Sun, 01 Nov 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Free card inside
this month's
SHONEN JUMP!

Shroud of DarknessNightshroud unleashed his ultimate card in the final showdown against Jaden in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime. And now you lucky Duelists will have the power of "Darkness Neosphere" in your hands with this issue's free card! With a massive 4000 ATK, find out what it means to truly hold the power of darkness in your Deck!

Fiendish Calling

In order to tap into the vast power of "Darkness Neosphere," you need to do two things: 1. Send a Fiend-Type monster like "Giant Germ," "Dark Jeroid" or "Summoned Skull" that's on the field to the Graveyard, and 2. Send another Fiend-Type monster from your hand to the Graveyard. Since you perform this Summon in response to an attack, giving your opponents the surprise of their short-lived Dueling lives!

Get a free copy and learn how to use its immeasurable powers of "Darkness Neosphere" inside the November issue of SHONEN JUMP!

©1996 KAZUKI TAKAHASHI

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG: Second Chance!

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Second Chance!Still regret that you missed out on "Solar Recharge" last year? Want to get your hands on a "Red-Eyes Wyvern" promo card? Then get ready for Ancient Prophecy Special Edition, the only place where you can find these rare promo cards and more! Inside each Special Edition box you'll find three packs of Ancient Prophecy, plus one of the two promo cards!

Charged Up!

If your deck and your Dueling game need a good kick in the pants, turn to "Solar Recharge"! "Solar Recharge" jump-starts your Lightsworn Deck by letting you first draw two cards and then drop the next two cards from your Deck into the Graveyard. Just one "Solar Recharge" enables you to put up to three different Lightsworn monsters in your Graveyard, bringing you just one discarded monster away from unleashing "Judgment Dragon"! And if you want to make sure you can unleash "Judgment Dragon" ASAP, add "Charge of the Light Brigade" to your Deck to gain instant access to almost any Lightsworn monster in your Deck!

Red-Eye Fright!

Printed for the first time in North America, "Red-Eyes Wyvern" is finally here! Wyvern combines a high ATK with an effect that makes it easier to play your best "Red-Eyes" monsters! If you haven't Normal Summoned any monsters, you can remove one Wyvern from your Graveyard to Special Summon a "Red-Eyes" monster from your Graveyard such as the almighty "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon"! You can even activate the effect of more than one Wyvern in a single turn, so if you use "Future Fusion" and "Foolish Burial" to load your Graveyard with "Red-Eyes" cards, you can Special Summon three "Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon" cards in one turn!

What are you waiting for? With the Ancient Prophecy Special Edition, you get one of the special promo cards and three packs of Ancient Prophecy! Awesome promos, awesome packs—what more can a Duelist want in life?

©1996 KAZUKI TAKAHASHI

Naruto 10th Anniversary!

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Naruto 10th Anniversary!We've laughed, cried (admit it!) and rooted for Naruto these past ten years, and what a wonderful decade it's been! The manga is still going strong, but it doesn't hurt to take a peek back at all the great moments in Naruto. We've got it all, from a commemorative pin-up in the magazine to a character poll online. Not to mention an online story timeline that takes a look back at key points in the Naruto storyline. So sit back and enjoy all the Naruto goodness as you prepare yourself for future adventures!

Scroll down to check out how Masashi Kishimoto created your favorite ninja manga! And don't forget to check back regularly for more Naruto polls. We want to know what you're thinking!

10th Anniversary Extras!

Character Poll

Nihongo Lesson

Story Timeline

Free Pin-Up Inside
the November Issue of SHONEN JUMP!

The Masashi Kishimoto Files
It's been ten wonderful years, and Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto is still going strong! How did we end up where we are today, reading Naruto in SHONEN JUMP and watching streaming episodes on naruto.viz.com? Let’s take a look at the man behind the spiky-haired prankster who willed himself into our minds and hearts.

Mission One: Discover Manga

Location: Okayama, Japan
Time: Circa 1974

No sealing rituals were necessary for Kishimoto Sensei's birth!

In the unassuming prefecture of Okayama, a legend was born. There were no biju-sealing rituals or prophecies involved. Instead, Masashi Kishimoto entered the world without much fanfare. He would eventually grow up to become the creator of Naruto, the larger-than-life manga series that has become a worldwide phenomenon.

But before tales of ninja glory even entered the impressionable mind of Kishimoto Sensei, he was just a regular ramen-loving lad who enjoyed playing baseball and video games. Life was simple—and might have continued that way—were it not for the calling of manga.

