New Read - Fist of the North Star, Volume 15

Wow. Again. I feel I say that after reading EVERY volume of Fist of the North Star. However, it's still valid and true.

This volume continues with Kaioh manipulating everyone. However, as Hyo and Kenshiro have an epic battle, secrets are revealed. Histories of Kenshiro, Hyo, Raoh, and Kaioh are revealed. It's a lot of things all at once. And it's so good.

Love is, once again, at the center. Kaioh's love of children leading to her death. Kenshiro, Hyo, and Shachi's love both familial and romantic that has strengthened them.

The volume ends with a battle beginning between Kenshiro and Kaioh, Rin sent off with her memories erased. It's a lot.

Can't wait for Volume 16.

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New Read - Fist of the North Star, Volume 14

Wow did this volume go in hard.

Things that happened: We met Kenshiro's biological brother; we found out that Kenshiro, Raoh, and Toki were born on the nation of Asura; we discover that back on Asura, there was a prophecy about the return of Raoh to save them.

It's a lot and it's amazing.

Buronson's story and Tetsuo Hara's art together just come together in such an amazing way that I could not stop until I finished the volume last night. I started and finished in one straight sitting...and I am so ready for Volume 15 to find out what happens next.

The volume ends with a bloodied Kenshiro being helped by Shachi and Kenshiro's biological brother, still not remembering who his brother is, and the love of his brother.

Kenshiro is the key to a power greater than Hokuto Shinken. However, the secret is locked in the mind of Kenshiro's brother. Only he can unlock it in Kenshiro.

Also, once again, love and emotion are discussed as a key to strength.

Anyway, I took one screenshot - and it's the reason Kenshiro shouldn't go visit Maryland. Swipe to understand my bad joke.

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New Read - Fist of the North Star, Volume 13

The end of Volume 12 saw a villain kidnap Lin and run to the dreaded nation of Asura. Asura is a Sparta inspired nation of men who are not given names until they defeat, and murder, 100 other men in combat. In this world, women have no autonomy and are merely traded as property for breeding to other men.

The Shuras, or the warrior class of men, dominate everything in this nation. First, Falco goes to try to save Lin and, ultimately ends up failing and dying in Asura. Before he goes, Kenshiro provides him with a Hokuto based power boost where he is able to kill a Shura in the process before passing.

The rest of the volume follows Rin, who is kidnapped from some Shuras; Kenshiro, on his mission to find and save Rin; and Shachi, a man who has hidden among the Shuras in order to take them all down as he awaits some savior who is supposed to arrive in Asura. The savior he was told would come had the name of...Raoh.

We also learn that there are more forms of the Hokuto style of combat that Kenshiro will, most likely, learn while he is here destroying men who treat others like property.

I am certain this series will continue to bring violence and social commentary on what manhood means. Kenshiro is manly, but always allows himself to feel. Shachi rejected emotion altogether to stop the Shuras. However, he is now watching as Kenshiro is taking down multiple Shuras in his path to try to save Lin. We'll see if Shachi learns from this.

Also, we met Shachi's pirate Dad at the beginning who asked Kenshiro to find his son, if he could, because his son was lost after his Dad's previous crew was murdered by a Shura.

What a story.

@manga@a.gup.pe

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New Manga Read - Fist of the North Star, Volume 12

Welcome to the apocalypse!

Volume 11 is about this man on the cover, Falco.

Falco is the inheritor of Gento Kōken (roughly translated as Original Dipper Imperial Fist). The followers of Genko Kōken were sworn to protect the Celestial Emperor (Tentei) from harm.

In this volume, Kenshiro is returning to help the Hokuto Army which is led by Lin and Bat to free those under the thumb of Jaco. Falco, who appears to be nothing but good and compassionate, is somehow the evil Jaco's second in command. Why? Jaco has kidnapped the Tentei and kept them hostage.

This volume is filled to the brim with reveals. Some about Lin. A lot of backstory about Falco, which makes him such a fascinating character. Also, the reveal about the Tentei and who they are was HUGE. Doing minimal spoilers despite this manga being as old as I am.

Falco has a prosthetic leg due to Raoh destroying his leg in the past. Raoh told him that he needed to kill Jaco or, one day, Jaco would manipulate and dominate him. Raoh was right.

While we get a brutal match between Falco and Kenshiro, the ending of the volume is well done with a cliffhanger for the next volume.

ALSO (which I say a lot), Fist of the North Star constantly reminds you that toxic masculinity is bad and that you can be masculine and have feelings / cry. Kenshiro feels, always. Kenshiro allows himself to cry over loss, cry over the suffering of others. He allows himself to feel. There is nothing un-masculine about having emotions. Kenshiro constantly reminds the reader of that...amongst all the brutal violence.

Love this series. Looking forward to Volume 13.

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New Manga Read - Fist of the North Star, Volume 11

Volume 11 is the first volume of Hokuto no Ken (Fist of the North Star) after the time skip. This volume includes a bonus chapter that Buronson wrote and Tetsuo Hara drew from 2014 that fills in the gap between the end of Part 1 to the beginning of Part 2 where Bat and Lin are now adults leading an army of rebels called the Hokuto Army.

Ken had been isolated with Yuria until her death. Now he's returning to the world to help make things right and destroy some enemies. This volume introduced some new characters and the adult versions of both Bat and Rin are well presented.

Bat is brash and bold, trying to protect others. Rin is soft and kind, but also ready to fight if needed. They are, in many ways, the two sides to Kenshiro himself. And I love to see it.

The volume ends on such an unexpected moment that I really can't wait until Volume 12 finally drops on my lap.

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New Manga Read: Fist of the North Star - Volume 10

It has finally happened. I have reached the penultimate battle of the first half of Fist of the North Star!

Kenshiro versus Raoh.

It did not disappoint. This volume (10) revealed more about the history of Yuria, Kenshiro, and Raoh that were fantastically done. The truth about Yuria an her sickness; Raoh's realization that he will never be as vulnerable as Kenshiro were huge moments.

For all the beefy dudes beating each other, which is a core component of Fist of the North Star, the masculinity of Kenshiro isn't toxic, isn't oppressive, and shows true emotion, vulnerability, and sorrow. There is emotional depth to Kenshiro that Raoh is unwilling to have. His own internalized misogyny won't allow Raoh to admit he has these feelings of love, compassion, or fear. Kenshiro allows himself to feel all these things.

As the volume concluded, I found myself far more emotional than I expected for a post-apocalyptic tale about beefy dudes fighting. It was so well done.

Now, I move onto Volume 11 and the time skip.

But here's to the story of Kenshiro and Raoh and a very satisfying ending to their tale.

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Recent #manga pickups - Fist of the North Star, Volume 8; Sailor Moon, Volume 3; and Animal Crossing, Volume 4.

A nice variety.

Tags: #ACNH #AnimalCrossing #FotNS #SailorMoon #FistOfTheNorthStar #Nintendo