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| Legends of the Dark King: A Fist of the North Star Story | |
 Cover of the first volume | |
| 天の覇王 北斗の拳ラオウ外伝 (Ten no Haō Hokuto no Ken Raō Gaiden) | |
|---|---|
| Manga | |
| Written by | Yuko Osada |
| Published by | Shinchosha |
| Magazine | Weekly Comic Bunch |
| Demographic | Seinen |
| Original run | March 24, 2006 – August 24, 2007 |
| Volumes | 5 |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by | Masashi Abe |
| Produced by |
|
| Written by | Hiroshi Ōnogi |
| Music by |
|
| Studio | Satelight |
| Licensed by | |
| Original network | TVA, Tokyo MX, TVO, Kids Station |
| English network | Anime Network |
| Original run | October 10, 2008 – December 25, 2008 |
| Episodes | 13 |
Legends of the Dark King: A Fist of the North Star Story (Japanese: 天の覇王 北斗の拳 ラオウ外伝, Hepburn: Ten no Haō: Hokuto no Ken: Raō Gaiden, 'The Conqueror of the Heavens: Fist of the North Star Raoh Side-Story'), commonly romanized as Ten no Haoh or Raoh Gaiden, is a Japanese manga series by Yuko Osada that was serialized in the Weekly Comic Bunch from 2006 to 2007. It is a spinoff of the manga series Fist of the North Star by Buronson and Tetsuo Hara. The story centers on the Fist of the North Star antagonist Raoh and depicts his rise to power as the conqueror of a post-apocalyptic world prior to and during the events of the original work. The story of Legends of the Dark King also incorporates elements introduced in the Fist of the North Star: The Legends of the True Savior movie series, including Raoh's childhood friends of Reina and Souga, who help him establish his army.
The manga was adapted into a 13-episode anime series produced by Satelight and aired on Tokyo MX and other stations in late 2008. The anime has been licensed for North America by Sentai Filmworks and distributed by Section23 Films. The complete series was released on a DVD set on September 15, 2009.[1] The series was re-released with the English dub on DVD and Blu-ray on July 20, 2010.
A global-scale nuclear war has transformed most of the Earth into a barren ocean-less wasteland, resulting in the downfall of modern civilization and a return to a lawless age of barbarism. The survivors of mankind begin to fight each other over the limited supply of uncontaminated food and water still left in the world. The strong ones begin to band together in gangs and armies, fighting each other over territory, while oppressing the weak. A man named Raoh appears, seeking to establish order in the post-apocalyptic world through his mastery of the martial art of Hokuto Shinken. With the help of his childhood friends Reina and Souga, Raoh takes on the mantle of the "King of Fist", as he gradually extends his reign, recruiting new allies in the process, while fighting against rival warlords who seek to challenge his authority.
Ten no Haoh was serialized irregularly in Weekly Comic Bunch from issues #231 (March 24, 2006) through #300 (August 24, 2007), lasting a total of 42 chapters (including a two-part epilogue), which were subsequently collected in five tankōbon editions. A two-part special chapter was published in 2008 in the September 12 and 19 issues of Comic Bunch as a tie-in to the anime series.
| Vol. | ISBN | Publication date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4-10-771278-8 | July 9, 2006 |
| 2 | 4-10-771297-4 | October 7, 2006 |
| 3 | 4-10-771307-5 | December 9, 2006 |
| 4 | 4-10-771322-9 | March 9, 2007 |
| 5 | 4-10-771353-9 | September 8, 2007 |
The anime version of Ten no Haoh, directed by Masashi Abe, aired in Japan on Tokyo MX and other channels from October to December 2008, lasting 13 episodes. The opening theme is Nageki no Endless (嘆きのエンドレ) performed by jealkb, while the ending theme is Namida no Kawa (ナミダノカワ) by minamuse. The series was licensed for Region 1 by Sentai Filmworks and released on a DVD set on September 15, 2009. Sentai Filmworks re-released Legends of the Dark King with an English dub in 2010.[2] The series was released on Region 2 DVD in six volumes, with the first volume having been released in January 2009.
