Line #18 Manga/Baoh


1	[[quoteright:847:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/baohcover.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:''"His touch signifies death! This is... BAOH!!"]]''
3	''Baoh'', also known as ''Baoh: The Visitor'', is a short manga series written and illustrated by none other than Creator/HirohikoAraki, later of ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' fame. It was serialized in ''[[Magazine/ShonenJump Weekly Shonen Jump]]'' from 1984 to 1985.
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5	The story details the adventures of Ikuro Hashizawa and Sumire, a boy and a young girl escaping from the evil secret organization that experimented on them: the [[DubNameChange Doress/Judas]] Organization. Ikuro is the host of the titular Baoh, a parasite that can transform him in a murderous killing machine.
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7	Was adapted into a 45-minute OVA created by Creator/StudioPierrot and distributed by {{Creator/Toho}} in 1989, which is a fairly straight-forward adaptation (plus a '''LOT''' gorier than the manga) despite its cuts and deviations. Said OVA is also how most people in the West even know of ''Baoh’s'' existence and cemented it as a CultClassic.
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9	Ikuro also appeared in ''VideoGame/JoJosBizarreAdventureAllStarBattle'', as a DLC GuestFighter.
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11	----
12	!! This manga provides example of:
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14	* AcidPool: They try to kill Baoh with one of these, adding a group of acid-proof {{Giant Spider}}s for good measure. [[spoiler:Ikuro saves himself by [[HoistByHisOwnPetard using one of the spiders as a protective coat]]]].
15	* AdaptedOut: In the manga, Baoh encounters a genetically engineered baboon named Martin and his evil trainer. What helps factors Baoh's CharacterDevelopment was that Martin killed a woman and her son, which made him so angry, he manages to kill Martin. The OVA omits this battle after the MookHorrorShow, and Sumire is kidnapped by Dorudo. An old couple that took in Ikuro and Sumire don't appear either but the ending implies she did get adopted.
16	* AdaptationExpansion: The female scientist who lets Baoh escape at the beginning gets a bigger role in the OVA and is given a name, Sophine. In the manga, she's executed early on for her failure to stop Ikuro's escape.
17	* AmnesiacHero: Ikuro.
18	* ArtEvolution: A downplayed example since this was a very short series and the art is very consistent from beginning to end, but [[https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BYmVkOTIzNjItMTgxNy00MDVjLWI3NTktNjk3MTNiODJhYzdmXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTAyODkwOQ@@._V1_.jpg the covers used]] [[https://i.pinimg.com/736x/e2/95/c7/e295c7019517845d19b400759c04a5ac.jpg for the OVA]], [[https://i.ytimg.com/vi/q6Bvib0RM6Y/maxresdefault.jpg its soundtrack]] and [[https://www.fightersgeneration.com/nf8/char2/baoh-bunko-cover-art.png reprints of the manga]] were all made by Araki himself, and since he made them when he was deep into making ''[=JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure=]'', all of them feature Baoh looking '''VERY''' different compared to the manga, essentially looking like a ''[=JoJo=]'' character from a different Part in each on them.
19	* AwardBaitSong: The OVA has the song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZdzR5xHEJQ Eternal Soldier]], which plays during the end credits.
20	* BadPowersGoodPeople: With the Baoh parasite gives Ikuro several gruesome abilities, including acid-secreting palms and flaying people alive with telekinesis.
21	* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Duress is destroyed, and Sumire goes to live with the old couple. Ikuro, however, sleeps in an underground lake under a collapsed mountain]]. [[SequelHook However...]]
22	* BladeBelowTheShoulder: Ikuro's armored form has two blades, one on each arm.
23	** Nottso also has retractable claws in his knees.
24	* BloodierAndGorier: Than the other titles it ran on in ''Magazine/ShonenJump''. Moreso in the OVA.
25	* BodyHorror: The Baoh parasite weaponizes Body Horror, becoming stronger the more grievously injured its host becomes.
26	* CallingYourAttacks:
27	** Averted with Ikuro who doesn't speak when in his Baoh Armed Phenomenon form, so all his powers are named in info boxes (subtitles in the OVA).
28	** Played straight with Walken and his "Molecular Air-Motion Wave" and "Molecular Seismic Wave".
29	* CaptainObvious: In the dub, Dr. Kasuminome continually spouts increasingly obvious exposition.
