue with its finale.
No Bryon, MHA didn't suffer the same fate as Naruto. The only reason why people assumed that because shipping fans were pissed off of the fact that Izuku didn't hook up with Ochaco (by ignoring hints, placements and BTS stuff on the reasons why they didn't happen) and the finale parts were rushed for "certain reasons that were beyond Horikoshi's control". MHA's saving grace was the themes of its story was still in place, unlike Naruto's.
Posted by Derock
on 24 August 2024 - 09:04 PM
Simple or not, the reading comprehension is STILL f-ed up because many fans and the people BTS complained about and for Hinata, as like she was really that important to the franchise. When we know in actuality, she wasn't.
Posted by Derock
on 12 August 2024 - 01:30 PM
Well, there goes the true reason why Naruto felt pity for Hinata and they became a couple because Masashi SUDDENLY felt sorry for her. Wow.
Posted by Derock
on 06 August 2024 - 03:04 AM
It's best to ditch the project and make a live-action series instead like One Piece.
Posted by Derock
on 19 July 2024 - 09:16 PM
Makes sense, though I hope no boruto characters
I don't think any Boruto stuff will be present because Naruto is showing in the Part 1 era on the cover.
Posted by Derock
on 14 March 2024 - 11:18 PM
The Hinata heartbroken bit, that can be solved easily: have Naruto being honest with her in a private conversation, he is not interested in her romantically. It can benefit her to move on and find someone to be with her. She was never important in the first place. It was her fans (and some inside help) that were pushing her which resulted on how the franchise ended up now.
Posted by Derock
on 29 November 2023 - 01:01 AM
Just don't watch it, and it'll quickly die off like Cowboy Bebop and the Titans. One of the "virtues" of Netflix these days is that they are rather trigger-happy with cancellation if the audience reception is poor after the initial season. Especially for LA adaptations for anime and comics.
Well, it didn't stop me with the One Piece live-action series. Shockingly, I didn't care for the franchise back in the day, even during the 4Kids era, but watching it now, it is really good.
Posted by Derock
on 26 November 2023 - 09:54 PM
Live-action is currently on the works... oh boy.
Posted by Derock
on 24 November 2023 - 11:31 PM
Can't say one piece isn't huge anymore, that's for sure. Which was always one of the arguments you heard from naruto fans
That argument was only for the US because of how One Piece was handled through 4Kids before moving to Funimation. I can say its popularity skyrocketed thanks to online streaming and recently, the live-action series on Netflix.
Posted by Derock
on 16 September 2023 - 11:30 PM
I didn't realize Arise is getting an DLC continuation! Can't wait for it!
Posted by Derock
on 09 September 2023 - 08:32 PM
The hell is Saruto? WTF?
Posted by Derock
on 05 September 2023 - 02:40 AM
Recently (well, a couple of years ago), I started to watch The Witcher. I stopped for a moment as I recommended it to my mother, so we both got into it.
Geralt x Yennefer was so freaking obvious! Lots of banter, great chemistry, even during Yen's "betrayal" so she can get her magic back, they were meant for each other. I especially like them being foster parents to Cirilla.
A shame that Henry Cavill left the series though. I'm not sure if Liam Hemsworth can keep up as Geralt for Season 4.