Baki the Grappler (Japanese: グラップラー刃牙, Hepburn: Gurappurā Baki) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Keisuke Itagaki. It was originally serialized in the shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Champion from 1991 to 1999 and collected into 42 tankōbon volumes by Akita Shoten. The story follows teenager Baki Hanma as he trains and tests his fighting skills against a variety of different opponents in deadly, no rules hand-to-hand combat.
The series was followed by five sequels in the same magazine; Baki (バキ, officially romanized as New Grappler Baki: In Search of Our Strongest Hero), which was serialized from 1999 to 2005 and collected into 31 volumes, Baki Hanma (範馬刃牙, Hanma Baki, officially romanized as Baki: Son of Ogre), which was serialized from 2005 to 2012 and collected into 37 volumes, Baki-Dou (刃牙道, Baki Dō, lit. "Baki's Style"), which was serialized from 2014 to 2018 and collected into 22 volumes, a fifth series, also named Bakidou (バキ道) but with Baki's name written in katakana instead of kanji, serialized from 2018 to 2023 and collected into 17 volumes, and Baki Rahen (刃牙らへん, Baki Rahen, lit. "Baki and Others"), serialized from 2023.
A 45-minute original video animation (OVA) was released in 1994. A 24-episode anime aired on TV Tokyo between January 8 and June 25, 2001, and was quickly followed by a second 24-episode series from July 22 to December 24, 2001. An original net animation (ONA) was released on Netflix between June 25 and September 24, 2018, followed by a second season that was released on June 4, 2020. A third series was released from September 30, 2021 to August 24, 2023. The OVA was the first to be licensed and released in North America, in 1998 by Central Park Media, followed by the original manga series in 2002 by Gutsoon! Entertainment (incomplete), and finally both anime series in 2005 by Funimation Entertainment. Media Do International began releasing the second manga series digitally in August 2018. The Baki series is one of the best-selling manga of all time, with over 85 million copies in circulation.
Baki Hanma is raised by his wealthy mother, Emi Akezawa, who also funds his training in the hopes that he can be a powerful warrior like his father, Yujiro Hanma. Around the start of the series, Baki outgrows traditional training and heads out to follow the path of his ruthless father's training and meets many powerful fighters along the way. Eventually, Baki fights his father and is beaten without a challenge. Emi who tries to save him is killed by his father, causing Baki to feel hatred against his old man.
After being beaten, Baki travels around the world continuing his training. Years down the road he finds an underground fighting arena where he fights some of the most powerful fighters of various styles of martial arts. It is here he truly begins to hone his martial arts skills. He intends to get stronger, surpass his father and continue to endure and survive the numerous hurdles he encounters in his journey.
Grappler Baki (グラップラー刃牙, Gurappurā Baki) ― The original series, serialized in Weekly Shōnen Champion from 1991 to 1999. Collected into 42 volumes. From 2007 to 2008, it was collected into a 24-volume kanzenban edition.[2][3] Grappler Baki tells the story of the young Baki Hanma who enters a world of illegal underground fights and quickly becomes the champion of the fighting arena below the Tokyo Dome stadium. Later in the story, Baki's past is shown, in which a 13-year-old Baki trains to defeat his father Yujiro Hanma in battle, doing so to earn his mother's love. After Emi interrupts Baki and Yujiro's fight, the latter murders her and Baki swears revenge. Back in the present day, the promoter of the underground arena, Mitsunari Tokugawa arranges for a special tournament titled the "Maximum Tournament" to be held in order to decide who is the strongest fighter in the world. After winning all of his fights, Baki fights against Jack Hanma, Baki's half-brother and another son of Yujiro.
This series was licensed for a North American release by Gutsoon! Entertainment, who retitled it Baki the Grappler. They published the first 46 chapters in their English-language manga anthology magazine Raijin Comics.[4] The magazine's first issue was released on December 18, 2002, but in July 2004 it was discontinued. Four collected volumes were planned but it is unknown if they were released.