30	* CharacterDevelopment: Surprisingly, the Baoh parasite itself. Despite being a threat if it reproduces, as it latched on Ikuro's brain, Baoh has saved Sumire while taking out anyone being a threat to Sumire and Ikuro. The manga helps as Baoh managed to avoid killing the old man under hypnotic suggestion thanks to his wife and Sumire's pleading.
31	* CurbStompBattle: In the OVA, almost nobody can really take Baoh on in a fight, being quickly cut down or killed. The only one to avoid this is Walken, who manages to have a go at Baoh twice.
32	* {{Cyborg}}: [[spoiler:Dorudo]].
33	* DefenseMechanismSuperpower: The "Baoh Armed Phenomenon" activates when the host is injured or in danger.
34	* DiesDifferentlyInAdaptation: Some of the major villains die differently in the [=OVA=] with Ikuro swiftly killing them all in different gruesome ways.
35	* DubNameChange: The English manga release translates Doctor Kasuminome's name to "Hazyeye", a reasonable translation, as well as changing "Sumire" to "Violet" (A translation of the word "sumire.") and "Doress" to "Judas". The OVA's English dub keeps the names as "Kasuminome", "Sumire" and "Doress" however, and [[VideoGame/JoJosBizarreAdventureAllStarBattle All Star Battle]]'s English localisation retains "Sumire" and "Doress" as well. The OVA also has Sumire point out that her name does indeed mean "Violet."
36	* EnergyWeapon: The Doress facility has laser cannons as security systems. Ikuro manages to grab one of these cannons and uses Baoh's bio-electricity to power it by plugging it into his arm.
37	* {{Expy}}: Walken is very clearly physically based on Manga/ViolenceJack.
38	* FacepalmOfDoom: Baoh is capable of producing corrosive acid from his hands which is quite capable of melting people alive, leading to more than a few instances of this.
39	* GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke: ''Everything'' Doress does.
40	* {{Gorn}}
41	* GratuitousEnglish: Some of Baoh's special abilities have some really WordSalad titles (with "phenomenon" added on the end) to them, including "Reskinharden Saber Phenomenon" (arm blades), "Shooting Bees Stingers Phenomenon" (razor sharp hair fired as projectiles from one's head) and "Meltedin Palm Phenomenon" (corrosive acid from the hands.)
42	* GuestFighter: Ikuro shows up in ''VideoGame/JoJosBizarreAdventureAllStarBattle'' as a DLC character.
43	* HenshinHero: Ikuro is a LovecraftianSuperpower variant of this trope.
44	* HollywoodAcid: One of Baoh's attacks.
45	* {{Homage}}: Walken was named after Creator/ChristopherWalken. Yup.
46	* HulkSpeak: Walken, after his RestrainingBolt comes off.
47	* HumanityIsInfectious: [[spoiler:Baoh becomes progressively more and more human, experiencing emotions like sadness and gratitude. In the last chapters Ikuro gets in control of its capacities]].
48	* InvincibleHero: Good grief. Every time Baoh gets in a fight, he ''always'' gets the upper hand and ends it rather swiftly. And it's in the OVA. In the manga, he gets a hard time defeating Martin.
49	* {{Kiai}}: BARUBARUBARUBARUBARU! BARU!
50	* KillItWithFire: How to destroy a Baoh-infected creature, as well as the parasite living inside. Baoh's "Shooting Bees Stingers Phenomenon" also has this sort of property, igniting upon touching another creature.
51	* LamarckWasRight: Professor Kasuminome invented a serum that allows the inheritance of acquired characteristics. Baoh was the end result of subjecting experimental serum-dosed animals to one hostile environment after another over multiple generations
52	* LastOfHisKind: Walken's the last surviving member of the American-Indian Skookum tribe.
53	* LovecraftianSuperpower: Baoh gives Ikuro a whole arsenal of these. His attacks are Meltedin Palm Phenomenon[[note]]Ikuro secretes extremely power acid from him palms that can melt human flesh like butter on a skillet.[[/note]], Reskiniharden Saber Phenomenon[[note]]Ikuro's skin extends and hardens into a pair of blades that he can detach and throw. Kars from [=JoJo=]'s Bizarre Adventure has a similar ability.[[/note]], Shooting Bees-Stingers Phenomenon[[note]]Ikuro launches hairs that burst into flame when heated by human bodies.[[/note]], and Break-Dark-Thunder Phenomenon[[note]]Ikuro creates thousands of volts in his body similar to an electric eel. By jamming a piece of metal into his arm, Ikuro can power a energy cannon with this ability.[[/note]]
54	* MadeOfPlasticine: Holy ''crap''... For a series that ran on ''Weekly Shonen Jump'', it's incredibly violent. Compare ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'', where mooks die by their heads exploding or cut to pieces, Baoh kills enemies in rather brutal ways. ''Especially the OVA''.
