Fist of the North Star Volume 14 provides Kenshiro with one of the most interesting villains of the post-Raoh era by tapping into a familiar set of subterfuges.
This book, almost more than any other, divided me over how to view these events. It has both fresh and new ideas as well as ones that are equally old, familiar and unique. The final effect was positive – after the dust settled, I thoroughly enjoyed the book – but it’s hard to shake the lingering feeling that it was too safe, Too similar. Still, once I started lamenting the feeling of repetitive elements, I couldn’t help but notice how many new concepts and story beats were on display while still delivering the series’ typical stellar art and unparalleled violence.
good or bad, Brunson and Tetsuo Hara Back to the concept of brothers as villains. The holders of the Hokuto Sword, Han, Takashi, and Neptune, become the counterparts to the Hokuto Sword Brothers drama. Early in the book, Han is a direct threat, and Kenshiro continues to fight Han. But Takashi and Kaioh appear as pseudo-replacements for King Tokiura, becoming the older brother figures that Kenshiro must overcome (both literally and metaphorically).
This is where I get confused about the execution in this section. Undoubtedly one of the core defining themes Fist of the North Star It is a drama between brothers surrounded by martial arts. So drawing from this well is not only expected, but one of the decisions audiences are most likely to resonate with, as it’s a big reason why the series is such a phenomenon. At the same time, it’s hard to figure out whether this feels like a creative new twist on an old theme or just a rehash of something that worked before. Can you recreate the magical relationship between Kenshiro, Raoh, Toki and Jagi? Or will the two Lightning attempts immediately draw comparisons to the great storylines we’ve seen before? I haven’t fully answered these questions myself, and with every chapter I can feel my emotions changing on whether this is the right path.
One thing that I feel is a definite improvement is the introduction of Master Jukei. Shou Kei is the older teacher of the Hokuto Ryoken school, the counterpart to the Dragon Fist that trains the Hokuto Shinken brothers. The interesting thing about Jukei is that he has a much more arc than Ryuken. Sure, we explore some of Ryuken’s past through flashbacks, but he never really stands out as a compelling character. Ryuuken was always more of an archetype than a personality, as a martial arts master, while Kenshiro, Rao, and others moved into more dramatic phases. He is a stable foundation that allows more diverse personalities under his guidance to flourish and excel.
Jukei is more worth learning from. He struggles to master the fighting style of Hokuto Ryouken, falls into a demonic rage, tragically murders his family, and loses control – it’s all fascinating stuff. Jukei’s struggles and regrets color our understanding of Hokuto Inn’s style and make it stand out in a way that previous styles did not. Most fighting styles in the series focus on what they do to their opponents, but now Hokuto Ryoken has an emotional dimension where strength isn’t an issue. Instead, it comes at the expense of the ability to control yourself.
It’s not all good at Jukei and Ryoken schools. Hyoh represents my mixed feelings about the plot of this book. Takashi is Kenshiro’s blood brother, and in the classic pulp storytelling tradition, he has no memory of these events due to amnesia. This amnesia was caused by Shouhui sealing his own memory. It’s hard to buy into this setting or find it appealing. Still, this does make for a great dramatic scene with Akie fighting Takashi to get him to unleash his true memories of Kenshiro, as well as some dramatic flashback sequences from Takashi’s perspective. Still, we have to get over the feeling that we have to get another brother at all costs, and are trying our best to find a way for him to connect to Kenshiro.
At this stage, at least, Aquaman stands out as a villain. He’s not too interesting as a fighter, but he does have a cool presence on the page, with a heavily armored appearance. The way the armor cracks and changes during battle also looks great, and he’s one of the few villains who sticks around purely because he’s hard to kill – a rarity for Kenshiro.
One area I have never ventured into is art. Simply put, it’s top-notch. Tetsuo Hara As the series continues, it only gets better, and that’s evident in this volume. Aside from the usual violent martial arts and heavy metal character designs, I would say in these chapters, Tetsuo Hara Shows his love for the background. There are some truly jaw-dropping landscape shots, from piles of bones to alien landscapes and strange architecture. The Land of Asura feels completely alien, yet still retains the core aesthetic of the post-apocalyptic wasteland.
All in all, I have a positive opinion of this book. After all, even if it is somewhat mixed Fist of the North Star Volume still ranks as one of the best comics you can get. There’s no doubt that the series is working to its strengths. When it works, it works flawlessly. But some of these elements are starting to creak from overuse.
