Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted. Fan Feed
Record of Ragnarok (終末のワルキューレ, Shūmatsu no Warukyūre, lit. "Doomsday Valkyrie") is a Japanese manga series written by Shinya Umemura and Takumi Fukui and illustrated by Ajichika. It began in Coamix's (formerly also published by Tokuma Shoten) seinen manga magazine Monthly Comic Zenon in November 2017. It was licensed in North America by Viz Media in June 2021. The manga was adapted as an original net animation (ONA) by Graphinica and premiered on Netflix in June 2021. A second season by Graphinica and Yumeta Company is set to premiere in 2023. Plot[edit]Every 1000 years, the Gods' Council assembles to decide the fate of humanity. After 7 million years of human history, the gods come to the decision that humans are irredeemable and must go extinct. However, the valkyrie Brunhilde proposes to give humanity one last chance to prove their worth and the gods agree to hold the battle of Ragnarok, a tournament with 13 notable humans from across history against 13 of the most powerful gods engaging in duels to the death. Humanity will be spared if their side achieves 7 victories in the competition. To even the odds, each human is granted the assistance of a valkyrie who transforms into a powerful weapon tailored for their user's combat style called "Volund", at the risk of losing her life if the user is killed. Characters[edit]Valkyries[edit]Brunhilde (ブリュンヒルデ, Buryunhirude)Voiced by: Miyuki Sawashiro[3] (Japanese); Laura Post[4] (English)The eldest of the valkyries and their leader, she convinces the gods to hold the Ragnarok. She despises the gods and takes advantage of the situation to enact her revenge at them.Göll (ゲル, Geru)Voiced by: Tomoyo Kurosawa[3] (Japanese); Anairis Quinones[5] (English)Brunhilde's youngest sister and a valkyrie in training.Randgriz (ランドグリーズ, Randogurīzu)Voiced by: Aya Kawakami[3] (Japanese); Kayleigh McKee[6] (English)The fourth of the 13 valkyrie sisters. She becomes a Halberd for Lu Bu during Ragnarok in round 1.Reginleif (レギンレイヴ, Reginreivu)The seventh of the 13 Valkyrie sisters. She performed a Völundr with Adam in round 2, turning into brass knucles.Hrist (フリスト, Furisuto)The second of the 13 Valkyrie sisters. She performed a Völundr with Kojiro Sasaki in round 3 and turned into the "Monohoshizao", an ōdachi. Due to Hrist's Bipolar Personality the sword is able to reform itself into two shorter blades.Human representatives[edit]Lü Bu (呂布奉先, Ryofu Hōsen)Voiced by: Tomokazu Seki[3] (Japanese); Kaiji Tang[7] (English)A military general and warlord who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of Imperial China and humanity's representative for the first match, which he loses. His weapon is the Sky Piercer, a halberd granted by the valkyrie Randgriz, whose special ability allows Lu Bu to break any armor.Adam (アダム, Adamu)Voiced by: Soma Saito[8] (Japanese); Jonah Scott[9] (English)The progenitor of all humanity who fights and loses in the second match. Designed in the image of a god, Adam can perfectly replicate any move and technique he lays his eyes upon. His weapon is a knuckleduster, granted by the valkyrie Reginleif.Kojiro Sasaki (佐々木 小次郎, Sasaki Kojirō)Voiced by: Kazuhiro Yamaji[8] (Japanese); Keone Young (English)A famous Japanese swordsman who fights and wins in the third match. His weapon is the Monohoshizao, a two-handed nodachi granted by the valkyrie Hrist, whose special ability allowed her to transform into two weapons after the Monohoshizao was shattered.Jack the Ripper (ジャック・ザ・リッパー, Jakku za Rippā)Voiced by: Tomokazu Sugita[10]An infamous British serial killer from the late 19th century who fights and wins in the fourth match. He wears a pair of gloves granted by the valkyrie Hlökk, whose special ability allows Jack the Ripper to turn anything his gloves touch into a divine weapon.Raiden Tameemon (雷電爲右エ門)Voiced by: Subaru Kimura[10]The highest-rated Japanese sumo wrestler from the 19th century who fights and loses in the fifth match. He wears a mawashi granted by the valkyrie Thrud, which gives him complete control over his body's muscles.Buddha (釈迦, Shaka)Voiced by: Yuichi Nakamura[10]A former human who founded Buddhism, known as "The Enlightened One". Despite having attained godhood, Buddha decides to represent and win