Now Viewing: hokuto_no_kenTag type: Copyright 北斗の拳 Covers images related to this series. Iconic and influential shonen martial arts action series written by Buronson and drawn by Hara_Tetsuo. It ran from 1983 to 1988. It is also known as Fist of the North Star. It is generally considered to be the inventor of the shonen action series. It is set in a Mad Max 2-esque post-apocalyptic Japan. Resources and guns are limited. Clothing consists of anything people can cobble together from scavenging. Modern cities are nearly non-existent except as relics of the past. Vicious gangs roam the land terrorizing innocent survivors. Fortunately for the innocent, Kenshiro, a morally righteous and powerful martial artist and the successor to the Hokuto Shinken style, roams the land using his formidable martial arts skills to protect people and deal brutal justice to villains. Kenshiro is also wandering the land searching for his kidnapped girlfriend Yuria, vowing revenge on Shin, the man who kidnapped her. Kenshiro eventually defeats Shin, but discovers that Yuria is not in his grasp. Kenshiro's problems don't end there. Kenshiro must also deal with fellow practitioners of Hokuto Shinken and its derivatives who are using their skills for more nefarious purposes. The series was inspired by discussions Hara had with his editor Horie Nobuhiko who suggested that Hara combine his knowledge of martial arts and pressure points to create a manga starring a martial artist that defeats his enemies by striking at their pressure points. Inspired, Hara created two one-shot prototypes of Hokuto no Ken that premiered in 1983. These prototypes notably lack the post-apocalyptic setting of the main series and were instead set in the time they were created; Kenshiro was also a teenager as opposed to the experienced warrior seen in the main series. These two prototypes were well-received and Hara was commissioned to make a full series based on the ideas in the prototypes. Buronson was assigned to work with Hara as the writer of the serialized story and together they revamped the story to what it is today. It was originally intended to run for three years, but its immense popularity inspired the publishers to demand Hara and Buronson to extend the run to five years. It has been adapted into two anime TV series. The first anime series and correspondingly the first half of the manga is more well known and frequently referenced. However, the game Hokuto Musou 2 adapts the entire manga, including the lesser known second half. The Hokuto Musou games are unusual amongst the Musou series in that the combat is very bloody which makes it closer to the source. The games also provides non-canon alternate endings for some of the series' characters with Dream Mode. The TV series' tone down the violence and gore of the manga, although Kenshiro continues to kill by hitting pressure points; it's just depicted less explicitly compared to the manga. The TV series 1st anime opening, Ai wo Torimodose (also commonly referred to as You wa Shock!) is iconic. While each adaptation has a different set of composers and different music, the Japanese adaptations always include Ai wo Torimodose in some form. It has also been adapted into a Western live action film, and has received multiple video game adaptations and manga spinoffs. The manga spinoffs are sidestories that feature one of the popular supporting characters from the original series as the protagonist. The manga has also been adapted into two live action films, one American and one Korean. Hara's art style (detailed and realistic looking faces and muscular physiques for most male characters) is often homaged and parodied by other anime series and fan artists. It is common for artists to take the series' muscular character designs for the male characters and place them in female outfits. The minor villain Colonel is also the inspiration for Final Fight's Rolento and King of Fighters' Heidern. It has also received a prequel, Souten no Ken by the same creators of the original manga. Cast: Main Characters: Kenshirou Bat_(Hokuto_no_Ken) Lynn Supporting: Shin_(Hokuto_no_Ken) Amiba Raoh Kaioh Zeed Spade_(Hokuto_no_Ken) Mr_Heart Diamond_(Hokuto_no_Ken) Club_(Hokuto_no_Ken) Colonel_(Hokuto_no_Ken) Jagi Jackal_(Hokuto_no_Ken) Devil's_Rebirth Rei_(Hokuto_no_Ken) Mamiya Kiba_Daioh Airi Raiga Fuuga_(Hokuto_no_Ken) Ryuken Juda Shuh Ryuga Hyui Shuren Juza Fudoh Rihaku Tou Ein_(Hokuto_no_Ken) Buzz_Harn Gill_Harn Falco_(Hokuto_no_Ken) Jakoh Solia Shoki Lui Akashachi Shachi Han_(Hokuto_no_Ken) Hyoh Kaioh Kuroyasha Alf Ryu_(Hokuto_no_Ken) Kouketsu Baran Bolge Jukei Nameless_Shura Souther Toki_(Hokuto_no_Ken) Yuria Prequel: Souten_no_Ken Memes: i_don't_have_a_single_regret_in_my_life you_are_already_dead Other Wiki Information Last updated: 10/28/16 8:01 PM by Bubcus93 This entry is not locked and you can edit it as you see fit. |
     
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