How well does Ryo Narushima of ‘Shamo’ do in the Bakiverse?
Ryo is by all means a cold blooded asshole who only really cares about power for the sake of having power. He spent his early life essentially under the boot of over bearing parents and everyone in his life to the point he snapped and brutally killed them. Then while in prison he learned karate and rather than taking any sort of lesson from it. He realized he could just dominate others with it.
A lot of Baki is about the idea of strength and power. For the sake of it. The cast we all know aren’t opposed to dirty tricks and hit. Nor is Ryo. ‘Shamo’ is filled with dirty fights where people have no problem with a kick to the nuts or gouging someone’s eyes out similar to Baki. As long as you “win”.
The Ali Jr. arch did I guess make me think about it. Shibukawa and Doppo had no problem beating on a weakened Jr when they knew at that point it was like beating up a little kid. I don’t think Ryo would hesitate to do the same.
Ryo basically just resorts to violence and forcing his will on toners because he *can.* Sure, he had a shit upbringing and life. But he doesn’t ever really try and get better for the sake of being a better person. He gets better in the terms of being a more powerful asshole.
‘Shamo’ I guess is the story of someone who was always kind of predisposed to be a monster. Then was given the means to be that monster and they embraced that fact.
Ryo never really gained anything from being a “normal” person. So he became a monster. But Baki is kind of filled with monsters. He’d rather live his life as a murderer and just all around asshole as long as he feels “free” to impose his will on others.
I dunno. They’re similar, yet different manga. Ryo is somewhat the Yujiro of his own verse- forces his will and what he wants on others cause unless you can stop him. What are you gonna do about it?
It the Baki verse is filled with monsters just as well. But then the Mushashi arch also proved. These people may generally be monsters. But they’ve got some sense of control. Maybe? Least compared to someone like Mushashi or Yujiro.
(I’m also drunk and rambling about this so my thoughts might not be entirely coherent lmao.) Shamo is kind of an obscure manga. But still a great read and comparable to Baki in some ways.