Golgo 13 Omake 23.5

Golgo 13, Special Edition Volume 4, Commentary (pp. 311~319)


Volume 4, Commentary
by Masatake Sugimori


Hyuma Hoshi, the protagonist of Kyojin no Hoshi ("Star of the Giants") had rivals like Mitsuru Hanagata, Yusaku Samon, and Ozma. In Ashita no Joe ("Tomorrow's Joe"), Joe Yabuki's rivals were Toru Rikiishi, Carlos Rivera, and Jose Mendoza. Ogami Itto from Kozure Ohkami ("Lone Wolf and Cub") had Yagyu Retsudo. But in Golgo 13, there are no rivals. The blind sniper, Ixion, from Chapter 9 (Côte d'Azure), and Dave, from Chapter 17 (The Blood-Stained Stadium) of this volume, may be categorized as "rivals" in some sense. But definitely not in the same way Mitsuru Hanagata was for Hyuma Hoshi, or Toru Rikiishi for Joe Yabuki.

In these works, the protagonists evolved through conflicts with their rivals, and friendships were formed through the fires of fierce competition. They were also surrounded by a web of complex human relationships. Hyuma Hoshi had his father Ittetsu and his friend, Chuta Ban. Joe Yabuki had Danpei Tange and the children from the slums.

However, Golgo has no such rivals. He has no master, no friends, no family, no lover. He is always alone. If by chance he does come across a rival, he must eliminate that rival if he wishes to live. There is no room for competitive rivalry, let alone friendship.

Human growth through rivalry, love and friendship, suffering, distress, joy, sadness... These elements may seem essential to any storyline, but they are nowhere to be found in Golgo 13.

Even still, Golgo 13 continues to leave an impression on us. Golgo is said to be the biggest mystery of the 20th century, but the mystery has continued even after the turn of the century. The work has a appeal that is both strange and fascinating.


Chapter 17: The Blood-Stained Stadium
Having set a new world record for metallic silhouette at the Olympic Games, Dave Krueger is a prodigal marksman of unparalleled skill. Golgo makes the mistake of allowing Dave to sneak up behind him, but for whatever reason—be it carelessness, overconfidence, or gamesmanship—Dave decides to postpone the duel until later. Despite being an equal or possibly even superior marksman than Golgo, this lack of resolve ends up becoming his downfall.

Golgo may have just lucked out in prevailing over Dave. But his ability to take that bit of luck and turn it into an opportunity was what truly shattered the prodigious amateur's overconfidence.

By the way, after Golgo eliminates Angela (Dave's sister), the assassin sent in by Nicholas Melangie, he stuffs the corpse into a trunk and mails it back to her employer. One questions whether, given his reputation as a cold professional killer, he really should have gone to such an extreme just to fuel his opponent's hatred. Though it's only fair that he retaliate against his enemies, Golgo shows his youth here. He should have kept his cool, and proceeded to solemnly taken out of his target.

*Staff*
Director: Takao Saito; Scenario: Koutaro Mori (Assistance)/Takao Saito; Layout: Mikijiro Kora/Takao Saito; Artwork: Fumiyasu Ishikawa/Saburo Takemoto/Mikijiro Kora/Takeshi Kanda/Yuji Otake/Hiromi Yamazaki/Seisaku Tamura/Kinzo Maeda/Norio Yamagawa/Harumi Kato/Kiyoka Washio/Satomi Kamie/Fuji Yamashiro/Takao Saito; Editor: Mamoru Osada


Chapter 18: The White Deadline
Golgo's actions in this chapter have left many readers befuddled.

First, in taking out the target, Golgo would have had a much easier time sniping from afar. But instead, he chooses to ski over to the target, allowing his enemies to notice him and return fire. Why would anyone decide to carry out such a risky plan?

Next, he should have packed up and left immediately after finishing the job, but for some odd reason, he checks into a nearby hotel and chats with his client over the phone. This gives the backstabbing client the opportunity to attack him.

He also escapes into the snow-covered mountains without any equipment. A very careless mistake for a man who never ceases to distrust his clients.

Working so hard to prevent the woman he met in the mountains from freezing to death is also uncharacteristic of Golgo. However, the scene does show that some traces of human emotion still reside within his soul. Though the chapter is almost universally panned by fans, I've personally grown somewhat fond of it, the same way I've grown fond of Within You Without You by The Beatles.

*Staff*
Director: Takao Saito; Scenario: Jun Miyazaki (Assistance)/Takao Saito; Layout: Mikijiro Kora/Takao Saito; Artwork: Fumiyasu Ishikawa/Saburo Takemoto/Mikijiro Kora/Takeshi Kanda/Yuji Otake/Hiromi Yamazaki/Seisaku Tamura/Kinzo Maeda/Norio Yamagawa/Harumi Kato/Kiyoka Washio/Satomi Kamie/Fuji Yamashiro/Takao Saito; Editor: Mamoru Osada


Chapter 19: Via Beirut
Hoover from the CIA, Kinisky from the KGB, Hume from MI6, and O'Mailley from French Intelligence. The "Big 4" intelligence personnel of Golgo 13 make a joint appearance at the start of this chapter. But the real leader of this pack appears to be an old woman named Mother Yehoshua, whose true identity remains a mystery.

