Naruto volume 47
Story and Art: Masashi Kishimoto
Rating: Teen
The climactic duel between Naruto and Pain rages on with the fate of Konoha village hanging in the balance. Despite mastering new techniques such as “sage mode”, Naruto still finds himself struggling against Pain’s formidable strength.
Later on, the fight takes a turn for the worse when Pain prepares for the final blow. As all hope seems lost, Hinata steps in to lend a hand but when she too is struck down, the seal within Naruto holding the Nine Tailed Fox crumbles, unleashing the monster once more.
With the promise of a super fight between Pain and Naruto, this volume delivers. Those looking for a continuation of the story won’t find it here. The majority of the 200 pages are filled with the two trading punches with a few devoted to showing the aftermath. While the volume does leave off on a cliff hanger, there are enough hints that this is the conclusion to the fight.
Volume 47 packs quite the emotional punch with several moving scenes that have been building since the beginning. Combine that with an unexpected appearance by a fan favorite character, and this is one of the most pivotal entries in the series.
Naruto volume 47 - A
Rin-ne volume 2
Story and Art: Rumiko Takahashi
Rating: Older Teen
Rumiko Takahashi’s artistic genius is once again on display in this, her most recent series. Picking up the dangling plot thread from the previous volume, Rinne hurries to free a school girl from a ghostly samurai suffering from mistaken identity. After some quick thinking by his adopted accomplice Sakura, things are settled, making way for a new case involving a drowned school girl whose spirit is in danger of being corrupted.
The real meat of the story comes in the form of an old rival from Rinne’s past seeking revenge. Despite the series maintain its comedic tone; this arc pushes for a more serious take that works quite well.
Takahashi’s unique sense of humor is on full display from the design of hell down to Rinne’s style of attacks. Even the resolution to Rinne’s conflict with his rival is amusing and will bring a smile to anyone’s face.
If there’s one downside, it’s that there may be too much comedy. No matter how bleak Rinne’s situation is, it’s impossible to take it seriously due to the absurdist nature of the series and the characters that inhabit it.
Still, this is Rumiko Takahashi after all; if there is one thing she excels at, it’s crafting a story that blends humor and action, creating a supernatural tale that has something for everyone.
Rin-ne volume 2 - B
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