Viz Media is a local publisher that, among other things, imports all sorts of great Japanese comix ("manga") and cartoons ("anime"), translates them, and distributes them to the U.S. markets.

Naruto Volume 11 appeared at the No. 21 spot on the August 27 edition of USA Today's Top 150 Best Seller List. That's the highest ever on that list for a sequential art (aka comic) book. The USA Today list, which is based on sales, is indicative of the popularity of this series in particular and the penetration of manga into the U.S. markets in general--and it's interesting to note that one of the big guns in the market, Viz, is right here in the Bay Area.

If y'all haven't heard of Naruto, you either don't have kids or don't let them watch cartoons. Just wait 'til Halloween. If you see an orange-clad ninja, particularly with spiky blond hair, that's Naruto.

Naruto tells a story in the time-honored tradition of the outcast that attempts to rise above his humble beginnings. Uzumaki Naruto is a ninja in training in a world where there's a rather high proliferation of ninjas, each seemingly with his or her own special "techniques" that more or less translate to superpowers. Naruto, the main character, is a bit of a stubborn lad, and his peers tend to find him annoying (which, with the plucky lad's overuse of his catchphrase, "believe it!", we can sort of understand). However, his decency and indomitable will to succeed seem to slowly be winning folks over.

What's compelling to us about the series (both animated and in sequential art form) is that all the characters are fleshed out and given rich histories and motivations; although Naruto is front and center, no one gets the short shrift, even the enemies (we particularly like the puppet guy from the Sand Village, even though he's kind of a jerk). Plus there's fighting and ninjas and magic and humor and even a little bit of romance . . . what's not to like?

In any case, if Naruto or other manga sound interesting to you, you can join the adventure by picking up either the trades (such as the aforementioned Naruto Volume 11), or you can pick up one of Viz's anthologies, Shojo Beat (more soapy and dramatic; geared toward the ladies) or Shonen Jump (more action oriented, like Naruto and our other favorite, One Piece; geared toward tools like us). These publications are available in most major bookstores and most comic stores as well. Believe it!