Amara - Reunion

update to the previous comment, i finished the book (i read it on other site). I definitely recommend you to read it. It was probably the most thought-provoking novel i have read in a while. Also you can learn alot about china's culture (partly the modern one) from it.

The early chapters order is really messed up

Fist of the North Star is akin to indulging in your favorite chocolate bar; you're aware it's not the healthiest choice, but damn if it isn't gratifying.

Kenshiro stands as one of the most badass protagonists ever crafted, delivering lines so impactful they're instantly memorable upon reading. Coupled with bold artwork and expert shading, the illustrations highlight Kenshiro's sheer masculinity, making every fight he participates in a spectacle to behold. Another aspect I deeply admire about this series is its post-apocalyptic setting. It vividly portrays the brutal and savage world these characters inhabit, showcasing the challenges faced by ordinary people in this society, as they are mercilessly subjected to perilous situations by animalistic men who live solely to kill and maim those weaker than them.

Regrettably, though, the series features other characters that, for me, fall flat or are downright dull (with the exception of Raoh, who was an exceptional antagonist). Most characters follow overly simplistic and predictable arcs, leaving me questioning why they were included in the first place. One such character is Jagi, who trained alongside Ken. Given his shared history with the protagonist, one would expect him to be a significant character, yet he meets his end within just four chapters, his sole motivation being resentment towards Kenshiro for surpassing him. Additionally, I find fault with the manga's length. After Kenshiro defeats the primary villain, around whom much of the story revolves, and learns the ultimate Hokuto technique, you'd assume the story concludes. Not so—this series continues for another 11 volumes, introducing more adversaries for Kenshiro to confront without the setup given to previous antagonists.

In summary, I wholeheartedly recommend this series to anyone fond of the shonen genre. Kenshiro is an incredible protagonist, and the setting is uniquely distinct from other shonen manga. I hope future generations will continue to enjoy this influential series. After all, who doesn't relish a good chocolate bar every now and then?

Was one of the definitive battle manga alongside Dragon Ball, and I occasionally wish this one had become the most popular because it has so much to offer. The apocalyptic setting is fantastic, complete with gore and violence, and unlike Dragon Ball, characters actually die without conveniently coming back to life. Plus, the art for a weekly series was incredible.  

It takes a few chapters for the story to find its footing, and Ken is undeniably overpowered, wiping out everything in his path until he faces his first major antagonist, which spans over 30 chapters. The second half of the manga felt weaker and seemed to drag on due to the author being pressured to capitalize on its success.  

Overall, though, it's a highly competent shounen series that gets most things right.

As you can see, I have not finished the manga and have only read up to Volume 9 of the Viz releases. I hope to inform you about the shortcomings and strong points of this manga. This review does not contain any major spoilers, such as deaths, but it will reveal how the story unfolds to some extent.

Story: 5  
What initially hooked me was the first fight with Raoh. The story has some great moments, but others feel forced, ranging from somewhat to very much so. Repeatedly, we encounter the most evil characters, which only truly bothered me when they were so cruel as to kill their own children for no good reason. Other times, the emotional moments feel a bit forced, but some are genuinely good. One of the first villains introduced is named Raoh, whose entire army abandoned him even though he wasn't killed (a One Piece moment), and whose conquest was halted by Souther, the holy emperor, who seems significantly weaker than Raoh. Raoh later regains his forces somehow because he "put other people in charge" while he was gone. It's surprising that these choices were made given that there is someone dedicated to writing the story.

Art: 9.7  
Occasionally, the imagery isn't very cinematic, but it is extremely high quality and I would argue it's some of the best art I've ever seen in manga.

Characters: 4  
The characters lack depth and don't experience many emotions, but they serve their purpose—being manly men solving manly problems in manly ways.

Enjoyment: 7.8  

Overall: 7.5 (KEY TAKEAWAYS)  
I plan to finish the series because I do think it has a lot going for it, but it's far from perfect. I don't think it's worth buying the Viz releases as they cost $19.99 USD and are about 100-150 pages shorter than, for example, the Monster Perfect Editions, which cost the same amount.  
If this version becomes fully available: https://mangatoto.com/series/99280  
I would recommend giving it a read because it's in high resolution, but it's not easy to find the original version (uncoloured) in high res.

To bear witness to such an influential work after so much time is truly a remarkable experience. Hokuto no Ken has established numerous standards — as formulaic as they may be — that continue to be utilized today. One might expect it to be a soup of clichés, yet instead, it presents itself in a more refined manner than many contemporary works based on the same formula.

