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北斗の拳 究極版 [Hokuto no Ken kyūkyoku-ban] #2
Fist of the North Star, Vol. 2
Kenshiro takes on the Golan, a gang whose claims of genetic superiority he will put to the test. Later, as he continues his journey through the wasteland, he runs into a wily nomad warlord named Jackal. Until now, Ken’s opponents have rarely used their heads—though many have lost them! How will he handle an enemy who relies on low cunning instead of brute force?
312 pages, Hardcover
First published September 20, 2013
About the author
Buronson
436 books72 followersAssociated to: Okamura Yoshiyuki, Sho Fumimura
Yoshiyuki Okamura (岡村善行), also known as Buronson (武論尊) or Sho Fumimura (史村翔 Fumimura Shō), is a Japanese manga writer most known by his famous work Hokuto no Ken. known in English as Fist of the North Star.
He graduated from the Japanese Air Force Training School in 1967 and served as an Air Force radar mechanic. In 1969 he discharged from the Japanese Navy and was soon hired by Hiroshi Motomiya as a manga assistant. He started his manga writing career when he wrote the script of Pink Punch: Miyabi in 1972, drawn by Goro Sakai. In 1975 Buronson wrote his first big hit The Doberman Detective, drawn by Shinji Hiramatsu. The famous Hokuto no Ken made its debute as Buronson's greatest hit in 1983, drawn by Tetsuo Hara. In 1989 his story Ourou was released as a manga serialized in Animal Magazine, drawn by Kentarou Miura, and in 1990 a sequel entitled Ourou Den was released by the same manga artist. Buronson also collaborated with the manga artist Ryoichi Ikegami in many works as Strain (manga) , Human (manga) and the famous Sanctuary (manga). Among his other major works are The Phantom Gang, with art by Kaoru Shintani.
Buronson was mainly influenced by movies such as Bruce Lee's, and Mad Max.
The nickname Buronson is a tribute to the American actor Charles Bronson, whose way of growing the mustache was imitated by Yoshiyuki Okamura too.
Yoshiyuki Okamura (岡村善行), also known as Buronson (武論尊) or Sho Fumimura (史村翔 Fumimura Shō), is a Japanese manga writer most known by his famous work Hokuto no Ken. known in English as Fist of the North Star.
He graduated from the Japanese Air Force Training School in 1967 and served as an Air Force radar mechanic. In 1969 he discharged from the Japanese Navy and was soon hired by Hiroshi Motomiya as a manga assistant. He started his manga writing career when he wrote the script of Pink Punch: Miyabi in 1972, drawn by Goro Sakai. In 1975 Buronson wrote his first big hit The Doberman Detective, drawn by Shinji Hiramatsu. The famous Hokuto no Ken made its debute as Buronson's greatest hit in 1983, drawn by Tetsuo Hara. In 1989 his story Ourou was released as a manga serialized in Animal Magazine, drawn by Kentarou Miura, and in 1990 a sequel entitled Ourou Den was released by the same manga artist. Buronson also collaborated with the manga artist Ryoichi Ikegami in many works as Strain (manga) , Human (manga) and the famous Sanctuary (manga). Among his other major works are The Phantom Gang, with art by Kaoru Shintani.
Buronson was mainly influenced by movies such as Bruce Lee's, and Mad Max.
The nickname Buronson is a tribute to the American actor Charles Bronson, whose way of growing the mustache was imitated by Yoshiyuki Okamura too.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
January 3, 2024
This still feels a bit too much like a story from a video game. Ken is the kind-hearted guy who stops what he's doing to help out. He's ultra powerful and each story is basically him going up against bigger and bigger foes showing off his martial arts skills. Still it's been an interesting enough read with tons of action.
March 25, 2021
Tercera lectura: [25/03/2021]
Segunda lectura: [27/07/2019]
Primera lectura: [1/07/2018]
4,5
Me ha gustado más que la primera vez que lo leí. La historia de Godland está mucho mejor traducida (y eso ayuda). El enfrentamiento con Jackal es una pasada. Y la historia de la madre de un acompañante de Ken me emocionó mucho. ¡Y ya apareció Lei!
Ahora sí empieza lo bueno...
Segunda lectura: [27/07/2019]
Primera lectura: [1/07/2018]
4,5
Me ha gustado más que la primera vez que lo leí. La historia de Godland está mucho mejor traducida (y eso ayuda). El enfrentamiento con Jackal es una pasada. Y la historia de la madre de un acompañante de Ken me emocionó mucho. ¡Y ya apareció Lei!
Ahora sí empieza lo bueno...
March 31, 2023
Ken finds a village of children being looked after by a elderly woman they have water for lifetimes but bandits want it all for the taking, it’s brutal and just as crazy as last volume with some fun fighting and we begin a new arc towards the end with a man who’s been searching all the lands for Ken.
September 18, 2021
This review is for a digital copy that I received from NetGalley.
As someone who is a big fan of the dark fantasy manga Berserk, created by the late Kentaro Miura, who left this world too soon this year, it was interesting reading the manga that had the biggest impact on his work as Viz Media have been publishing hardcover editions of Fist of the North Star. This summer saw the publication of the first volume, where we are introduced to Kenshiro, who wanders a post-apocalyptic world, defending the weak and innocent from the many gangs and organizations that threaten their survival, with his ancient martial art known as Hokuto Shinken AKA the Fist of the North Star.
