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Souten no Ken: Difference between revisions
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{{nihongo|'''''Fist of the Blue Sky'''''|蒼天の拳| | {{nihongo|'''''Fist of the Blue Sky'''''|蒼天の拳|Souten no Ken}} is a [[manga]] series by [[Tetsuo Hara]] with plot supervision by [[Buronson]], serialized in the ''[[Weekly Comic Bunch]]'' since 2001.<ref>[http://www.animenfo.com/animetitle,3790,igzwpd,soten_no_ken.html AnimeNfo information on Fist of the Blue Sky]</ref> It is a [[prequel]] to the popular 1980s series ''[[Fist of the North Star]]'', which Hara originally co-wrote with [[Buronson]]. Set primarily in [[Shanghai]] during the 1930s, the series centers around the 62nd successor of the [[Hokuto Shinken]] style, Kenshiro Kasumi, the namesake and predecessor of ''Fist of the North Star''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> own [[Kenshiro]]. It has been adapted into a 26-episode anime series that aired from 2006 to 2007. | ||
== Plot overview == | == Plot overview == | ||
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== Media information == | == Media information == | ||
=== Manga === | === Manga === | ||
''Fist of the Blue Sky'' has been in serialization in the ''Weekly Comic Bunch'' since the magazine's first issue, published with the [[Periodical cover date|cover date]] of [[May 29]], [[2001]]<ref name=debut>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbunch.com/bunch_archives/2001/index.html#1|title=週刊コミックバンチ★コアミックス：バンチアーカイブス：バンチ表紙全集2001年|format=html|accessdate=2007-08-04}}</ref>. New chapters of '' | ''Fist of the Blue Sky'' has been in serialization in the ''Weekly Comic Bunch'' since the magazine's first issue, published with the [[Periodical cover date|cover date]] of [[May 29]], [[2001]]<ref name=debut>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbunch.com/bunch_archives/2001/index.html#1|title=週刊コミックバンチ★コアミックス：バンチアーカイブス：バンチ表紙全集2001年|format=html|accessdate=2007-08-04}}</ref>. New chapters of ''Souten no Ken'' are published irregularly in the magazine. Currently, there are 21 collected volumes ([[tankobon]]) of ''Souten no Ken'' published in Japan.<ref name=tankobon>{{cite web|url=http://www.comicbunch.com/bunch_comics/comic_list.php?series_id=1|title=週刊コミックバンチ★コアミックス：コミックス情報|language=Japanese|accessdate=2007-08-04}}</ref> | ||
An English version of ''Fist of the Blue Sky'' was serialized in the now-defunct ''[[Raijin Comics]]'' published by Gutsoon! Entertainment from 2003 and 2004. Only the first four collected volumes of this English edition were released before Gutsoon went out of business. While its art is less "dated" than its predecessor, its more hard-boiled and unapologetically masculine approach to the series was unfortunately believed to be as much of a turn-off to American fans as the original manga's frequent violence mixed with campy fashion. Ironically, Hara's compatriot Buronson has lucked out better domestically with that same gritty style when he worked on [[Sanctuary]] and [[Strain]]. [At least enough for those titles to finish their U.S. run, anyway.] Also of irony is that Buronson's one-shots-[[King of Wolves]] and [[Japan]]-seem to do better in the U.S. than ''either'' Fist, in spite of them containing ''more'' violence than those other manga. No other company has picked up the license yet. | An English version of ''Fist of the Blue Sky'' was serialized in the now-defunct ''[[Raijin Comics]]'' published by Gutsoon! Entertainment from 2003 and 2004. Only the first four collected volumes of this English edition were released before Gutsoon went out of business. While its art is less "dated" than its predecessor, its more hard-boiled and unapologetically masculine approach to the series was unfortunately believed to be as much of a turn-off to American fans as the original manga's frequent violence mixed with campy fashion. Ironically, Hara's compatriot Buronson has lucked out better domestically with that same gritty style when he worked on [[Sanctuary]] and [[Strain]]. [At least enough for those titles to finish their U.S. run, anyway.] Also of irony is that Buronson's one-shots-[[King of Wolves]] and [[Japan]]-seem to do better in the U.S. than ''either'' Fist, in spite of them containing ''more'' violence than those other manga. No other company has picked up the license yet. | ||
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=== Anime === | === Anime === | ||
A weekly anime series based on '' | A weekly anime series based on ''Souten no Ken'' aired on Japan's [[TV Asahi]] on Thursdays at 2:40am from [[October 4]], [[2006]] to [[March 14]], [[2007]]. The series has a total of 26 episodes, but only 22 episodes were actually aired on TV. The series was intended to be a full-fledge adaptation of the manga, but truncates the story at the end of Vol. 8. It is believed that the series' low ratings (an average of 1.2) led to the show's cancellation.<ref name=ratings>{{cite web|url=http://hashihime.blogspot.com/2007/03/current-anime-tv-ratings-in-japan.html|title=hashihime 橋姫: Current Anime TV Ratings in Japan|accessdate=2007-08-04}}</ref> The complete series has been released on DVD, including unaired episodes and uncensored content. In a bonus interview with executive producer Nobuhiko Horie included in Vol. 9 of the ''Souten no Ken'' DVD release reveals that North Stars Pictures has plans to produce a continuation of the ''Souten no Ken'' anime adaptation. | ||
==== Episodes ==== | ==== Episodes ==== | ||