2024-03-22 07:15:02
In this series, Mirco Canoci, our documentary information specialist, shares his reading recommendations. The objective is to introduce you to new authors, subjects or simply new stories, through the informed eye of our librarian. In this new article, Mirco looks at a reference from the manga, Ken the Boy Who Lived.
Origin du manga
Ken the Survivor (for the French-speaking world) or Hokuto No Ken in the original version was published for the first time in 1983. It is a type manga shonen aimed at young boys. The franchise was also adapted for television as an animated manga and was very successful. This manga is the best-selling in history with a record number of more than 100 million copies.
The story of Ken the Boy Who Lives
We are in the 1990s and the planet is devastated. The world has become a Mad Max-style post-apocalyptic universe. Chaos, poverty and human wickedness reign on earth.
A man with overdeveloped muscles and seven large scars on his body has come to restore order on earth. His name is Kenshiro, he is a specialist in martial arts and more precisely in Hokuto Shinken which is a technique intended for assassins.
During his journey he will meet many villagers living in chaos and being mistreated by gangs living off pillaging the villagers’ land and resources. Kenshiro is often seen by the villagers as a savior despite himself.
Analyze du manga
The drawings are remarkable and the scenes of rare violence.
The story has a lot of similarity with various religions such as Christianity or Buddhism. There is the notion of a savior, of a fight of good against evil, of an apocalyptic world, as mentioned in the New Testament.
The dialogues are few in number, but impactful, such as the main character’s famous sentence: “You don’t know it yet but you are already dead”, before applying his combat technique touching the vital points of his opponents.
The story can also seem very repetitive, because the pattern is always similar, with Kenshiro going from village to village to save villagers martyred by gangs. Despite the repetition of the pattern, the story and form comes to life through themes, such as courage, friendship, love, violence, death, hope and despair.
For all these reasons, I invite you to read this Manga which is a reference in the field.
From the same author, in the series “Mirco’s recommendations”:
12 New rules for a new life
The Devil by Leo Tolstoy
Men’s health
The Iron Claw
Colby
Photo credit : josekube via depositphotos.com
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