北斗の拳 18 [Hokuto no Ken 18]

北斗の拳 究極版 [Hokuto no Ken Kyūkyoku-ban] #18

by Buronson (Writer), 武論尊, Tetsuo Hara (illustrator)

記憶を失ったケンシロウに、復讐の執念にとりつかれたボルゲが迫りくる。
他者のためにケンを呼ぶ魂の叫びを聞いた時――ケンシロウの記憶とともに、その拳が復活する！
時代を越える不朽の名作、ここに完結！
“おれの墓標に名はいらぬ!!　死すならば戦いの荒野で!!”

Genres: Manga, Comics, Shonen

302 pages, Paperback

First published July 19, 2014

About the author

Okamura Yoshiyuki (岡村善行), also known as Buronson (武論尊) or Sho Fumimura (史村翔 Fumimura Shō), is a Japanese manga writer most known by his famous work Hokuto no Ken. known in English as Fist of the North Star.
He graduated from the Japanese Air Force Training School in 1967 and served as an Air Force radar mechanic. In 1969 he discharged from the Japanese Navy and was soon hired by Hiroshi Motomiya as a manga assistant. He started his manga writing career when he wrote the script of Pink Punch: Miyabi in 1972, drawn by Goro Sakai. In 1975 Buronson wrote his first big hit The Doberman Detective, drawn by Shinji Hiramatsu. The famous Hokuto no Ken made its debute as Buronson's greatest hit in 1983, drawn by Tetsuo Hara. In 1989 his story Ourou was released as a manga serialized in Animal Magazine, drawn by Kentarou Miura, and in 1990 a sequel entitled Ourou Den was released by the same manga artist. Buronson also collaborated with the manga artist Ryoichi Ikegami in many works as Strain (manga) , Human (manga) and the famous Sanctuary (manga). Among his other major works are The Phantom Gang, with art by Kaoru Shintani.

Buronson was mainly influenced by movies such as Bruce Lee's, and Mad Max.

The nickname Buronson is a tribute to the American actor Charles Bronson, whose way of growing the mustache was imitated by Yoshiyuki Okamura too.

Reviews

[Agnese Rosengren]

Un bel finale, mi è piaciuto.
Arrivo così alla fine di questo lungo viaggio che ho iniziato ad agosto del 2024, che tra alti e bassi ha saputo coinvolgermi ed emozionarmi.
Sono felice di aver recuperato questa serie.

[Mark Pidgeon]

A fitting ending for Ken! Reading this was a trip down memory lane and those deluxe editions are beautiful

[Juan Carlos Esteve]

Colección terminada. En general es un manga bastante flojo. Lo más rescatable es el estilo de dibujo y los dos primeros y el penúltimo tomo y, tal vez, alguna cosa de por medio.

La historia es un conjunto de parches que, si miras hacia atrás, no tiene mucho sentido, lo mejor es apagar el cerebro y tirar

[Markus Santos]

Chega ao fim o mangá que deu origem aos shonen de lutinha. No começo, a história era poderosa e você suava lendo. O universo que o Buronson é o Tatsuo Hara criaram era rico e cheio de referências. Era impossível olhar pro Kenshiro e não lembrar de Sylvester Stalone, mesmo que o universo ali presente estivesse bem mais pra Mad Max. A busca daquele homem sem destino era empolgante. Mas o tempo passou e acho que eles acabaram se perdendo em algum ponto, principalmente na segunda metade da história. Isso chegou ao ápice depois que ele se tornou o usuário supremo da sua técnica. Esse último volume não tem pé nem cabeça e não conversa de maneira alguma com o que aconteceu na primeira metade. O que se salvam são os desenhos do Hara. Aqui parece que ele estava caprichando ainda mais. Mas no final foi uma jornada curiosa a leitura desse mangá.

[Ignacio Izquierdo]

Terminar esta serie le ha hecho más ilusión al niño que fui que a mí yo actual. Le tengo cariño a este manga porque fue de los primeros que cayeron en mis manos y nunca había visto algo así. Tristemente no ha soportado bien el paso del tiempo. Releyéndolo todo ahora, del tirón, entiendo el hito, pero se alargó demasiado. Páginas y mas páginas de lo mismo, sin evolución alguna. Ya estaba pasado de rosca al terminar el tomo 10 y debería haberse quedado ahí. Estos 8 tomos extras han sido innecesarios. Aun con todo la nostalgia es irracional asi que sospecho que lo seguiré sacando de la estantería de vez en cuando para escurrir sus páginas de sangre.

[Vincent]

We reach the end of the story. Honestly, ever since the time jump things have felt like a very extended epilogue. We do get one last adventure and a mostly definitive ending here. Of course, as usual, we have characters giving up what they want for honour and for their "brothers", we get somewhat of a torch passed to the next generation, and the will-they-won't-they with Rin, Bat, and Kenshiro is answered.

[Andy Cantrell]

A series which began as a triumph, ends with a fizzle.

The past few volumes are interesting because so many of the characters were crying due to the emotional weight or the plot. It makes me wonder if this was just the Buronson projecting his sadness knowing the series was coming to an end.

The 4 stars was for the series as a whole. I would probably give this volume a 3 star rating.

[Diogo Muller]

That's a weird ending for the series. It's ok for what it is, but the last few chapters feel unneeded. Good art, but... I kinda wish this had ended differently. It's clear here that the plot had no direction at all from the start, just doing whatever.

[Egghead]

you are already
dead! ken's final story ends
much as it began

[GONZA]

I was almost moved reading this ending all about Lynn and Burt (in Italy). Once again Ken sacrifices himself for the sake of someone else. This is what I write, but sometimes I also think Ken is the king of misogynists and afraid of relationships, but okay, he certainly wouldn't be the first.

Mi sono quasi commossa leggento questo finale tutto dedicato a quelli che in Italia erano Lynn e Burt. Ancora una volta Ken sacrifica se stesso per il bene di qualcun altro. Questo é quello che scrivo, ma a volte penso anche che Ken sia il re dei misogini e che abbia paura delle relazioni, ma ok, non sarebbe certo il primo.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

[Davide Pappalardo]

So, it ends. The saga of Fist Of The North Star finds here its finale; it is not a grandiose battle against a definitive enemy. Instead, there is a lot (and I mean a lot) of melodrama, with villains hiding a tragic past and prone to a quick change of heart, a sudden nerf for Kenshiro, and a last arc that ends with an open ending that leaves the status quo as it was before. Is it perfect? No, I don't think so, but the series probably went past its prime well before this point. All in all, it has been a great ride, and the world of Kenshiro will always stay with me.

[Emma G.]

This volume was significantly better than most of the second half of the series. Lots of melodrama, manly tears, and Bat got to be a character again! Maybe not the most exciting ending, but I thought that it was fitting for the series.

[Etienne]

Not an easy series to finish, but a nice conclusion to it all, the author did a good job! Might not be a favorites series of mine, but overall it was totally worth reading and I would recommend it to action pack manga fans.

[Omar Villafane]

The fist that reigns is really just the purest heart ❤️‍🔥💪🏼

[Federico Lucifredi]

Great illustrations. Incredibly violent, and needlessly so (but still less than Battle Angel Alita). A classic, written by the master himself, Buronson.

[Matt Sabonis]

Gets a full extra star for the line “Never show yourself to me again! Not even in Hell!” What a line. That’s right up there with “Why rush to die?” in Lone Wolf & Cub.