Baki (バキ, officially romanized as New Grappler Baki: In Search of Our Strongest Hero) ― Second series, also serialized in Weekly Shōnen Champion from 1999 to November 24, 2005.[5] Collected into 31 volumes. New Grappler Baki takes place shortly after the conclusion of Grappler Baki, showcasing Baki's attempts at going to study at high school like a regular teenager. However, his efforts are cut short when five death row inmates escape confinement and head to Tokyo in order to "know defeat". These inmates are the American Kung-fu fighter Kaioh Dorian, the British assassin Hector Doyle, the Russian convict Sikorsky with a powerful pinching ability, the American Spec with a formidable lung capacity and the Japanese poisoner Ryuko Yanagi. Following Baki's fight with Yanagi, the former becomes fatally poisoned and is flown to China to participate in the Chinese "Great Raitai Tournament" in order to save his life. Following a match against a Chinese poison master who reverses Baki's poisoning, Baki is saved and proceeds to fight alongside his allies in the tournament. Following the tournament's conclusion, the fictional son of Muhammad Ali, Mohammad Alai Jr. challenges Baki in order to win over the heart Baki's girlfriend Kozue. When the fight between the two ends, Baki challenges his father for a rematch in order to conclude his career as a fighter. Yujiro accepts this invitation and declares Baki to be worthy to be his "prey".
This series is licensed for English release by Media Do International, who released it digitally between August 2018 and August 2019. The company stated a future print release is possible and that they are interested in the original manga as well.[6]
Baki Hanma (範馬刃牙, Hanma Baki, officially romanized as Baki: Son of Ogre) ― Third series, again serialized in Weekly Shōnen Champion, began on December 1, 2005, and ended on August 16, 2012.[5][7] Collected into 37 volumes. Son of Ogre begins with Baki meeting an elementary school student named Rumina who challenges him to a fight after being pressured to do so by bullies. Baki "defeats" Rumina and shows him a shadow boxing fight against a 100-kilogram praying mantis. Following this fight, Baki kidnaps George W. Bush in order to enter Arizona State Prison, home of the strongest man in America, Biscuit Oliva. In the prison, Baki meets with the fictionalized version of Che Guevara and later fights Oliva. In the meantime, scientists in Colorado find and reanimate a man who lived in the Jurassic era. The man, named "Pickle" only eats those he defeats in battle and after he assaults a news reporter on live television, the various fighters of the story take an interest in Pickle and proceed to fight him. Baki eventually matches against Pickle as well, driving the ancient man to his limits. After the conclusion of the fight, Baki finishes training for his fight against his father. Later on, Baki and Yujiro dine in a high-class restaurant but when Baki questions Yujiro regarding the death of his mother, their battle finally erupts. Following a long fight which takes place over the entire night in Shinjuku, the great clash concludes.
Baki-Dou (刃牙道, Baki Dō, lit. "Baki's Style") ― Fourth series, serialized in Weekly Shōnen Champion from March 20, 2014, to April 5, 2018.[8][9] Collected into 22 volumes. Following the conclusion of the fight between Baki and Yujiro Hanma, the fighters of the story find themselves dealing with an incredible amount of boredom as the clash between the father and son was the "peak" of what the world had to offer fighting wise. This changes when Tokugawa utilizes cloning technology in order to revive Musashi Miyamoto, the legendary Japanese samurai who lived in the 17th century. The revived Musashi battles some of the world's strongest fighters, however, Musashi's unique approach to fighting brings about different results than some of them initially expected.
Bakidou (バキ道, Bakidō) ― Fifth series, serialized in Weekly Shōnen Champion from October 4, 2018, to June 15, 2023.[10][11] It has the same name as the fourth, but with Baki's name written in katakana instead of kanji. It features Nomi no Sukune. Collected into 17 volumes.
