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Riki-Oh ![]()
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Description
A mysterious vagabond tries to find his estranged family in a decayed, postmodern land, aiding the innocent and sending villains to hell along the way. In the late 1990s, society is descending into ecological collapse and totalitarianism. Saiga Riki-Oh, 21, finds himself in jail.
Vol 11 and 12 feature the one-shots Kirinji and NY Dust. The NY Dust one-shot is the pilot for the series The Hard.
Vol 11 and 12 feature the one-shots Kirinji and NY Dust. The NY Dust one-shot is the pilot for the series The Hard.
Type
Manga
Related Series
N/A
Associated Names
Riki Oh
The Story Of Ricky
Violence Hero Riki-Oh
力王
The Story Of Ricky
Violence Hero Riki-Oh
力王
Groups Scanlating
Latest Release(s)
v.12 c.69-75 + extras by Illuminati-Manga over 15 years ago
v.11 c.65-68 + Extra by Illuminati-Manga over 15 years ago
v.10 c.60-64 by Illuminati-Manga over 15 years ago
Search for all releases of this series
v.11 c.65-68 + Extra by Illuminati-Manga over 15 years ago
v.10 c.60-64 by Illuminati-Manga over 15 years ago
Search for all releases of this series
Status
in Country of Origin
12 Volumes (Complete)
9 Volumes (Homesha)
9 Volumes (Homesha)
Completely Scanlated?
Yes
Anime Start/End Chapter
Starts at Vol 1, Chap 1 (OVA 1)
Ends at Vol 5, Chap 30 (OVA 2) Heavily Abridged
Ends at Vol 5, Chap 30 (OVA 2) Heavily Abridged
User Reviews
N/A
Forum
0 topics, 0 posts
Click here to view the forum
Click here to view the forum
User Rating
Average: 6.9 / 10.0 (148 votes)
Bayesian Average: 6.8 / 10.0
Bayesian Average: 6.8 / 10.0
10
16%
9+
10%
8+
11%
7+
26%
6+
7%
5+
11%
4+
8%
3+
4%
2+
3%
1+
3%
Last Updated
November 13th 2023, 11:54am
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Genre
Action Adventure Drama Martial Arts Mature Sci-fi Seinen Supernatural
Search for series of same genre(s)
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Categories
Category Recommendations
Kyoushirou 2030
Abyss Rage
Red Line (Inkhead & Kimint)
Gokuaku no Hana - Houkuto no Ken - Jagi Gaiden
Yorukumo
Abyss Rage
Red Line (Inkhead & Kimint)
Gokuaku no Hana - Houkuto no Ken - Jagi Gaiden
Yorukumo
Recommendations
Author(s)
Artist(s)
Year
1988
Original Publisher
Serialized In (magazine)
Business Jump (Shueisha)
Licensed (in English)
No
English Publisher
N/A
Activity Stats (vs. other series)
Weekly Pos #755 
(+24)
Monthly Pos #1683(+147)
3 Month Pos #3258 (No change)
6 Month Pos #4477(+301)
Year Pos #5435(+1419)
(+24)Monthly Pos #1683
(+147)3 Month Pos #3258 (No change)
6 Month Pos #4477
(+301)Year Pos #5435
(+1419)List Stats
On 314 reading lists
On 310 wish lists
On 326 completed lists
On 47 unfinished lists
On 112 custom lists
On 310 wish lists
On 326 completed lists
On 47 unfinished lists
On 112 custom lists
Forum Posts Click to view the forum
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User Comments
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Like probably many people, I first encountered Riki-Oh through Lam Ngai Kai's 1991 adaptation. Advertised as one of the most violent movies ever made, I saw it with VCD quality and loved it. The practical effects were amazing, the blood was bright and flowing, spraying, and exploding in buckets, the fights were over-over-the-top insane. And don't get me started on the final bout with the mutated warden...
Recently, I discovered that it's based on a manga, and a long one at that. So, I dug in, wanting to see how much of the film violence came from the original and overall, what did the move from the page to the screen do to the story.