Hokuto no Ken narrates a tale about ambitious and courageous men in a world where compassion and love appear meaningless. It subtly highlights essential human values, which can easily be overlooked beneath its extreme violence. There isn't a single main plot that runs throughout the entire manga; rather, it consists of a series of episodes loosely connected. Often, you'll feel that content was inserted abruptly rather than being planned from the start. This was likely due to money-making motives, which hindered smooth progression.

The artistic impression will remain memorable, especially in the later chapters when Tetsuo enhances his precision and makes optimal use of wide panels. From the very beginning and onwards, there's a consistent improvement in his artistry, whether it be the post-apocalyptic landscapes, facial expressions, or motion between panels. However, his sense of proportions is somewhat distorted. Perhaps those grand anatomical features were intended to depict magnificence or sheer power of certain characters, but even so, they can be off-putting at first and require some getting used to.

Side characters are excellently characterized and easily relatable. Even the villains have deeper reasons behind their heinous actions, leaving a bitter taste in your mouth after their demise. Nevertheless, some revelations (motives) felt rather foolish, far-fetched, and would have been better left undisclosed.

Kenshiro serves his role as an allegory for God. Whether in specific situations where he's depicted, how other characters perceive him, or his personality, one could say he simply keeps the story moving. It's quite challenging to form an attachment to his character. He remains unchanged throughout the entire manga, with no surprises regarding him, and emotional responses are mostly drawn from how he influences other characters, not directly from him. This unusual approach strips him of the typical clichés that often insult the intelligence of main characters, but it doesn't make him an ideal protagonist.

Hokuto no Ken could easily be classified as a masterpiece, but I personally prefer to view it as a far from perfect yet timeless classic, wrapped in a peculiar charm.

Hidden themes in fictional works only surface if you delve deep into the narratives. Among manga series, Fist of the North Star stands out as a quintessential example. On the surface, it may seem like a typical shonen battle series, but it offers much more than mere violent confrontations. A closer look reveals a profound exploration of the human condition.

Why do we exist, and what purpose drives our lives? The characters in Fist of the North Star each provide unique answers to these existential questions.

Kenshiro has become a cultural icon in Japan, influencing nearly every shonen protagonist that came after him. He is not merely a skilled fighter—he is the epitome of martial prowess. Even before Dragon Ball established common shonen tropes, Kenshiro was already on his mission to eradicate evil wherever it existed.

Contrary to popular belief, Kenshiro is not an antihero—a fact that becomes clear when compared with other characters in the series.

The artwork throughout the series is nothing short of breathtaking. From the very beginning, the quality remains consistently high, without any gradual improvement over time. Few, if any, other shonen series can rival its artistic excellence.

If you're looking for a shonen series that shifts focus away from teenage protagonists and leans heavily into intense, visceral combat (be warned: this series is not for the faint-hearted), then Fist of the North Star is the perfect choice.

Do you like manly men?  
Do you like manly quotes?  
Do you like manly tears?  
Do you like manly deaths?  

Well, you're in luck because this manga is the manliest one around (yes, I've read Berserk). It's the epitome of manliness. The 'man' in 'manga' has never been so fitting.  

Plot - 8  
I obviously wasn't reading this for fan service, so I can say that the story was pretty good. There's a difference between this and Berserk, though. This story as a whole isn't as strong because the storytelling isn't as smooth. There are some notorious Deus Ex Machina moments in this manga. While the MC's abilities can cover many areas in an understandable way, when you suddenly have the ability to make someone tell the truth in one chapter but never use it again, the reader might feel slightly put off. The last parts also felt a bit dragged out and unnecessary. However, the first part of it was extremely... manly.  

Art - 8  
This art is kind of tricky for me to judge. Sometimes it's downright awesome, but other times (especially in some fight scenes), it feels a bit lacking. The characters' martial arts moves also feel a bit bland to watch (head splitting aside). I liked the art a lot, but I'll deduct a point since it's a bit inconsistent. The drawings of horses and machines are especially glorious if you ask me. The character designs are also very... err... manly.  

Characters - 6  
Ah yes, this is the weakest point. No, I didn't dislike them at all. It's just that some of them were so (and I hate to use the term) one-dimensional. Some villains were practically badly written. Backstories for some of them also pop up out of nowhere sometimes, as though they're just convenient plot devices. I feel like they could have been handled better to be honest. I also didn't really feel anything when some of them died, apart from a loss of some... manliness.  

Enjoyment - 8.6  
Not quite at Berserk's level if you ask me, but great nonetheless. I can't give it a 9 on my list, but I can say that it's a pretty strong 8. More people should read this because it's pretty damn good. Manly deaths, lines, and characters were a great plus if you ask me, and I could mostly ignore the things I didn't like because each time I was about to feel like it was dropping in quality, Kenshiro just had to say "Omae wa mou shindeiru."