Friday, May 29, 2015

Kinnikuman Retrospective: The Kaiju Fighting Days

56k Beware and Spoilers Ahead


There isn't that much info on how Kinnikumnan came to be, but I think one day at a Japanese school, school, Yoshinori Nakai showed his best friend a sketch of a goofy looking Ultraseven and Takashi Shiamda was impressed, They were interested in becoming a mangaka duo, they were looking for a name and noticed one of their farts at a picnic smelled like a boiled egg. They decided to call themselves Yudetamago, after the Japanese word for said food. They submitted manga like Gong no Desu, a wrestling manga which would later for shadow what the series would become, and Mammoth to their favorite Magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump. While never being picked up for full series, Kinnikuman was picked up for 2 one shots, and later a full manga. This would later become a goofy Ultraman parody called Kinnikuman.


The manga starts with...

SCROLL PAST IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO SEE WHAT'S AHEAD... ALSO SOME IMAGES MAY BE NOT OK FOR ALL AUDIENCES, SO IF YOU SEE A LONG GAP BETWEEN WORDS AND THE PICTURE. SCROLL FAST IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE...




















The first Image doesn't really foreshadow Kinnikuman for the first part of the series, It makes him look like a guy who has all the women going for him, but as the series goes on, that's not the case. He does get married, but that's a REALLY LONG ways away...


The first real parts of the story in the manga begins with... I'll have the Manga explain it to us...

Remember, this reads right to left.



The Earth Defense Force found a huge amount of monsters heading towards Earth, And they'll arrive at 12 o'clock. They try to get all the super heroes they can, but the Ultra Brothers are on Vacation, Superman doesn't have his cape, Spiderman fell off a wall, and all the others are with their families. OK, WTAF? So Superman doesn't need his cape to fly, Spiderman sticks tight to walls and even if he falls, he could sling a web, and if a superhero is called, they respond and head towards the scene, but I assume Yudetamago didn't want to have to deal with Copyright BS, and this is a Kinnikuman Story. 2 EDF Members get into a wrestling match as an argument, and an EDF Member Breaks up the fight and gets...

GYUDON IS ALL HE'LL NEED FOR THE NEXT 300 YEARS!!! FAST, DELICIOUS, AND CHEAP TOO!!!!
IT'S KINNIKUMAN!!!!!

Kinnikuman appears at the base because plot convenience. The chief tells the superheroes of the world are at a conference, OK just a couple pages ago, you said they were off because of reasons, now you say this to make Kinnikuman feel bad. Sir I award you the ass of the year 1979 edition. Kinnikuman get's introduced to the monsters he'll be facing including...


Okamarasu (that's a guy here)...

Eraginesu...
(Kinnikuman says his catchphrase here)

Abudoora...

Shiek Seijin...

and Acrobat Seijin.

Kinnikuman is arrogant all those encounters even though he's guaranteed to lose. Kinnikuman shows off his training and he get's ready to fight... He shows off his finishing move and uses up all his garlic energy. so he has to get more garlic. He Roasts some and eats it. Kinnikuman is cured and the Kaiju are almost here. Kinnikuman grows after eating the last of the garlic, When he does grow, the monsters reverse course because they didn't want to fight an idiot like him, ending the Chapter.



This chapter is rather stupid, but it does give us a taste of things to come. Small episodic stories of Kinnikuman going through day to day life, encountering a monster, and winning by some deus ex machina. The series get's better in the next arc, but this isn't the next arc.


The next big part of the Story happens when Kinnikuman meets Meat...

At a Gyudon Restaurant, The Gyudon Lovers Club have an eating contest, and get into a fight, they all get kicked out. A UFO lands and it's revealed to be...

Meat Alexandia...

He'll be our sidekick for the series. The smart nerdy kid, and we'll explain him saying Prince soon. Kinnikuman tells Meat that he's the president of the Gyudon Lover's Club, but really he's the prince of Planet Kinniku. One day, King and Queen Kinniku went on Vacation to earth and Kinnikuman was mistaken for a pig, a literal pig. He was left on earth. Kinnikuman comes from a whole family of superheroes, In fact it goes like Kinnikus, then Ultras, Then robots, Kamen Riders, and Ultra like Heroes, American Heroes, and finally other Japanese henshin heroes. This is an interesting concept, Having all the superheroes of the world be related (which won't be mentioned again in the series), and being an alien explains a guy with a fin and large lips wearing a speedo who is on earth. Meat and Kinnikuman show their Kinniku Clan Marks. The pig from Earlier is shown to still be around causing havoc. Kinnikuman and Meat get into a fight and he has to get into a steel cage death match with...