| No. | Title | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "My Fists are for the Heavens!" Transliteration: "Waga Kobushi wa Ten no Tame" (Japanese: わが拳は天のため!) | October 2, 2008 | |
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This takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, full of ruin and chaos. As Raoh encounters a biker gang down an empty road, he easily kills its leader, Jirai, and slaughters most of the other gang members. Raoh meets up with Reina and Souga, who are requested by Goram the Demon King to perform in front of him. However, this was a plan for the three to overthrow this king. Raoh defeats Goram in battle and takes over the castle and its army as the "King of Fist". | |||
| 2 | "Kings Understand Kings!" Transliteration: "Ō wa Ō o Shiru" (Japanese: 王は王を知る!) | October 9, 2008 | |
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Raoh has his army rebuild the castle within three days and trains them in combat. He sends his army to fight against the soldiers led by Gion the Wise King to take over the kingdom as a means for transportation. However, as Raoh's invasionary force enters into the nearby valley, they end up being trampled to death by a herd of wild horses, said to be ruled by a stallion deemed the Black King. Raoh, Reina, and Souga go to this valley themselves, where they witness the Black King protecting a dying foal against two wild tigers. The Black King and its herd agree to fight alongside Raoh and his army after they both kill off each tiger. After Gion realizes what happened, he surrenders his kingdom to them. | |||
| 3 | "No Castle Can Stand Against Me!" Transliteration: "Ware ni Otose nu Shiru Nashi!" (Japanese: われに落とせぬ城なし!) | October 16, 2008 | |
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A mysterious woman named Sakuya offers to assist Raoh and company take down the impregnable kingdom ruled by Gaoh. Sakuya allows herself to enter the fortress in an attempt to seduce Gaoh, lying about her identity and her acquaintance with Raoh. She has him chase her around his bedroom at night, turning off the lights as they circle around. When Gaoh turns back on one of the lights to see Sakuya again, Reina shoots him in the head from the outside with a crossbow from the outside. As Raoh's army begins to infiltrate Gaoh's fortress, Reina fights Habaki, Gaoh's subordinate. Raoh catapults himself onto the fortress and kills Habaki as dawn approaches. Sakuya joins Raoh's army to serve as the tactician of the group. | |||
| 4 | "These Fists are for Other People!" Transliteration: "Kono Kobushi, Dare Ga Tame Ni!" (Japanese: この拳、誰がために!) | October 23, 2008 | |
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Gion, now the warden, tells the group that a captive named Uighur has survived five executions, asking Raoh to settle the matter. However, Raoh releases Uighur from imprisonment and assigns him as the new warden. Raoh, Reina, and Souga travel into the abandoned city of Cassandra and meet an old man. He warns them of the various death traps inside the indomitable castle ruled by Amon the Dragon Emperor. After they easily pass through the obstacles, Amon confronts Raoh, but the latter repels the attacks. As a last resort, Amon activates a switch, causing the castle to start collapsing. During this time, Raoh tells Amon that even his own son was killed by one of the traps inside the castle, showing him a medallion the old man, revealed as his younger brother, had kept since the incident. Raoh, Reina, and Souga struggle to evacuate before the castle falls, while Amon is left alone to die under the rubble. | |||
| 5 | "Rival Siblings!" Transliteration: "Sōkoku no Kyōdai" (Japanese: 相剋の兄弟!) | October 30, 2008 | |
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The group wants to recruit Toki, who runs a clinic in a poor village and heals the sick using acupressure, and he just so happens to be Raoh's brother. Reina goes to see Toki personally to convince him to join with Raoh, but Sakuya shows opposition to this, saying that having them together will end up in conflict. After Toki refuses to join, Raoh and Souga arrive with the army. Raoh orders his army to arrest Toki after the latter refuses to battle against the former to prove his strength as a martial artist. Uighur tries to express his duty as warden, using his whip to attack Toki. However, he dodges the whip and disables Uighur from attacking. When Sakuya visits Toki in his cell, she apologizes because she wants to protect Raoh from potentially being injured by Toki if the two brothers were to fight each other. | |||