"One day, just when I was starting to think, ‘Maybe I’ve outgrown the urge to be drawing all the time,’ I had a sudden and incredible revelation… The amazing moment occurred when I saw a movie poster. I was on my way home one day when I happened to glance at a poster for Otomo Katsuhiro’s Akira. In an instant, the sight of it had an impact on me so powerful that even now it’s hard to describe." — from Naruto volume 10

Mission 2: Get Published

Location: Kyushu, Japan
Time: Circa 1995

Kishimoto Sensei's attitude towards school changed once he entered art school!

Kishimoto Sensei entered art school in Kyushu. The once allergic-to-studying student was thrilled to attend a school where the focus was on drawing (a welcome change from drawing on the sly during class!). He set his sights on Jump’s Hop★Step Award and submitted Karakuri. Curious about the winners, he found his entry listed as one of the winners in Weekly Shonen Jump!

"It was the happiest moment of my life. But when people are so happy, they can't say anything, right? They just make strange noises and quiver. So I bought that copy of Jump, but I was so happy that the moment I was out of the store, I threw it across the street!!" – from Naruto: The Official Handbook

Armed with a new tantou (editor) assigned from Weekly Shonen Jump, the path to manga fame was wide-open for Kishimoto Sensei. But things didn’t go as smoothly as expected for him until he received some unexpected inspiration from…a bowl of noodles!

Mission 3: Create One of the Best Manga Series of All-Time!

Location: Inside Masashi Kishimoto's Mind
Time: Circa 1997 – present

Naruto's Akamaru Jump version takes a break after chasing criminals...on his bike!

The next couple of years were trying times for Kishimoto Sensei. After the Weekly Shonen Jump staff rejected numerous stories and ideas, a discouraged Kishimoto Sensei decided to draw about something he knew and loved—ramen!

"The first version was all about the secret ingredients in the soup, but it went through a few [laughs] modifications and ended up as Naruto. The story ran in Akamaru Jump, and was very popular." – from Naruto: The Official Handbook

The first-ever published story of Naruto was a bit different. Naruto's personality is about the same, but the story is set in modern-day Japan! Since the story was a one-shot, Kishimoto Sensei kept developing new ideas, which were met with rejections—including a baseball manga! (Can you imagine going crazy over baseball manga instead of Naruto?!) He finally hit the jackpot with the Naruto story we know and love today, which made its Weekly Shonen Jump debut in 1999.

Mission 4: Invade the Global Village!

Location: Planet Earth
Time: Circa 2003 – present

A new magazine by the name of SHONEN JUMP made its North American debut in 2003. Naruto made its first U.S. appearance in the second issue of SHONEN JUMP. With its increased exposure, Naruto took America by storm and has never looked back!

Naruto's popularity has him on top of the world!

"I'm very glad that the American audience has accepted and understood ninja. It shows that the American audience has good taste… because it means that they can accept something previously unfamiliar to them." – from Naruto Collector Winter 2007/2008

Although Japanese culture and ninjutsu may have been unfamiliar to an American audience, the story of a young boy seeking acceptance and fighting for his beliefs left a lasting impression.

Mission 5: Embrace the Future

Location: Everywhere
Time: Circa the Future!

So what's in store for Naruto and crew as the manga reaches its landmark tenth anniversary? Will Naruto overcome the Akatsuki threat? Will Naruto ever reach his friend Sasuke in time and save him from his despair? Only time will tell what will happen to Naruto, and all of us eagerly await each and every installment with bated breath.

Keep checking out the latest issue of SHONEN JUMP to find out what happens in Naruto!

SHONEN JUMP Issue 83

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Naruto vs. PainTime for Naruto!
In Japan, Naruto's been shredding the scenery with jutsu and jokes for 10 years! Let's look back with a commemorative pinup. The Nihongo Lesson teaches you how to say "Happy Anniversary" to Naruto (or anyone) in Japanese. A special timeline feature shows off Naruto's key moments in training. Plus Naruto video games, Anime & Stuff, cards and so much more!

Rocking the Boat!
Can’t get enough One Piece? Well, good. Because no matter how die-hard a fan you are, we'll be putting you to the test in the next few months to keep up with Luffy and crew. Inside you'll find a reminder of five excellent moments from the Baroque Works story arc!

Plus, here's what's happening in SHONEN JUMP manga!

Yu-Gi-Oh! R *Preview*: Long ago, Yugi defeated Maximillion Pegasus, creator of Duel Monsters. But now Pegasus' star pupil has tracked Yugi down, seeking revenge!

