Phantom Blood

Tarkus

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“
Let me hear your cries of despair! I'm an elite at slaughter! I create death and destruction by force!
”
—Tarkus, Chapter 31

Tarkus (タルカス, Tarukasu) is an antagonist from Phantom Blood.

Tarkus the "Dark Knight" was a knight from 16th Century Great Britain who was executed after losing a war. Resurrected as a Zombie by Dio Brando, he is wholeheartedly loyal to his new master and fights the Joestar Group.

Appearance

Tarkus is a towering and heavily-muscled zombie wearing a heavy metal armor consisting of a chestplate, two shoulder pads, two legplates and a loincloth. Tarkus also wears a horned and crested metal helmet on top of his medium-length hair.

Personality

“
That messed up spirit. That evil insanity. You've sold even the depths of your soul to Dio, haven't you?
”
—Jonathan to Tarkus, Chapter 35
Tarkus was a powerful knight during the time he was alive, and loyal to his queen. However, different from his partner Bruford, he lacks a sense of honor. Tarkus gets enraged easily and uses his anger for violence. Due to the corruption of Dio, he thinks of Bruford as a disgrace to the Dark Knights, having no qualms about destroying the armor of his former friend. Tarkus is a brutal and ruthless fighter and enjoys forcing his opponents to battle him to the death in the Chain Neck Deathmatch, even if it is against their own will.

Abilities

Physical Ability

As a trained warrior and one of the only five knights to succeed in the 77 Rings Challenge, Tarkus possesses an incredible amount of physical strength and endurance. Even while alive as a human, his neck could withstand several attacks and break the axes of executioners before being cut.[3]

Tarkus's display of strength

After being resurrected as a zombie, his brutality and power increases even more, making him capable of squashing people with his bare hands.[4] Tarkus initially demonstrates his strength by lifting a massive portion of the ground that Jonathan was standing on from beneath him, while only using a finger. He then shatters the giant boulder with the same finger.[5]

Later, he throws himself onto a stone wall in order to trap Jonathan in the Lair of the Two-Headed Dragon. Whereas Zeppeli states that Tarkus should be unable to move because his bones would have shattered from the collision, Tarkus manages to climb the building and still be in a state to fight Jonathan and Zeppeli afterwards.[6] A kick from him is strong enough to shatter the bone of Jonathan's upper arm.[7]

Chain Techniques

Tarkus is an expert at the Chain Neck Deathmatch, having killed forty-eight warriors in death matches.[7] He uses his surroundings to his advantage, such as ensnaring his opponents with a chain to rip their bodies apart.

  • Hell Heaven Snake Kill ( 天地来蛇殺(へルヘブンスネーキル), Heru Hebun Sunē Kiru, lit. "Heaven and Earth coming Snake kill"): Tarkus' signature technique. He jumps above his opponent while he manipulates his chain to strike them from below, cornering them from both sides. The chain wraps around his opponent and Tarkus pulls on it with enough force to tear a body in half.

Swordsmanship

When Tarkus was a knight of Mary Stuart, he was described as a hero who could cut rocks like butter with his sword. Proving the stories of his past, Tarkus strikes the ground with his sword and slices off a large cliff, causing the Joestar Group to fall.[4]

History

Background

A Manuscript depicting Bruford and Tarkus.

Born in the 16th century, Tarkus was a member of the Tudor Dynasty and a retainer of Mary Stuart After losing his relatives in previous wars, the young Tarkus was brought up as Mary Stuart's knight and trained his body for that sole purpose. At the same time, Tarkus became attached to Mary. Alongside his fellow retainer Bruford, the two being of five in history to succeed it, Tarkus passed the Challenge of the 77 Rings in 1563.[8]

Bruford and Tarkus about to be executed

Eventually, when Mary was imprisoned by her political rival Queen Elizabeth, Bruford and Tarkus fought the queen's army until she offered Mary's release in return for their surrender. But on the day they of their execution as enemies of the Crown, Bruford and Tarkus learned from their executioner that Mary was already killed before they gave into the queen's demands. Tarkus was livid to hear that Elizabeth deceived them into giving up their lives for nothing and cursed her in his dying breath, rumors saying that his neck became so rigid from anger that several axes broke before he was beheaded. The story of Bruford and Tarkus was passed down and became famous in England[3]

Phantom Blood

Tarkus crushing Bruford's remains.