Having finished the entire 12 volume run, I can say that the manga is almost as good as its adaptation. It is hyper violent with blood, brains, eyes, and guts flying left and right on almost every page. It's also very campy, especially in the second half where everything gets batshit crazy and incomprehensible. Weirder and weirder enemies start appearing, some of them with almost magical powers, others from different periods and dimensions. But, by definition, none of them are particularly interesting and exciting, because we know they'll be chopped, eviscerated, or decapitated by Riki in a single blow. Moreover, none of them are given more background than maybe a speech bubble or two, telling us their amazing powers and how they will be the ones to finally destroy the indestructible main character.
It is not the camp, though, that makes this manga more of a letdown. After all, macho campiness and ridiculous powers is what we must expect from a work of this type from the period. Rather, it is the desire of the authors to introduce some kind of epochal seriousness and gravity to Riki's travails. Sprouts of this start appearing after the end of the first prison arc on which the 1991 movie is based. Each of the remaining four arcs starts introducing more unbelievably ridiculous plot twists such as Nazis, religious zealotry, biblical prophecies, pseudo-philosophy, and tons of other things.
With each introduction of a new development and theme, the initial point of the manga seems to be lost more. This is because most plot points were just thrown in by the authors without much attention to what happened or was said in previous chapters and especially arcs. Things happen, new things get introduced, oftentimes contradicting the past, people die, new contradictions are introduced, and so on, until it all ends extremely anticlimactically. I know that strong and logical storytelling isn't to be expected much from such works, but compared to the relative realism and subtlety of the first arc, it looks like a nosedive.
There isn't much of a subtext here, at least not a consistent one that I could catch. There is the running themes of belonging, family, duty, and forgiveness, but they are muddled and shallow. Its more like they were mentioned so the thing can seem semi-serious, not that the authors wanted to explore them. This makes this manga a pretty uninspired read for me, because I prefer it when the violence is used to tell something more meaningful. Here there are is only the pretense of meaning. And this suck, because the setting of the first arc and to a degree, the second one, gives plenty of room for exploring serious topics like corruption, power, policing, control, and others. When Riki breaks the cell wall for the first time in the first part, there is some potentiality for meaning, when he does the same thing for a hundredth time by the final arc, there is none.
What is worse, though, is that the introduction of nazism, teleology, prophecies, and such, negates the impact of the possible critique of the system. All of the occultism of the second part of the manga seems to exonerate the ones who are actually at fault in society, making them powerless pawns in the hands of eternal, otherworldly powers. Moreover, the enemies are almost always framed as being not only powerless in front of Mukai, Riki's father, a would be god, and the ultimate villain, but also people with families and humanity they need to suppress.
Luckily, whereas the storytelling falters as the manga progresses, the art kind of soars. There is nothing mindblowing composition-wise. Most of the panelling is conservative, there are few splash pages, and almost no double page spreads. The ones that appear are also pretty mediocre. The character design is also relatively good, most of the characters look consistent thorough the entire run, with only some contorted faces difficult to understand at points. Luckily, the context helps for them.
The best part by far is the 80's macho hyper violence. It is relatively detailed and realistic, with eyes and brains popping and flying, carcasses hanging and sliding. Most of the action is also comprehensible, but there are some panels in which it is difficult to discern what is happening due to the gore.
Recently, I discovered that it's based on a manga, and a long one at that. So, I dug in, wanting to see how much of the film violence came from the original and overall, what did the move from the page to the screen do to the story.
Having finished the entire 12 volume run, I can say that the manga is almost as good as its adaptation. It is hyper violent with blood, brains, eyes, and guts flying left and right on almost every page. It's also very campy, especially in the second half where everything gets batshit crazy and incomprehensible. Weirder and weirder enemies start appearing, some of them with almost magical powers, others from different periods and dimensions. But, by definition, none of them are particularly interesting and exciting, because we know they'll be chopped, eviscerated, or decapitated by Riki in a single blow. Moreover, none of them are given more background than maybe a speech bubble or two, telling us their amazing powers and how they will be the ones to finally destroy the indestructible main character.