| 6 | "The Demon Awakens!" Transliteration: "Oni, Mezameru!" (Japanese: 鬼、目覚める!) | November 6, 2008 | |
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Raoh is told by Souga to go see Ryuroh, a former military strategist now living a peaceful life at a barren wind farm, in an attempt to recruit him in the army. Ryuroh tells Raoh that he is happy with his new life in the empty forest, though he recalls of how he led his troops, now broken up, to several victories in the past. Ryuroh tries to convince Raoh to change his ways and use his power to bring peace and not to cause warfare. Raoh sees this as an act of defiance and mortally wounds him, but realizes that Ryuroh was dying from an illness after their fight. | |||
| 7 | "The Blue Wolf Tears Across The Earth!" Transliteration: "Aoki Ōkami, Daichi o Karu!" (Japanese: 蒼き狼、大地を駆る!) | November 13, 2008 | |
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On his way back, Raoh comes across a man named Ryuga, who promptly engages in a fistfight against him, though Raoh withholds the final blow when he sees that Ryuga had no intention of defeating him. After having witnessed Raoh battling Ryuroh recently, Ryuga, believing that the only way to achieve order in the world is through force, decides to serve Raoh for his cause. Later on, it is reported that two armies are invading the fortress with a pincer attack. Raoh assigns Souga to go with Ryuga and fight off the army ruled by Igor the Lion King. After Ryuga kills the army general, the army surrenders, but he precedes to slaughter them while they bow down in fear. Souga tells Ryuga to stop, but this only creates tension between the two warriors. | |||
| 8 | "Wailing Resounds Through the Darkness!" Transliteration: "Dōkoku, Yami ni Hibiku!" (Japanese: 慟哭、闇に響く!) | November 20, 2008 | |
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Souga and Ryuga reconcile their differences and now they have to face Igor themselves. They behead this ruthless lion king and return to the fortress, bringing back his skull made into a wineglass to celebrate their victory. A mysterious martial artist known as King, who has taken over the city of Southern Cross, is said to be preparing to invade the fortress. Raoh sends Reina with Ryuga to investigate upon the matter. Reina and Ryuga reluctantly find a man named Juza of the Clouds, Ryuga's half-brother, in a local bar near the city. He reveals that their sister, Yuria, Raoh's childhood friend, committed suicide after she learned that King had destroyed neighboring villages to buy her love. When Ryuga tells a grieved Raoh about this, he decides to leave it alone for the sake of rule. | |||
| 9 | "A Woman's Battle" Transliteration: "Onna no Tatakai" (Japanese: 女の戦い) | November 27, 2008 | |
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Raoh's army take down the army led by Jadum the Iron Emperor, while Reina to investigate the UD Gang hideout in the south. She is ambushed and then captured by Dagale, aide to the leader of the gang. As it seems that Jadum's army is lessening in numbers, Jadum transforms his body into steel and fights Ryuga and Sakuya head on, but he is shortly defeated afterwards. While imprisoned, Reina sees Isabella, a female assassin who served Dagale, being tortured to death after having received a scar on her neck from her last mission. Reina manages to free Isabella and herself and attempt to escape the hideout, but Isabella is momentarily shot with an arrow to her back. Raoh unexpectedly arrives to rescue Reina and confronts Juda, the leader of the gang, but Raoh decides not to kill Juda and continues on his way. | |||
| 10 | "Fists Smashed in Hot Sand!" Transliteration: "Nessa ni Kudakeru Kobushi!" (Japanese: 熱砂に砕ける拳!) | December 4, 2008 | |
