Shelf Life

Fists of Fury

At the opposite end of the spectrum, there's also the other kind of fanservice—the blood-dripping, limb-ripping kind that makes you want to punch trucks and listen to Pantera. If you're in the mood for that, Legends of the Dark King: A Fist of the North Star Story will satisfy your craving. If you've seen Fist of the North Star, you know that Kenshiro is arguably one of the deadliest and manliest men to have ever lived. Legends of the Dark King is about his older brother, Raoh, who's even manlier. Proof—he forces his minions to call him the King of Fist.

He doesn't waste any time getting that title, either. By the end of the first episode, he's already laid waste to the Demon King, after marching into his castle and destroying piles of men with his fists. His technique is so efficient that even when he's totally outnumbered, he just needs to punch once, and everyone's heads explode. Then he starts spreading his kingdom, conquering one neighboring king after another, until he's taken over every last acre of land. So basically, it's just one excuse after another to rain terror and bloodshed on every corner of the world.

Most of what makes Legends of the Dark King so pleasurable is that it is completely, 100% over the top. Not only are the action scenes ludicrous, but the dialogue is incredibly cheesy. Lines like, “Cheap tricks will not work against my fists!” liberally dot the script, and that's one of the tamer ones. Visually, this show is just as slathered in machismo. Every frame is filled with bulging muscles, and everyone looks like they're always constipated.

I'm a little sad there's no dub for this, because I'd love to hear someone growl, “My fists stand in your way!,” but I'm just glad this show is being released. To be honest, it's really not that good of a show. It really isn't. But it's so much fun, that I couldn't stop watching. If you enjoy excessive violence and endless chest-thumping, then Legends of the Dark King will satisfy every last craving.[TOP]

Then again, maybe you just want to see some fighting, without the buckets of blood and the exploding heads. In that case, you can always try Kenichi the Mightiest Disciple on for size. Part comedy, part coming-of-age tale, it has almost as many muscles as Dark King, but it's all done for laughs. Although this series isn't my top choice for a bored night, the characters are growing on me quite a bit, and I can see why it's one of Funimation's top selling titles. It has a lot of energy, a lot of goofy characters, and nonstop slapstick humor.

While the first 13 episodes largely focused on Kenichi's transformation from a wimp into a determined martial arts student, this set of episodes works on developing his fighting ability. After he moves into the dojo, he learns to develop his confidence and how to channel his strength training into actual techniques. I found this preferable to the first half because it's not as formulaic as the train-fight-win pattern that the series toyed with. Kenichi still faces his fair share of opponents, but those conflicts are paced more naturally throughout the show.

Notably, I find the female fanservice to be at appropriate levels, too. Yes, there are also leering men and bouncing breasts, but Miu can really hold her own—and not just because she's a martial arts master. In spite of her figure, which makes her a target for gawkers (both male and female), she's a great female protagonist, and a good role model. She doesn't take crap from any of the men in the dojo, and she's kind to everyone around her. On top of that, she's also a great cook, which goes to show that it is indeed possible to be good at household duties without being a desperate doormat, as so many anime series are wont to suggest.

For all those who prefer to watch their anime dubbed, this series definitely delivers. The characters are mostly well cast, especially Kenichi, who's played by Josh Grelle. He has Kenichi's panic attacks down to a science, and his exhausted pleas for mercy work well for comic effect.

Kenichi the Mightiest Disciple is a great choice for people who devour shows like Naruto and Bleach. They're not my cup of tea, but they're well-matched in terms of action and fast-paced storytelling. The fighting in this series is slightly more grounded in reality, too, so it's easier to relate to than throwing fireballs. If you enjoy Shonen Jump-type shows, you should definitely check this out.[TOP]