55	** Walken is no better either, having his fingers sliced off when he's previously caught Baoh's Bees Stinger Phenomenon attack with his left hand.
56	* MagicalNativeAmerican: Walken is the last of the Skookum Tribe and has tremendous psychic abilities.
57	* MyNameIsNotShazam: Of a sorts. "Baoh" is the name of the parasite implanted in Ikuro's brain, not his actual name. That said the name "Baoh" is used by Dr. Hazyeye[=/=]Kasuminome to refer to other Baoh-implanted creatures as well.
58	* PhlebotinumRebel: Ikuro
59	* PrecociousCrush: Sumire has one on Ikuro.
60	* ProphetEyes: Baoh, thanks to [[TheNoseKnows his super sense of smell]] that makes human eyes useless. [[spoiler:When Ikuro gains control of Baoh, he keeps his human eyes]].
61	* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: [[spoiler:Walken]], last of his tribe, and Doress's trump card.
62	** BlowYouAway: Or ''rip you to shreds''.
63	** DishingOutDirt: Or rather ''melting it''.
64	** MindOverMatter: [[spoiler:Down to making each individual atom vibrate indipendently. He can melt or disintegrate anything he touches]].
65	** PowerLimiter: His headband (headphones in the manga). [[spoiler:After Ikuro!Baoh damages it, everyone around Walken dies, and his powers are able to punch though a '''kilometer''' of solid rock]].
66	* PsychicPowers: Sumire has precognitive abilities.
67	** [[spoiler:Walken's telekinetic powers are so powerful, they can disintegrate matter by vibrating molecules]].
68	* PuppeteerParasite: The Baoh parasite is this [[spoiler:at first]].
69	* RestrainingBolt: Walken has an ESP-dampening device place on his forehead to keep his ability and sanity in check. [[spoiler:Then it is damaged in a fight with Baoh]].
70	* SequelHook: Although Ikuro is [[spoiler:buried underneath the ocean and a ton of rock, Sumire states that she had a vision of him returning to her, which occurs when she's seventeen.]]
71	* SmugSnake: Dorudo. He meets his ends rather brutally (HoistByHisOwnPetard in the OVA and YouHaveFailedMe in the manga).
72	* SuperpoweredEvilSide: Baoh, [[spoiler:at first]].
73	** BladeBelowTheShoulder: they were actually the inspiration for [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure Kars's own power]]. Though they are no organic chainsaws, Baoh can ''throw'' them like a boomerang.
74	** DetectEvil: It's unique sensory organ allows it to smell evil intentions.
75	** HealingFactor
76	** HollywoodAcid[=/=]TouchOfDeath: It can secrete acid from its palms.
77	** IncendiaryExponent[=/=]FlechetteStorm: Its hair can turn into incendiary needles that it shoots.
78	** ShockAndAwe: "''Baoh: '''Break Dark Thunder Phenomenon!'''''"
79	* TeamPet: Sunny Stephan Nottsuo, a mutated lorisid.
80	** LivingGasBag: He can inflate his tail like a balloon.
81	** RidiculouslyCuteCritter: More so in the manga.
82	* TheNoseKnows: Baoh perceives the world around him thanks to an advanced smell-sensing organ to his forehead. It's also his AchillesHeel, since disabling it leaves him completely blind.
83	* TooDumbToLive: The bad guys. On one hand, they have a dominant Baoh, who is compared to a nuclear bomb should he wake up. On the other hand, they have a girl with precognitive abilities who have attempted to escape multiple times. And they decide to put these two on a train together and hope nothing goes wrong...
84	* TookALevelInBadass: Ikuro starts with little control of his Baoh instincts, causing him to become an UnskilledButStrong fighter that struggles against WeakButSkilled enemies. Once he gains control, he displays quick thinking on par with the [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure Joestars]], allowing him to escape several deathtraps and defeat a far stronger psychic.
85	* WorldsStrongestMan: [[spoiler:Walken is considered to be "the most powerful psychic on Earth".]]
86	* YouHaveFailedMe: In the manga, Dorudo is executed by Walken on Doress' orders for his failure to kill Ikuro on several occasions. It is also implied that Sophine was executed for the same reason as well early on in the manga.

Context Manga / Baoh