Fist of the North Star

Fist of the North Star (Japanese北斗 の 拳, Hokuto no Ken ) is a manga by the Japanese illustrator Tetsuo Hara and the author Buronson, which appeared from 1983 to 1988 in Japan. The work was adapted and continued in several anime and other manga.

The manga can be classified in the genres of action, adventure, science fiction and drama.

Action

After a nuclear war, the world is largely devastated and most of the survivors living as farmers, but life is hard. In addition, gangs roam the world who oppress other people. The fighter Kenshiro who has mastered the art of Hokuto Shinken, has set itself the goal to protect the weak. He is accompanied by the young thief Bat and Lin orphans. On his travels he fights again and again against the gangs, but his real goal is his brother Raoh, who wants to conquer the world with the art of Hokuto Shinken. Finally, Kenshiro can beat him too.

Many years later he is fighting against the army of the Governor Jakoh, together with Bat and Lin, who also command an army. After their victory Lin is kidnapped and Kenshiro must travel to the land of Shura, to save them. There he meets the ruler Kaioh, which dominates one of its evenly matched with the technique of Hokuto Ryuken. After Kenshiro has also defeated Kaioh, he takes Raohs son Ryu on as his apprentice.

Publication

The manga was published from 1983 to 1988 in the Weekly Shōnen Jump manga magazine the publisher Shueisha. Later, the individual chapters also appeared in 27 anthologies. During the 1990s, a second edition followed in 15 Aizōban - volumes. Other editions followed from the publisher Shogakukan.

Viz published in 1989, the first chapter of the manga in 16 booklets in the USA. Another 25 books followed 1995 to 1997. A French version was published first in J'ai Lu, from 2008 in Asuka Comics. A German version of the first eight volumes appeared from May to December 2003, Planet Manga.

Adaptations

Anime

1984-1988 produced the studio Toei Animation and directed by Toyoo Ashida an anime television series to manga. The character design designed Masami Suda. The series was broadcast on 4 October 1984 to 18 February 1988 the channel Fuji TV in Japan from March 13, 1987 as the second season Hokuto no Ken 2

The first season with 109 episodes aired in English, Italian and French television and, among others, also translated into Arabic. For the second season there is an Italian version.

In 1986, the series of film Seikimatsu Densetsu Hokuto no Ken Kyūseishu in the cinemas, which tells an alternative story. The film at 110 minutes in length was translated among others into English, French, Italian and German.

The series was continued in 2003 in the OVA New Fist of the North Star (新·北斗 の 拳, Shin Hokuto no Ken ), which was broadcast on German television.

Synchronization

Music

The music of the series was composed by Nozomi Aoki. Crystal King delivered the first biasing Ai wo Torimodose! (愛 を とりもどせ! ) And the first credits title Yuria ... land ni (ユリア...永遠 に). The second biasing song Silent Survivor and credits Dry Your Tears are from Kodomo band. Biasing the second season is Tough Boy by TOM * CAT (TOM ★ CAT), was used for the end credits Love Song by TOM * CAT and in the last episode ... Yuria land ni.

Soten no Ken

Since 2001, the adaptation of Soten no Ken Buronson and Nobuhiko Horie appears in the magazine Comic Bunch. The manga has also been translated into English and French.

2006, a 26- episode anime adaptation of the manga was produced and directed by Yoshihiro Yamaguchi. The series was broadcast on 4 October 2006 to 13 March 2007 TV Asahi.

Ten no Hao: Hokuto no Ken Rao Gaiden

From March 2006 to March 2007 was published in the magazine Comic Bunch adaptation Ten no Haoh - Hokuto no Ken Raoh Gaiden (天 の 覇王 北斗 の 拳 ラオウ 外伝) of Youkow Osada. The manga includes a total of five volumes and published in French in Asuka Comics and in Chinese in Taiwan in Tong Li

In 2008, the studio Satelight produced an anime television series with the manga, which was broadcast from 2 October to 25 December 2008, Tokyo MX, TV Aichi and TV Osaka. It was directed by Masashi Abe.

Real movie

In 1995, the live-action movie Fist of the North Star in Japan - The Saviour ( Director: Tony Randel ) in the cinemas. The 106- minute film has also been translated into English, Spanish and German.

Reception

The work is considered one of the cruelest and most violent of the martial arts genre.

However, the manga by Alexander Tahl at splash comics is called a classic that fans of the genre is recommended in any case. The " eternal bursting body " but would not for every reader, especially for the younger crowd, the manganese is not suitable. The fighting, however, often run by the same scheme and the action 'm very prominent. According to the magazine Funime the anime features as well, especially a lot of violence and injuries, but produce an in-depth for the genre action in an apocalyptic world.