Gouriki...

Both flex their muscles, but Kinnikuman's muscles go to his legs. Kinnikuman uses his Kinniku Beam and Kinniku Flash, but they're both ineffective... Gouriki uses a bear hug on Kinnikuman, which seems to defeat him, but Gouriki broke his spine while laughing, ending this chapter. The next Chapter begins with Kinnikuman and Meat heading to Planet Kinniku. The Pig beats Kinniku Daioh at the All Universe Combat Olympics, He's King Ton. He and his kingdom are in great dire. Kinnikuman and Meat arrive at Planet Kinniku. and the ladies are more excited for the coming of Meat rather than the Prince. Kinnikuman reunites with his family and much joy from the family happens. He gets picked to get Kinniku Daioh's championship belt back from King Ton, but he doesn't want to. He eventually obliges. He enters the ring and get's ready to fight... Kinnikuman's out of garlic. Because of such He loses the Judo, Boxing, and Wrestling match against King Ton. A chef finds the pig and chases after him giving Kinniku Daioh his belt back. Kinnikuman is revealed to be named Suguru and he returns to earth ending the chapter. The next Important Chapter has Kinnikuman doing morning exercises, and Meat was sleeping the whole time. The two get into a fight, and we meet Mari who will be the love interest of Kinnikuman for the first part of the story. But at first it wasn't like that. She begins not to fond of him. After Mari invites the two boys to her preschool and leaves. Suguru looks up Mari's skirt and get's yelled at for it. When kinnikuman gets to see the Kids, he gets his ass kicked and made fun of. Suguru heads to the nurses office, but a Kaiju appears. The kaiju's name is Frankie. Suguru can't really transform, but he does anyway. They fight, but Kinnikuman forfeits. Meat uses his Meat Torpedo, the chapter ends with the kids and Mari going for Meat.



It's time for the introduction of the man, the myth, the legend, TERRYMAN (Based of of Terry Funk)!!!! Abudoora Attacks the Japanese Diet building, and Kinnikuman comes to the Scene of the Crime after an argument over a 100 yen bill... Someone comes to the battle faster and is a much better fighter than Kinnikuman. He's revealed to be Terryman, and people want him to fight monsters more than Kinnikuman. Kinnikuman gets jealous, and Terryman continues to show off. Terryman Kicks a kid over not having enough money to hire him. Kinnikuman takes his money to save the boy's father. Terryman comes to Suguru's rescue once he fights Shiek Seijin. Terryman may be a walking sterotype, but his presence and rivalry shows how Japanese people felt about Americans, adn it's a good time capsule of an era past. Heck as the next arc shows, nope won't spoil...


In the next significant chapter, A girl appears at the Gyudon restaurant Kinnikuman Goes to, and orders there. She finds Kinnikuman there and introduces herself to her... She's Natsuko, Who will be Terryman's love interest of the series... She's a journalist at the weekly hero magazine. Kinnikuman was voted the number 1 hero of said magazine. #1 worst hero that is. He loses his excitement when he finds that out. He thinks he can turn himself around. Iwao from an earlier chapter plans to destroy Kinnikuman, and ruins his plans for Natsuko. Iwao gets Kappatron and Kinnikuman goes to the scene, but Terryman gets there first and beats the monster. Kinnikuman gets all upset and Terryman takes Suguru's plans away from him. Suguru gets all mad at Natsuko and she gets mad at him back. When Iwao attacks, Kinnikuman shows his wrestling moves and Natsuko is impressed. Later Natsuko appears at Kinnikuman's house and he's and at how Terryman took his spotlight, God what an ungrateful ass, and Natsuko runs away from Kinnikuman... The very next chapter has Kinnikuman and Terryman challenged to a tag match against Abudoora and Moku Seijin. Suguru gets all cocky and realizes he got owned by Moku Seijin. Also I like how self referential this panel is...