Baki Rahen (刃牙らへん, Baki Rahen, lit. "Baki and Others") ― Sixth series, began serialization in Weekly Shōnen Champion on August 24, 2023.[11]
Grappler Baki Gaiden (グラップラー刃牙外伝) - Set immediately after the Maximum Tournament, it depicts a wrestling match between Antonio Igari and Mount Toba. Nine chapters published in one volume in 1999.[12] An epilogue for Igari ran in Weekly Shōnen Champion's 48th issue on October 27, 2022.[13]
Baki: Tokubetsuhen Saga (バキ特別編SAGA, or The Romantic Contact Chapter) - Side story that develops at the same time as volume 15 of the second manga. One volume published in 2002.[14]
Baki Gaiden: Scarface (バキ外伝 疵面 -スカーフェイス-, or Scarface: Legend of the Invincible Fist) - Spinoff series, written and illustrated by Yukinao Yamauchi, depicting Kaoru Hanayama's yakuza adventures. Ran from March 2005 to December 2007 in Champion Red, then from July 2009 in Weekly Shōnen Champion. Collected into eight volumes.[15]
Baki Hanma 10.5 Gaiden: Pickle (範馬刃牙10.5巻外伝ピクル) - Set after volume 10 of the third manga, it introduces Pickle. Published in one volume in 2008.[16]
Baki Gaiden: Gaia (バキ外伝 GaiA) - Spinoff series, written and illustrated by Hitoshi Tomizawa, starring Gaia. Published in Weekly Shōnen Champion in 2009.
Baki Domoe (バキどもえ) - Comedic spinoff, written and illustrated by Naoki Saito. Originally launched digitally on Weekly Shōnen Champion The Web in 2010, then serialized irregularly in Weekly Shōnen Champion and finally Bessatsu Shōnen Champion until October 2014.[17] Collected into three volumes.
Baki Gaiden: Kizuzura (バキ外伝 創面) - Spinoff series, written and illustrated by Yukio Yamauchi, based on Kaoru Hanayama's adventures in high school. Began in Bessatsu Shōnen Champion in July 2012.[7] Collected into three volumes.[18]
Baki Gaiden: Kenjin (バキ外伝 拳刃) - Spinoff series, written and illustrated by Kengou Miyatani, representing and describing Doppo's adventures. Began in Champion Red in June 2013.[19] Collected into one volume.[20]
Yuenchi: Baki Gaiden (ゆうえんち〜バキ外伝〜) - A collection of tales that happen within the Baki world, written by the author Baku Yumemakura about the older brother of Katsumi Orochi by the name of Mumon Katsuragi. He is mostly responsible of the capture of the five most deadly criminals before we meet them in Baki. It also includes characters from his own Garōden and Shishi no Mon novels, and is illustrated by Keisuke Itagaki. Published in Weekly Shōnen Champion since 2018. Collected into five volumes as of February 2022.
Baki: Revenge Tokyo (バキ REVENGE TOKYO) is a special spin-off consisting of five chapters, each about one of the death row prisoners from the "Most Evil Death Row Convicts" arc, that have been added to the shinsōban edition of Baki in 2018.
Grappler Baki: Remake (グラップラー刃牙) is a remake of Grappler Baki's chapter 1, it was created as an honour of the Weekly Shounen Champion 50th publication anniversary. The remake consists of two chapters.
Baki Gaiden: Retsu Kaioh Isekai Tensei Shitemo Ikkō Kamawan! (バキ外伝 烈海王は異世界転生しても一向にかまわんッッ) - Spinoff series, illustrated by Eiji Murai and crediting Itagaki and Sai Ihara with the original story. An isekai series depicting Retsu Kaioh reincarnated into another world. It began in the November 6, 2020 issue of Monthly Shōnen Champion.[21] Collected into five volumes as of June 2022.
Baki Gaiden: Gaia to Sikorsky ~Tokidoki Nomura Futari Dakedo San'nin Kurashi~ (バキ外伝 ガイアとシコルスキー 〜ときどきノムラ 二人だけど三人暮らし〜) - Spinoff series, illustrated by Takaaki Hayashi, set a few days after Gaia and Sikorsky's fight. It began in the October 6, 2022 issue of Monthly Shōnen Champion.[22]
Supplements
Grappler Baki: Red Dragon Side, Grappler Side - Compendium of the characters and events in the world of Grappler Baki, covers until volume 23 of the second saga.