Opening with our hero fighting a villainous army of red berets, led by a colonel who wields the “Boomerang of Death” (literally one of the chapters of this volume), that’s when you detect how formulaic Fist of the North Star is. As always with most battle manga, the repetitive storytelling is very much Ken travels to one land to the next, fighting off men that are usually bigger and nastier and always underestimating Ken’s martial arts, which causes enemies’ organs to explode.
With its gut-exploding violence that is well-drawn by Tetsuo Hara, there is something comical about a lot of these situations. However, the post-apocalyptic setting – clearly owing to a debt to Mad Max – does not shy away from the idea that anyone, including women and children, can be harmed. When one of Ken’s young allies, Bat, is reunited with his fellow orphans raised by the elderly Toyo, who is trying to protect a water well, a vicious biker gang plans to take over, causing Ken to fight back. Whenever the fights have a more personal edge, there’s more emotional engagement with the storyline as there are some tragedies along the way, though the resolution is going to be Ken doing some ancient art technique.
In terms of the overall artwork, some of which are bafflingly colorized, Tetsuo Hara’s strength is less about the destructed environments and more about the human body, specifically the bulky physique of the male characters. Although these fights have the same outcome, Hara presents them like David versus Goliath, particularly the fight towards the end where Ken confronts someone that is inhumanely large.
I’ve said this before on my review of the previous volume that Fist of the North Star is dramatically inert compared to the future works that it inspired, but if you like ultra-violent super-powered martial arts set within a Mad Max-inspired wasteland, this influential manga will fill your cravings.
As someone who is a big fan of the dark fantasy manga Berserk, created by the late Kentaro Miura, who left this world too soon this year, it was interesting reading the manga that had the biggest impact on his work as Viz Media have been publishing hardcover editions of Fist of the North Star. This summer saw the publication of the first volume, where we are introduced to Kenshiro, who wanders a post-apocalyptic world, defending the weak and innocent from the many gangs and organizations that threaten their survival, with his ancient martial art known as Hokuto Shinken AKA the Fist of the North Star.
Opening with our hero fighting a villainous army of red berets, led by a colonel who wields the “Boomerang of Death” (literally one of the chapters of this volume), that’s when you detect how formulaic Fist of the North Star is. As always with most battle manga, the repetitive storytelling is very much Ken travels to one land to the next, fighting off men that are usually bigger and nastier and always underestimating Ken’s martial arts, which causes enemies’ organs to explode.
With its gut-exploding violence that is well-drawn by Tetsuo Hara, there is something comical about a lot of these situations. However, the post-apocalyptic setting – clearly owing to a debt to Mad Max – does not shy away from the idea that anyone, including women and children, can be harmed. When one of Ken’s young allies, Bat, is reunited with his fellow orphans raised by the elderly Toyo, who is trying to protect a water well, a vicious biker gang plans to take over, causing Ken to fight back. Whenever the fights have a more personal edge, there’s more emotional engagement with the storyline as there are some tragedies along the way, though the resolution is going to be Ken doing some ancient art technique.
In terms of the overall artwork, some of which are bafflingly colorized, Tetsuo Hara’s strength is less about the destructed environments and more about the human body, specifically the bulky physique of the male characters. Although these fights have the same outcome, Hara presents them like David versus Goliath, particularly the fight towards the end where Ken confronts someone that is inhumanely large.
I’ve said this before on my review of the previous volume that Fist of the North Star is dramatically inert compared to the future works that it inspired, but if you like ultra-violent super-powered martial arts set within a Mad Max-inspired wasteland, this influential manga will fill your cravings.
October 29, 2021
Before the meme and all, I have thoroughly enjoyed the anime version of Fist of the North Star more than ten years ago in our cable TV. Having now the chance to read the manga is a great way to experience everything again, all the brutality and badassery in this hero's journey in a post-apocalyptic world.
Fist of the North Star was written and drawn during the time when most stories were straightforward and simple. Good is good, and evil is evil. Evil kills for own gain and greed, while good kills for justice and to cleanse the land. And Kenshiro is this quintessential (super)hero, our man, the almost-invincible guy with the purest heart.
This sheer good vs. evil simplicity of Fist of the North Star is what makes the manga work so well. You just read it, enjoy your time and be immersed in the Mad Max-ish world by Buronson and Tetsuo Hara.
And oh, it's ultra violent! The deaths and the gore never gets old though. There's that satisfying dark humour whenever disposable thugs and the occasional big bosses are haplessly killed by OP Kenshiro - with their hopeless faces as their heads start to explode.
Being originally written in the 80's, one can see that elements in other manga possibly have roots or nods/references to Fist of the North Star from character design to certain fighting techniques: Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, Rurouni Kenshin, Onepunch Man, Yuyu Hakusho, and Dragon Ball.
Fist of the North Star is a great manga to read if one just wants one helluva good time. It's a classic hero's journey through on through.
Fist of the North Star was written and drawn during the time when most stories were straightforward and simple. Good is good, and evil is evil. Evil kills for own gain and greed, while good kills for justice and to cleanse the land. And Kenshiro is this quintessential (super)hero, our man, the almost-invincible guy with the purest heart.
This sheer good vs. evil simplicity of Fist of the North Star is what makes the manga work so well. You just read it, enjoy your time and be immersed in the Mad Max-ish world by Buronson and Tetsuo Hara.
And oh, it's ultra violent! The deaths and the gore never gets old though. There's that satisfying dark humour whenever disposable thugs and the occasional big bosses are haplessly killed by OP Kenshiro - with their hopeless faces as their heads start to explode.