Terryman refuses to join Kinnikuman because he won't be making money. At the night of the match, We see a prematch by Antonio Tsuyoki and Giant Unko, which ends in a double knockout. We get a small bit with Nakano and Mayumi on who will be the commentator, but Terryman appears onto the ring. He changed his mind because Natsuko, upsetting Kinnikuman. Kinnikuman makes his enterence but people are still not fond of him. Both Wrestlers get flowers, and the 2 Kaiju enter. and pretty much own Kinnikuman. Terryman reverses the match, when the crowd cheers for him, Kinnikman leaves the ring out of anger. Even when he sees his teammate in danger, he continues. When blood's on Terryman's face he comes back and reverses the match once more and they win by a back drop and a pinfall. He trains for the next match whenever he gets challenged next and Terryman and Natsuko doubt him ending the chapter. I like this chapter, it's got good referential jokes, foreshadowing actions scenes for the rest of the series, and debuts 2 new characters, Nakano (who variations of him appeared all over up to this point) and Yoshigai. The chapter after that features Kinkotsuman. The chapter begins with the heroes of japan on an airborne date with heir lovers. Yeah I don't like Mari and Meat dating, forgetting the creepy large age gap, Teachers aren't allowed to go on dates with kids, it gives other students the wrong idea, the age gap doesn't help... Kinnikuman trys to get a date in disguise, but the girls realize it's him and run away... The girl from a few chapters ago tries to go on a date with Suguru, but It doesn't go down so well. A UFO lands on earth and everyone wonders what it is. The 2 girls get into a fight and Mari leaves in tears. The Alien introduces himself and it's...

KINKOTSUMAN!!!!
(WHO'S APPEARING MUCH LARGER THAN HE'LL APPEAR IN ANY OTHER CHAPTER)

Kinnikuman grows, but he gets attacked with Milk. Kinkotsuman attacks Meat with his laser. He gets his Kaiju to attack Kinnikuman, but both of them were attacked by... TERRYMAN!!!!!!!!!!!! He gives Kinnikuman some garlic and Suguru's back in action!!!! He beats Kinkotsuman up and tears him apart. He swears revenge, but he gets kicked into a pond. Kinnikuman though he's got either of the girls, but he's got neither, Except for the unattractive one. The next significant chapter starts with Kinnikuman watching and later imitating a baseball game, but the a baseball player tells him to cut it out, and when talks to meat about the game, he gets kicked again. Two girls come to Kinnikuman's house and invite him to a party, Which gets him excited, The next night, he's going to the party, and Meat's watching a Barney ripoff, reading manga, and eating junk food. When he gets to the Mansion, He gets trapped and reveal themselves to be Kinkotsuman and a bunch of other Kaiju. They hang him and beat him up. Terryman and Natsuko take Meat on a ride. Okamarasu lets Kinnikuman out of his cell, and announces his crush on him. When the kaiju distracts Iwao, Kinnikuman leaves and the other Kaiju follow him, Okamarasu pours oil slick on the floor and Kinnikuman finishes the Kaiju with his Kinniku Flash. Meat, Terry, and Natsuko meet Kinnikuman at the enterance of the Mansion, and the chapter ends with him getting mad at them for not saving him, and we've still got 2 more chapters, so see you next time when we do them and look at this arc as a whole...


















APRIL FOOLS!!!!!!
Oh wait, it isn't April anymore? DAMMIT!!!!!!


This is a 2 part sub arc known as Roots Island, and does contain some racially insensitive content, while I'll try my best not to show any pictures of said island's inhabitants you just might imply such things by my words, so if you want to skip it. Hit CTRL+F and type in the keyword "Donkey Butts". If you choose to see see said content, There's no turning back...









This 2 parter begins in a bathhouse, because that's a thing Japanese people do. and old woman comes in mad and Kinnikuman essentially says "Nakano did it!!!!"  A tribal woman comes to kinnikuman for help. She's from a South African Island known as Roots. It's been Invaded by Ukon, Octopus Dragon, and Harigoras. Kinnikuman doesn't understand the situation, and he gets upset. Then Terryman comes to help, and he gets a kiss from the native. Kinnikuman crashes the kiss by saying he'll do it and they arrive at Roots Island. Yosaku (a recurring character) appears in pure blackface and plays the drums while Kinnikuman dances. The role reverses for a bit and a native gets mad. He punches a palm tree and...



The Kaiju arrive to eat more people, and the natives run away.



