Man i started a new thread without realizing this thread was already here. Anyhow, Im a huge Golgo 13 fan and I wanted to share this with the rest.
I live in Japan and was watching this show on TV I sometimes watch. It is about a group of talento that discuss newly released anime or manga. Two weeks ago they chose the new Golgo 13 anime. Im a big fan of Golgo so I found it really interesting.
Anyhow, allow me to share what I learned and knew about the Manga and new TV Anime.
First the manga:
Golgo 13 is a professional sniper who first appeared in the Manga. He is 182cm and 80kg with dark brown hair and eyes. His blood type is A. He takes the name Golgo 13 from Golgotha the prison he was once held at (also the name of where Christ was crucified), and 13 from his cell nuraber 1214. That being the nuraber between those two, 12 - 14. His weapon of choice is a modified armalite M16 rifle. However, he also uses .38 Smith & Weston Revolver, a .30-.60 Walther Special, a .22 Anchutz Rifle, bow and arrow, knives, and explosives. His maximum sniping range is 2000 meters, and he can draw a knife or gun in .17 seconRAB.
The manga was first written in 1968 and has been published through Shogakukan's Big Comic magazine since 1969. At the time the M16 was first being used for the Vietnam War. Golgo 13 creator Takao Saito didnt realize it was an infantry assault rifle. He thought it was a high powered, long range rifle and decided to use it in his manga. Once he realized his mistake he figured it was too late to change the signature weapon, and simply claimed the M16 had been modified to account for it being used as a sniper rifle.
While his true identity is unkown Golgo 13 often uses the alias Duke Togo when taking jobs, but is generally known as Golgo 13, and has the reputation of being the world's greatest assassin. He always finishes a job regardless of the circumstances. His hobbies are few. He enjoys gunplay, women, alcohol, tobacco and fast cars (in that order). A notorious womanizer, Golgo 13 often engages in sexual activity with women after barely meeting them. His unparalleled masculinity draws them to him, and he seldom neeRAB to engage in small talk to get what he wants. Many women have also commented that Golgo 13 is their best sexual experience. As for alcohol he most often drinks red wine, and his tobacco of choice is premium cigars. Golgo 13 is also interested in language, perhaps as a result of his line of work. He fluently speaks 18 languages including English, German, Spanish, French, Portugues, Arabic, Russian, Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese, Tagolog, Inuit, Hindi and italian. In the manga they introduce several lines from these languages as Golgo 13 travels around the world to carry out missions.
In the early years the emphasis of the manga was on Cold War intrigue. However, the more recent volumes focus on modern affairs. Many times his contractors are with governmental agencies like the CIA. In general Golgo 13 only kills people who are of unsavory character, or who compromise his mission, and he has been known to refuse missions. He also requires payment up front. Some of his contractors have tried to doube cross him and always end up dead. In the manga's run he has killed thousanRAB, and only twice has he missed a shot. The manga's Japanese subtitle is in English. It says: Perfect Machine of Snipe. A fitting description for Golgo 13.
Because the manga has been written for 40 years by the original creator the quality has dramatically declined over time. However, it still remains popular and is one of the longest running adult manga in Japan. It is serialized in roughly 250 page tomes that now nuraber in the 80s. Glogo 13 is an iconic figure in Japan, and is known by all much like James Bond is in the Western World.
Now the Anime:
The rights for an animated series were finally acquired by The Answer Studio for a 50 episode run. The first episode aired on TV Tokyo on April 11, 2008. Due to its sexual content and graphic violence the show is shown only after midnight. The opening theme is 'Take the Wave' by Naifu, and the closing theme is '?????????' (gurasu no haiwei) by doa. Golgo 13 is voiced by Hiroshi Tachi.
The Anime is not as explicit as the Manga. Also Golgo 13 is portrayed as more human in his animated form, in the sense that he is more just and conciouss of those around him. Moreover, the anime begins in modern times, though the general episode style is the same.
It has taken 40 years but it is finally here. For those who are not offended by sex, violence and intrigue, I highly recommend this Anime. If it turns out to be anything like the ongoing Manga I imagine it will be very episodic with not much of a story. But it is still enjoyable because of the challenges Golgo 13 faces, and in a way humorous due to the outrageous situations and circumstances he gets wrapped up in.