Being originally written in the 80's, one can see that elements in other manga possibly have roots or nods/references to Fist of the North Star from character design to certain fighting techniques: Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, Rurouni Kenshin, Onepunch Man, Yuyu Hakusho, and Dragon Ball.
Fist of the North Star is a great manga to read if one just wants one helluva good time. It's a classic hero's journey through on through.
July 21, 2023
Kenshiro's dedicated altruism to protecting children and villagers is nice, but his invincibility quickly becomes boring as all his opponents are merely generic evil men in Road Warrior costumes queuing up for their turn to explode from the inside out in bloody spew after bloody spew.
I have another volume on hand from the library, but I'm guessing that will be the last I read unless something dramatically different disrupts the formulaic plots.
I have another volume on hand from the library, but I'm guessing that will be the last I read unless something dramatically different disrupts the formulaic plots.
January 31, 2023
Algo me dice que ahora empieza lo bueno...
November 2, 2021
Stupid. No tension whether the main character will get hurt or not (he won't) and gratuitous violence throughout. I love it.
September 29, 2021
Action packed in the style of a 1980s action movie stoic noble hero, but the excitement wears off with too much repetition. The art is clean and the action scenes are well rendered (and very violent) but at no point does the hero seem threatened (or even challenged) and each victory seems to follow roughly the same trajectory. The last story may end in an interesting direction, but the cliffhanger ending was one final annoyance.
Will likely read the next volume, but with low expectations.
Will likely read the next volume, but with low expectations.
October 17, 2021
More bone-snapping manga mayhem, fun stuff!
February 18, 2022
Mamiya my beloved
Rei my beloved
Kenshiro my beloved
Rei my beloved
Kenshiro my beloved
March 4, 2022
Without the single overarching story, this one actually worked better for me when compared to the first volume. Lots of ridiculousness and basically our hero is invulnerable to everything.
September 16, 2023
Absolutely Badass. Page Turner. Killer Art.
October 17, 2021
I mean, it’s more of the same. Some bad dudes are out making the ruined world more ruined and Kenshiro’s gotta stop ‘em. It’s not complicated but it’s well-executed episodic fun. Also as always the art is top notch. I’m a big fan of the chapters that are printed in limited colors. It’s just a great release.
January 23, 2023
Après avoir découvert le premier tome, je me suis aussitôt jetée sur la suite et j’ai dévoré le second tome. Bon ça ne sera jamais le manga que je préfère lire mais ça me fait passer un bon moment. J’aime beaucoup les quelques pages couleurs que l’on retrouve au fil des pages par ci par là. C’est très sobre et en même temps c’est hyper agréable je trouve. Ça apporte un petit truc en plus qui est fort agréable je trouve. J’aime surtout le côté rosé/orangé de la colorisation, c’est ce qui ressort le plus et le rendu est vraiment superbe!
Dans ce second tome,lLa puissance du Hokuto Shinken a permis à Kenshirô de se débarrasser du terrible colonel des Bérets Rouges et fondateur du Golan. L’homme aux sept cicatrices poursuit son chemin sur cette Terre dévastée et, au détour d’un village frappé par la sécheresse, libère l’eau d’une source tarie, redonnant espoir aux habitants. Mais une bande de pillards qui règne dans la région a eu vent de la nouvelle, et compte bien mettre la main sur cet or bleu…
L’histoire est toujours aussi intense, on enchaîne les scènes de combats les unes après les autres. Et c’est surtout toujours aussi passionnant à lire, chaque combat est tout simplement génial à découvrir. On en prend plein le yeux et l’ennui n’a clairement pas sa place dans cette histoire. Pas une seule fois on sent un moment qui devient ennuyant ou long à la lecture. Au contraire, de la première à la dernière page on est tenu en haleine et je trouve ça vraiment génial. J’aime beaucoup le personnage de Hokuto, comme je l’ai déjà dit pour le premier tome, c’est un personnage charismatique mais surtout un personnage qui envoie du lourd. J’aime beaucoup aussi le caractère qu’il a, il vient toujours en aide à ceux qui en ont besoin. Je suis fan de ce genre de personnage d’ailleurs. Ce second tome était plaisant à lire encore une fois et il me tarde de découvrir la suite avec le troisième tome!
Un second tome à la hauteur du premier. L’histoire continue d’avancer à son rythme. On découvre de nouveaux personnages, on continue d’apprendre à découvrir le personnage de Hokuto. C’est surtout le rythme que je retiens dans cette histoire. Un rythme très soutenu avec des combats qui sont vraiment incroyables à lire. J’avais un peu peur de me lancer dans ce manga, un peu peur de ne pas du tout accrocher à cette histoire. Mais finalement je suis surprise, alors certes ce n’est pas non plus un manga qui sera mon préféré non plus mais je passe un bon moment de lecture!
Dans ce second tome,lLa puissance du Hokuto Shinken a permis à Kenshirô de se débarrasser du terrible colonel des Bérets Rouges et fondateur du Golan. L’homme aux sept cicatrices poursuit son chemin sur cette Terre dévastée et, au détour d’un village frappé par la sécheresse, libère l’eau d’une source tarie, redonnant espoir aux habitants. Mais une bande de pillards qui règne dans la région a eu vent de la nouvelle, et compte bien mettre la main sur cet or bleu…
L’histoire est toujours aussi intense, on enchaîne les scènes de combats les unes après les autres. Et c’est surtout toujours aussi passionnant à lire, chaque combat est tout simplement génial à découvrir. On en prend plein le yeux et l’ennui n’a clairement pas sa place dans cette histoire. Pas une seule fois on sent un moment qui devient ennuyant ou long à la lecture. Au contraire, de la première à la dernière page on est tenu en haleine et je trouve ça vraiment génial. J’aime beaucoup le personnage de Hokuto, comme je l’ai déjà dit pour le premier tome, c’est un personnage charismatique mais surtout un personnage qui envoie du lourd. J’aime beaucoup aussi le caractère qu’il a, il vient toujours en aide à ceux qui en ont besoin. Je suis fan de ce genre de personnage d’ailleurs. Ce second tome était plaisant à lire encore une fois et il me tarde de découvrir la suite avec le troisième tome!
