Fist of the North Star Facet Story: The Genius Amiba’s Otherworld Conqueror Legend is an isekai spinoff starring a minor villain from the favored shounen franchise, and it concluded earlier this 12 months after 9 volumes. This manga been one among my favourite collection lately, so I needed to simply give my ultimate ideas on this ridiculous work.
For context, listed here are my earlier two posts in regards to the collection:
Warning: Spoilers
The “hero” of this collection is Amiba, the merciless Toki impersonator who met a grisly (and hilarious) finish from being compelled to stroll backwards off a ledge earlier than exploding right into a gory mess—a destiny courtesy of franchise protagonist Kenshiro. Now reincarnated in a fantasy world, he has to combat monsters utilizing his personal bastardized model of the strain factors martial arts Hokuto Shinken, all whereas studying in regards to the magic that governs his new setting. As he positive aspects unlikely allies (as a result of it’s actually arduous to make pals while you’re a self-centered asshole), Amiba finally ends up on a collision course with the military of the Demon Lord, together with the 4 Demon Generals. And all alongside, regardless of his successes or quite a few failures, the person nonetheless declares himself to be an unparalleled genius.
There are three predominant recurring gags on this manga:
First, practically everybody Amiba encounters oddly resembles individuals from his unique world, although not essentially sharing personalities. He travels with Lilin (Rin) and Pat (Bat), and fights foes like Southern (Souther) and Maou Kenshi Rou (Jagi).
Second, lots of his allies are alternate variations of different unhealthy guys. My favourite is a big previous girl who was initially a muscly thug in a poor disguise however on this world is truly a titanic grandma.
Third, Amiba stays a principally delusional dickhead all through, however individuals additionally don’t put up together with his bullshit.
In case you’re not a fan of Fist of the North Star, a whole lot of the in-jokes will possible go over your head, however I’m squarely in its goal demographic and extremely entertained. Happily for different readers, The Genius Amiba’s Otherworld Conqueror Legend additionally incorporates a contemptible antihero who truly grows and learns to a level, avoiding working its premise into the bottom.
Within the unique story, Amiba is offered as irredeemable, however right here in a distinct world and context, we discover that he has the facility to do good even when he’s something however noble. He won’t be therapeutic individuals out of the goodness of his coronary heart, however the outcomes are the identical. The street to hell is paved with good intentions, however what if unhealthy intentions create benevolent outcomes? It makes one surprise if society (or lack thereof) is what made Amiba into absolutely the monster he was, as a substitute of the considerably much less obnoxious individual he’s after dying.
Amiba goes from one-off character to fascinating psychological research consequently. He vastly overestimates his martial arts expertise, however that’s solely compared to the not possible customary set by the soldiers of the post-apocalypse he got here from. His magic begins off poor at greatest (a nominal bump in his mana is his solely isekai power-up), however his unreasonably excessive confidence permits Amiba to interrupt by means of these limitations and create a hybrid magical kung fu. And as reluctant as he’s to confess it, Amiba learns an necessary lesson: Different individuals are succesful in their very own proper, and so they can work along with him to realize larger issues. They’re simply not as succesful as himself, in fact.
The story reaches its climax in Quantity 9. After defeating the 4 Generals, it’s revealed that the legendary heroic armor and weapons Amiba obtained truly home the divided soul of the Demon Lord. That demon’s identify: Maoh (versus Raoh). Sure, he’s Maoh the Maoh (Japanese for Demon Lord).
His final surviving normal channels the Demon Lord to take over Amiba’s physique as a brand new bodily vessel. But, regardless of being practically overwhelmed, Amiba is ready to withstand the takeover by means of sheer ego. Maoh then solutions this stubbornness by plumbing the depths of Amiba’s soul and manifesting his biggest concern: Kenshiro. Instantly, Amiba finds himself together with his again to that ledge once more.
On the verge of giving up, Amiba sees pictures of his allies within the new world giving their assist. Naturally, in his inside world, they don’t have anything however effusive reward for his limitless brilliance. With each ft again on the bottom (and a physique decidedly not exploded), Amiba begins preventing again, utilizing all that he’s discovered since being isekai’d. He battles Kenshiro’s Hokuto Shinken utilizing his personal magic-infused martial arts, however can solely attain a stalemate at greatest. Then, one thing unimaginable occurs: The Kenshiro in his thoughts compliments Amiba for getting stronger, refers to him as one other highly effective rival, and fades away. It’s not clear if that is merely Amiba imagining Kenshiro accepting him, or if Kenshiro is such an awesome hero that even a psychic apparition of him reveals a excessive customary of honor, however the end result is similar. Amiba wins.
The collection epilogue jumps a couple of years into the long run, mirroring the second a part of the unique Fist of the North Star. Lilin and Pat, each adults now, uncover that Amiba has created his personal peaceable kingdom populated totally by minor unhealthy guys. He’s mentioned to have later tried to take over the world, inadvertently uniting the people and demons in opposition to him, however the veracity of this (and all the things else that has occurred within the story) is as much as the reader to resolve.
I select to consider that all the things we’ve seen is tremendous duper canon, and in the event that they ever make one other preventing recreation, I hope they put this model of Amiba in there.
The Genius Amiba’s Otherworld Conqueror Legend is a whole lot of issues: Spin-off, parody, foolish tackle a preferred style. But it surely additionally scratches an itch to see a essentially flawed and morally void protagonist in some way handle to enhance his world, at the least for a short time. All of the horrible qualities possessed by Amiba are channeled into doing good, all because of the individuals round him. It’s maybe an much more far-fetched dream than all of the harem and energy fantasies on this planet, however I merely can’t resist a wacky redemption story that offers a brand new perspective on one among manga’s jerkiest villains. Isekai is in the end about second probabilities, and Amiba makes use of his to the fullest.
