Kinnikuman 274

He's won every acclaim and defeated every enemy that a Justice Choujin can face! But now, Suguru may finally receive something awaiting him since the day of his birth...and unknowingly be thrown into the greatest conflict of his life!

Volume 24: Coronation Disaster!!
Chapter 274: Scramble for the Kinniku Throne (1): The Children of Destiny!!
(TN: The actual title of the full arc is “Kinniku-Sei Oui Soudatsu”, which actually translates better as “Contest for the Planet Kinniku Crown” or “Struggle for the Planet Kinniku Throne”, but since “Scramble for the Kinniku Throne” is essentially the accepted title, I will be using this for this arc)

7.
Audience: You’re great—Kinnikuman!!
Announcer: The streets of Tokyo are jammed with Choujin and humans, who are all publicly watching the parade for Kinnikuman & Terryman’s Machineguns, who defeated the Perfect Choujin and splendidly are shining with the championship laurels of the Space Choujin Tag Tournament.
Audience: Terry--!! Kinnikuma—n
Suguru: Well, Choujin whose masks were hunted by the Perfect Choujin, we’re returning your masks!!
(TN: Wait…didn’t Robin say he would do that?)
Choujin: Thank you Kiinikuman, you’re not a worthless Choujin anymore. You’re the leader of we Justice Choujin; a messiah!!
(TN: And…where have these faceless losers been these last five years?)

8.-9.
(Title page…take note of those five guys over Suguru’s heads…)

10.
Mayumi: Sniff
Mayumi: That Suguru, whose clumsiness and stupidity were said to make him a failure since the Kinniku Clan began, has conquered both the Single and Tag titles. Those great accomplish he’s done that not even our ancestors could do has removed them.

11.
Sayuri: These TV shows and magazines until now that not even Suguru has seen have been brought together with Kinnikuman special reports that are on every day now that Suguru is a universal hero…
Magazine 1: Shonen Janjan
(TN: “Shonen Janjan” is obviously a reference to “Shonen Jump”, with “Janjan” as a SFX for “flickering”)
Magazine 2: Weekly Great
Magazine 3: Weekly Body
Magazine 4: The Special
Suguru: Kinnikuman Gyuudon changes the weather.
(TN: Suguru’s commercial uses the expression “otenko tenten”, “otenko” is “weather” and “tenten” is an onomatopoeia for “movement”, so I essentially estimated what he was saying with that)
Reporter: Kinnikuman-san, what about the rumors you’re going out with Hiroko Yakushimaru?
(TN: Hiroko Yakushimaru is a famous Japanese actress who became notable in a period in the late 70s and early 80s)
Suguru: Well~~my connection on that matter is…
Mayumi: 24 years ago, I wanted to strangle your neck many times for the really idiotic face you had when you were just born……But it’s great I desisted from doing that then.

12.
Mayumi: The successive kings must certainly be pleased…
Sign: 57TH EMPEROR OF PLANET KINNIKU: KINNIKU MAYUMI
Mayumi: Well, mama, it’s finally a good time to put up Suguru’s picture next to my picture.
Sayuri: You can’t be: dear, are you planning on handing the throne of Planet Kinniku to Suguru!?
Mayumi: I too have been overstrained for a long time…since Suguru has been way more active here, it’s best for me to retire from the front.
Sayuri: Dear, you’re so wonderful. Suguru can sit in the throne of the king.
Sayuri: Our long-held dream is finally being realized!
Mayumi: B…but, it’s not my responsibility to select the king of Planet Kinniku.

13.
Mayumi: I have to get the approval of the Choujin Committee; and after, Suguru, who will be candidate for the king, will debut to the 105 Gods in the heavens, and from the approval of all of these gods, Suguru can become the Great King for the first time. However, if even one god turns their head, then it’s no good. At any rate, if he doesn’t hold an approved personality, he can’t be king of Planet Kinniku!
Mayumi: But thinking of Suguru’s recent activities and heated popularity, even the 105 gods don’t have a reason to not make Suguru the great king!
Suguru: Right, right!
Mayumi: WA—
SFX: FUFUFUFU

14.
Caption: CELESTIAL WORLD—COUNTRY OF THE CHOUJIN GODS
(TN: Another translator has suggested the usage of "celestial world", but based on the translator I used, "Tenjoukai" is "Heaven"...either is fine)
“Glasses”: Does Kinniku Mayumi think that all of the gods will approve of Kinnikuman as the new king?
“Leaner”: He has to understand: a hundred gods will approve with no objection, but we, the five who are called the Evil Gods, won’t do so.
“God”: But God of Intelligence, it’s as you’ve said: the Choujin called Kinnikuman truly is one who needed special attention.
Intelligence: Until now, he was a no-good Choujin who was really off the radar, but since he crushed the Devil Choujin and the Six Devil Knights, I realized that his Choujin power has slightly increased……

15.
Intelligence: Of course, since he fights powerful opponents himself and defeats them, he’s a Choujin who can increase his own power rapidly…in short: a Choujin who possesses a growing power.
“Sitter”: He…can’t be!!
“Close to Panel”: What’s called Choujin Power shouldn’t rise or fall from once it’s endowed until they die---!!
Intelligence: Thus, the Choujin called Kinnikuman is terrifying………….
Intelligence: Even the Perfect Choujin, who currently are the closest in existence to us gods, end up like such when facing Kinnikuman!
“Evil Gods”: OOH!!