Un second tome à la hauteur du premier. L’histoire continue d’avancer à son rythme. On découvre de nouveaux personnages, on continue d’apprendre à découvrir le personnage de Hokuto. C’est surtout le rythme que je retiens dans cette histoire. Un rythme très soutenu avec des combats qui sont vraiment incroyables à lire. J’avais un peu peur de me lancer dans ce manga, un peu peur de ne pas du tout accrocher à cette histoire. Mais finalement je suis surprise, alors certes ce n’est pas non plus un manga qui sera mon préféré non plus mais je passe un bon moment de lecture!
February 13, 2023
While I respect the sheer artistic talent put into Fist of the North Star, I can't say the same effort goes into the storytelling. The plot is banal and the characters are thinly veiled archetypes, but what makes Fist of the North Star palatable is how well drawn all the fight scenes are.
Following the introduction to the Hokuto Shinken trained martial artist Kenshiro in Vol. 1, we follow his further journeys into the post-apocalyptical Mad Max-esque hellscape. Kenshiro's main characterizations are directly derived from every aspect of a '70s action movie hero - he's stoic, reserved and polite, but knows exactly when to kick ass. He has a soft spot for women and children in need. This volume has Ken facing off against yet another set of one-dimensional villains who spend most of their time cackling at how evil they are. They always underestimate the lone Ken, thinking their sheer numbers will win, but are always aghast to learn how superior Ken's Hokuto Shinken is. The invulnerability of Ken does make every conflict a tad less interesting, but I do think the gonzo action sequences do more than enough to keep me invested.
The artwork is really the reason to take any interest in Fist of the North Star. Tetsuo Hara's energetic and gritty cartooning is visceral stuff. There is ample amounts of exploding body bits to get any action fan riled up and the intense emphasis on anatomical features makes the fight scenes seem all that more impactful. There are some confounding colored pages here and there, and all they really did was serve to show how great Hara's artwork is in black & white.
Despite my low ranking, I still was moderately entertained by this volume and will read on for further volumes. I think tempered expectations on the storytelling is crucial towards the enjoyment of this series.
Following the introduction to the Hokuto Shinken trained martial artist Kenshiro in Vol. 1, we follow his further journeys into the post-apocalyptical Mad Max-esque hellscape. Kenshiro's main characterizations are directly derived from every aspect of a '70s action movie hero - he's stoic, reserved and polite, but knows exactly when to kick ass. He has a soft spot for women and children in need. This volume has Ken facing off against yet another set of one-dimensional villains who spend most of their time cackling at how evil they are. They always underestimate the lone Ken, thinking their sheer numbers will win, but are always aghast to learn how superior Ken's Hokuto Shinken is. The invulnerability of Ken does make every conflict a tad less interesting, but I do think the gonzo action sequences do more than enough to keep me invested.
The artwork is really the reason to take any interest in Fist of the North Star. Tetsuo Hara's energetic and gritty cartooning is visceral stuff. There is ample amounts of exploding body bits to get any action fan riled up and the intense emphasis on anatomical features makes the fight scenes seem all that more impactful. There are some confounding colored pages here and there, and all they really did was serve to show how great Hara's artwork is in black & white.
Despite my low ranking, I still was moderately entertained by this volume and will read on for further volumes. I think tempered expectations on the storytelling is crucial towards the enjoyment of this series.
September 29, 2021
Last month I read the first volume of this series, and while it was kinda cheesy, it was fun. A post-apocalyptic world with Mad Max vibes, with a ridiculously overpowered hero with an endless supply of finger-poking moves that can cause organs, bones, etc to explode, erase someone's memory, or make them tell their secrets. Kenshiro, our hero, travels through this world to rid it of bad guys, help the weak, and find his lost love Yuria, all while wearing the same stoic expression. In this volume, Ken comes to the aid of a small village whose residents left, leaving behind only the children and an old woman who cares for them. The old woman knows there is water to be found underground, and they're attempting to dig a well, but a layer of bedrock stands in their way. Of course, one punch from Ken busts through the bedrock, and huzzah! they have water...or do they? A band of outlaw bikers, led by Jackal, an escaped convict, blows into town to kill everyone and claim the well for their own. Much violence ensues, and the old woman is killed. Once the bandits leave, realizing they can't defeat Ken, he sets off after them. Jackal leads Ken to the prison Jackal broke out of, so he can release the Devil, the only person who might be able to defeat Ken.
We know who wins, it's just a matter of which of the endless techniques Ken uses will defeat the big bad guy. After this fight ends, another begins- a representative from a village being attacked by bandits who want to steal the village's water enlists Ken's help in exchange for taking in the orphans. Wash, rinse, repeat. The repetitive storylines get this volume one less star than the first volume, and though I'm hoping for more actual story in the next, I'm not holding my breath.
