Riki-Oh

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This article is about the manga series. For the 1991 Hong Kong film, see Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky.


Riki-Oh
力王
(Riki-Ō)
Genre Martial arts
Manga
Author Masahiko Takajo
Illustrator Saruwatari Tetsuya
Publisher Flag of Japan Shueisha
Demographic Seinen
Magazine Business Jump
Original run 1988 – 1990
Volumes 12 (Business Jump) / 9 (Comicsworld)
OVA
Episodes 1
Released 25 June 1989
Runtime 45 minutes
OVA: Riki-Oh 2: Horobi no Ko
Episodes 1
Released 24 August 1990
Runtime 45 minutes

Riki-Oh (力王 Riki-Ō?) is a manga which later adapted to an anime series and live-action film. Created by Masahiko Takajo and Saruwatari Tetsuya, the story is about a young man who has learned the art of Qigong from one of Chiang Kai Shek's bodyguards and has become so strong that he can literally punch a hole through people and solid objects. It was serialized in Business Jump from 1988 to 1990 and later published in 12 volumes.

Outside Japan, it was translated and published only in Hong Kong by Comicsworld in nine volumes. The only difference between the two editions, besides the different number of pages in each volume, is the absence of the short story "N.Y. Dust", which is unrelated to Riki-Oh, in the Hong Kong edition.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Set in a dystopian alternative universe where global warming has devastated most of the earth and the world is suffering from an economical depression which led to increased crime. The story center around Saiga Riki-Oh, blessed with inhuman strength, after taking revenge against a yakuza who was responsible for the death of his girlfriend (in the manga a child friend of his who happened to use faulty drugs in a hospital after being run over by a car, turns out that the hospital was forced under threat by the yakuza to use their medicine), ends up in a maximum security prison owned by a private organization. The story follows Riki and his search for his little brother Saiga Nachi who bears a Swastika symbol on his right hand and also possess superhuman strength. Riki-Oh will encounter many deadly opponents with either superhuman strength or martial arts during his travel for avenging his mother and in search of his brother.

[edit] Characters

Saiga Riki-Oh (雑賀力王?)

The main character of the story, he was separated from his younger brother Nachi since childhood and was adopted by the Saiga family. He has a scar in the shape of the Star of David on his right hand which is the source of his great strength and skill. This scar is also a sign that he's destined to overthrow his real father.

Nachi (那智?)

Gifted with strong telekinetic powers, he's the younger brother of Riki-Oh from whom he was separated when he was still a child. He has a scar in the shape of a Swastika on his right hand since birth.

Mizuguchi (水口?)
Aku-Oh (悪王 Bad King?)

An android that resembles Riki-Oh in appearance constructed by Obinata. It was sent on a mission to kill Riki-Oh but, after a long fight in a wood, it is accidentally sucked into quicksand with Riki-Oh with the latter surviving after having carved a shelter in the abdomen of the android.

Aneyama (姉山?)

Washizaki (鷲崎?)

A general with a sword. Is an extremely capable fighter. Easily dodged Riki-oh's punch once, and knocked him out.
Robotomi 560SEL-Mark. II (ロボトミＳＥＬ-マークⅡ?)

A cyborg weighting 300kg who wasn't viewed by anyone other than Riki-oh as a real person. Robotomi is known as Atomic Robo (アトミック・ロボ?) in the anime adaptation. Originally he was a slave robot constructed from a human body in order to work in a power plant in the Cape. Due to the harsh condition of the core, hot temperatures and presence of radioactivity, humans couldn't work there. He rebelled with the other slaves robots because they felt themselves humans despite having their bodies reconstructed and sought freedom but the insurrection was subjugated. He then volunteered as fighter in the Pankration, a death match show, in order to get revenge against the humans. He's made to fight against Riki-Oh but after the interference of Nachi who serious injured him, realizes his true enemy is Washizaki. After quitting the match against Riki-Oh, he dies at the hands of Washizaki in the attempt to kill him.

Obinata (小日向?)

A genial scientist at the dependence of Aneyama.

The Baron (男爵 Danshaku?)

He's the chief charged with the accomplishment of a plan whose goal is to accelerate the coming of Judgement Day. In order to achieve this goal, he needs to give birth to the so called "chosen one", a being created from the union of Nachi's head with the body of Riki-Oh.

Zhāng Shàn-Guǐ (張　善鬼?)

A Chinese man who once stopped Riki suicide attempt in front of his mothers grave in China Town, he later became Riki's sifu whom taught him the art of Qigong martial art. He used to be Chiang Kai-Shek elite bodyguard.

Wáng Měi-Lì (王　美麗 Ō Birei?)

Also known as Hisano Akiyama (秋山久乃 Akiyama Hisano?). Riki-Oh and Nachi's biological mother, she was executed by hanging for poisoning thirteen infants 25 years ago, before her death sentence, with help from a friend of hers, Riki and Nachi managed to escaped from prison. She foretold that one day her death will be avenged by her son and that evil will never conquer the good. Although Japanese, she uses a Chinese name instead.

[edit] Animated version

Riki-oh was released as two OAVs. The first anime was called Riki-oh: The Wall of Hell (1990). The second one was titled Riki-oh: Child of Destruction (1990). The first one is a retelling of the first few manga and the second is Riki's adventure to find his brother, and stop his devilish cult following. Media Blasters have acquired the rights to rerelease the two OAVs in the United States on DVD, April 11, 2006, but has since let go of the licences Source: ANN

[edit] External links