Ikuro Hashizawa
Ikuro Hashizawa (橋沢 育朗, Hashizawa Ikurō), also known as Baoh (バオー, Baō), is the main protagonist of Baoh the Visitor.
After being hospitalized following a car crash, Ikuro is kidnapped and transformed into the bioweapon "Baoh" by the Dress Organization. When Sumire awakens him from an asphyxiated state en route to Dress's headquarters, he is forced to call upon Baoh's power as the two attempt to escape the organization's pursuit.
Ikuro is notable for being the only non-JoJo character featured in the 2013 fighting game All-Star Battle and its 2022 remaster All-Star Battle R.
Appearance
Ikuro is a teenage male of average height and medium build. He has full-bodied hair of medium tone.
As Baoh, the bio-weapon, Ikuro's body undergoes a transformation. The region surrounding his eyes is cracked like a shell, revealing a dark or shadowy interior, and his eyes emit a constant glow. His hair gives way to a flowing mass of long strands of what appears to be flesh. Within his forehead is embedded a unique sensory organ called a "tactile sensor," which appears as a vertical oval emanating light surrounded by darkness.
Color Schemes
Personality
Ikuro is a rather friendly individual, but he is willing to do illegal things to keep himself alive, such as stealing a person's bike. He has a strong bond with Sumire due to their similar pasts and shared escape from Dress, and he is willing to risk his life to save her.
When controlled by the Baoh parasite, he is initially extremely violent and amoral. The scent Baoh most detests is the odor of murderous intent, and the parasite is willing to resort to any means necessary to eliminate it.[3] However, as it experiences new scents brought on by Dress's assassination attempts, the parasite's will begins to synchronize with Ikuro's,[4] to the point that Ikuro is eventually able to retain consciousness while in his transformed state.[5]
In the OVA adaptation, Ikuro is affected by amnesia as a result of Dress's experiments, and slowly begins to remember his past over the course of the story.
Abilities
Baoh Armed Phenomenon
- See also: Baoh (Parasite)
When Ikuro's body is attacked or otherwise in danger, the parasite within him transforms his body by means of the Baoh Armed Phenomenon (バオー
Basic Powers
While transformed, Ikuro demonstrates exceptional strength and agility due to an enhanced musculoskeletal system, leaping several meters straight in the air, as well as clinging to walls and throwing stones hard enough to kill on impact.[3]
Ikuro's skin is rendered superhumanly durable while transformed, able to deflect small arms fire at point-blank, and even shields Ikuro from the damage inflicted by a head-on collision with a vehicle. This hardening is reinforced by an accumulation of the waste products, generated by the Baoh Meltedin Palm Phenomenon fluid - protecting against its own corrosive effects.[6]
When the parasite or its host ceases pulmonary respiration, such as when fully submerged in water, it undergoes a state of apparent death, and ceases aging. It can maintain this state theoretically for an indefinite amount of time, allowing it and its host to live up to hundreds of years without requiring sustenance or oxygen. Notably, Ikuro does not need to transform in order to make use of this ability.
Ikuro's body is able to live even after having vital body parts amputated. It will regenerate, ejecting any foreign objects (e.g. bullets) from the body via muscular contractions, and the body parts can reattach themselves upon contact. Ikuro can use his blood to heal non-hosts as well (as shown when Ikuro heals Sumire's injuries). However, Ikuro can still die if his brain is destroyed, and if the Baoh parasite is subsequently incinerated.[3]
Superseding ordinary senses of sight, hearing, and smell, Ikuro (while transformed) is gifted with a Tactile Sensor on their forehead, which allows them to perceive all animal emotions (e.g. "murderous intent", "sadness", etc.) as a sort of "scent". This sense may be disturbed by means of special compounds, as demonstrated by Dordo. The maximum effective range of this sensor is unknown, but is shown to faintly detect enemies several meters away from Ikuro (as in the case of Martin's Master).[4]
Techniques
Allows Ikuro to secrete a special corrosive fluid (synthesized from Baoh's own bodily fluids[6]) from his skin, dissolving anything from human flesh, glass, or even metal. This has been shown capable of melting objects together (such as a handgun with a human hand), rendering both inoperable in the process.
By manipulating the hardened skin tissue at both of his wrists, Ikuro is capable of producing two blades that can cleanly slice through nearly any material. Ikuro is also capable of using a ranged variation, known as Saber Off (セイバーオフ, Seibā Ofu), wherein he is able to launch the blades towards opponents at a distance.
Through altering the chemical composition of his own hair follicles, Ikuro is capable of shooting off needle-like darts of hardened hair which spontaneously combust upon contact with another creature's body heat.
By linking his nerves and muscle cells together in a similar fashion to an electric eel, Ikuro is capable of producing and emitting a high-voltage electric current of 60 thousand volts from his body - enough to power a laser cannon which had been severed from its power supply.
