I first read some of this series back in the late 1980s and even managed to write a college paper about it my senior year, though I don't remember what class it might have been for. I thought I'd check it out again since my local library has some of the new Viz Signature editions.

It's pretty much how I remember it, as lone hero Kenshiro wanders a post-apocalyptic wasteland on a vague quest that constantly brings him into contact with hangers-on or weak villagers needing protection from the many gangs that maraud and pillage. Being a true hero, he always intervenes, and being a bit of a Superman with his invincible secret martial art acupressure techniques there is little doubt that he will persevere. The only real question is how gory and imaginative the deaths of his opponents will be. Answer: Very.

It gets pretty goofy, but it's still fun in its way.

I'll pick up a couple more from the library, but I could see myself losing interest in this fairly quickly.

FOR REFERENCE:

There are multiple, distinct works labeled Fist of the North Star Volume 1. This version is the Kyūkyokuban Edition.

Contents: Chapters 1-13 -- Special Commentary: The Birth of Fist of the North Star by Nobuhiko Horie, the original editor ( )

It is amazing that something so hard and brutal can at the same time have so much empathy and caring. That is the world of Hokuto no Ken.

*manly tears* ( )