Bleach: Chad and Uryû are up against two very determined Arrancars who see our heroes' destruction as their own salvation!!

Naruto: Delve into the past of ninja world! What does Jiraiya have to do with Nagato? This history lesson might be full of… Pain!

Tegami Bachi: The race is on! It's Lag and Niche (and Steak!) vs. Macky G and his dingo Rejia. The prize: a Letter Bee gig!

Ultimo: Poor Yamato's got to deal with Ultimo whether he likes it or not! Why's it fair for this robot to mess with his everyday-guy life?!

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX: In the next round, the winner goes on to face Kaiser on the rim of an active volcano! Meanwhile, Reggie and Ms. Hibiki prepare for a shadow duel of their own!

YuYu Hakusho: The Demon Plane Unification Tournament goes into high gear as Yusuke and Yomi face off in their eagerly anticipated match!

Wednesday Night is Ninja Night!

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:42:00 -0700

The Island of Bubbles!In order to get to the new world, the crew makes a pit stop at the amazing islands of endless bubbles, Sabaody Archipelago. Hoping to find a mechanic that can coat their boat with a special paint that would allow them to travel underwater, it doesn't take long before the gang is up to their necks in trouble! If the sadistic ruling class of nobles that controls the island doesn't get the Straw Hats, the roving gangs of high-powered pirates might!

Watch the streaming Sabaody Archipelago Saga starting with episode 391 on www.onepieceofficial.com!

© Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha, Toei Animation.Licensed by FUN.

One Piece: Alone in the Land of Lily!

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:56:00 -0700

Alone in the Land of Lily!With his crew blasted all the over the world, Luffy's going at it alone in the all-female land of the Amazon Lily! While being the only available man on an island full of women may sound like paradise, it's not when they're trying to kill you! Can Luffy stay alive long enough to prove that some men can be trusted? Even ones made out of rubber? It all starts in episode 408!

Find out what happens to Luffy every Saturday, when the latest episode of the One Piece anime streams just one hour after it airs in Japan!

It's free and only at www.onepieceofficial.com! Log on today!

© Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha, Toei Animation.Licensed by FUN.

SHONEN JUMP Vs. Comic-Con 2009!

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:12:00 -0700

SHONEN JUMP Vs. Comic-Con 2009!Like a giant rubber monster crashing through a set of miniature cardboard buildings, SHONEN JUMP rampaged across the normally peaceful seaside town of San Diego with one goal in our tiny brain—must get to Comic-Con. And after destroying half the town we finally made it. Here's what went down!

Feel the might and power of Comic-Con!

Comic-Con is a massive four day convention celebrating comics, manga, sci-fi, video games, manga, anime, toys, movies and a whole lot more. At Comic-Con, anything goes! It's the greatest show of the year!

It's estimated 120,000+ people attended this year!

And lots of people dress up like their favorite characters. The costumes range from reused store bought Halloween outfits to custom-made elaborate costumes costing thousands of dollars. And there were plenty of SJ characters seen running around.

A very convincing Kankuro, complete with authentic face paint!

The main draw for most people is walking the enormous show floor. There you'll find an overwhelming array of merchandise to buy: comics, clothes, action figures, plushies, posters, shirts and a million other things. Basically, there's something for everybody regardless of your tastes.

Wide-eyed with wonder the fans shuffle in a zombie-like fashion.

Beyond the floor, the show offers many other things for fans to do like attend exclusive screenings, signings, video game or card dueling tournaments and much more. But the biggest draw are the panels where they can see their favorite artists, creators, actors and directors, face to face. Some of these panels require fans to stand in line for hours! That's the power of love!

Panels are all the rage at Comic-Con!

And speaking of panels, the SHONEN JUMP panel was nothing short of earth shattering! When special guest Hiroyuki Takei entered the room a chorus of thunderous applause erupted and his very presence sent shockwaves of awesome through the crowd. Then the skies above split and the one and only Stan Lee arrived riding a horse made of pure lightning. Well not quite, but the light-hearted banter of these two legends showed how much affection and respect each had for the other and also showed their love and devotion to the comic creation they share—Ultimo.

You can find an astounding video of the panel and more right here!

Stan Lee and Hiroyuki Takei on the same panel!

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Your Ticket to the Dueling StadiumThis fall, practice your Dueling skills along with Yusei Fudo and Jack Atlas right in your own living room. These action figures of your favorite characters and monsters from the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's anime are from Playmates, and you can head over to Toys"R"Us and Target on your D-Wheel to check them out. Here's the full collection!

