Worldwide, BASTARD!! airs on Netflix this June 30th and then again with Episodes 14 to 24 later in the year.
Netflix’s adaptation of the manga by Kazushi Hagiwara doesn’t pretend to be clever. Expect bold muscled men shouting at each other with their tops off while supporting buxom women tackle slime monsters and dramatic poses.
Plot? Well, there is an epic manga to draw on. Netflix say;
Four hundred years since the collapse of modern civilization, the world is dominated by the chaos of swords and sorcery. The Dark Rebel Army, which plans to resurrect the god of destruction Anthrasax, continues to expand its power in a bid to rule the world, led by the overwhelmingly powerful Four Divine Kings. The Kingdom of Metallicana on the Central Metallion Continent is assaulted by the sorcerer-led Dark Rebel Army. In order to save the kingdom, Tia Noto Yoko, daughter of the Great Priest, has a decision to make — she must resurrect the ancient great wizard who once plotted to rule the world, and who is sealed within her childhood friend Lucien Renren. The only thing that can undo the seal is a virgin’s maiden kiss. Facing imminent danger, Yoko puts her lips on Lucien’s, and in that moment, a dark and powerful energy fills the air. The strongest, wildest, and most beautiful protagonist, the legendary wizard Dark Schneider, is finally revived!
So, summoned by a kiss Dark Schneider is here to save Metallicana from the Dark Rebel Army.
The manga has been on and off on Weekly Shoen Jump and then Ultra Jump since 1988, with Viz Media publishing the English for a long while before tapping out at volume 20.
What do you think? Measured observations are welcome and you can leave them in the comment section below.
