The Legend of Zelda (Himekawa)

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA (HIMEKAWA)

Himekawa Akira is probably the most prolific mangaka out of all that have ever written for the Legend of Zelda, starting all the way back with an adaptation of Ocarina of Time and still writing for them even today. Most of them have stuck pretty closely to the plots of their respective games, not taking the massive liberties the previous works had done, but he still found ways to work in new characters or give characters focuses they wouldn't have otherwise gotten.

First up, we have his adaptation of Ocarina of Time. The story follows the plot of the game pretty much to the letter, with maybe a bit more focus on Sheik's character development, and so on. The biggest newcomer we have to focus on came from a special bonus chapter, where Link and Navi encounter a young Watarara (basically Ritos before Ritos were a thing) named Rouro, the prince of his tribe who hadn't learned how to fly yet. He could eventually fly, peck with his beak, smack with a flyswatter, and trap people in a bag, all part of him acting out due to his insecurities about flying.

Himekawa's Majora's Mask followed the story pretty much as is, if maybe a bit more blatant about the Happy Mask Salesman's evil intentions. His Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages adaptations came as a consecutive series, with the same Link acting as the hero. Through the first, Maple the witch and Ricky the Kangaroo acted as full-time companions, with Maple flying on her broom, casting spells to create cushions, lift things, summon a demon, and create false monsters, and using a crystal balls to see visions. Ricky could leap really high, throw a tornado punch and multi-jabs, tuck into his own pouch, and ski. In the second, Link met his own ancestor, a hero named Sir Raven, who could wield a sword, ride a horse, go fishing, use a fish hook as a lockpick, plant mystery seeds, and use an axe and a peashooter. The Pirate Captain from the game also got a bit of focus, with him throwing a dagger, and using a sword and hook. I'll need to think on him for a bit.

Four Swords was fun, giving the four Links their own distinct personality and having a bit of a TMNT dynamic among them. Minish Cap was also good, though apparently they don't exist in the same continuity, seeing as Vaati ended up being redeemed at the end and going back to being Ezlo's apprentice, while Four Swords still had him as the sealed demon. A Link to the Past had probably my favorite out of all the original characters. Probably taking inspiration from Ishinomori's Roam, Link gains a companion in Ghanti, a thief girl who shifts between being an ally and adversary of Link, who learns her destiny is to wield the silver arrow. She wields a sword and dagger, and the silver arrows of course, turns into a wolf when in the Dark World due to her impure heart, gets transformed into a monster by the villains, and is healed by an apple.

Phantom Hourglass leaned a bit more focus on Jolene, being much more open about the romantic aspect of her and Linebeck's relationship. She does all the things she did before, but it does get me thinking a bit more about her, and even wondering if she might not be at least a semi-clone for Linebeck. Skyward Sword is basically just a short little prequel to the game included in the Hyrule Historia, and Twilight Princess is still ongoing, which made it a bit harder for me to look into, but as far as I can tell, there are no new original characters there, at least none that give the possibility of a moveset.

That should be it. Here's what we've got so far:

Characters:

Manga Link: slingshot, sword, shield, bow, boomerang, bombs, magic wand, Watto, become a fairy, healing magic, thunder, fly on shield, raft, Link to the Past-related stuff

Zelda: club, rope, sword, flute, spells, transform, sea monster, magic

Biri: sword, torches, pitchforks, battering rams

Raska: palm thrust, knee, jab, two-palm strike, shield thrust, throwing spikes

Captain Arjuna: Hylian Soldier moveset

Maple: broom, create cushions, lift things, summon demon, false monsters, crystal ball

Ricky: leap, tornado punch, multi-jabs, tuck into pouch, ski, flying bear

Ghanti: sword, dagger, silver arrows, wolf, monster, apple

Sir Raven: sword, horse, fishing, fish hook lockpick, mystery seeds, axe, peashooter

Marin

Link's Uncle: sword

Kanika

Tou: same as Raska

Couscous: spells, claw, bite

Birina

Gump: trained Link, sword, training staff, flip

Shemlon: forge, enchant swords, sword, reflect

Rouro: fly, peck, flyswatter, bag, storm

Jolene: ship's cannons, twin swords, lunge, block, Linebeck-related moves

Pirate Captain: dagger, sword, hook

Ganon/Ganon's Minion: burn, magic blast, disappear, fly, shock, storm, teleport, shapeshift, Ganon's hand

Agahnim

Stages:

Ganon's Statue

Thanks for reading! Next up, a . . . Legend of Zelda manga in name only. And special thanks to my best friend, Trent, who provided this series for me to read. I loved them.