FIST OF THE NORTH STAR
Created by writer Buronson and artist Tetsuo Hara in 1983, Fist of the North Star (Hokuto no Ken) is an iconic martial arts franchise set in a post-apocalyptic Earth ruined by nuclear warfare. The story follows Kenshiro, the 64th successor to the deadly pressure-point art Hokuto Shinken, as he wanders the wasteland fighting brutal tyrants to protect the innocent and search for his kidnapped fiancée.
Cronologia
Panoramica
Created by writer Buronson and artist Tetsuo Hara, Fist of the North Star (Hokuto no Ken) originated in 1983 as a martial arts manga set on a post-apocalyptic Earth devastated by nuclear war.
Over four decades, the franchise has expanded into a massive media property encompassing 245 serialized manga chapters collected across 27 original tankōbon volumes (alongside an updated 18-volume 40th Anniversary Master Edition), multiple anime television series, feature films, OVA releases, and dozens of video games spanning five decades.
Origini
The franchise was conceived in 1983 when artist Tetsuo Hara published two prototype one-shot stories, Hokuto no Ken and Hokuto no Ken II, in Fresh Jump, set in modern Japan.
Later that year, Hara collaborated with writer Buronson to reimagine the concept into a post-apocalyptic martial arts saga serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from September 1983 to August 1988.
Set on a nuclear-devastated Earth where the oceans dried up and might makes right, the narrative centers on Kenshiro, the 64th successor to the assassin's art Hokuto Shinken, travelling the waste to rescue his fiancée Yuria from Shin.
Personaggi
I PEZZI DI FIST OF THE NORTH STAR
Collezionismo
For fans and collectors, Fist of the North Star offers a wide array of official media items spanning back to the 1980s. Key collectible books include the 40th Anniversary Master Edition 18-volume manga set released by Coamix, featuring new cover artwork by Tetsuo Hara and blurbs from manga creators Akira Toriyama and Hirohiko Araki.
Gaming collectors focus on retro cartridges—such as the 1986 Sega Mark III/Master System release and Famicom titles—as well as modern physical releases including Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise on PlayStation 4 and Fitness Boxing: Fist of the North Star for Nintendo Switch. Coin-op enthusiasts also seek out Konami's 2000 Punch Mania arcade cabinets equipped with physical punching pads.
Curiosità
• The Japanese marketing campaign for Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise starred actor Takayuki Yamada performing signature manga gestures while working out at a gym. • Takaya Kuroda, the voice actor for Kazuma Kiryu in the Yakuza series, provides the voice of Kenshiro in Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise.
• Legendary creators Akira Toriyama and Hirohiko Araki provided commemorative blurbs for the 40th Anniversary Master Edition manga. • Konami's 2000 arcade game Punch Mania: Hokuto no Ken required players to physically strike punch pads attached to the cabinet. • Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise sold 123,116 copies in its first week in Japan, dethroning Monster Hunter: World after seven weeks at the top.
Film
• Fist of the North Star (1986): Theatrical anime film by Toei Animation retelling the initial arcs with higher production values. • Fist of the North Star (1995): American live-action film adaptation starring Gary Daniels as Kenshiro.
• Legend of Raoh: Chapter of Death in Love (2006): Animated feature film forming Part 1 of The Legends of the True Savior pentology. • Legend of Raoh: Chapter of Fierce Fight (2007): Animated feature film forming Part 3 of The Legends of the True Savior pentology. • Zero: Legend of Kenshiro (2008): Animated feature film forming Part 5 of The Legends of the True Savior pentology.
Serie TV
• Fist of the North Star (1984–1987): Original 109-episode anime series produced by Toei Animation. • Fist of the North Star 2 (1987–1988): 43-episode anime sequel covering the Celestial Emperor and Land of Asura arcs. • New Fist of the North Star (2003–2004): 3-part OVA series based on the 1996 novel Juboku no Ō. • Fist of the Blue Sky (2006–2007): 26-episode anime adaptation of the Shanghai-set prequel manga. • Legend of Yuria (2006): OVA release forming Part 2 of The Legends of the True Savior pentology.
• Legend of Toki (2008): OVA release forming Part 4 of The Legends of the True Savior pentology. • Legends of the Dark King (2008): 13-episode anime series adapting Raoh's prequel manga. • DD Hokuto no Ken (2013, 2015): Short-form comedic TV anime adaptation of the parody manga. • Fist of the North Star: Strawberry Flavor (2015): Short-form comedy anime centered on Souther. • Fist of the Blue Sky REGENESIS (2018): 24-episode 3D/CG anime series. • Hokuto no Ken -Fist of the North Star- (2026): 40th-anniversary 3D/CG reboot anime by Warner Bros. Japan and TMS Entertainment on Amazon Prime Video.
Videogiochi
• Hokuto no Ken: Violence Gekiga Adventure (1986): Released on PC-88/98 as the first game in the franchise. • Hokuto no Ken / Black Belt (1986): Side-scrolling action game for the Sega Mark III / Master System. • Fist of the North Star (1986): Action game released on the Famicom / NES by Toei Animation. • Hokuto no Ken 2: Seikimatsu Kyūseishu Densetsu (1987): Famicom sequel action game. • Shin Seikimatsu Kyūseishu Densetsu: Hokuto no Ken / Last Battle (1989): Sega Mega Drive / Genesis release. • Hokuto no Ken 3: Shin Seiki Kōsō Densetsu (1989): Famicom title. • Hokuto no Ken 4: Shidō no Shō (1991): Role-playing game for the Famicom. • Hokuto no Ken 5: Tenmo no Shō (1992): Super Famicom game. • Hokuto no Ken 6: Gekitō Densetsu (1992): Fighting game for the Super Famicom.
• Hokuto no Ken 7: Seiken Retsuden (1993): Super Famicom fighting game. • Hokuto no Ken (1995): 2D fighting game for Sega Saturn and PlayStation. • Punch Mania: Hokuto no Ken 1 & 2 (2000): Arcade punching cabinet series by Konami. • Hokuto no Ken: Seikimatsu Kyūseishu Densetsu (2000): Beat 'em up for PlayStation. • Fist of the North Star (2005 Arcade / 2007 PS2): Competitive 2D fighting game by Arc System Works. • Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage (2010): Musou action game by Koei Tecmo for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. • Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage 2 (2012): Sequel Musou game for PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii U. • Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise (2018): Action-adventure game developed for PlayStation 4 by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. • Fist of the North Star: LEGENDS ReVIVE (2019): Mobile RPG release. • Fitness Boxing: Fist of the North Star (2022 JPN / 2023 Global): Exergaming title for Nintendo Switch.
Libri & Fumetti
• Hokuto no Ken & Hokuto no Ken II (1983): Two prototype one-shot manga stories by Tetsuo Hara published in Fresh Jump. • Fist of the North Star (1983–1988): Original manga series by Buronson and Tetsuo Hara in Weekly Shōnen Jump (245 chapters, 27 volumes). • Juboku no Ō (1996): Novel that served as the source material for the New Fist of the North Star OVAs. • Fist of the Blue Sky (2001–2010): Prequel manga starring Kenshiro Kasumi in 1930s Shanghai. • Legends of the Dark King (2006–2007): Spin-off manga focusing on Raoh's origin story. • Sōkoku no Garō (2006–2007): Spin-off manga following Rei's quest to save his sister Airi.
• Shirogane no Seija (2007–2008): Spin-off manga detailing Toki's story in the Village of Miracles. • Gokuaku no Hana (2008–2009): Spin-off manga covering Jagi's backstory. • DD Hokuto no Ken (2008–2016): Super-deformed comedic parody manga. • Hokuto no Ken: Strawberry Flavor (2012–2022): Parody manga focused on Souther. • Fist of the Blue Sky: Re:Genesis (2017–2021): Sequel manga published in Monthly Comic Zenon. • Hokuto no Ken Seikimatsu Drama Satsuei-hen (2021–present): Meta-comedy depicting the characters as actors filming a TV drama. • 40th Anniversary Master Edition Manga (Coamix): Updated 18-volume collector's edition of the original manga.
