Japan’s James Bond is the Star of Longest-Running Manga Ever
Japan’s James Bond is the star of the longest-running manga in history, following the escapades of Golgo 13 as he assassinates each and every mark.
You Are Reading :Japans James Bond is the Star of LongestRunning Manga Ever
The world-wide phenomenon that is James Bond has captivated fans since writer Ian Fleming first created the character in 1953, and while Bond is arguably the greatest spy to ever grace the pages of fictional literature, there is another very similar character who originated in Japan and is the star of the longest-running manga in history. Golgo 13 is a manga starring a protagonist who is a little less heroic than Bond, being a hired assassin rather than a government spy. While his methods are a bit more unsavory, he always hits his mark during his fantastical escapades around the globe, adventures that have kept fans’ attention for quite some time.
Golgo 13 is a manga series written and illustrated by Takao Saito that was created in 1969 and published in Shogakukan’s Big Comic magazine. The series follows Golgo 13, a hired assassin who oftentimes goes by his alias Duke Togo, though his real name is unknown. Togo is like a Terminator when carrying out an assassination, rarely speaking unless it is absolutely necessary and completing every murder mission without hesitation or remorse, mostly using his weapon of choice, a scoped M16 rifle.
Since its debut in 1969, Golgo 13 has released over 300-million copies worldwide in various formats and continues to print more books set within the manga universe to this day. In the 1970s, the manga won the 21st Shogakukan Manga Award for general manga. That praise less than ten years after initial publication was well earned, especially when looking back at the manga’s lasting legacy, as one of the latest books within the Golgo 13 world was published in August of 2021 with the spin-off manga Golgo Camp.
While the James Bond-style manga series is racked with ultra violence and murder galore, Golgo 13 has some fairly on the nose Christian undertones. The title, Golgo 13, is a direct reference to Jesus Christ, with Golgo being short for Golgotha, which is the supposed birthplace of Jesus, and 13 referring to the number of people at the Last Supper that Jesus had with his Apostles the night before he was to be put to death. No clear explanation is given as to why these references are made in the manga.
While the title of longest-running manga ever is a prestigious one for Golgo 13, its media influences go well beyond the manga alone. There have been a number of film, television, and video game adaptations since the manga’s initial release. While Golgo 13 has long been a staple in Japanese manga culture, the series has yet to hit the same critical acclaim as its British counterpart but only time will tell if the longest running manga in history soon gives James Bond a run for his money.
Link Source : https://screenrant.com/longest-running-manga-golgo-13-japan-james-bond/