It is not the camp, though, that makes this manga more of a letdown. After all, macho campiness and ridiculous powers is what we must expect from a work of this type from the period. Rather, it is the desire of the authors to introduce some kind of epochal seriousness and gravity to Riki's travails. Sprouts of this start appearing after the end of the first prison arc on which the 1991 movie is based. Each of the remaining four arcs starts introducing more unbelievably ridiculous plot twists such as Nazis, religious zealotry, biblical prophecies, pseudo-philosophy, and tons of other things.
With each introduction of a new development and theme, the initial point of the manga seems to be lost more. This is because most plot points were just thrown in by the authors without much attention to what happened or was said in previous chapters and especially arcs. Things happen, new things get introduced, oftentimes contradicting the past, people die, new contradictions are introduced, and so on, until it all ends extremely anticlimactically. I know that strong and logical storytelling isn't to be expected much from such works, but compared to the relative realism and subtlety of the first arc, it looks like a nosedive.
There isn't much of a subtext here, at least not a consistent one that I could catch. There is the running themes of belonging, family, duty, and forgiveness, but they are muddled and shallow. Its more like they were mentioned so the thing can seem semi-serious, not that the authors wanted to explore them. This makes this manga a pretty uninspired read for me, because I prefer it when the violence is used to tell something more meaningful. Here there are is only the pretense of meaning. And this suck, because the setting of the first arc and to a degree, the second one, gives plenty of room for exploring serious topics like corruption, power, policing, control, and others. When Riki breaks the cell wall for the first time in the first part, there is some potentiality for meaning, when he does the same thing for a hundredth time by the final arc, there is none.
What is worse, though, is that the introduction of nazism, teleology, prophecies, and such, negates the impact of the possible critique of the system. All of the occultism of the second part of the manga seems to exonerate the ones who are actually at fault in society, making them powerless pawns in the hands of eternal, otherworldly powers. Moreover, the enemies are almost always framed as being not only powerless in front of Mukai, Riki's father, a would be god, and the ultimate villain, but also people with families and humanity they need to suppress.
Luckily, whereas the storytelling falters as the manga progresses, the art kind of soars. There is nothing mindblowing composition-wise. Most of the panelling is conservative, there are few splash pages, and almost no double page spreads. The ones that appear are also pretty mediocre. The character design is also relatively good, most of the characters look consistent thorough the entire run, with only some contorted faces difficult to understand at points. Luckily, the context helps for them.
The best part by far is the 80's macho hyper violence. It is relatively detailed and realistic, with eyes and brains popping and flying, carcasses hanging and sliding. Most of the action is also comprehensible, but there are some panels in which it is difficult to discern what is happening due to the gore.
Imagine Fist of the North Star, but with tighter (yet less ambitious) draughtsmanship and a much stupider story. A very wacky series that disguises its humor under gruesome and gothic art of exceptional quality.
It has the common manga problem of its first part (the prison arc) being by far the sharpest and most memorable. The pacing starts to plod in the middle. By the end, you're just going "how are they going to top all this madness?" and the final answer is something really, really silly.
If you like invincible protagonists furiously sleepwalking through supernaturally gory fight scenes with horrific monstrous villains who often turn surprisingly sympathetic - you know, Fist of the North Star - you'll love Riki-Oh. I love Riki-Oh. With boundless energy it pushes the limits of violent martial arts, with almost a Shintaro Kago sort of fascination for human vivisection.
I consider Riki-Oh an all-time classic and a favorite manga because it does what it does superbly, with a special formula for squeezing your adrenaline used to home runs in its forte again and again and again. Of course, you have to like what it does to enjoy it. 10/10.
... Last updated on December 21st, 2021, 10:14pm
It has the common manga problem of its first part (the prison arc) being by far the sharpest and most memorable. The pacing starts to plod in the middle. By the end, you're just going "how are they going to top all this madness?" and the final answer is something really, really silly.
If you like invincible protagonists furiously sleepwalking through supernaturally gory fight scenes with horrific monstrous villains who often turn surprisingly sympathetic - you know, Fist of the North Star - you'll love Riki-Oh. I love Riki-Oh. With boundless energy it pushes the limits of violent martial arts, with almost a Shintaro Kago sort of fascination for human vivisection.