Golgo skillfully takes out the six targets in his usual fashion. But who is this "Insect" that the last target mentions with his dying breath? The story has not yet concluded.

*Staff*
Director: Takao Saito; Scenario: Kazuo Koike/Takao Saito; Layout: Mikijiro Kora/Takao Saito; Artwork: Fumiyasu Ishikawa/Saburo Takemoto/Mikijiro Kora/Takeshi Kanda/Yuji Otake/Hiromi Yamazaki/Seisaku Tamura/Kinzo Maeda/Norio Yamagawa/Harumi Kato/Kiyoka Washio/Satomi Kamie/Fuji Yamashiro/Takao Saito; Editor: Mamoru Osada


Chapter 20: Insect: The Last Spy
Golgo is pissed. This is one of the rare instances throughout the series that Golgo truly appears to be burning for retribution. His enemy ordered the director of the Swiss Bank to try to assassinate him, meaning this is no ordinary foe. In order to identify this mysterious enemy, Golgo uses up his life savings to lay a trap of epic proportions.

Passionate lines like "This is the first time I've felt a fire ignite within me," "I'm putting everything on the line," show that Golgo really wants this. But still, using a film set to weed out the enemy...?

*Staff*
Director: Takao Saito; Scenario: Kazuo Koike/Takao Saito; Layout: Mikijiro Kora/Takao Saito; Artwork: Fumiyasu Ishikawa/Saburo Takemoto/Mikijiro Kora/Takeshi Kanda/Yuji Otake/Hiromi Yamazaki/Seisaku Tamura/Kinzo Maeda/Satomi Kamie/Harumi Kato/Fuji Yamashiro/Takao Saito; Editor: Mamoru Osada


Chapter 21: Love is a Knife
Ben the hitman assaults Golgo with his knife. Golgo is caught unaware, but he happens to block the incoming knife when he readies his gun. Again, Golgo's is an incredibly lucky man. Incidentally, another interesting point is that the appearance of a fake Golgo means that Golgo has now become a very well-known name in the business.

*Staff*
Director: Takao Saito; Scenario: Koutaro Mori (Assistance)/Takao Saito; Layout: Mikijiro Kora/Takao Saito; Artwork: Fumiyasu Ishikawa/Saburo Takemoto/Mikijiro Kora/Takeshi Kanda/Yuji Otake/Hiromi Yamazaki/Seisaku Tamura/Kinzo Maeda/Satomi Kamie/Harumi Kato/Fuji Yamashiro/Takao Saito; Photography: Masao Matsumoto; Editor: Mamoru Osada


Chapter 22: Dr. V. Walter
The client, KGB intelligence agent Olga, has a thing for Golgo, and is torn when her superiors order her to eliminate him. There's an interesting frame layout in the scene where Olga can do nothing but stand and watch while her comrades engage Golgo in a gunfight. She ultimately commits suicide by consuming poison, whispering a sad "Do svidaniya (Farewell)..." in her dying breath.

*Staff*
Director: Takao Saito; Scenario: Koutaro Mori (Assistance)/Takao Saito; Layout: Mikijiro Kora/Takao Saito; Artwork: Fumiyasu Ishikawa/Saburo Takemoto/Mikijiro Kora/Takeshi Kanda/Yuji Otake/Hiromi Yamazaki/Seisaku Tamura/Kinzo Maeda/Satomi Kamie/Tadashi Sakuma/Fuji Yamashiro/Takao Saito; Photography: Masao Matsumoto; Editor: Mamoru Osada


Chapter 23: The Inland Zone
Golgo exercises the utmost care in making contact with his clients, usually coming up with his own way of appearing before them. But this time, the client is the one that outsmart him. His line "You had me thinking it's customary to hit someone when you ask them a favor in Bolivia," allows a little bit of the vexation to ooze out.

*Staff*
Director: Takao Saito; Scenario: Jun Miyazaki (Assistance)/Takao Saito; Layout: Mikijiro Kora/Takao Saito; Artwork: Fumiyasu Ishikawa/Saburo Takemoto/Mikijiro Kora/Takeshi Kanda/Yuji Otake/Hiromi Yamazaki/Seisaku Tamura/Kinzo Maeda/Satomi Kamie/Tadashi Sakuma/Fuji Yamashiro/Takao Saito; Photography: Masao Matsumoto; Editor: Mamoru Osada


Masatake Sugimori
Golgo 13 historian and director of the Duke Togo Research Center. Chief editor of THE Golgo-gaku (Shogakukan).