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Souga and a group of men travel across a desert to a village posing as merchants, as to inspect if an army ruled by Pluto has passed by there. Souga gathers the villagers to interrogate how the flag of Pluto's army ended up in the streets. All of a sudden, a mysterious voice impales Souga in the chest by the now hypnotized villagers, saying that he will now have two months to live. Souga is forced to leave and inform Raoh about this. Raoh and the others go to the village themselves and attack Pluto's army. While there, Ryuga is also struck in the chest by the unknown voice. Raoh looks around and sees that a man named Gaiya was responsible for this, as well as for the fact that he has Pluto's army under his spell. Raoh defeats Gaiya in one blow, causing the army to retreat. | |||
| 11 | "The Holy Emperor Cometh!" Transliteration: "Seitei, Arawaru!" (Japanese: 聖帝、現る!) | December 11, 2008 | |
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Sakuya is seen in the presence of Thouzer the Holy Emperor, but she chooses not to work under him anymore. Sakuya, accused of betraying Raoh, is sent to prison under suspicion, though she claims she serves Raoh out of love. As Raoh's army begin their raid toward Thouzer's castle, Raoh encounters Hucker and Lirong but easily kills them. Raoh later holds a meeting with Thouzer, who agrees to back down and let Raoh take the title of the "holy emperor" if he chooses to do so. It is revealed that Sakuya plans to take down the fortress on her own. | |||
| 12 | "The King of Fist's Office is Falling!" Transliteration: "Ima Otsuru Ken'ō Fu" (Japanese: いま墜つる拳王府!) | December 18, 2008 | |
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Reina is left to defend the office until Raoh and Souga return. Juda makes an appearance and begins to fight the warriors present in the office. Sakuya is released from prison as is to assist Reina in warding off Juda's army. Sakuya explains to Reina that she never betrayed Raoh, instead she merely predicted what would happen if Raoh went to see Thouzer in the first place. Juda has his army tear down the walls and attack the warriors within the fortress. Raoh manages to make it back to his kingdom and overwhelms Juda with his fists. However, Juda still has a trick up his sleeve, shooting Raoh with a giant howitzer. Fortunately, Raoh is able to destroy the large bullet. | |||
| 13 | "I Walk the Path of the Heavens!" Transliteration: "Waga Omomuku wa Ten no Michi!" (Japanese: わが赴くは天の道!) | December 25, 2008 | |
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Thouzer breaks his alliance with Raoh and challenges him to a duel. Both suffer grave injuries from their fearsome attacks, but they still continue to fight. Juda tries to attack Raoh from behind, but luckily Souga and Ryuga catches him. Raoh and Souther go at each other at full force, neither of them giving up. As they both makes the final blow, Sakuya stands in their way and takes both of their hits. As she is dying, she determines that both are unworthy of being ruler because of Souther's lack of love and Raoh's lack of sadness. After she passes away, Thouzer tells Raoh that he will follow Raoh without betrayal this time, but he will fight again if Raoh shows any sign of weakness during his ruling. Later on, Souga report to Raoh and Reina that someone broke into the prison, killing Uighur in battle and releasing Toki from confinement. | |||
A web novelization of Ten no Haoh was published in the Hokuto no Ken DX mobile phone site, lasting six chapters.
A video game version of Ten no Haō was released by Interchannel for the PlayStation Portable in Japan on January 22, 2009. It is a cel-shaded 3D fighting game featuring 13 playable fighters from the manga and anime. All the characters are voiced by their voice actors from the anime series, with the exception of Raoh, who is voiced by Rikiya Koyama. Jagi and Amiba, who were omitted in the anime, are voiced by Tsuyoshi Aoki and Kazuyuki Okitsu respectively, while Kenshiro, who was unvoiced in the anime, is voiced by Hideo Ishikawa.[3]
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