Naruto

[arus2001]

Teenage boys can't possibly relate to strong women beyond sexual urges.

...at least that's how I interpret it.

It's kind of funny how I noticed in my own personal writings that my cast for one the bigger settings I have is female-heavy (without a fucking loli). Sure, one part of me may be projecting a pseudo-harem upon the main male character, but I kind of wonder if it's a sub-conscious lashing out against the genre much like how I'm sick of kids pummeling adult (armies) in video games. Much as I joke about liking (really) titsy broads, useless bimbos just don't do it for me.

[Eurell]

They've shown Sakura to be very strong (nowhere near naruto or sasuke of course though) throughout shipuden. Saw her one shotting some Summons that a group of Anbu were having trouble with in the Pain arc, but yeah, nowhere near enough screen time to make her relevant at all.

[orson]

Teenage boys can't possibly relate to strong women beyond sexual urges.

...at least that's how I interpret it.

It's kind of funny how I noticed in my own personal writings that my cast for one the bigger settings I have is female-heavy (without a fucking loli). Sure, one part of me may be projecting a pseudo-harem upon the main male character, but I kind of wonder if it's a sub-conscious lashing out against the genre much like how I'm sick of kids pummeling adult (armies) in video games. Much as I joke about liking (really) titsy broads, useless bimbos just don't do it for me.

I agree that sexual attraction is a huge distraction. For most guys that does not just go away. You just learn how to deal with it better. Younger guys can admire or sometimes identify with well done girl characters. If the girl is heavily sexualized or is constantly pining over the love interest I think no one tends to take that character seriously. I agree that also though those female characters are few and far between in popular male entertainment. I could think of Jade (Beyond Good & Evil,) Alex (Half-Life 2,) and Jill Valentine (ignoring RE 5.) I know there are a few more but ya they aren't common.

Tsunade was fairly exaggerated sexually but not so bad as to have it distract from other characteristics. Tsunade was strong, extremely intelligent, and the greatest medical ninja to ever exist. The problem was those characteristics were never given any focus. Take away everything about the 3rd and her being male or female and who do you like better? Obviously the 3rd was a way more noble and self sacrificing person. They both did have tragedy that humanized them a bit but overall Tsunade probably had the more hardships at a younger age. I think if they had actually given Tsunade more time to develop she'd have been very popular.

The biggest problem is I think Naruto side characters get very little spin off time which makes sense given how focused the manga is on setting up conflict for Naruto and Sasuke. Apart from that, Japanese culture just like ours used to be very male dominated so it still shows. Overall though I'd compare it to the chicken before the egg dilemma is the character popular because of the cool stuff they do or vice versa do they get popularity and then their character gets more "screen time."

[Odin'sLaw]

I'm saddened that you forgot the first Female main protagonist in a video game, its all about Samus Aran!

[Rhyis.]

You spend most of that game assuming it's a dude so it's not quite the same.

[Souj]

I'm saddened that you forgot the first Female main protagonist in a video game, its all about Samus Aran!

Psh, Miss Pacman was before Samus

[Odin'sLaw]

Psh, Miss Pacman was before Samus

Space pirates Metroids Ridley > bed sheet ghosts

[arus2001]

But Ms. Pacman is good with her mouth.

[Odin'sLaw]

But Ms. Pacman is good with her mouth.

Samus can do gymnastics and can even get into a tight little ball

[Rhyis.]

Also wears sex me boots and a bikini under that suit.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...of_Metroid.png

[Odin'sLaw]

Zero suit only! so tight

[Lucavi]

Teenage boys can't possibly relate to strong women beyond sexual urges.

...at least that's how I interpret it.

Socially-awkward Japanese teenage boys can't relate. Western comics certainly have their share of T&A, but at least they don't mind having the ladies actually fight and kick ass every now and then. When people start pointing out how many "damsels in distress" there are in Western Comics that need saving, I always counter-point to how many "useless businessmen in suits and ties" there are in Western comics that also need saving. Useless people are useless people, and there isn't some majority share-holding on that aspect in regards to women.

[Dantrag]

I think it has more to do with the nation as a whole in that regards. But it's been changing for a good while. Women(depending on the artist) can take an extremely strong main character role(Saber is a good example). Same can be said for western comics and movies more so though.

[Vaspinne]

Early spoilers. Chapter will be out in like 2~3 hours but regardless:

Spoiler: show

Mother was member of Root. She would heal people wounded in war.
Kabuto heals a wounded Orochimaru. Mother and Danzou have a conversation about Kabuto becoming a fine shinobi.
Kabuto decides to go along with Danzou and Orochimaru and become a shinobi.
Several years later, Kabuto makes a mistake and is surrounded by enemies. He fights back with kunai. His opponent is Mother. She gets injured, so Kabuto heals her.
Mother asks why he's healing her. She also asks who Kabuto is(?). Kabuto says he no longer knows who he is.
Orochimaru appears and says Kabuto's become a fine shinobi, and that Orochimaru remembers.

My thoughts?

Spoiler: show

lol Ninja Nuns

[Eurell]

Spoiler: show

Boring flashback chapter. Only part I liked was seeing Orochi in root.

[Ratatapa]

Naruto 584 OrochimaruXKabutountilSasukeappearsAndbecomeaTrian glelove

[AzazaelFenrir]

So this week is a break, is next week a break also?

[Insanecyclone]

http://www.mangahere.com/manga/naruto/v60/c583/

[Sunrider]

Spoiler: show

So what happened to Sasori's claim that Kabuto was one of his operatives? If I recall, Kabuto later corroborated that story by saying Orochimaru freed Kabuto from Sasori's control.

[Correction]

Orochimaru sure has a thing for them young, vulnerable male shinobi with family issues.