Manga in America = Naruto

tsunade-oppai-bikini.jpg

A recent comic and manga best seller list for the USA, compiled by the New York Times, has revealed the embarrassing truth: manga is Naruto.

Of the recent top ten (for early March), only three non-Naruto titles feature, and the top ranks are entirely dominated by the title:

1. Naruto, Vol. 40, by Masashi Kishimoto. (VIZ Media, $7.95.)

2. Naruto, Vol. 41, by Masashi Kishimoto. (VIZ Media, $7.95.)

3. Naruto, Vol. 38, by Masashi Kishimoto. (VIZ Media, $7.95.)

4. Naruto, Vol. 39, by Masashi Kishimoto. (VIZ Media, $7.95.)

5. Bleach, Vol. 26, by Tite Kubo. (VIZ Media, $7.95.)

6. Naruto, Vol. 37, by Masashi Kishimoto. (VIZ Media, $7.95.)

7. Naruto, Vol. 35, by Masashi Kishimoto. (VIZ Media, $7.95.)

8. Gentlemen’s Alliance, Vol. 9, by Arina Tanemura.. (VIZ Media, $8.99.)

9. Black Cat, Vol. 19, by Kentaro Yabuki. (VIZ Media, $7.99.)

10. Naruto, Vol. 36, by Masashi Kishimoto. (VIZ Media, $7.95.)

Via AnimeAnime.

Typical Japanese manga sales for comparison purposes.

The 2ch response is interesting to hear:

“Americans love ninja, don’t they?”

“It’s like the Japanese Harry Potter…”

“Number 1 – Believe it!”

“Japanese fantasy is indeed strong…”

“America’s love of ninja is abnormal.”

“Naruto is vastly overrated overseas…”

“The reason he has blonde hair and blue eyes is for overseas sales.”

“So let’s have a Hollywood live action version then guys…”

“What about One Piece?”

“Wow, amazing. I love Naruto so I’m delighted it’s so popular overseas.”

“No To Love-ru?”

“The love of ninja is the same reason Japanese people love wizards – it’s curiousity towards a different culture.”

“Ninja.
Ninjutsu.
Action.
Simple story.
Protagonist is blonde.
Oppai.”


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    262 Comments
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    Comment by Anonymous
    02:03 08/11/2009 # ! Neutral (+0.3)

    Naruto>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>One Piece

    One Piece is a neverending "adventure" with shitty character desighns, plot etc.

    When is Luffy going to find the legendary "One Piece"? Maybe after another 25 years and 20-30 islands later lol. Hilarious when they find said treasure and hey there is nothing there and Luffy smiling like an idiot saying "ah well it was for the adventure after all". Oda would have trolled so many One Piecetards and fans lol. Seriously Shonen Jump knows a cash cow when it sees one.

    Comment by Anonymous
    15:57 11/08/2011 # ! Neutral (0)

    siiggh.... Narutard.

    Comment by Anonymous
    17:12 09/06/2012 # ! Neutral (0)

    narutards spotted.....if you love a manga just based from art itself, it means you're nobody (get lost), if you are, just read some freakin shitload of Hentai, and that's your thing... jahahahaha

    Comment by Anonymous

    thats your opinion

    fuck you

    thats mine :D

    Comment by Ak
    13:34 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Well,in America it is a litte better than some zones of China?

    Comment by Y10NRDY
    11:55 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    am i the only otaku in the world who zealously dissects existentialist themes in space operas and ALSO has a soft spot for uzumaki & co? ok let the flame start. gah i should just sage myself...

    Avatar of Zelgadis4tw
    Comment by Zelgadis4tw
    13:51 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Well, while I won't say Naruto is shit gtfo, I'm glad I no longer have to acquire the anime for my uncle...have been slightly contemplating trying to read me some of the manga.

    Comment by Aster Dis
    16:28 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I guess it goes to show how different markets work for both countries. Japan's five fan favorite shounen's didn't include Naruto. Japan's top selling manga series also includes Naruto (bottom of the fifth) but one series that fulfills both criteria as mentioned was the series SLAM DUNK. Even if Slam Dunk did have a 10 year head start (started in 1990), its still amazing considering that it only ran for 6 years and 31 volumes and the anime still gets aired in Asian countries. It filed the gap on the huge basketball fever that hit Asia in the 90's or so. America has always been engrossed on ninjas, more so with the media attempts of it in the 80's and 90's such as American Ninja, Surf Ninjas, TMNT, etc.