I consider Riki-Oh an all-time classic and a favorite manga because it does what it does superbly, with a special formula for squeezing your adrenaline used to home runs in its forte again and again and again. Of course, you have to like what it does to enjoy it. 10/10.
... Last updated on December 21st, 2021, 10:14pm
oh boi where to begin
This is the kind of series you have to shut your brain off. Any attempt to understand the story will simply backfire on you.
There are 5 main arcs in this series. Every arc feels like the last one. Everytime your like ok now this is the end. turns out there is a bigger bad waiting for you.
The story changes per arc. Mostly because the information isn't revealed then. At first its prison break. Than its underground fighting, than its something, than its something else. You think this series is crazy now? Wait till you read the next chapter. There is so much bullshit in this series im astounded that i thought for even a moment that this series can't get crazier.
The first 2 arcs of this series are a bit mundane but thats because the series doesn't accept itself for what it is. The series is very stupid with a lot of over the top bullshit. But it takes itself seriously. As such campy moments aren't that fun, and the emotional moments in the series have 0 impact. It kinda sucks it takes so long for the series to get together.
Though there are still crazy ass moments that are enjoyable there are just spread too thin in the first 2 arcs. Also the fact that there is supposed to be the emotional tone that doesn't really work.
I did enjoy the last 3 arcs. They weren't spectacular or anything. But it seems like the author accepted the fact that this is a stupid series and as such should go crazy. Though i do believe that he went absolute batshit in the last arc. I'd say it in more detail but that would be spoiling the ending.
As far as the action, its as crazy as you'd expect from the 80's. Its absurdly violent and there is so much blood you think everyone is holding a ketchup bottle. The main character Riki is absolutely ridiculous. He punches characters and the other side of there body explodes. The MC gets shot and is fine 5 seconds later because he missed all his vitals and only scratched his heart. His powers are also absolutely inconsistent. He can break steel and bend iron yet he can't handle a couple punches.
There is this Ki thing which is basically this manga's Ex-machina. Enemy too strong? Just use Ki. You need some sort of extremly specific power that won't be mentioned ever again? Use Ki to channel it. and so on, and so on. I mean at least it looks cool.
The story falls apart (Even more so than it already had) at the end but by then i don't care. Like who gives a shit about the story when you have a characters that chokes people by using his own intestines that he brought out from his own stomach in the heat of battle. This is one of the calmer scenes before it turns into dragon ball z.
If the art reminds you of the Fist of the North star thats because the artist was an assisstant for HARA Tetsuo. No doubt he picked up a few tricks
Despite the campy fun for the later half of the series. It just isn't good enough. I think they wasted too much time on exposition and other uncessary components for it to be enjoyable as a whole.
TLDR: 5/10
... Last updated on May 24th, 2021, 9:49am
This is the kind of series you have to shut your brain off. Any attempt to understand the story will simply backfire on you.
There are 5 main arcs in this series. Every arc feels like the last one. Everytime your like ok now this is the end. turns out there is a bigger bad waiting for you.
The story changes per arc. Mostly because the information isn't revealed then. At first its prison break. Than its underground fighting, than its something, than its something else. You think this series is crazy now? Wait till you read the next chapter. There is so much bullshit in this series im astounded that i thought for even a moment that this series can't get crazier.
The first 2 arcs of this series are a bit mundane but thats because the series doesn't accept itself for what it is. The series is very stupid with a lot of over the top bullshit. But it takes itself seriously. As such campy moments aren't that fun, and the emotional moments in the series have 0 impact. It kinda sucks it takes so long for the series to get together.
Though there are still crazy ass moments that are enjoyable there are just spread too thin in the first 2 arcs. Also the fact that there is supposed to be the emotional tone that doesn't really work.
I did enjoy the last 3 arcs. They weren't spectacular or anything. But it seems like the author accepted the fact that this is a stupid series and as such should go crazy. Though i do believe that he went absolute batshit in the last arc. I'd say it in more detail but that would be spoiling the ending.