After taking residence in Windknight's Lot following his transition into a vampire, Dio resurrects Bruford and Tarkus as his zombie enforcers to exploit their hatred against the world. He first summons them to kill Jonathan, Will Anthonio Zeppeli, and Robert E. O. Speedwagon. While Bruford fights with Jonathan, Tarkus fights Zeppeli and Speedwagon. But following Bruford's defeat, Tarkus desecrates his remains while saying that Bruford disappointed him before assaulting Jonathan. When Jonathan and his friends attempt to escape Tarkus on a hang-glider created from Ripple-induced leaves, Tarkus jumps and crashes the glider. Though assumed indisposed, Tarkus' durability convinces Zeppeli that the zombie is a loose end they cannot ignore.

Jonathan fighting Tarkus

Jonathan enters the building to find a place where Poco can hide safely, finding himself in the Chamber of the Two-Headed Dragon where Tarkus engages Jonathan in a Chain Neck Deathmatch. After Poco nearly gets himself killed to get the others in, Zeppeli proceeds to fight Tarkus before the zombie binds him with the chain which is used to rip the Ripple master's torso from his legs while snapping Jonathan's neck. Fortunately, Zeppeli transfers all his remaining Ripple into Jonathan's body. Empowered and healed by the sudden surge of Ripple, Jonathan shatters his collar then easily kills Tarkus with a Ripple-infused double punch to the face.

Chapters / Episodes

Book Icon.png Manga Appearances
Chapters in order of appearance
TV Icon.png Anime Appearances
Episodes in order of appearance

Video Games

Phantom Blood (PS2 Game)

Tarkus appears as a boss fight in the game. The player needs to beat him in under 280 seconds. At first, the player uses Zeppeli and then Jonathan afterwards. Like most of the enemies in the game, Tarkus will chase the player trying to attack him with punches and kicks. Tarkus's special ability allows him to use chains to inflict long-range attacks on the player.

Tarkus is playable during some missions in the Extra Battle mode, with either his helmet on or off. With his helmet on, his special ability is to use his giant sword to strike the ground.

Gallery

  • Tark before.png

    Tarkus and Bruford in the past

  • Tarkus enraged before his execution

    Tarkus enraged before his execution

  • Close up of Tarkus

    Close up of Tarkus

  • Tarkus' introduction

    Tarkus' introduction

  • Tarkus desecrates Bruford's remains

    Tarkus desecrates Bruford's remains

  • Tarkus fights in the Room of Dragon Decapitation

    Tarkus fights in the Room of Dragon Decapitation

  • Tarkus' final death

    Tarkus' final death

  • Tarkus and Bruford in the past

    Tarkus and Bruford in the past

  • Tarkus and Bruford accept their fate

    Tarkus and Bruford accept their fate

  • Tarkus and Bruford about to be executed

    Tarkus and Bruford about to be executed

  • KinghtsJoJo.png

    Tarkus and Bruford appear before Jonathan

  • Tarkus destroys Bruford's armor after his death

    Tarkus destroys Bruford's armor after his death

  • Tarkus traps Jonathan in the Chamber of the Two-Headed Dragon

    Tarkus traps Jonathan in the Chamber of the Two-Headed Dragon

  • Tarkus against Jonathan

    Tarkus against Jonathan

  • Tarkus is killed by Jonathan's Ripple

    Tarkus is killed by Jonathan's Ripple

  • Tarkus alongside Bruford in the ending credits

    Tarkus alongside Bruford in the ending credits

  • Reference sheet: Head

    Reference sheet: Head

  • Reference sheet: Body

    Reference sheet: Body

Trivia

References

  1. ↑ Deduced from the date of death of Mary Stuart
  2. ↑ Either November 31st or December 1st, per Chapter 41
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Chapter 27: Tarkus and the Dark Knight Bruford (2)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chapter 31: The Knights' Ruins
  5. ↑ Chapter 26: Tarkus and the Dark Knight Bruford (1)
  6. ↑ Chapter 32: The Medieval Knights' Training Ground for Murder
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Chapter 33: Pluck for Tomorrow and the Successor (1)
  8. ↑ Chapter 28: Tarkus and the Dark Knight Bruford (3), p. 11

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