    In all I can care less since I've gone tired of reading Kishimoto's horrible writing. So I actually do what most wouldn't: just read other shounens and titles in general as opposed to just TALKING about it.

    Avatar of hurricane567
    Comment by hurricane567
    18:39 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Lets see here...i have a headband, and in the 3 years i've had it ive worn it for about 6 minutes total. I have one Naruto movie on DVD and its a bootleg. I have read every Naruto that's been in US SJ, but i can't remember the last TV episode i saw (started reading the manga b4 i had ever seen the show) and i have zero collected volumes (i have 2 death note volumes and 2 hikaru no go volumes). i have never had *real* ramen, i eat that cup of soup stuff maybe 2x a month and i've been doing that long b4 Naruto. No toys. No video games. No posters/wall scrolls. Is Naruto good? I think so. Is it the best anime/manga thing ever? No, not nearly. Does it deserve all the "OMG WHY DO YOU READ/WATCH SUCH CRAP"? Not by a longshot.

    Comment by Anonymous
    19:24 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    “So let’s have a Hollywood live action version then guys…”

    NO.

    Comment by Anonymous
    00:36 17/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    NO. I second that. NO.

    Comment by Aster Dis
    16:36 17/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Oh c'mon. It will be an experiment. 50 million dollar budget and it reaps in number one in the box office for the whole week and makes a gigantonormous project!

    Avatar of Sorrior
    Comment by Sorrior
    14:29 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Well i wear headbands and gloves as normasl attire BUT i also read and watchother series $6000 and counting oh i also wear negima wristbands and a necklace as well as the bleach wallet chain i got yet those arn't my only shows. Just making the poit that people who watch naruto an get a kick out of it don't just stick to naruto actually it's one of my least favorite at this pojnt in time i'm mainly watching/ reading engima and rosario vampire mainly watching maria holic and sora o kakeru so don't just assume that the folks wearing the stuff just like that. But i also agree it's a shame tht negima or rosario among them couldn't have made it.

    Comment by turtlemon
    14:58 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    wow, i just read all the comments....gah, theres a lotta people w/diff opinions out there. but, i guess ill add a little to the table. yea, i agree w/some of you that naruto was kinda ruined by the ridiculous fans and their hideously huge #'s, but i also think that naruto is disliked on the net not 'cause its mainstream, but cause its obvious that there are so many more anime/manga that are way better that people could kno about. of course, theres also what some people said 'bout the whole eight or so releases in a few months, which happened twice already. the little ten year old naruto fanboys and the emo fangirls who dont read online are probly just so obsessed they need to buy all the manga (courtesy of their ignorance of the fact that the internet has pretty much everything, including better manga and anime ;o) tho, i hafta say the reason im not into naruto as much as i used to be is cause its so friggin' long it gets tiresome and boring seein' the blonde kid say "i fight for my friends! blablabla! friendship = power!" and more crap like that. but, either way, sales show, little american boys want some ninjas right now.

    p.s.: dont judge me cause im tryin to sound smart...cause im not ;D

    p.s.s.: lol, also to all u OP fans who are tryin to sound like OP isnt mainstream and that it's unique, it kinda isnt...so you plz be quiet

    Comment by turtlemon
    15:01 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    lol, let me rephrase my first p.s.

    p.s.: dont judge me cause im tryin to sound all knowing about manga and anime....cause i dont rly ;D

    Comment by Anon
    11:46 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Where is One Piece?

    Comment by Anonymous
    17:13 09/06/2012 # ! Neutral (0)

    u won't find it in America...they love white people jaahahahahaha

    Avatar of Gatsby
    Comment by maga
    11:32 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Damn Naruto! One Piece is way better.

    Comment by Zhiro
    07:40 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    ....I'm speachless

    Comment by johnnyboy213
    07:55 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    *double facepalm* wow shows how many narutards there are in america.

    Avatar of Zelgadis4tw
    Comment by Zelgadis4tw
    Comment by Anonymous
    07:24 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    The elevens were just has shocked has I was at this.....I mean sure there is a reason I never admit to anyone I like anime and manga: most of the fandom are damn retarded. This sales chart are proof.

    Comment by God
    07:23 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    You turn your back to the world for just one second, and what happens?

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:20 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    “What about One Piece?”

    LOLOLOL

    Looks like some people never heard of the hellspawn known as 4Kids!........

    Avatar of Zelgadis4tw
    Comment by Zelgadis4tw
    13:45 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    They must not have XD...though Funimation's doing a new dub of it, look forward to it.