#FistoftheNorthStarVol2 #NetGalley
We know who wins, it's just a matter of which of the endless techniques Ken uses will defeat the big bad guy. After this fight ends, another begins- a representative from a village being attacked by bandits who want to steal the village's water enlists Ken's help in exchange for taking in the orphans. Wash, rinse, repeat. The repetitive storylines get this volume one less star than the first volume, and though I'm hoping for more actual story in the next, I'm not holding my breath.
#FistoftheNorthStarVol2 #NetGalley
September 27, 2023
Does Kenshiro still kill every bad guy without getting a scratch himself? No, but he also doesn't let those scratches stop him from making everyone blow up from the inside out.
This volume has an arc about a bunch of kids and an old lady (Bat's hometown) who have a well they're trying to dig out and the Road Warrior-like savages who want to take it and kill the old lady and all the kids. Ken doesn't like that, of course, because kids and this old lady are innocent and good, and Jackal and Fox and their minions are all objectively evil, so he kills them all.
This one does have a detour to a prison that has been holding a gigantic monster man for 200 years (or he received a 200 year long sentence, it's not clear), and we start to really see the wonderful unreality of this series.
The bad guys frequently look to be so much bigger than the people they're threatening, but it's never clear if they are actually that big or if this is for dramatic effect. Well here, this person is actually so big he can hold Kenshiro in his fist, so maybe all those big dudes are that big?
Seeing this stuff and then remembering that this is only a short time after nuclear holocaust is so jarring to me, because that's not enough time for people to mutate into giant monster men, but also, who gives a fuck? This one had a dude whose head explosion was put on hold for a day so he could ride back to the gang and say, "He sent his message to you through my body" and then blow up. It's rad.
I'm wondering when the guy comes in who beat the head exploding thing by wearing metal bands, because that was fucken rad in every incarnation of this story I have experienced.
This volume has an arc about a bunch of kids and an old lady (Bat's hometown) who have a well they're trying to dig out and the Road Warrior-like savages who want to take it and kill the old lady and all the kids. Ken doesn't like that, of course, because kids and this old lady are innocent and good, and Jackal and Fox and their minions are all objectively evil, so he kills them all.
This one does have a detour to a prison that has been holding a gigantic monster man for 200 years (or he received a 200 year long sentence, it's not clear), and we start to really see the wonderful unreality of this series.
The bad guys frequently look to be so much bigger than the people they're threatening, but it's never clear if they are actually that big or if this is for dramatic effect. Well here, this person is actually so big he can hold Kenshiro in his fist, so maybe all those big dudes are that big?
Seeing this stuff and then remembering that this is only a short time after nuclear holocaust is so jarring to me, because that's not enough time for people to mutate into giant monster men, but also, who gives a fuck? This one had a dude whose head explosion was put on hold for a day so he could ride back to the gang and say, "He sent his message to you through my body" and then blow up. It's rad.
I'm wondering when the guy comes in who beat the head exploding thing by wearing metal bands, because that was fucken rad in every incarnation of this story I have experienced.
April 6, 2022
A good continuation from the first volume. The first is a continuation of the last story arc, centering around the Golan, and the 'Colonel', I will say that I felt that it was wrapped up pretty quickly, nevertheless it was still a decent story, and as always its awesome seeing Ken use his hokuto Shinken on these demented bastards. The main part of the volume focuses on 'Jackal' who was another horrible villain, but was slightly different as he did not use his own fighting skills to challenge Ken, rather his cunning. Very sad in some parts, and it was good to see Ken dole out the justice deserved, which without him, would have not happened. I think that's what makes this manga so good, is that you know without someone's special skillset that Ken possesses and the moral dignity, these bastards would just get away with it, and the writers make this very clear. It was cool to see how the fight finally finishes between 'Jackal' and Ken, including a showdown with the 'Devil'. The latter part of the volume sets up the story for the next, and it's already getting me engaged, with a new character who like Ken is very dangerous and the reader is yet to deduct whether he is going to be a villain or perhaps not? I'll guess I will find out!
P.S Interesting that 'Shin' appears on the front cover but is not included in this volume?
P.S Interesting that 'Shin' appears on the front cover but is not included in this volume?
February 20, 2023
Fist of the North Star at this point is an episodic adventure similar to the tv series king fu.
Ken wanders a hostile land helping people in trouble because, he says, he doesn’t want to see children cry. That’s his motivation now that Julia is dead and he has “lost everything.”
The bad guys continue to be cackling maniacs. The concluding episodes with god’s army are perfunctory.
Next up is a segment involving a village of children that needs water and the cowardly leader of a biker gang who wants to murder them for it. This one is better and features a cool finale with super giant in a huge prison arena. Some cool visuals here. If you’re going to rely on the episodic format, you need to make each one have something special like that so it doesn’t become too repetitive.
The next chapter opens with a neat little twist — the introduction of rei, practitioner of nanto-suichoken, so that it initially appears he is a victim, before he turns the tables and slices and dices his attackers. The next few chapters keep readers guessing about his true intentions, and introduce a Julia lookalike named mamiya.
Things are starting to pick up as the narrative gains complexity and more interesting characters are brought in to play.
Ken wanders a hostile land helping people in trouble because, he says, he doesn’t want to see children cry. That’s his motivation now that Julia is dead and he has “lost everything.”
The bad guys continue to be cackling maniacs. The concluding episodes with god’s army are perfunctory.
Next up is a segment involving a village of children that needs water and the cowardly leader of a biker gang who wants to murder them for it. This one is better and features a cool finale with super giant in a huge prison arena. Some cool visuals here. If you’re going to rely on the episodic format, you need to make each one have something special like that so it doesn’t become too repetitive.
