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WolfGuy
WolfGuy is significant milestone in the history of Japanese SF.
It’s created in 1971 by the Japanese SF author Kazumasa Hirai, who is famous for “8 Man”, and “Genma Wars ?HARMAGEDON”, and upon its publication, it hit an extraordinary success and left the huge impact on Japanese entertainment fields, from novels, comics, animation, to video-games.
The cover illustration was done by Rumiko Takahashi.
[story]
Akira Inugami is a transfer student who shows up at the troubled school ruled by a son of yakuza guy.
Despite the violence from gang boys, Akira Inugami doesn't resist at all. However, he comes to the school without any injury next day.
His physical idiosyncrasy comes from his secret identity. He is a wolfguy, who becomes immortal under the full moon.
While Akira never reacts with their provocation, gang boys try to attack his respected beautiful lady teacher.
With their filthy behavior, wolf's anger of Akira Inugami howls around!
[Related works]
From 1970 to 1971, Manga “WolfGuy” is published with its story by Kazumasa Hirai, and its illustration by Hisashi Sakaguchi.
In 1973, a movie “Ookami no Monsyou”(Toho Co.,Ltd.) is out, starred by Taro Shigaki, Yusaku Matsuda, and so on.
From 2007 to 2012, Remade edition Manga WolfGuy is out with its scenario by Yoshiaki Tabata, its illustration by Ayumi Izumitani, and its Illustration director by Yuki Yogo.
The manga title is published in many countries.
[About the Author]
Kazumasa Hirai（1938/5/13 - 2015/1/17）
He is Japanese famous SF novelist, and a creator of the manga “8 Man”(1963). He also wrote the scenario of the animation “8 Man”.
“8 Man” is Japanese earliest cyborg super hero.
The mind of a detective police murdered by criminals are transferred into cyborg body, and he solves several issues, using his supernatural power, such as high speed movement with the accelerating instrument. On the other hand, the anime and manga well illustrate the worry and concern of the hero who lost his live body, and made a smash hit. Animation of “8 Man” is also aired in U.S.
In 1967, he also wrote the scenario of “Genma Wars”, and its illustration was done by Shotaro Ishinomori, the author of “Kamen Rider” and “Cyborg 009”.
It's the Armageddon story in which espers get together from all over the world to fight against the invasion of the Genma, the evil axis of the universe.
From 1979 to 2008, he wrote novel series of “Genma Wars”, and in 1983, it's made into animation movie, “Genma Wars ?Harmagedon”, with its characters designed by Katsuhiro Otomo, the famous creator of “AKIRA”.
In 1969, he starts “Wolf Guy” series, with the hero who becomes an immortal wolf guy under the full moon.
The title was strongly appreciated and supported by young generation, and made a huge impact on the Japanese SF, light novel, and Manga from then on.
Kazumasa Hirai is considered to be a legendary author who established a basis of Japanese SF entertainment development in novel and comic fields.
It’s created in 1971 by the Japanese SF author Kazumasa Hirai, who is famous for “8 Man”, and “Genma Wars ?HARMAGEDON”, and upon its publication, it hit an extraordinary success and left the huge impact on Japanese entertainment fields, from novels, comics, animation, to video-games.
The cover illustration was done by Rumiko Takahashi.
[story]
Akira Inugami is a transfer student who shows up at the troubled school ruled by a son of yakuza guy.
Despite the violence from gang boys, Akira Inugami doesn't resist at all. However, he comes to the school without any injury next day.
His physical idiosyncrasy comes from his secret identity. He is a wolfguy, who becomes immortal under the full moon.
While Akira never reacts with their provocation, gang boys try to attack his respected beautiful lady teacher.
With their filthy behavior, wolf's anger of Akira Inugami howls around!
[Related works]
From 1970 to 1971, Manga “WolfGuy” is published with its story by Kazumasa Hirai, and its illustration by Hisashi Sakaguchi.
In 1973, a movie “Ookami no Monsyou”(Toho Co.,Ltd.) is out, starred by Taro Shigaki, Yusaku Matsuda, and so on.
