“What, they’re alive?” They died, but somehow they came back to life…what exactly happened to the characters of famous manga and anime?
Posted at Futabanet Manga Plus on February 6. See the original post here.
by Orita Macadamia
After working as an editor for a weekly magazine, he became a freelance writer. He has been an otaku for more than half of his life, having read Ribbon, Nakayoshi, and Ciao since before he could even remember, and growing up on Jump, Gangan, and Hana to Yume. He tries his hand at apps and stage plays with a spirit of broad and shallow, but when he likes something, he goes deep and deeper.
When we think of a “shocking development” in manga or anime, it’s when a main character dies and leaves the story. When the moment they clearly lose their life is depicted, we are hit with a tremendous sense of despair. On the other hand, even if a definite death scene is depicted, it’s not uncommon for the character to reappear later as “actually alive.” Although you may be tempted to say, “He was definitely dead,” it’s nice to see a reliable friend reappear.
Caution: article contains spoilers
Characters who made an unexpected comeback after a shocking death
For example, Mohammed Avdol, who appeared in Stardust Crusaders, the third part of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure by Hirohiko Araki (serialized in Shonen Jump) is one such character. He is a fortune teller and Stand user from Egypt, and is one of the main members who appears from the beginning of the story as he heads to Egypt with Jotaro Kujo and the others.
However, on the way, he is attacked by enemy Stand users Hol Horse and J. Guile, and is shot through the center of his forehead, killing him. The frame shows the sound effect “BOGO” and a large amount of bleeding that definitely looks like a shot to the brain.
Determined not to let Avdol’s death go to waste, Jean-Pierre Polnareff and Noriaki Kakyoin, who were also under attack by a Stand, successfully repelled the enemy. According to Jotaro’s grandfather, Joseph Joestar, Avdol’s body was buried.
However, Avdol unexpectedly returns in a battle with Judgment, a Stand that projects the opponent’s wishes into the Earth, materializing and controlling them. It is revealed that in fact, Avdol lost his balance when he was stabbed in the back by J. Guile’s Stand, and the bullet that appeared to have pierced his forehead only grazed him. It seems a bit cruel, since everyone except Polnareff knew that he was still alive.
Other scenes in JoJo made it seem like characters were certainly dead; Rudol von Stroheim in Part 2, and Joseph Joestar in the final battle of Part 3. But they also managed to survive. Heartwarming resurrections are definitely one of the highlights.
Another example of a character who appears to have been dead but then comes back to life is Kaoru Kamiya, the heroine of Nobuhiro Watsuki’s Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story.
In the latter half, there is a scene in which Enishi Yukishiro, the younger brother of Kenshin’s wife Tomoe Yukishiro, attacks the Kamiya dojo in revenge against Kenshin. A double-page spread shows the shocking image of Kaoru, eyes wide open, stabbed in the chest with a sword and dying.
After that, Kenshin thinks Kaoru is completely dead and becomes a wreck. In fact, she was faked dead by using a doll that looked just like Kaoru. As Enishi had planned, it seems to have had an immediate effect on Kenshin.
The resurrections of strong characters in works like Sakigake!! Otokojuku and Kinnikuman are heartwarming and moving, but the resurrection of a heroine may be a rare pattern even in Jump.
“I am the first captain of the Space Battleship Yamato, Juzo Okita.”
Another example of a character thought to be dead reappearing after a long time is Captain Juzo Okita from Space Battleship Yamato. As the long journey through space draws to an end, Captain Okita quietly passes away, muttering, “Earth…everything is so nostalgic…” This is one of the most famous scenes in the series.
Later, in the movie Farewell to Space Battleship Yamato, a bronze statue was erected on the “Hill of Heroes” in honor of his achievement in saving the Earth.
However, in the 1983 movie Final Yamato, Captain Okita suddenly reappears, issuing an order over the ship’s intercom: “I am the first captain of the Space Battleship Yamato, Juzo Okita. Yamato is now preparing to depart. Everyone, take positions! I say it again. Yamato is now preparing to depart. Everyone, take positions!”
His death seemed certain, but military surgeon Dr. Sado said, “It was a misdiagnosis on my part…” Okita had not yet reached complete brain death, and treatment was successful after he returned to Earth. So a famous scene that will be passed down to future generations was actually a false alarm. It’s a surprising resurrection that makes you want to ask, “Is that even possible?”
Mu La Flaga from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED is also one character who successfully overturned death. He is an ace pilot of the Earth Federation Forces, and in the middle of the story, he is killed while protecting his girlfriend from Dominion naval gunfire. The remains of his helmet are found floating in space, and considering the style of Gundam, his death seemed certain.
However, in the sequel, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY, his memory is manipulated and he reappears as Neo Roanoke. Although he committed a crime, he eventually regained his memory and had a happy ending with his girlfriend, so it can be said that he was quite fortunate.
They made a splendid reappearance, overturning not only the death flag but death itself. It may have been due to production circumstances, but either way, it seems that they were quite lucky.