The next chapter opens with a neat little twist — the introduction of rei, practitioner of nanto-suichoken, so that it initially appears he is a victim, before he turns the tables and slices and dices his attackers. The next few chapters keep readers guessing about his true intentions, and introduce a Julia lookalike named mamiya.
Things are starting to pick up as the narrative gains complexity and more interesting characters are brought in to play.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2021
In the wake of an apocalyptic nuclear war, humanity survives. Some band together to rebuild. They seek to forge communities. Others mistake strength for divine right. They gather followers and seek to forge empires. Still others are just plain rotten. They seek to take whatever they can get their grubby mitts on, no matter who they have to kill to claim it. Amidst the chaos, there walks a hero: Kenshiro—the 64th successor of the unstoppable assassin’s art Hokuto Shinken, the Reaper, the Man with Seven Scars… the man who will one day be called the Savior of the Century’s End.
As the master of Hokuto Shinken, Kenshiro (Ken to his friends) is an expert at the manipulation of the body’s pressure points—through precise strikes in precise sequences, he can both deal out astoundingly brutal deaths (fair warning, NSFW carnage abounds) and heal otherwise untreatable injuries. Despite the harshness of the world, the frequent cruelty he encounters, and the fact that Hokuto Shinken is literally capable of making people explode, Ken is a deeply good man. He’s compassionate, open with his emotions (and quite emotionally intelligent on top of that), and remarkably warm to his friends.
Ken does not kill for the sake of violence, and he recognises humanity even in people he has good reason to hate. But at the same time, he will show no mercy to those who would prey upon others weaker than they, and he is not to be trifled with.
When first introduced, he was wandering the Wasteland in search of his beloved Yuria and his former best friend Shin. Shin gave Ken his infamous constellation of scars while abducting Yuria, his viciousness driven by the warped belief that only someone willing to cast aside their morality could protect others in the brutal new world. After recovering, Ken set out to rescue Yuria and take revenge on Shin—both by defeating him and by maintaining his compassion and fundamental decency no matter how harsh the world might be.
In Fist of the North Star‘s first volume artist Tetsuo Hara and writer Buronson introduced Ken, his ludicrous lethality, and his young pals/travelling companions Bat and Lin. He settled the score with Shin, learned of Yuria’s (apparent) death, and vowed to continue wielding Hokuto Shinken to protect those who could not protect themselves. Volume 2 sees the continuation of Ken’s adventures in battling malign megacreeps, a revelation about Bat’s past, and the introduction of long-term supporting character and fellow martial artist Rei.
There are a number of reasons why Fist of the North Star remains beloved and influential to shonen manga and action comics in general at 38 years old. Aesthetically, Tetsuo Hara’s ravaged world is one of the great post-apocalyptic Wastelands. It’s a place where rising from the ashes is not just possible but genuinely doable—but the nature of the rise can vary wildly. Sometimes it’s people pooling their knowledge and skills to build a new home. Other times it’s cruelty heaped upon cruelty, with the wicked ascending mountains made from the corpses of those they’ve abused. It’s a world of beauty and ruin, and it’s tremendously striking.
As for the action that takes place within this world? It’s terrific. Whether Kenshiro’s laying waste to hordes of goons or trading blows with those few foes who can match Hokuto Shinken with styles of their own, Hara keeps the fights creative and kinetic. Consider the spread below, where a gaggle of wannabe special forces-types proves to be no match for Hokuto Shinken whatsoever.
Kenshiro is always fun to read, both in action and at peace—whether he’s bouncing off someone’s head or bouncing off Bat and Lin. His deeply ingrained decency and the work he does to maintain it amidst his violence-filled life make for a compelling narrative through line. It’s particularly welcome in volume two, which struggles to build and maintain momentum compared to volume one. None of the short-lived bands of evildoers Kenshiro comes up against make a strong impression, especially not compared to Shin.
While Shin did not have a great deal of page time, Hara and Buronson used what they had given him incredibly well—establishing his personal history with Kenshiro and Yuria, the ways he tries to rule over the Wasteland, and the ways in which his Nanto Seiken style contrasted with Hokuto Shinken visually and thematically. Volume two’s goons, by contrast, are a much blander lot.
The special forces leader Ken faces off with early on in the volume could have been an interesting fallen hero-type given his backstory, but he lacks the capacity for self-reflection that would make his insistence on brutal militarism particularly wicked/tragic. He’s most interesting as further proof of Ken’s decency—he tries to point out to the other man how far he’s fallen, but the special forces leader’s too flat a character for anything to take.
Indeed, that exchange sums up the best and worst of Fist of the North Star‘s second volume quite well. Hara’s action remains a joy to take in. Kenshiro, Bat, and Lin get some solid character moments. And there’s a slight but noticeable aimlessness to the story, which is not helped by the volume’s weak villains.
Still, volume 2’s final chapters pick up a bit from this relative lull with the introduction of Rei, a Nanto Seiken master who can both keep up with Ken in a fight and introduces a new turn in the story that should give it the push it needs to match what it accomplished in the first volume.
It’s taken a long while for Fist of the North Star‘s original manga to make it to the US. I’m very, very glad that it’s here. The action/violence is a blast. The contradiction between that violence and Kenshiro’s compassion is narratively intriguing. Kenshiro is a stupendous protagonist. Despite the flat villains, Fist of the North Star‘s second volume is well worth checking out. I am tremendously excited to read volume three.