16.
Intelligence: Speaking of Neptune King, he should be a 50 Million Powered Choujin in his Choujin strength. How Kinnikuman, who is 950 thousand Power at most, have done this to Neptune King? While watching the Finals of the tag tournament, I investigated Kinnikuman’s Choujin Strength with this power gun, but…
Intelligence: Even as I continued to minutely inspect him, Kinnikuman’s Choujin Strength didn’t indicate an increase at all………
Suguru: BURNING INNER STRENGTH--!!
Intelligence: And then, when I had stopped my inspection, a disaster occurred with his power!!
Intelligence: The power gun, which measures up to a maximum 50 Million Power, was destroyed. Kinnikuman’s Inner Strength I guess reaches up to perhaps 70 Million Power…

17.
“Clutched Head”: Uh…er~~our Choujin Strength as gods is a hundred-million power and yet…
“Far Back”: Now if Kinnikuman didn’t fall into any more crisises
“Left”: He wouldn’t utilize his Burning Inner Strength!!
“Right”: But if he could master his Burning Inner Strength freely…
“Left”: Then Kinnikuman’s fury would push into the heavens now.
“No Mouth”: If that occurs, we Evil Gods would come to live in an unpleasant world.
“Clenched Fist”: If we were to strike Kinnikuman, it’s now! While he doesn’t have the equal power to us…If we don’t somehow prevent him from gaining the throne of Planet Kinnikuman, making him leader of the Choujin
Intelligence: Fufufu……everyone, it’s needless to worry! I’ve obtained a fact which won’t ever let him take the throne of Planet Kinniku!!
“No Mouth”: Wh…what!?
Intelligence: First, look at this.

18.
Intelligence: In Planet Kinniku 8th Hospital on April 1st, 1960 (April Fools), 24 years ago:
(TN: This chapter was released in 1984, thus why Suguru is “24” according to this)
Intelligence: The first cry of Kinniku Suguru was released—
Intelligence: At the time, at the same moment and hospital, there were five other boys born. And then, the prank of destiny started. On that day, all the babies who were born that day were in the newborn ward.—
Intelligence: But, on that day, a big fire occurred in that hospital.
Babies: UWAA UWAA

19.
Sayuri: Suguru—
Mayumi: No, mama, it’s dangerous!!
“Mothers”: MY BAB—Y.
Intelligence: The six mothers were surprised when they entered within the newborn ward. The beds that had separated the six babies had collapsed, making them unable to use them to go for their own child.
Mothers: My…My baby.
Intelligence: Even so, with the situation as it was, the mothers generally made a guess and held up the child that they thought was their own baby—
Intelligence: Thus we flow ahead 24 years to reach my reason that I’ve reached presently.

20.
“Back of Head”: Therefore, if we had those mistakenly taken children from the fire, then we can make them think that the current Kinnikuman isn’t the official son of Kinniku Mayumi!!
Intelligence: Of course.
“Far Left”: Uhahahaha, that’s interesting. If Kinnikuman is a completely stranger who isn’t descendant of Kinniku Mayumi, then he can’t hold the honor of the crown.
“Right”: Shouldn’t each of us search for them by our own hands? For these five remaining candidates to inherit the throne who may truly be descending from Kinniku Mayumi!!
“Left”: Right: we’ll loan our power to these misfortunate children that we five are blessed with. Of course, won’t this erase Kinnikuman from the world of Choujin—

21.
“Poor Choujin”: What, I may be the prince of Planet Kinniku!?
“Poor Mother”: Cough cough, I held you in the delirium during that fire but…
“Poor Mother”: I truly may have saved the prince of Planet Kinniku. By doing so, I made you poor…
“Poor Choujin”: Moth—er!!
Intelligence: Phoenixman!
Intelligence: You will be loaned the power of the God of Intelligence!!

22.
Intelligence: From today, you are not Phoenixman!! Your name is changed to Kinnikuman Super Phoenix.
Caption: A CERTAIN PLANET—
“God”: Powerfulman.

23.
Techniques: You will be loaned the power of the God of Techniques!!
Techniques: From today your name is changed to Kinnikuman Zebra.
Caption: A BATTLEFIELD ON A CERTAIN PLANET—
“Soldier”: Guwa

24.
“God”: Soldierman!
Brutality: You will be loaned the power of the God of Brutality!!
Brutality: From today, your name is Kinnikuman Soldier!!
Soldier: My enemy is only Kinnikuman!!
Narrator: The attacks of the terrifying Evil Gods continued…but Kinnikuman, who merrily was succeeding the throne, didn’t know this at al—
Caption: DEN’EN CHOUFU—