As far as the action, its as crazy as you'd expect from the 80's. Its absurdly violent and there is so much blood you think everyone is holding a ketchup bottle. The main character Riki is absolutely ridiculous. He punches characters and the other side of there body explodes. The MC gets shot and is fine 5 seconds later because he missed all his vitals and only scratched his heart. His powers are also absolutely inconsistent. He can break steel and bend iron yet he can't handle a couple punches.
There is this Ki thing which is basically this manga's Ex-machina. Enemy too strong? Just use Ki. You need some sort of extremly specific power that won't be mentioned ever again? Use Ki to channel it. and so on, and so on. I mean at least it looks cool.
The story falls apart (Even more so than it already had) at the end but by then i don't care. Like who gives a shit about the story when you have a characters that chokes people by using his own intestines that he brought out from his own stomach in the heat of battle. This is one of the calmer scenes before it turns into dragon ball z.
If the art reminds you of the Fist of the North star thats because the artist was an assisstant for HARA Tetsuo. No doubt he picked up a few tricks
Despite the campy fun for the later half of the series. It just isn't good enough. I think they wasted too much time on exposition and other uncessary components for it to be enjoyable as a whole.
TLDR: 5/10
... Last updated on May 24th, 2021, 9:49am
Lol, that line never gets old. Well yeah there's gore, but it's not that bad because most of it's unrealistic and over-the-top (half of Riki-Oh's face could be bloody in one panel and the next it looks like he took a shower). Whole thing reminded me of....Baoh (which is a must-read if you want some campy fun) much more than Berserk. And of course it follows Fist of the North Star's format in the beginning (Later on...I can't really say the same, lol) And Riki-Oh's probably not an antihero; he's like...an emotional version of Kenshiro. Since I read a ton of manly stuff I see similarities everywhere....
... Last updated on September 12th, 2014, 1:48am
... Last updated on September 12th, 2014, 1:48am
Its story is probably the most ridiculous part of the manga. By the end of it I was just thinking that the writer just wanted to add on to it, thus making up random s**t to throw at the reader.
Spoiler (mouse over to view)
I mean seriously, he tried adding references to Hitler and Judaism only for it to be irrelevant by the end.
Yep. I kinda agree with other people's reviews. Rikioh is totally... umm.... badass, as they had stated. However, there's a single point that was missed by people. It's too ridiculous!! I think I'll spoiler tag it to not ruin the surprise.
Sorry if my explanation doesn't illustrate clearly.
Read it if you must. You'll see.
Well, other than that, it's cool. Recommended as a fun read
Spoiler (highlight to view)
I mean, how come a fist is able to cut a body part with a clean shape? There's this one part where rikioh gives a punch at smoeone's face. Hole on the head, scattered face parts. A little overboard, but oh well. What's stupid is the part that is blown of from the head is perfectly intact, no damage at all, aside from the fact that it is not a part of the head anymore. A PUNCH is supposed to be BLUNT!!
Sorry if my explanation doesn't illustrate clearly.
Read it if you must. You'll see.
Well, other than that, it's cool. Recommended as a fun read
this is great
i laugh alot when i read this...i dont think that was 100% intended but its just so EXTREME you cant help yourself
its like an extreme weird version of HnK and its obvious it got such a long life thanks to the popularity of HnK
it is a little strange that HnK is not listed under recommendations
i laugh alot when i read this...i dont think that was 100% intended but its just so EXTREME you cant help yourself
its like an extreme weird version of HnK and its obvious it got such a long life thanks to the popularity of HnK
it is a little strange that HnK is not listed under recommendations
the most hiliariously awesome manga ive ever read. The fighting is kinda bad, the stunts are like FotNS and the plot is shitty, but thats what makes this so god damn enjoyable.
Do not binge this manga or you'll start to hate it.
Do not binge this manga or you'll start to hate it.
The main character is a total badass, even by manga standard. Just read the first chapter.
And somehow it's strangely entertaining...
However, he's so damn invincible that it becomes boring after a while.
... Last updated on May 20th, 2008, 6:51am
And somehow it's strangely entertaining...
However, he's so damn invincible that it becomes boring after a while.
... Last updated on May 20th, 2008, 6:51am
This manga gets the thumbs up from me! An awesome anti-hero with awesome power! Every opponent he fights pretty much blows up from how manly the protagonist is!
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