BADASSES WE LOVE: GOLGO 13

Jay Potts — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:03:35 +0000

In response to Jessica’s comments about this week’s episode, I mentioned the character, Golgo 13, who was another influence of mine. Golgo 13 was created as a manga series by Takao Saito in 1969, but I was first introduced to him as a kid via the Viz Comics reprint, The Impossible Hit, and the Nintendo video game, Golgo 13: Top Secret Episode. Golgo 13 is cut from the same “ruthless man of action” template that I always gravitated toward. When Pastor showed up at the Belmont mansion with the white suit and black shirt, it was Golgo 13’s signature look which I had in mind:

Golgo 13 is the codename for Duke Togo, a cold and highly efficient assassin with a unique code of honor. Duke’s past, and even his nationality, are a mystery. He’s a man of few words who prefers to let his actions speak for themselves. Unlike Marvel Entertainment’s Wolverine, a popular loner badass from Western comics, Golgo 13’s stories have minimal soap opera drama about his life, history, or old friends from his past. Golgo 13’s adventures are strictly about about his mission. Despite the minimal backstory, the formula works, because Golgo 13 remains one of Japan’s longest-running adult manga series.

Some of you might have seen this on my Facebook page, but in lieu of a more extensive post, for now I bring you the coolest action figure I think I’ve ever seen.

Next week, I’ll have some longer posts, including a review of Black Dynamite and an Off-Topic Monday. Stay tuned!

- JEP

RELATED LINKS:

Golgo 13 at the Viz Media site

World of Hurt » badasses

BADASSES WE LOVE: GOLGO 13