Hikkatsu! Strike a Blow to Vivify

Infobox animanga/Header
name = Hikkatsu! Strike a Blow to Vivify


caption = Cover of the English edition of volume 1.
ja_name = ヒッカツ!
ja_name_trans = Hikkatsu!
genre = Comedy, Science fictionInfobox animanga/Manga
author = Yu Yagami
publisher = flagicon|Japan MediaWorks
publisher_en = flagicon|United States Go! Comi
demographic = Shōnen
magazine = Dengeki Comic Gao!
first = May 27 2005
last = May 27 2006
volumes = 3

Nihongo|"Hikkatsu! Strike a Blow to Vivify"|ヒッカツ! is a Japanese shōnen science fiction comedy manga by nihongo|Yu Yagami|矢上 裕, the author of "Those Who Hunt Elves". It was published in Japan by MediaWorks in the monthly manga magazine "Dengeki Comic Gao!" from May 27 2005 to May 27 2006 and collected in three bound volumes. [cite web | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=7872 | title=Hikkatsu! (manga) | publisher=Anime News Network | accessdate=2007-12-13] It is licensed in North America by Go! Comi, with all three volumes released. [cite web | url=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1933617578/ | title=Hikkatsu! Volume 1 | publisher=Amazon.com | accessdate=2007-12-13]

tory

In a future where geomagnetic abnormalities have made everyday appliances come alive, karate student Shota seeks to save humanity by perfecting his "Repair Blow" - it was inspired by a man who hit a television to make it work, but with Shota's strength he just demolishes it. In the company of Momoko and Kanji, he travels Japan through enclaves of interest groups, looking to help others.

Main characters

;Nihongo|Shota|ショータ|Shōta: A teenage boy who has spent ten years studying karate alone, trying to perfect a Repair Blow that will fix broken machinery (though usually he just winds up utterly destroying said machinery.) His Repair Blow is also able to fix a dislocated shoulder.

;Nihongo|Momoko|モモコ: A girl raised by pigeons who falls in love with Shota at first sight when he tries to retrieve her last ¥200 lost in a ramen vending machine. She travels with a pigeon named Hatoko, who ordinarily sits on her head. She claims to have learned pigeon martial arts, used to defend against predators, from her foster family.

;Nihongo|Kanji|カンジ: A grifter who sells defective toy robots at the start of the series. After his merchandise is destroyed by Shota practicing his Repair Blow, Kanji starts travelling with him, hoping to profit from him.

Reception

The English translation of "Hikkatsu! Strike a Blow to Vivify" was favorably reviewed by Anime News Network, calling it "a satisfying light read."cite web | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/hikkatsu/gn-1 | title=Review: Hikkatsu! GN 1 | publisher=Anime News Network | author=Theron Martin | date=2008-01-13 | accessdate=2008-01-25 | quote=The first volume of "Hikkatsu!" is not the funniest, best-looking, or most entertaining manga title out there, but it has enough pseudo-martial arts in it, and has good enough comic timing with its quirky sense of humor (Puppy Eyes Enthusiast Clan?!?), to qualify as a satisfying light read.] A common criticism of reviewers is that the characters are one-dimensional. [cite web | url=http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/manga/manga.php?manga_view=4054 | title=Hikkatsu! Vol. #01 of 3 | publisher=Anime on DVD | author=Sakura Eries | date=2007-11-13 | accessdate=2008-01-25 | quote=As a result, this manga is not serious at all and would probably appeal to younger shōnen readers, who aren't very interested in character development and just want a good laugh.]

Manga

The series was first published in "Dengeki Comic Gao!" and collected in three bound volumes. It is licensed in North America by Go! Comi, with two volumes published as of January 2008.

References

External links

* [http://www.gocomi.com/index.php?module=manga&sub=series_detail&s_id=22 Official Webtsite at Go! Comi]
*ann manga|id=7872