Grappler Baki: Blue Tiger Side, Fighting Side - Compendium of every battle fought and its results in the world of Grappler Baki, also covers until volume 23 of the second saga.
Original video animations
A 45-minutes original video animation (OVA) was released in 1994. The story is a close adaptation of the first few volumes of the original manga, adapting the Karate Tournament arc (not adapted in the later TV series) and Baki's fight with Shinogi Koushou, later adapted in the episode 18 of the Baki the Grappler TV series. It was licensed and released under the title Grappler Baki: The Ultimate Fighter in North America by Central Park Media on VHS on December 1, 1996, and on DVD on December 1, 1998.[23]Manga Entertainment later released it in Australia and the United Kingdom.
A 15-minutes original animation DVD (OAD), referred to as Baki: Most Evil Death Row Convicts Special Anime (バキ 最凶死刑囚編SP(スペシャル)アニメ), was included with the limited edition of the 14th volume of Baki-Dou on December 6, 2016. However, it adapts the arc of the same name from the second manga series, which is titled simply Baki. Created by Telecom Animation Film, it was directed by Teiichi Takiguchi and focuses on five inmates who break out of prison from around the world and travel to Japan.[24][1]
A 24-episode anime series aired on TV Tokyo between January 8, 2001, and June 25, 2001. The anime was produced by Free-Will, a music record label. A second 24-episode series, titled Grappler Baki: Maximum Tournament (グラップラー刃牙 最大トーナメント編) as it tells the story from that part of the manga, aired from July 23, 2001, to December 24, 2001. All of the series' music was written and composed by "Project Baki", and all the theme songs performed by Ryōko Aoyagi. The first anime's opening theme is "Ai Believe" (哀 believe), while its closing theme is "Reborn". For the second series, "All Alone" is used as the opening and "Loved..." as the closing. Baki the Grappler: Original Soundtrack was released on March 27, 2003.
Both series were licensed for a North American English release by Funimation Entertainment. They released both series as one on 12 DVDs, each with four episodes, beginning on June 14, 2005, with the last released on February 27, 2007.[25] Two box sets were released on January 23, 2007, and March 25, 2008, the first included volumes 1-6 (1st series), while the second included 7-12 (2nd series).[26][27] A set including every episode was released on September 2, 2008.
Funimation's English version was one of the launch-shows on their own television channel, Funimation Channel, which debuted on June 19, 2006. Baki was broadcast on weekends at 11:30pm,[28] switching to the 10:00pm slot on September 4, 2006.[29] Dubbed in English, the episodes were edited for time but do not appear to have been edited for content. The opening theme is the song "Child Prey" by Japanese metal band Dir en grey, who is signed to Free-Will.
In December 2016, it was announced that the "Most Evil Death Row Convicts" arc of the second manga series would be receiving an anime television adaptation.[24] Titled Baki, like the second manga series, the 26-episode series is directed by Toshiki Hirano at TMS Entertainment with character designs handled by Fujio Suzuki and scripts overseen by Tatsuhiko Urahata.[30] It began streaming on Netflix on June 25, 2018, in Japan, and started streaming on December 18, 2018, outside Japan.[31][32][33] The series then started airing on several Japanese television channels beginning with Tokyo MX1 on July 1.[34] Its opening theme song is "Beastful" by Granrodeo and its ending theme "Resolve" is performed by Azusa Tadokoro with lyrics by Miho Karasawa.[35]Sentai Filmworks released it on Blu-ray on May 25, 2021, with a new English dub.[36]
Netflix renewed the series for a second season on March 19, 2019.[37] On March 5, 2020, it was announced that the main staff TMS Entertainment would be returning to produce the second season with the addition of a new character designer and art director. The 13 episode second season covering the "Great Chinese Challenge" and the Alai Jr. arcs was released exclusively on Netflix on June 4, 2020. Its opening theme is "Jounetsu wa Oboete Iru" performed by Granrodeo and its ending theme is "Dead Stroke" performed by Ena Fujita.[38]
In September 2020, it was announced Hanma Baki: Son of Ogre will be adapted as the third series and the sequel to the second season of the Netflix series.[39] The 12-episode series was released on Netflix on September 30, 2021, as Baki Hanma.[40] The show's opening theme is "Treasure Pleasure" performed by Granrodeo[41] while its ending theme is "Unchained World" performed by Generations from Exile Tribe.[42] A second season was announced on March 24, 2022.[43] The first half of the second season was released on July 26, and the second half on August 24, 2023. The second season has two openings and two endings. The first part opening theme is "The Beast" by Wagakki Band, while Upstart performs its closing theme "Wilder". The second part opening is "Sarracenia" by Sky-Hi, while Be:First performs its closing theme "Salvia".