As the master of Hokuto Shinken, Kenshiro (Ken to his friends) is an expert at the manipulation of the body’s pressure points—through precise strikes in precise sequences, he can both deal out astoundingly brutal deaths (fair warning, NSFW carnage abounds) and heal otherwise untreatable injuries. Despite the harshness of the world, the frequent cruelty he encounters, and the fact that Hokuto Shinken is literally capable of making people explode, Ken is a deeply good man. He’s compassionate, open with his emotions (and quite emotionally intelligent on top of that), and remarkably warm to his friends.
Ken does not kill for the sake of violence, and he recognises humanity even in people he has good reason to hate. But at the same time, he will show no mercy to those who would prey upon others weaker than they, and he is not to be trifled with.
When first introduced, he was wandering the Wasteland in search of his beloved Yuria and his former best friend Shin. Shin gave Ken his infamous constellation of scars while abducting Yuria, his viciousness driven by the warped belief that only someone willing to cast aside their morality could protect others in the brutal new world. After recovering, Ken set out to rescue Yuria and take revenge on Shin—both by defeating him and by maintaining his compassion and fundamental decency no matter how harsh the world might be.
In Fist of the North Star‘s first volume artist Tetsuo Hara and writer Buronson introduced Ken, his ludicrous lethality, and his young pals/travelling companions Bat and Lin. He settled the score with Shin, learned of Yuria’s (apparent) death, and vowed to continue wielding Hokuto Shinken to protect those who could not protect themselves. Volume 2 sees the continuation of Ken’s adventures in battling malign megacreeps, a revelation about Bat’s past, and the introduction of long-term supporting character and fellow martial artist Rei.
There are a number of reasons why Fist of the North Star remains beloved and influential to shonen manga and action comics in general at 38 years old. Aesthetically, Tetsuo Hara’s ravaged world is one of the great post-apocalyptic Wastelands. It’s a place where rising from the ashes is not just possible but genuinely doable—but the nature of the rise can vary wildly. Sometimes it’s people pooling their knowledge and skills to build a new home. Other times it’s cruelty heaped upon cruelty, with the wicked ascending mountains made from the corpses of those they’ve abused. It’s a world of beauty and ruin, and it’s tremendously striking.
As for the action that takes place within this world? It’s terrific. Whether Kenshiro’s laying waste to hordes of goons or trading blows with those few foes who can match Hokuto Shinken with styles of their own, Hara keeps the fights creative and kinetic. Consider the spread below, where a gaggle of wannabe special forces-types proves to be no match for Hokuto Shinken whatsoever.
Kenshiro is always fun to read, both in action and at peace—whether he’s bouncing off someone’s head or bouncing off Bat and Lin. His deeply ingrained decency and the work he does to maintain it amidst his violence-filled life make for a compelling narrative through line. It’s particularly welcome in volume two, which struggles to build and maintain momentum compared to volume one. None of the short-lived bands of evildoers Kenshiro comes up against make a strong impression, especially not compared to Shin.
While Shin did not have a great deal of page time, Hara and Buronson used what they had given him incredibly well—establishing his personal history with Kenshiro and Yuria, the ways he tries to rule over the Wasteland, and the ways in which his Nanto Seiken style contrasted with Hokuto Shinken visually and thematically. Volume two’s goons, by contrast, are a much blander lot.
The special forces leader Ken faces off with early on in the volume could have been an interesting fallen hero-type given his backstory, but he lacks the capacity for self-reflection that would make his insistence on brutal militarism particularly wicked/tragic. He’s most interesting as further proof of Ken’s decency—he tries to point out to the other man how far he’s fallen, but the special forces leader’s too flat a character for anything to take.
Indeed, that exchange sums up the best and worst of Fist of the North Star‘s second volume quite well. Hara’s action remains a joy to take in. Kenshiro, Bat, and Lin get some solid character moments. And there’s a slight but noticeable aimlessness to the story, which is not helped by the volume’s weak villains.
Still, volume 2’s final chapters pick up a bit from this relative lull with the introduction of Rei, a Nanto Seiken master who can both keep up with Ken in a fight and introduces a new turn in the story that should give it the push it needs to match what it accomplished in the first volume.
It’s taken a long while for Fist of the North Star‘s original manga to make it to the US. I’m very, very glad that it’s here. The action/violence is a blast. The contradiction between that violence and Kenshiro’s compassion is narratively intriguing. Kenshiro is a stupendous protagonist. Despite the flat villains, Fist of the North Star‘s second volume is well worth checking out. I am tremendously excited to read volume three.
October 4, 2021
Kenshiro squares off with the so~called God’s army, the Golan. He mopped the floor with both the blood thirsty sergeant, and the “supernatural” colonel. He came back to town with Ron and Bat. And quickly, two thugs wanted to recruit Ken. The only answer is a back-fist to the face. Next thing, he’s off to help the old lady with a group of orphans deal with the well that’s blocked by a supposedly unbreakable rock. To which Kenshiro had punched it through. Of course, unbeknownst to them, Jackal and his men were watching this whole scenario. As soon as Ken left, the bandits moved in. That’s when things go badly. Jackal got desperate. He tried to use a giant against the practitioner of Hokuto Shinken. But that’s no guarantee he’ll come out in one piece. Later, Ken meets up with Rei, a practitioner of Nanto Suichoken. What’s gonna happen next? Dunno till the next book. This series is definitely a classic manga. Hopefully, we’ll get the whole thing. So, big thumbs up.
