Naruto, Vol. 6

Kishimoto, Masashi. Naruto, Vol. 6. 2001. 192p. ISBN 9781591167396. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Having passed the written portion of the Chunin exam in Naruto, Vol. 5, Naruto and his team have been dispatched to the Forest of Death, where they are entrusted with one of the two scrolls they need to have in their possession before they reach the tower at the center of the forest. Immediately, things go bad as students are attacked and killed. An imposter has infiltrated the proceedings, and is using his abilities to mask his real face. When he confronts Sasuke, Naruto and his rival are quickly put out of commission. Sakura, however, remains in the fight and stands up to this foe. Right at the time of defeat, however, Roc Lee and some of the other students join the fight against the sound ninjas.

The story continues in Naruto, Vol. 7.

One Punch Man, Vol. 5

One. One Punch Man, Vol. 5. 216. 206p. ISBN 9781421569543. 

At the end of One Punch Man, Vol. 4, Saitama and Genos were rushing to protect city from the Deep Sea King. On location, many heroes gather to fight the Sea King, but even Class S heroes find themselves unable to defeat him and lose their lives. Wishing to kill as many people as possible, the Sea King breaks through a supposedly safe refuge. Class C heroes step up and confront the Sea King, but they are also defeated. 

Puri-Puri Prisoner, who had escaped from the maximum security prison to fight against the Sea King puts up a valiant fight, but he too is taken down by the Sea King. Speed of Sound Sonic, who had escaped with Puri-Puri Prisoner, barely escapes with his life. Genos, who reaches the monster before Saitama, engages in combat, but despite all of his best efforts he is almost destroyed, and ends up laying in ruins on the ground. Saitama finally arrives, and quickly defeats the Sea King with one punch, but to Genos' dismay he owns the people turning against him. But not all is lost, as Saitama begins to receive thank you notes in the mail ...

The story continues in One Punch Man, Vol. 6.

This Was Our Pact

Andrews, Ryan. This Was Our Pact. 2019. 330p. ISBN 9781250196958. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Every year, during the night of the Autumn Equinox, Ben's town celebrates by holding a festival and releasing lit lanterns down the river. Ben has always wondered what happens to the lanterns as they fade from view. After releasing them, the adults return home, but this year Ben and his friends have made a pact to follow them and find out if the legend that they eventually drift into the Milky Way are true. The boys' pact is simple. No one will turn back for home, and no one will quit.

As soon as the lanterns are released, the boys ride their bikes by the road that follows the river. Ben is soon chased by Nathaniel, a boy who's a little strange and who's often picked on by the other boys. Ben likes Nathaniel, but he doesn't want to be marked as different so he doesn't defend him when the other boys make wisecracks at him.

But one by one the boys peel off, violating the pack. Soon only Ben and Nathaniel stand before the bridge over the river, the furthest they have ever ridden. Deciding to abide by the pact, Ben and Nathaniel cross the bridge, and enter a land populated by strange people, a talking bear looking for his fishing spot, and the enlightened ones coming over to visit. With the help of magical beings along the way, the boys will discover that friendship can be forged in the unlikeliest of circumstances.

Whimsically illustrated with rich blues, This Was Our Pact defies categorization. Readers who enjoy magic on the light side will appreciate the voyage that Ben and Nathaniel are embarked on, while they might wish that a friendly bear could join them to share some of their adventures.