25.
Mayumi: Suguru—the chairman today has approved you as the next Great King of Planet Kinniku—
Suguru: Is it true, Papa—
Mayumi: Yep. Later, when you’ve finished your debut to the 105 Choujin gods, you’ll clearly be the Great King of Planet Kinniku.
Terry: Congratulations, Kinnikuman.
Voices: Fufufu…Kinnikuman, even if you’re delighted, now we’re coming…(Fufufu…)

26.
(SCRAMBLE FOR THE KINNIKU THRONE ARC)
SPECIAL VTR I
THE BIRTH OF KINNIKUMAN SUPER PHOENIX

TN: Well...I know I probably promised to do it much later than anticipated and probably not sure if it will be that received well...but welcome to the beginning of the longest, most confusing...and final arc of the original Kinnikuman: the Scramble for the Throne! To tell the truth, I sort of wanted to wait a while before getting started on this so I wouldn't have to rush through it...but with the current situation as is with my translations, particularly KochiKame being done alongside this arc (and the whole matter that is sort of tearing apart a lot of cool people at a Kinnikuman board, let alone the fact that nothing else seemed to be going through), I've completed my first script for the arc. This is still going to be a crazy arc, equal in length to the Gold Mask & Tag tourney arcs combined, and will be released rather slow comparitively as I work KochiKame (and who knows what else) alongside it, but I'm happy to finally be starting this arc somehow or another.

So...what can I say about the beginning of this arc...well quite a bit but most probably won't be positive. I guess though I actually have a couple good things to get to that I'll just list now so that we can compare later on:
-First of all, I'm happy that Mayumi actually gets some true focus for the first time in forever (instead of just being some talking head in a reaction shot in a wrestling match)...and that Sayuri, who magically seemed to disappear aside from one particular moment in the Tag arc, is actually a major component this early on in the story. The whole aspect of Mayumi finally realzing his age and that Suguru, being the main figurehead and doer of Choujin, is finally worthy to rule is just a good realization of finally pushing aside and letting his son handle everything considering he already is...though it is a bit much that "the leader of the Kinniku clan is automatically the leader of every Choujin in the universe". They really need to think for themselves, the rest of the Choujin in the universe.
-In concept, the whole basis of the arc in that "Suguru may not be the true son of Mayumi and Sayuri and therefore not able to be king" is actually a cool one. Yes it has faults (we'll get to those soon), but it does allow for an easy creation of a basis for conflict in this arc.

Well...those are the good things. Now...oh boy...the bad:
-First of all, why the heck are there exactly 105 Gods of Choujin/Kinniku!? The whole purpose is just to say "there are 100 good Gods and 5 evil ones"...why can't there just be a hundred Gods and make it that there are 5 among them who always act as, say, dissenters such as in Congress where someone wants to prevent it from being perfect and always votes no? And what about "elder Gods"...no, not Cthulu, I mean Goldman, Silverman and that weird Justice guy who looked like Mongolman? Did they used to be part of the 105? Are there actually 108 Gods and those three were kicked out? (well 108 is a mystical number in Asian cultures but...) It just felt bizarre that it was such an odd number.
-Secondly, if the five "evil gods" are Gods associated with stuff like "Intelligence", "Techniques" and "Brutality", then...what are the other 100? What do they represent? What are their names? Bob, Larry, Steve, Takeshi and Jesus? I dunno...and speaking of Gods, note how "God of Intelligence" obviously has glasses...like Brainy Smurf...only...not as funny.
-As if the glasses were obvious, where do you get a power gun in Heaven? And...what's with these "all powerful, omnipotent" beings having "power levels" like regular Choujin? Can any Choujin born with 100 Million immediately be a God? Then again...if they're associated as such, then maybe the Kinniku Society has a more Norse society where Gods walk among men and die and such...could explain Goldman and Silverman.
-Here's probably one of the biggest and stupidest issues I have with this chapter: couldn't all those Choujin mothers have just seen from the moment they got their children which was which thereby preventing the trouble that happened? Sure Sayuri and the other five had to run out with their babies due to the fire, but couldn't they just take a quick look at their son, realize who it was, and if it was wrong they could just talk to the other five to get the right kid? It's not like they all are exact clones and a mother could tell them...heck, even Mayumi mentioned earlier in the chapter that he hated Suguru's face from the moment he was born, proving even he could have picked out which was his "son".
-What the heck was the God of Intelligence doing with Phoenixman anyway!? If you look at the panel a certain way...well, it probably explains why many claim Super Phoenix is a douche...since he has issues...yes, those issues...eww.
-So if Phoenixman becomes Super Phoenix and Soldierman becomes Soldier, then Powerfulman becomes...Zebra!? Wait...ZEBRA!? Yeah I saw the zebra on the planet with him but...wouldn't he just be "Kinnikuman Powerful" going by that line?
-Oh, and the final one: note the final panel has "the five fated princes"...but at the start of the next chapter, two of them don't exist yet!

Yeah...I probably am looking way too close at this (and I'm not getting into the popularity issues and the "stupid faceless people who somehow still hated Suguru after everything he's done"), but to tell the truth, it was a good concept with...bizarre execution. Sure hope I don't complain this much the rest of this insane, insane arc!