In March 2024, Netflix announced a crossover anime with Kengan Ashura, titled Baki Hanma vs. Kengan Ashura, which is set to premiere on June 6 of the same year.[44]
Video games
There have been a few video games based on the series. A fighting game developed by Tomy was released for the PlayStation 2 as Grappler Baki: Baki Saikyō Retsuden (グラップラー刃牙 バキ最強列伝, Gurappurā Baki - Baki Saikyō Retsuden) in Japan in 2000 and as Fighting Fury in the United Kingdom during 2003.[45]Baki the Grappler: Ultimate Championship was released for Android in 2017. A card game for web browsers called Typing Grappler Baki was created. Another browser game, Hanma Baki - Baki, was for Yahoo! Mobage. Yujiro Hanma appears as an unlockable character in the PlayStation 2 game, Garōden: Breakblow – Fist or Twist.
Reception
As of May 2021, the various Baki series had over 85 million collected volumes in circulation.[46] The Baki Gaiden: Scarface spin-off series had 3.5 million copies in print as of February 2019.[47]
Allen Divers and Jason Thompson, both writing for Anime News Network, briefly described the series as "very compelling" and a "demented fighting manga", respectively.[48][49]
Anime News Network had four different writers review the first volume of the second manga series. Faye Hopper scored it the highest, four out of five, and wrote that she was captivated the entire read with its appeal lying in "its absurdity held up by its absolutely incredible artistry." Amy McNulty gave it a 2.5 rating and also praised Itagaki's art, but felt the character designs were not particularly memorable. She also wrote that the volume "succeeds in identifying the stakes, but it completely fails in anchoring the reader with characters to care about." Rebecca Silverman and Teresa Navarro both gave it a 2 and noted its status as a "set-up book," with each new character introduced in the same manner. Both Hopper and Silverman said that Baki reminded them of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.[50]
Reviewing the first 24 episodes of the 2001 anime, Mark Thomas of Mania Entertainment gave it a B− rating, stating that fans of shōnen and fight series would enjoy it, but others should look elsewhere. He felt it had plenty of good, realistic fight scenes, but fell short on the story. Explaining that despite a lot of story arcs, it ultimately feels like a setup for the second season.[51] Thomas gave the same rating to the final 24 episodes, and "mildly recommended" the series. While he started to enjoy this set more thanks to its more action focus, he stated that not showing Baki's final fight with Yujiro, which was built up the entire show, really ruined it for him.[52]
The 2012 comedy film Graffreeter Toki is based on the March 2011 play of the same name, which in turn was inspired by Grappler Baki.[53]
Sociologist Junko Kaneda interpreted Baki the Grappler as homoerotic and published an essay book about it titled Notes of a Girl Who Spent 30 Hours a Day for 300 Days Thinking "So Baki The Grappler Is BL, Right?" The essay was adapted into a live-action television series titled A Story of Grappler Baki and Me (グラップラー刃牙はＢＬではないかと考え続けた乙女の記録ッッ, Gurappurā Baki wa BL de wa Nai ka to Kangaetsuzuketa Otome no Kiroku) that was broadcast on Wowow in August 2021.[54]
