Fist of the North Star is a classic among manly anime. Its muscular characters punching each other bloody for what they believe in has inspired many imitators, including greats like Berserk and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. Anyone who calls themselves an anime fan should make a point of checking out this iconic series.
Of course, with a series this old and this long, there are plenty of places to start. In addition to its original manga and anime, Fist of the North Star has several films and OVAs devoted to it. In order to get started, here's what there is to know about Fist of the North Star's story and how to read and watch it.
The Plot of Fist of the North Star
Fist of the North Star takes place in a world that's been reduced to a desert wasteland by nuclear war. Not only are the living conditions harsh, but the strong band together to pillage the weak and innocent. In their darkest hour, a savior arrives-- Kenshiro.
Ken is a practitioner of Hokuto Shinken, the Divine Fist of the North Star. Using this invincible martial art, he vanquishes evil and brings peace to those who only want to survive. However, while he's willing to use his martial arts for good, there are those who would use their martial arts to further suppress the masses and consolidate their rule. Ken is forced to fight these people in tragic battles to the death so that love can prosper.
Where to Read the Fist of the North Star Manga
Fist of the North Star's original manga spans a grand total of 27 volumes. Physical copies of each volume can be bought online or in-store at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Bookshop.org, RightStuf, Walmart, or Comic Shops for $19.99. Digital copies can be bought on Google Play, iBooks Kindle/Comixology, and Nook for $13.99.
It's important to keep in mind that not all of the physical manga volumes are available in English. Only three hardcover volumes have been made available since last year. If anyone still wants to collect the full physical series, the Japanese volumes have finished releasing and the rest of the English volumes are scheduled to be released.
Where to Watch the Fist of the North Star Anime
Fist of the North Star's original 1984 anime by Toei Animation ran for a total of 109 episodes. Its sequel, Fist of the North Star 2, began in 1987 and ran for an additional 43 episodes. The full 152 episodes can be streamed on Crunchyroll and Amazon Prime. They can also be bought as a full Blu-Ray bundle at Walmart for $67.09. Toei also produced a Fist of the North Star movie in 1986. It takes several of the first series' major arcs and combines and compacts their stories into a 110-minute film. It can be streamed on Viewster Amazon Channel and Tubi TV. It can also be downloaded through Vudu.
Anyone looking to see more of Kenshiro’s adventures may also want to check out New Fist of the North Star (2003). This three-part OVA animated by A.C.G.T is an adaption of a novel written by the original manga authors. It’s available to anime-watchers on Amazon Prime. North Star Pictures and TMS Entertainment brought fans Fist of the North Star: The Legends of the True Savior. This five-part series comprised of three movies and two OVAs released between 2006 and 2008, just in time for the franchise’s 25th anniversary. Each part features a retelling of the events of the series from a different perspective. This series is difficult to watch as it’s not available in its entirety through any one service, but hardcore fans willing to put in the time and money will find the viewing experience well worthwhile.