for humanity in the sixth match, much to the ire of the other gods. He wields the Six Realms Staff, an oversized praying wheel that can assume six different forms according to his current emotional state.Qin Shi Huang (秦始皇, Shikōtei)The founder of the Qin Dynasty and the first emperor to unify China, in the 3rd century BC. He represents humanity in the seventh round, which he wins. His weapons are the "Allmighty Spaulders", granted by the valkyrie Alvitr.Souji Okita (沖田 総司, Okita Sōji)The captain of the Shinsengumi a special police force from 19th century Japan, famed for his swordsmanship.Michel de Nostredame (ミシェル・ノストラダムス, Misheru Nosutoradamusu)A French astrologer, physician and reputed seer from the 16th century.Simo Häyhä (シモ・ヘイヘ, Shimo Heihe)A Finnish sniper and war veteran from the 20th century, recognized as the deadliest marksman in history.Leonidas I (レオニダス王, Reonidasu-ō)A Spartan king from the 5th century BC, famous for his instrumental role at the Battle of Thermopylae.Nikola Tesla (ニコラ・テスラ, Nikora Tesura)A Serbian-American inventor from the 20th century, who represents humanity in the eighth round.Grigori Rasputin (グリゴリー・ラスプーチン, Gurigorī Rasupūchin)A Russian mystic and self-proclaimed holy man from the early 20th century.Sakata Kintoki (坂田 金時, Sakata no Kintoki)A Japanese folk hero from the Heian period.Gods[edit]Thor (トール, Tōru)Voiced by: Hikaru Midorikawa[3] (Japanese); Jalen K. Cassell[11] (English)The Norse god of thunder and a representative for the gods for the first match, which he wins, armed with the hammer Mjölnir.Zeus (ゼウス, Zeusu)Voiced by: Wataru Takagi[3] (Japanese); Chris Edgerly[12] (English)The supreme Greek god and chairman of the Gods' Council who fightsand wins the second match, fighting barehanded.Poseidon (ポセイドン)Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai[8] (Japanese); Bumper Robinson (English)The Greek god of the sea and Zeus' older brother who fights and loses the third match, armed with a trident.Hercules (ヘラクレス, Herakuresu)Voiced by: Katsuyuki Konishi[10]A former human and Greek god of strength and heroism who fights and loses the fourth match by the gods' side, armed with a divine club.Shiva (シヴァ)Voiced by: Tatsuhisa Suzuki[8] (Japanese); Benjamin Diskin (English)The four-armed Hindu god of destruction and one of the three gods that make up the Trimurti who participates in and wins the fifth match, fighting barehanded.Zerofuku (零福)The fusion and original form of the Japanese Seven Lucky Gods. He represents the gods in the sixth round, replacing Bishamonten. He wields a battle-axe known as the Misery Cleaver.Bishamonten (毘沙門天)One of the Four Heavenly Kings of Buddhism. He is a god of warriors and a punisher of evildoers who participates in and loses the sixth match, empowering himself by absorbing the Seven Lucky Gods into his body.Hades (ハデス, Hadesu)The Greek god of the underworld. He replaces Buddha on the gods' roster and participates in and loses the seventh match, seeking vengeance for his brother Poseidon. He wields a bident, fused with the remnants of Poseidon's trident.Hermes (ヘルメス, Herumesu)Voiced by: Junichi Suwabe[8] (Japanese); Cory Yee[13] (English)The herald of the Greek gods.Aphrodite (アフロディテ, Afurodite)Voiced by: Rie Tanaka[8] (Japanese); Reba Buhr[14] (English)The Greek goddess of love. She is accompanied by a group of stone golems that she uses as a throne and to hold up her large breasts.Ares (アレス, Aresu)Voiced by: Hinata Tadakoro[8] (Japanese); Tim Friedlander[15] (English)The Greek god of courage and war.Susanoo-no-Mikoto (スサノヲ, Susanowo)The Shinto god of the sea and storms. One of the three central deities of Japanese mythology.Odin (オーディン, Ōdin)Voiced by: Show Hayami[8] (Japanese); Bill Butts[16] (English)The supreme Norse god, he is Thor's father and blood brother to Loki.Loki (ロキ, Roki)Voiced by: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka[8] (Japanese); Ryan Colt Levy[17] (English)The Norse god of deceit and blood brother to Odin.Heimdall (ヘイムダル, Heimudaru)Voiced by: Yukihiro Nozuyama[8] (Japanese); Kellen Goff[18] (English)A Norse god who keeps watch for invaders and the onset of Ragnarök. He oversees and comments on the fights of Ragnarok.Huginn and Muninn (フギン&ムニン, Fugin & Munin)Voiced by: Taisuke Nakano (Huginn), Tomohiro Yamaguchi (Muninn)[8] (Japanese); Michael Chapman (Huginn), Ben Pronsky (Muninn) (English)A pair of ravens that fly all over the world, Midgard, and bring information to the god Odin. They are usually seen resting on Odin's shoulders.Anubis (アヌビス, Anubisu)The Egyptian god of death, mummifying and embalment.Apollo (アポロン, Aporon)The Greek god of the sun.Beelzebub (ベルゼブブ, Beruzebubu)A Philistine deity portrayed as a demon in Jewish and Christian lore, he fights in the eighth match.Adamas (アダマス, Adamasu)The Greek god of conquest. Following Zeus's victory in the Titanomachy, an indignant Adamas tried to form a army to overthrow him, only to be killed by Poseidon, who then erased his existence from all Gods' memories. It was later revealed that Hades had Hermes call Beelzebub to resurrect him. His new form is called "Adamantine" and is treated as a new god.Media[edit]Manga[edit]Record of Ragnarok is written by Shinya Umemura and Takumi Fukui and illustrated by Ajichika. It began in Coamix's (formerly also published by Tokuma Shoten) Monthly Comic Zenon on November 25, 2017.[19] Its chapters has been collected into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was released on May 19, 2018.[20] As of September 20, 2022, sixteen volumes have been released.[21] On June 17, 2021, Viz Media announced that they had licensed the series for English release in North America. It will be released in digital starting in fall 2021 and in print starting in spring 2022.[22][23] A spin-off manga titled Shūmatsu no Valkyrie: Ryo Fu Hō Sen Hishōden (終末のワルキューレ異聞 呂布奉先飛将伝) began in Monthly Comic Zenon on October 25, 2019.[24] Its chapters have been collected into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was released on April 20, 2020.[25] As of June 20, 2022, six volumes have been released.[26] A spin-off manga centered around the Jack the Ripper character titled Shūmatsu no Walküre Kitan - Jack the Ripper no Jikenbo will begin serialization in Monthly Comic Zenon on October 25, 2022.[27] Volume list[edit]Record of Ragnarok[edit]
Shūmatsu no Valkyrie: Ryo Fu Hō Sen Hishōden[edit]
Anime[edit]In December 2020, it was announced that the series will receive an anime series adaptation produced by Warner Bros. Japan and animated by Graphinica. It is directed by Masao Ōkubo, with series composition by Kazuyuki Fudeyasu, characters designs by Masaki Saito and music composed by Yasuharu Takanashi. Licensed by Netflix, the series premiered on June 17, 2021 on the streaming service.[46] The opening theme is "Kamigami" (KAMIGAMI-神噛-, lit. "Gods" / "God Biting") performed by Maximum the Hormone,[47] while the ending theme is "Fukahi" (不可避, lit. "Unavoidable") performed by SymaG.[8] In August 2021, it was announced that the series was renewed for a second season.[48] The main staff is returning from the first season, with Yumeta Company producing the series alongside Graphinica, and Yuka Yamada writing the scripts alongside Fudeyasu.[49] It is set to premiere in 2023.[50] Reception[edit]Record of Ragnarok ranked 5th on Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2019 ranking of Top 20 manga series for male readers.[51] The series ranked 5th on the "Nationwide Bookstore Employees' Recommended Comics of 2018".[52] It placed 12th on the "Nationwide Bookstore Employees' Recommended Comics of 2020".[53] In 2019, the manga ranked 20th on the 5th Next Manga Awards in the Print category.[54] As of March 2021, the manga had over 6 million copies in circulation.[55] As of June 2021, the manga had over 7 million copies in circulation.[56] As of December 2021, the manga had over 9 million copies in circulation.[57] In October 2020, Rajan Zed, the president of the Universal Society of Hinduism Rajan, made a statement addressed to Coamix, criticizing the depiction of Hindu deities in manga and urged the company "not to trivialize Lord Shiva and other highly revered Hindu gods and goddesses in its manga publications".[58] The anime received backlash for its depiction of Shiva by a large group of Indian Americans, calling the series "highly disturbing to them" as it trivializes the deity.[59] To avoid further criticism, Netflix altered the trailer to remove Shiva, and later removed the anime itself from its streaming library in India.[60][61][62] References[edit]
External links[edit]
|