October 8, 2022
Pantes banyak yg bilang ini manga shounen rasa seinen, gore-nya luamyan sadis.
Volume ke-2 menceritakan Kenshiro membantu desa tempat Bat berasal yang diincar oleh komplotan bandit yang dikomandoi Jackal.
Baca manga ini gak kerasa, soalnya ya dialognya tu sikit, lebih banyak aksi (ya jelas ya ini kan manga aksi) jadi tanpa terasa 308 halaman itu berasa tipis.
Art-nya keren sih, mengingat ini manga yg diterbitkan 1983 masih berasa cocok dibaca saat jaman modern begini, artinya yaFist of The North Star ini gak lekang oleh zaman.
Cover buku ke-2 ini gambarnya Shin, tapi ya dia gak muncul segaris pun di pelbagai panel di sini. (ya gak mungkin jg sih dia muncul) 😅
Volume ke-2 menceritakan Kenshiro membantu desa tempat Bat berasal yang diincar oleh komplotan bandit yang dikomandoi Jackal.
Baca manga ini gak kerasa, soalnya ya dialognya tu sikit, lebih banyak aksi (ya jelas ya ini kan manga aksi) jadi tanpa terasa 308 halaman itu berasa tipis.
Art-nya keren sih, mengingat ini manga yg diterbitkan 1983 masih berasa cocok dibaca saat jaman modern begini, artinya yaFist of The North Star ini gak lekang oleh zaman.
Cover buku ke-2 ini gambarnya Shin, tapi ya dia gak muncul segaris pun di pelbagai panel di sini. (ya gak mungkin jg sih dia muncul) 😅
November 19, 2023
Wie kann es sein, dass Kenshiro mühelos alle Gegner besiegt (meist nach wenigen Berührungen) und "Fist Of The North Star" trotzdem unterhaltsam bleibt? Der gottgleiche Protagonist ist nie in Gefahr, die wortwörtlich riesigen Antagonisten werden weggefegt, Spannung kommt keine auf.
Die kultige Reihe von Buronson lebt vom Setting, den starken Zeichnungen von Testuo Hara und den blutigen Momenten. Ein Spass voller Gewalt und dystopischen Kulissen, der auch im zweiten Band keine Tiefe erhält. Immerhin taucht am Schluss mit Rei eine Figur auf, die Kenshiro ebenbürtig zu sein scheint.
Die kultige Reihe von Buronson lebt vom Setting, den starken Zeichnungen von Testuo Hara und den blutigen Momenten. Ein Spass voller Gewalt und dystopischen Kulissen, der auch im zweiten Band keine Tiefe erhält. Immerhin taucht am Schluss mit Rei eine Figur auf, die Kenshiro ebenbürtig zu sein scheint.
August 7, 2023
This volume solidifies Hokuto no Ken as a sad and violent, but hopeful series. The art in special reflects that very well, but is also so much more, with inconsistent scales representing combat situations, effects representing the feeling of the scenes, and so on.
While some things on this volume kinda irk me as not aged well, it's mostly a very good, sad post-apocalyptic story about martial arts and people.
While some things on this volume kinda irk me as not aged well, it's mostly a very good, sad post-apocalyptic story about martial arts and people.
September 12, 2023
Rating: 3.75 ⭐️
A continuation of Ken’s fist punch and leg kicking journey. The art continued to flourish. Showcasing how beautiful repeated, gratuitous violence can look when the right artist draws it.
That said, this didn’t seem to have the same ‘spark’ as volume one.
Ken’s character hasn’t been fleshed out any further, other than good guy punch bad guy. I’m hoping the final volume gives his arc a more complete end. There’s still no real background to him or his motives.
A continuation of Ken’s fist punch and leg kicking journey. The art continued to flourish. Showcasing how beautiful repeated, gratuitous violence can look when the right artist draws it.
That said, this didn’t seem to have the same ‘spark’ as volume one.
Ken’s character hasn’t been fleshed out any further, other than good guy punch bad guy. I’m hoping the final volume gives his arc a more complete end. There’s still no real background to him or his motives.
September 2, 2021
This is another great addition to the series. The color pages are well done and really add to the drama taking place on the pages. You get to know Ken more and what drives him. The world building is pretty straight forward but it is nice to see all the little details. This volume leaves on a cliff hanger so be ready to read the next volume as soon as you can.
September 21, 2021
The series starts to pick up at this point. Ken starts to face more difficult opponents as new martial arts techniques are unveiled. Hara's art, especially the multi-page spreads, somehow managed to out do itself as the chapters progress.
There are a few typos in this translation, but nothing too serious.
There are a few typos in this translation, but nothing too serious.
May 16, 2022
4.1/5
This volume provides even more 80's testosterone-fueled classic nonsense that the series is so famous for. I will never truly get tired of this. It is just so stupid and awesome, with fantastic artwork and hilariously over-the-top dialogue to keep the reader amused and, more importantly, entertained.
This volume provides even more 80's testosterone-fueled classic nonsense that the series is so famous for. I will never truly get tired of this. It is just so stupid and awesome, with fantastic artwork and hilariously over-the-top dialogue to keep the reader amused and, more importantly, entertained.
October 27, 2022
Enjoyable, but I keep waiting for a plot to kick in. It's pretty much just Ken obliterating a bunch of one-dimensional antagonists with little to no difficulty. As just a dumb-fun explosive kung fu thing, it's really exciting, but as a narrative, I'm lacking a reason to want to continue. Great art though!
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