Karasu Tengu Kabuto


Karasu Tengu Kabuto is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Buichi Terasawa in 1987.

Plot

Those who have the blood of the Karasu Tengu in their veins must forever fight against the powers of darkness. Along with four other holy ninja warriors Genbu (Black Snaky Tortoise), Suzaku (Red Phoenix), Seiryu (Blue Dragon), Byakko (White Tiger), Karasu Tengu Kabuto fights against the evil god Kuroyasha Dôki and his underlings such as Junin-shu. Their battle continues through generations: in the second volume of the manga, Kabuto's son makes an appearance as the second Karasu Tengu.

Media

Manga

The manga has been serialized in Shueisha's Fresh Jump in 1987–1988, and later published in the United States by ComicsOne,

Anime

The manga was later adapted into the 39-episode anime series written by Hideki Mitsui and directed by Gen Fukuda and Takashi Watanabe in 1990–1991, premiering on NHK BS-2 on July 29, 1990. There were also six special episodes.
Episodes 14 to 26, which tell an anime-original storyline, have never been released on home video, even in Japan. Episodes 1 to 13, which cover Volume 1 of the manga, & Episodes 27 to 39, which cover Volume 2, were released on VHS & LD, both in their original episode forms & via four compilation movies, but the middle portion of the anime only ever aired on TV.

Original video animation

An OVA, Raven Tengu Kabuto: The Golden-Eyed Beast, was released in 1992. It was released in the U.S. on VHS as Kabuto the Golden Eye Monster by US Renditions in 1992.