    Avatar of Omochikaeri
    Comment by Omochikaeri
    19:32 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Well, I suppose a brown turd is a little better than a black turd.

    Avatar of Pandemonia
    Comment by Pandemonia
    06:28 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    It's painful...it's the same over here in england. My cute loli cousin likes it but refuses to be educated in other manga. It makes me want to cry.

    Comment by shalala
    06:47 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    wow the power of naruto. its to strong

    Avatar of Keigami
    Comment by Keigami
    09:08 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    If I ever see someone reading a narutard manga in public I'll just opt to kick their weeaboo ass.

    Comment by Victor Delacroix
    11:09 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    America needs more One Piece fans.

    Comment by KLoWn
    11:18 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    OP-Fans, hell yeah.
    OP-tards, fuck no, biggest flock of fags on the net.

    Comment by KLoWn
    11:16 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    What worse, the narutards or these all annoying fags who starts hating on everything once it turns popular?

    Answer:
    Both parties are equally gay and patethic, fact.

    Comment by Anonymous
    10:34 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    This is probably because they just had a glut of translations of Naruto to catch up, I mean, most of those were released at the same time so people just caught up all at once and tilted the sales ridiculously. I bought them all within the same week, lol.

    Comment by lol
    10:20 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    united states of narutards

    Avatar of motaku96
    Comment by motaku96
    09:25 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Well Naruto's alright, but that's a bit much. So many narutards. It's kinda sad. I'm surprised bleach did so badly in comparison. I'm happy gentlemen's alliance made it in the list though.

    Comment by Anonymous
    09:39 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    *Throws up* God isn't that chick really like 86 years old? Oh yeah and Naruto sucks.

    Avatar of lexter louis elias reyes
    Comment by mexklow
    Comment by Anonymous
    14:28 06/09/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    A couple of years ago it was Anime= Dragon Ball. And now it's Anime and Manga= Bleach and Naruto. What next? -_-

    Comment by SB
    15:06 29/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I actually figured this out a really long fucking time ago. Americans don't know shit about manga OR anime. I hear the same three titles (Naruto, Inuyasha, Full Metal Alchemist) and now, unfortunately, Bleach, being thrown around like their the only Japanese animation on TV. and poor Code Geass just lurks in the background, waiting for some limelight. Anime sucks here.

    Comment by Anonymous
    02:40 19/06/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Geass is insanely popular and it aired on tv in America. What are you smoking? They could have been airing Moribito instead...

    Comment by ECP-72
    15:24 29/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    That's becuase Code Geass sucks. It doesn't deserve any of the limelight. Not that I'm saying any of those other titles do either...

    Comment by Anonymous
    08:01 08/09/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I agree with 2Chan. Why ISN'T To-Luv-Ru in the U.S. yet?

    Also: foolish yankees with their not-reading of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure! ^_^

    Comment by Anonymous
    07:21 23/09/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Because to-Love-ru is fucking horrible.

    Comment by Anonymous
    13:13 21/09/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I know this might never get read, but just posting something everyone seemed to neglect. Around that time earlier in the year naruto manga were being released 3 volumes a month, with 41 (i think) being the last. So if you went to the store to buy one, why not buy all 3? or even all 6 or 9 if you were behind? i can say that i bought all 3 every month as did my friends that still buy manga. by now i bet the selling lists are back to normal.

    Comment by Anonymous
    12:30 05/06/2012 # ! Neutral (0)

    oh pfft why must people complain about what people like soo pointless

    Comment by Anonymous
    20:43 25/06/2012 # ! Neutral (0)

    “The reason he has blonde hair and blue eyes is for overseas sales.”

    fuck ye!!! XD

    Comment by Anonymous
    17:24 09/06/2012 # ! Neutral (0)

    each manga has it's own fans...so let it be
    but Naruto most definitely will end in next one year, coz there's no way to continue the arc...
    even the manga is short, they would likely became legend (if there's a good factor)

    Comment by Anonymous
    07:27 14/05/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    “Naruto is vastly overrated overseas…”

    Avatar of Bronxdragon
    Comment by Bronxdragon
    01:34 28/10/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Whatever numberth!!!

    Comment by Anonymous
    07:55 17/04/2010 # ! Neutral (0)

    manga= naruto?! omg, this is blasphemy

    Comment by emotionless_teenage
    03:29 28/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    40th?

    lol american needs a hero in time of recession

    and guess what,the 'this is my nindo' over-rated tard really fills the job neatly in usa(not superman,not batman,not _fill_in_teh_blank_...man,but your legendary naruto uzumaki)








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