5.5" figures (left to right): Stardust Dragon, Junk Warrior, Nitro Warrior, Red Dragon
and Speed Warrior

2.5" figures top row: Mad Archfiend and Multi-Piece Gollum, Montage Dragon and Goyo Guardian
Middle row: Dark Resonator and Red Dragon
Bottom row: Junk Synchron and Junk Warrior, Stardust Dragon and Sonic Chick

Pick up SHONEN JUMP each month for news about the latest Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's items!

©2008 Playmates Toys Inc.

©1996 Kazuki Takahashi
©2008 NAS • TV TOKYO

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG: Capture the Glory, Again!

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG: Capture the Glory, Again!Players of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game know that Duelist Packs are an affordable way to get your hands on the favorite cards of the characters in Yu-Gi-Oh! At long last, Duelist Pack – Yugi is here, giving special treatment to the Monster, Spell and Trap cards of the Duelist that started it all!

The Ultimate Trap

The most powerful card in this set is probably "Mirror Force." One of the strongest Trap Cards ever created, "Mirror Force" has been a favorite card in top tournament Decks for seven years (except for its brief inclusion on the Forbidden List). You've probably wished for enough copies to put one in each of your Decks, but its popularity has always made it a hard card to track down. Now, with Duelist Pack – Yugi, you can get the extra "Mirror Force" you need to power up all of your Decks!

Get the inside scoop on the latest Duelist Pack by reading the rest of this article in the August issue of SHONEN JUMP!

Shaman King: Shaman Fight Team-by-Team Rundown

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Shaman Fight Team-by-Team Rundown
Finally, young Shaman, you've made it to the Shaman Fight tournaments just like Yoh Asakura from Shaman King! You've witnessed the Great Spirit and survived. You've even assembled your three-man team and joined in the competition. The path to becoming the Shaman King is a long and arduous one, so now is not the time to let your guard down, for the real fight is about to begin.

The one who takes the title will gain the Great Spirit as an ally, and with it all the knowledge and power of every soul born on Earth. Knowing your opponent is only half the battle in the Shaman Fight, so prepare wisely. Let's take a closer look at some of the competition you're likely to face in the near future!

"Wooden Sword" Ryu, Faust VIII
and Yoh Asakura

Team Funbari Hot Springs

Leader: Yoh Asakura
Spirit Ally: Amidamaru
A boy with a dream, a punk with a pompadour and a demented doctor form this unheralded group. Competitors be warned: Don't underestimate this team! Team Funbari Hot Springs has succeeded where most have failed, holding their own against Hao and his minions. Armed with Faust's overpowering love for his Spirit Ally Eliza, "Wooden Sword" Ryu's rugged resolve, and Yoh's dream of living in comfort, this tournament dark horse just might reach the summit against all odds!
Joco, Tao Ren and Horohoro

Team Ren

Leader: Tao Ren
Spirit Ally: Bason
Ren was once a ruthless shaman who thought nothing of annihilating his enemies, but he has changed his ways ever since his humbling defeat at the hands of Yoh Asakura. Now, together with Horohoro and Joco, Ren is determined to carve his name into history as the next Shaman King. Although Ren suffered a near-fatal wound in a skirmish against Hao's underlings, he has emerged from his near-death experience stronger than ever by boosting his Mana up 50,000 points!
Hao and his followers

Hoshi-Gumi

Leader: Hao
Spirit Ally: Spirit of Fire
Because of his numerous reincarnations throughout the past millennium, Hao has raised his Mana level to astronomical proportions. With an army of elite shaman at his beck and call and the Spirit of Fire by his side, Hao presents a daunting challenge to anyone who stands in his way. Anyone willing to square off against his Mana level of 1,250,000 must be either incredibly brave or foolish.
Lyserg, Lady Jeanne and Marco

X-Laws: Team X-I

Leader: Lady Jeanne
Spirit Ally: Shamash
The X-Laws have, in the name of justice, dedicated themselves to preventing Hao’s rise to power. But take heed — their apparent benevolence masks a lack of tolerance toward those who do not share their standards of righteousness, and they will destroy any wrongdoer using the power of their Angel Spirit Allies. Lady Jeanne, leader of Team X-1, has vowed to eliminate Hao once and for all and take mankind’s suffering upon herself. As proof of her resolve, she subjects herself to gruesome torture inside her iron maiden, an act that also increases her Mana.
Meene, Cebin and Venstar

X-Laws: Team X-III

Leader: Venstar
Spirit Ally: Metatron
This X-Law team, part of the overall X-Laws faction headed by Lady Jeanne, is nothing to scoff at, as evidenced by their incredible Mana levels and their intimidating Spirit Allies. Their leader Venstar is a righteous man who wields Metatron as his Spirit Ally. Team X-III's strength lies in their determination to defeat Hao, but is that enough to snuff out the Spirit of Fire? Even against seemingly impossible odds, this group's willingness to stake their lives for their cause make them a most dangerous opponent.

