Another End, but in Manga

This will be sort of like the last post talking about ends and starts.  So let's get to it.

Naruto is ending.  Yep.  Next week.  Shocked?  You shouldn't be as it was announced back in early October.  But if you are, you're probably filled with a few emotions.

Let's start with how I'm talking about the manga (comic) series, and not the televised series of which I have little clue on where it is and how long it plans to go.  Heck, it may already have been finished and cancelled, though I doubt it.  For the past 15 years, a mangaka by the name of Masashi Kishimoto has been writing the coming of age story of a boy named Naruto from a ninja village and is haunted by a literal demon trapped within his body while trying to be an optimistic guy who tries to do right and constantly works towards the idea of becoming the leader of his village and change the bloodshed which plagues his world.  That's the general idea of this story, even if it is a little more complicated or completely forgotten sometimes.

This is a series which has had tons of ups and downs, with many fans fondly remembering "Part 1" of the series over "Part 2" which deals with Naruto's later life.  There was plenty of action, lots of charisma, stories of woe and inspiration, plenty of excellent character designs, and lots to work with.  Again, many fans weren't a fan of Part 2 as it tried to become more political intrigue and plenty of angst and drama among some of the characters and came off a little more "cookie cutter" in some ways as it still continued to use a lot of shonen series.  But let's not short change this series as it also became a defining manga in its own right as one of the most popular in the world for years and didn't always limit itself to being ultra formulaic like some of its peers.  Sure, you could tell how a fight was going to end: Naruto using his famed "talk-no-jutsu," to turn the enemy into a friend.  The technique was named by his fandom who realized Naruto tried to use his words and fists to try and end fights and at least attempt his goal of ninjas who don't need to kill one another.  He tried to aspire to the greatness within people, and a lot of people (at least in his little universe) loved him for that.  Sure it became a long winded dreck at some points towards the end, and especially with a lot of the big Ninja War, but there was a lot of the story there which people sort of forget they loved.

Let me go back to the feelings bit.  I feel a tad conflicted with Naruto ending.  I feel good and bad.  Good because it gives closure to a series I did actually enjoy despite what people said about it, good because it will finish a story which has been floundering for a couple years, good because answers will be given, and good because... well, I can't explain it.  I feel happy to see something run its course, sort of like watching a sports team come to an end and pass into legend.  It gives the story reference for the future when we ultimately compare future stories against it.  However, I do feel bad because I like stories which go on, which explains my bizarre love for American superhero comic books.  I feel bad because I feel there's no way there's enough time to answer all the questions.  Bad because there are several characters who were sent to the wayside and were completely forgotten.  There are many fans who feel conflicted by this end, many of which were simply reading Naruto just to finish a series they'd been reading for years.  Some are happy to see it end so their hate-filled, monotonous, pain stricken lives can move on to the next series they hope will die.  Some are ruminating in what they loved about the series and are reflecting how much they have grown over the course of the series themselves and are kind of comparing previous and current tastes and rejudging the series.  Some are genuinely sad to see the series they actually like end.  (I know, some people read stories because they LOVE them.  Fans really do come in all sorts believe it or not.)  Most seem relieved because they are tired fans, and are mixed in how they feel and are just a little confused.  Me, I'm one of those.  I'm sad and relieved and happy and anxious and relaxed and blah blah blah.  But if I were to be honest, the feeling I have most is the feeling of sadness.  I said it before, but I'm sad because the series is coming to an end and I, for some reason, wanted more.

Oh wait.

Nevermind, a sequel has been announced as of yesterday!  I don't want to spoil anything, but it deals with the current characters and their children, so there's quite a big jump.  (By spoil, I mean who are parents and pairing and blah blah blah).  This was hinted to before with a movie talking about a new era, but leaks of the final issue and some pictures which give away parentage and junk.

Happy days are here again!  Now we can all go safely back to the status quo of hating on Bleach for the manga world.

EDIT: Apparently I jumped the gun and assumed what comes after Naruto is a full blown series, but apparently it is just a mini-series.  Still, better than nothing I guess.