Naruto, Volume 37: Shikamaru's Battle

I bought the latest volumes of Naruto (at Wal-Mart of all places) and read them over the weekend. Only one thing kind of bothers me. When Asuma is killed by Hidan, Shikamaru and the rest of his team are all set to track him and his associate down to avenge their Master's death. Fine. However, one thing the editor of the English versions seemed to edit was the fact that Shikamaru had taken up smoking to, I dunno, honor his fallen Master. Now, I'm not one to endorse smoking. I know when I discovered my cousin started up with it, I was bitterly disappointed. But in this particular case, it was a relevant plot point. However, in the English version, they just eliminated the cigarette... not the hand motions associated with smoking a show more cigarette. So, basically, Shika was smoking invisible cigarettes. It's something that is definitely noticeable. He makes hand motions in one chapter where he's stubbing out a cigarette and pocketing the butt. In the original version of the chapter (which I pulled up to compare), it definitely makes it clear that's what he's doing. Viz's version? It just looks like he's making strange hand gestures near the ground and then clenching his fists. In another chapter, it looks like he's lighting mid air.

Now, I can kind of understand why Viz would be a little squeamish about portraying a 15-year-old smoking especially considering their demographic for this particular title, but I think it could've maybe been handled in a different way. Now, whether or not Shikimaru continues with the smoking habit in subsequent chapters, I don't know. I haven't read far enough ahead as of yet. And I can't believe I typed this much about this thing... show less

I bought the latest volumes of Naruto (at Wal-Mart of all places) and read them over the weekend. Only one thing kind of bothers me. When Asuma is killed by Hidan, Shikamaru and the rest of his team are all set to track him and his associate down to avenge their Master's death. Fine. However, one thing the editor of the English versions seemed to edit was the fact that Shikamaru had taken up smoking to, I dunno, honor his fallen Master. Now, I'm not one to endorse smoking. I know when I discovered my cousin started up with it, I was bitterly disappointed. But in this particular case, it was a relevant plot point. However, in the English version, they just eliminated the cigarette... not the hand motions associated with smoking a show more cigarette. So, basically, Shika was smoking invisible cigarettes. It's something that is definitely noticeable. He makes hand motions in one chapter where he's stubbing out a cigarette and pocketing the butt. In the original version of the chapter (which I pulled up to compare), it definitely makes it clear that's what he's doing. Viz's version? It just looks like he's making strange hand gestures near the ground and then clenching his fists. In another chapter, it looks like he's lighting mid air.

Now, I can kind of understand why Viz would be a little squeamish about portraying a 15-year-old smoking especially considering their demographic for this particular title, but I think it could've maybe been handled in a different way. Now, whether or not Shikimaru continues with the smoking habit in subsequent chapters, I don't know. I haven't read far enough ahead as of yet. And I can't believe I typed this much about this thing... show less

Great battle scene? Check. Shikamaru becoming a force of nature? Check. Kakashi finally deciding that he likes Naruto a little? Woaaaah... Check.

Bye bye bad guys, we hardly knew ye, but you were very interesting, even so!