From 2007 to 2012, Remade edition Manga WolfGuy is out with its scenario by Yoshiaki Tabata, its illustration by Ayumi Izumitani, and its Illustration director by Yuki Yogo.
The manga title is published in many countries.
[About the Author]
Kazumasa Hirai（1938/5/13 - 2015/1/17）
He is Japanese famous SF novelist, and a creator of the manga “8 Man”(1963). He also wrote the scenario of the animation “8 Man”.
“8 Man” is Japanese earliest cyborg super hero.
The mind of a detective police murdered by criminals are transferred into cyborg body, and he solves several issues, using his supernatural power, such as high speed movement with the accelerating instrument. On the other hand, the anime and manga well illustrate the worry and concern of the hero who lost his live body, and made a smash hit. Animation of “8 Man” is also aired in U.S.
In 1967, he also wrote the scenario of “Genma Wars”, and its illustration was done by Shotaro Ishinomori, the author of “Kamen Rider” and “Cyborg 009”.
It's the Armageddon story in which espers get together from all over the world to fight against the invasion of the Genma, the evil axis of the universe.
From 1979 to 2008, he wrote novel series of “Genma Wars”, and in 1983, it's made into animation movie, “Genma Wars ?Harmagedon”, with its characters designed by Katsuhiro Otomo, the famous creator of “AKIRA”.
In 1969, he starts “Wolf Guy” series, with the hero who becomes an immortal wolf guy under the full moon.
The title was strongly appreciated and supported by young generation, and made a huge impact on the Japanese SF, light novel, and Manga from then on.
Kazumasa Hirai is considered to be a legendary author who established a basis of Japanese SF entertainment development in novel and comic fields.
186 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2015
2 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 24, 2017
Quick review for a quick read. This was my first time reading "Wolf Guy" as well as any work from an author considered a classic writer in Japanese sci-fi, Kazumasa Hirai. I'm reviewing the English-translated version (by Edward Lipsett) which was released back in 2015, a bit after the original author's passing.
The story begins from the perspective of Akiko Aoshika, a teacher whose eye catches a mysterious new student - Akira Inugami. Akira seems like a boy who gets into trouble at the drop of a hat, but considering Akiko teaches at a school controlled by corruption and gangs, one more troublesome student doesn't seem like it would be beyond the norm for her. Yet Akira doesn't seem to be a "normal" student by any stretch of the imagination - she notices in some encounters that he comes out of brutal fights without being seriously injured and continously downplays situations she realizes aren't in the normal realm of what a student can get away with. What follows from there is a story of how Akiko and Akira navigate some brutal gangs and encounters, while trying to fight the corruption from within their school in a distinct set of power plays. Akira comes into his own identity and power, though it doesn't come without some difficult situations and memories.
Fair warning - there's graphic depictions and rampant sexual violence references in here, so it earns its mature tag. While there were parts of the story I liked in that it reminded me of reading a brutal school life manga with supernatural inclinations and twists, it felt like almost not enough story or development to keep me gripped for the whole read. This is a story that could've worked better for me in manga format rather than the light novel text. The text itself read fast and fluid, but doesn't always feel full when it comes to the character development and plot details. I read through this fairly quickly, but I still felt like I wanted more from the narrative or felt parts of it were missing elements to keep me as engaged as I wanted to be in the story. I appreciated the aim of it though, and it had me interested in researching the different versions of the "Wolf Guy" franchise (I didn't even realize there was an anime OVA based on this - which I understand is a different version of the story depicted in the novels). I'm glad I had the chance to experience this first hand and in the capacity of what is considered a Japanese classic sci-fi story (the original series started in 1969!) I just wish I could've fully had more to hold onto with respect to the story details, characters, and lore.
Overall rating: 2.5/5 stars.
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher.