Against such competition, the average Shaman would likely find himself quaking with fear. But you have a dream, and you'll do whatever it takes to fulfill it! So grab hold of your shaking knees and let the games begin!

Tip: To get more intel on other teams participating in the Shaman Fight, run to your nearest Patch Gift Shop (aka bookstore!) and nab all the copies of Shaman King you can get your hands on! After all, knowledge is power!

by Chris Turner

Bleach: The 3rd Phantom: Lost in Limbo

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Bleach: The 3rd Phantom: Lost in LimboNow that the news is out about Bleach: The 3rd Phantom for the DS, no doubt your thumbs have started twitching in anticipation! Unlike many of the Bleach games before it, this one's a real-time strategy extravaganza, complete with a brand-new storyline and two new characters. This month, we're going to delve into the story, as well as shine a light on one of the game's more interesting features — starring everybody's favorite mod soul, Kon!

Twin Reapers!

Twins Matsuri and Fujimaru Kudo are orphaned when Hollows kill their parents during an attack on the Soul Society. Adopted by a Fifth Division Captain named Seigen Suzunami, the two train as Soul Reapers and join his Division. In time, they're dispatched to fight the powerful Arrancar Arturo Plateado when he threatens to destroy the Soul Society. A terrible battle ensues, and the twins become frozen in time. They awaken hundreds of years later and bump into a strange guy with red hair named Ichigo!

Read the rest of this article in the August issue of SHONEN JUMP!

Games We Love

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Games We LoveWhat's up, gamers? Got enough stuff to play? We've got suggestions this month that'll make sure you've got something to feed your console, whatever it may be. From ghost-filled fun to superhero mayhem, you won't be bored. Oh, and did we mention we've got a farming game?

The Sims 3

Sims 3 makes quite a few changes to its very successful franchise formula. For one, you have much more flexibility in deciding how your Sims look (there are separate sliders for both musculature and body fat, for example), and every adult Sim now has five distinct Traits that define their personality (Jock, Paranoid, etc). Oh, and while you still control one household at a time, your neighbors advance alongside you in every conceivable way: A downtown lets you shop, eat and otherwise socialize with the other Sims. There's also a brand-new movie mode that lets you create your own Sim sitcom/action film that others can watch online.

Hint: Yes, you still have to remember to go to the bathroom.

Read the rest of the reviews in this section in the August issue of SHONEN JUMP!

© Electronic Arts

SHONEN JUMP Issue 80

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 0:00:00 -0700

The Beast Unleashed!The Battle Continues!
With Konoha destroyed and the Leaf ninja on the ropes, Naruto's fighting Pain with everything he's got! We also have a special feature that looks into a pivotal moment in Kakashi's past! Plus, we've got the scoop on a brand-spanking-new Naruto game for the PSP!

Sneak Preview!
Machines rule the wastelands. People spend their lives in self-contained villages that shield them from the harsh desert. Entities known as Guardians armed with special, adaptable combat suits are the protectors of life. Come experience the mysterious world of Wāqwāq!

Are You the Next Shaman King?
Do you see ghosts? Got a couple of spectral homeboys? Well, then you just may have what it takes to compete in the ultimate battle — the Shaman King fight! Our step-by-step guide will help you prepare for a contest that could decide the fate of mankind!

Plus, here's what's happening in SHONEN JUMP manga!

Ultimo: Find out more about the connection between Yamato and the Karakuri Dôji in Act 2! Will history repeat itself for Ultimo?

One Piece: Even though the bomb was disposed of, the fighting still wages on! Did Pell make the ultimate sacrifice for nothing?!

Tegami Bachi: Lag faces an angry mob, all of them clamoring for his Crossing Pass. But they're not nearly as scary as an angry Niche!

YuYu Hakusho: The Demon Plane Unification Tournament begins signing up fighters, and thousands enter!

Bleach: Before Ichigo and his friends can reach Aizen, they have to cross through the land of disgraced Arrancars, who see destroying our heroes as the way to redeem themselves!

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX: The final match begins atop Academy Tower, where Jaden and Chazz duel for the right to challenge Kaiser Truesdale!