After a most impressive 15-year run, the world-famous manga "Naruto" has been slated to release its final chapter in the Nov. 10 Japanese issue of Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, according to Kotaku. Coincidentally, the manga is set to end with a very solid 700 chapters (unless there is a one-week break in-between), rather than ending at a less-solid odd number like many other manga often have. With New York Comic Con kicking off today (Oct. 9), we at HNGN are taking a minute to look back on the life of one of Japan's most iconic graphic novel series.
"Naruto" had its debut in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999, and has since become one of Japan's most iconic manga series, gaining international fame and popularity, particularly in Europe and the U.S. Fans are drawn in by its unique and likable characters, intense action and the incredibly ambitious, passionate, over-the-top, yet often comedic antics of its young titular character, Naruto Uzumaki, who seeks to become the most powerful and respected ninja in the history of his village.
Over the last 15 years, "Naruto" has sold hundreds of millions of books and anime DVDs worldwide. The franchise has also accumulated more than 70 graphic novels, over 50 video games, nine films (with one more coming in December), 22 anime seasons between the original "Naruto" anime's five seasons and the sequel, "Naruto Shippuden's" 17 (almost certainly with more to come), soundtracks, novels, a trading card game, several OVAs (original video animations) and more. There's even a spin-off series starring the franchise's Bruce Lee-esque character, Rock Lee, titled "Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals."
"Naruto's" 695th chapter, released this week (I imported my copy of the magazine), depicts an epic showdown between Naruto and his lifetime rival, Sasuke Uchiha, over the fate of the ninja world.
How will the series be concluded? Who will win? Who will lose? Who will take over as the Leaf Village's next Hokage?
Hopefully, these are all questions that will be answered in the coming weeks.
Only time will tell.