The story begins from the perspective of Akiko Aoshika, a teacher whose eye catches a mysterious new student - Akira Inugami. Akira seems like a boy who gets into trouble at the drop of a hat, but considering Akiko teaches at a school controlled by corruption and gangs, one more troublesome student doesn't seem like it would be beyond the norm for her. Yet Akira doesn't seem to be a "normal" student by any stretch of the imagination - she notices in some encounters that he comes out of brutal fights without being seriously injured and continously downplays situations she realizes aren't in the normal realm of what a student can get away with. What follows from there is a story of how Akiko and Akira navigate some brutal gangs and encounters, while trying to fight the corruption from within their school in a distinct set of power plays. Akira comes into his own identity and power, though it doesn't come without some difficult situations and memories.
Fair warning - there's graphic depictions and rampant sexual violence references in here, so it earns its mature tag. While there were parts of the story I liked in that it reminded me of reading a brutal school life manga with supernatural inclinations and twists, it felt like almost not enough story or development to keep me gripped for the whole read. This is a story that could've worked better for me in manga format rather than the light novel text. The text itself read fast and fluid, but doesn't always feel full when it comes to the character development and plot details. I read through this fairly quickly, but I still felt like I wanted more from the narrative or felt parts of it were missing elements to keep me as engaged as I wanted to be in the story. I appreciated the aim of it though, and it had me interested in researching the different versions of the "Wolf Guy" franchise (I didn't even realize there was an anime OVA based on this - which I understand is a different version of the story depicted in the novels). I'm glad I had the chance to experience this first hand and in the capacity of what is considered a Japanese classic sci-fi story (the original series started in 1969!) I just wish I could've fully had more to hold onto with respect to the story details, characters, and lore.
Overall rating: 2.5/5 stars.
Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher.
September 19, 2015
Wolfguy is a novel by the late Kazumasa Hirai and translated to English by Edward Lipsett. Akira Inugami is a transfer student who shows up at the troubled school ruled by a son of mobster. Despite the violence from gang boys, Akira Inugami doesn't resist at all. Despite beatings he keeps returning to school unscathed. He is a wolfguy, a werewolf that heals quickly and is very hard to kill. When things escalate the gang attacks his the teacher that has shown him respect and care. Their filthy behavior fuels the wolf's anger.
Wolfguy is both more and less than I expected. The story is much more complex than a simple summary can express. the point of view varies between Akira, the teach in question, and occasionally other characters. It is easy to follow, but I expect readers that are not familiar with the culture and folklore of the region would have a little trouble getting into the story. I have spent a significant about of time watching television and reading literature from Japan, so I fell into the world fairly easily. The corruption and politics involved in schools- and the need to save face is important to the set up of how the school got to be in the state readers (and Akira) find it in. The story, and the environment are all well described and the action is very well told. However, while I could picture the action, environment, and characters it all felt a little flat. Part of this could have been the trouble of translating and that I thought this would be a graphic novel (only because of the cover, I admit I did not read much about the book before requesting it).
Wolfguy is a solid story with significant action and great ideas. I found the actual writing to fall a little flat, but the ideas and action it convoyed to be interesting. I think this is more because of my personal preferences and translation rather than a reflection on the original work. Readers with some knowledge of Japanese culture might enjoy it more than others.
Wolfguy is both more and less than I expected. The story is much more complex than a simple summary can express. the point of view varies between Akira, the teach in question, and occasionally other characters. It is easy to follow, but I expect readers that are not familiar with the culture and folklore of the region would have a little trouble getting into the story. I have spent a significant about of time watching television and reading literature from Japan, so I fell into the world fairly easily. The corruption and politics involved in schools- and the need to save face is important to the set up of how the school got to be in the state readers (and Akira) find it in. The story, and the environment are all well described and the action is very well told. However, while I could picture the action, environment, and characters it all felt a little flat. Part of this could have been the trouble of translating and that I thought this would be a graphic novel (only because of the cover, I admit I did not read much about the book before requesting it).
Wolfguy is a solid story with significant action and great ideas. I found the actual writing to fall a little flat, but the ideas and action it convoyed to be interesting. I think this is more because of my personal preferences and translation rather than a reflection on the original work. Readers with some knowledge of Japanese culture might enjoy it more than others.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews