1. Naruto, Volume 18. Mashashi Kishimoto.
Viz Media, $7.95 ISBN 978-1-421-51653-0
Despite an accelerated schedule that will release 3 Naruto titles a month through the end of the year, Naruto sales continue to soar and the three Sept. releases (volumes 18, 17, 16) took over the top three slots on this month’s list, while Vol. 15 took the #7 slot. In Japan, Naruto will undergo a significant plot change (the ninja-in-training will grow older) after vol. 27 and Viz has speeded up U.S. publication to keep American readers in synch with its Japanese readers. The Naruto series has sold over 2 million copies in the U.S. and won the 2006 Quill Award for graphic novels.

2. Naruto, Volume 17. Mashashi Kishimoto.
Viz Media, $7.95 ISBN 978-1-421-51652-3

3. Naruto, Volume 16. Mashashi Kishimoto.
Viz Media, $7.95 ISBN 978-1-421-51090-3

4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Jeff Kinney.
Abrams, $10.95 ISBN 978-0-810-99313-6
Abram’s Diary of Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney marks its fifth consecutive month on the list. This remarkable title now has more than 800,000 copies in print, said Abrams publicity director Jason Wells. Kinney regularly visits schools and consumer book shows (the Texas Book Festival among them) and Abrams has plans to publish a sequel, Diary of Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, in February 2008.

5. Fruits Basket, Volume 17. Natsuki Takaya.
Tokyopop, $9.99 ISBN 978-1-598-16799-3

6. Negima, Volume 15. Ken Akamatsu.
Del Rey, $10.95 ISBN 978-0-345-49615-7

7. Naruto, Volume 15. Mashashi Kishimoto.
Viz Media, $7.95 ISBN 978-1-421-51089-7

8. Gentleman’s Alliance, Volume 3. Arina Tanemura.
Viz Media, $8.99 ISBN 978-1-421-51185-6

9. Bleach, Volume 20. Tite Kubo.
Viz Media, $7.95 ISBN 978-1421510446

10. Full Metal Alchemist, Volume 14. Hiromu Arakawa.
Viz Media, $9.99 ISBN 978-1421513799

Take Note:
Marvel’s Clone Saga trade paperback took the #11 slot and collects periodical issues #97-105 of Ultimate Spider-Man. In these stories Peter Park must sort out his relationships with the X-Man’s Kitty Pryde and with Mary Jane Watson, as a sinister conspiracy brews.

Taking the #13 slot, the 100 Bullets Vol 11: Once Upon a Crime trade paperback collects periodical issues #76-83 of 100 Bullets. One of DC/Vertigo’s longest running periodical series, 100 Bullets is set to end, appropriately, with periodical issue no. 100 (the series is currently at issue #86). Series writer Brian Azzarello and artist Eduardo Risso have both been awarded Eisner Awards for the hardboiled crime series.