Terryman handles Harigoras and Kinnikuman handles Octopus Dragon, Who stops his growing for battle. Terryman defeats Harigoras, but Kinnikuman is struggling with his monster because of its reversion of his moves. However  it's no match for Kinnikuman's Kinniku Flash. Ukon's attacking the Princess and throws some meat. Kinnikuman eats it and Inadvertently accepts his challenge. Turns out Ukon's a giant King Kong-esque Ape. The battle begins. at the colosseum, Kinnikuman gets ready to face Ukon who's just about ready to eat the princess. The Native from earlier tries to save her, but gets pushed back. Ukon chases after Suguru, and Yosaku is firing arrows at Kinnikuman. Yosaku pokes Kinnikuman off the pole he was on and the Kaiju beats him up with the natives booing him. Ukon turns the island's inhabitants into slaves and Kinnikuman lights Ukon on fire. Turns out Ukon's a robot and he takes the princess. Yosaku has the idea to summon Mammora. Mammora is summoned and rams into Ukon. Kinnikuman uses his Kinniku Flash. Which reflects on Ukon's Metallic body and chases after Kinnikuman. Kinnikuman summons his Kinniku Barrier, but it's ineffective and he gets PWNED!!!!! But Mammora rams into Ukon again, and destroys him. Ukon's pilots, Kinkotsuman and Iwao escape and he gets 1 billion yen's worth of primitive wheels. Yeah This is kind of racist. It paints Africans as primitive tribes and uses tons of blackface. It doesn't help that it has tons of uses of the S-word. It's kind of like those Racist cartoons from the 30s and 40s, they may've been novel back then, but they're more than a little uncomfortable to watch nowadays. It was America before blacks were universally accepted, so they have an excuse. Even the big ones in charge seem to agree, they censored said mini-arc if, they included it at all, and it was only loosely adapted in animated form, but we'll get to that film another time... But, What did I think of the arc as a whole? Well...



















DONKEY BUTTS!!!!!




So this arc is an interesting specimen. While many (including myself) might see this arc as childish and stupid, some parts do set up the status quo for the rest of the series, whether it'd be introducing characters, setting up elements to be later used in the series (like wrestling), and the series' trademark comedy. Like most comedy-action manga, it'll slowly get more and more serious as the series goes on. Some characters will stay longer in the story than others, but most of the fixtures of the arc will be permanent fixtures in the anime. I'll touch on that more when we get to the anime, since it's a completely different animal from the manga. While several of the elements of this arc will probably be seldom mentioned ever again (if at all), Yudetamago probably had no idea how long this series would last, so if this was the only arc, I would've ignored this series entirely, heck I'd probably never have heard of it. Also if we didn't have this arc, we wouldn't see this series get progressively better and better. One thing which will be a recurring thing here is comparing this series to Dragon Ball, Kinnikuman was based off of Ultraman at first, while Dragon Ball was based off of the Chinese Fable Journey to the West at first. Both series were largely episodic at first (Kinnikuman more so), and both star an idiot hero on his way to maturity. About Kinnikuman being largely episodic at first, that's one thing the Kaiju Fighting Days arc had going for it. Each chapter was it's own individual story. Gag manga had a very unlikely chance of making it outside of Japan (with one of the exceptions being Dr. Slump, but that owes it do the success of the international success of the Dragon Ball Series more than anything), so I can see why most non-Japanese fans might be turned off to this arc. Still if you want to skip this arc and head straight to the wrestling, That's your choice and nothing's stopping you. The biggest reason I recommend this arc is because of the reasons I've mentioned earlier (Setting up the Status Quo, Introducing Characters, setting up elements to be used later in the series), Every Manga's got to start somewhere, and if you're a completionist like me, go give this arc a look...





Oh you were expecting a rating, well I'll rate stuff as the series goes on, with it going from favorite to least favorite like if for example, when I finish the next 2 arcs, it'll go something like this...


  • 20th Chojin Olympics
  • American Tour
  • Kaiju Fighting Days
This list may or may not tell you I feel about these arcs, but I'll be telling you for real as the series goes on. So this arc may seem a bit childish, but it's where it all started, so what did you expect, Dragon Ball didn't have the quality it had right from the get go, just saying...






Next Time, We celebrate the cultures of the world and wrestling with the 20th Chojin Olympics arc. Until then, Have a great Kinnikuman day...




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