History
Background
Ikuro Hashizawa lived an ordinary kid's life until his involvement with Dress. At the age of seven, Ikuro nearly drowned in a frozen pond. Ikuro and his parents were heavily injured during a car accident and taken to the hospital six months before the events of Baoh. Unfortunately, the doctor was linked to Dress, an evil organization of weapons developers looking for guinea pigs at the time. Dr. Kasuminome callously killed Ikuro's parents under his eyes and took him away to inject the Baoh parasite inside of him.
Baoh the Visitor
After being injected with the Baoh parasite, Ikuro is contained in a tank and transported on a train. However, a young psychic named Sumire escapes her room and in trying to escape, opens Ikuro's tank. A guard tries to capture him but Ikuro crushes his arm and leaps out of the train. He grabs the power lines but also survives the shock. Later, Ikuro and Sumire try to bond with each other, but a knife wielding assassin named 22nd Man stabs the former, forcing the duo to steal a motorbike and flee. They attempt to refuel at a gas station but 22nd Man appears again, slicing Ikuro's throat. But, it only awakens Baoh, who dissolves 22nd Man with his touch before turning back into a human. Later, a death squad is already searching for Ikuro and Sumire, who are busy betting on horse races to acquire money. The two settle inside an abandoned building, but Ikuro senses that something inside of him is changing. The death squad attacks the duo, but Ikuro transforms again into Baoh, decimating the squad. Unbeknownst to him, he is observed by another assassin. Baoh senses the assassin, who reveals himself as a beastmaster commanding a heavily modfied giant mandrill named Martin. Due to its strength and many weapons hidden inside his body, Martin is more than a match for Baoh. Sumire, having sensed that Ikuro's humanity is still intact inside of Baoh, tries to stop the assassin from controlling Martin, only to be hurt. Enraged, Baoh finally overpowers Martin and kills both the beast and his master, healing and turning back into Ikuro.
Walking through the mountains, Ikuro and Sumire meet an old couple living in the area. They give him shelter and food. But during a moment the old man is isolated, another cyborg assassin emerges, hypnotizing the old man into waiting for midnight and shoot Ikuro in the head with his hunting rifle. At midnight, the old man wakes up and tries to shoot Ikuro, who transforms into Baoh but senses that the old man is not his true enemy. Jumping through the roof, Baoh confronts the cyborg named Dordo who disables all of his sensory organs through chemicals released by a swarm of bats. Thankfully, the old man, who has come to his senses and guided by Sumire, shoots down the bats while taking a bullet. Baoh confronts Dordo, who is heavily wounded, but reveals his heavily modified body. He kidnaps Sumire to use her as bait and escapes with a hang glider to one of the Dress headquarters near Sanriku. Ikuro is determined to free Sumire, but risks unleashing the beast inside of him for good.
Going away on a motorcycle given by the couple, Ikuro deems it necessary to learn to control his power first to have a chance to save Sumire. Meanwhile, Kasuminome chastises Dordo for his perceived failure and the danger of letting Baoh time to grow stronger. Meanwhile, Ikuro is forced to save a trapped girl from a speeding train and is pushed into managing to activate his acid touch without fully transforming. Humiliated by his hierarchy, Dordo goes out to snipe Ikuro, but his attempt is foiled thanks to Ikuro activating his super senses and strength to evade the bullets. To lure Baoh, Kasuminome purposefully tortures Sumire whose distress is detected by the weapon. Ikuro is already scaling the seaside cliff leading to a vulnerable side of the facility and, turning into Baoh, rampages through the security staff as well as survives death traps to reach Sumire's room. He is stopped by Walken, whose ability to destroy anything with a thought makes him invincible and his every attacks deadly. Nonetheless, Baoh manages to stab inside Walken's brain by launching one of his arm blades and he finally reaches Sumire.
He is welcomed by a flurry of laser beams, and the attack does not faze Baoh but wounds Sumire. Seeing that Baoh is cornered, Kasuminome prepares to blow up the facility. Meanwhile, Baoh heals the girl with his blood. Walken has woken up, still alive despite his injury, and seeks Baoh for revenge. As the headgear restricting his psychic powers was destroyed by Baoh's attack, the full strength of Walken's abilities causes an earthquake inside the facility. As Sumire awakens, Walken finds them and destroys the floor. All of them, as well as Kasuminome who tried to escape in a pod, find themselves in a cavern. Telling Sumire to flee, Baoh uses one of the lasers to kill Walken for good, unintentionally fatally wounding Kasuminome in the process. The facility then self-destructs, causing the cavern to collapse.
Sumire later senses that Ikuro is dormant but alive at the bottom of the sea, and predicts that he will return when she is seventeen and reunite with her.
Chapters / Episodes
Manga Appearances- Baoh the Visitor Chapter 1: Baoh, the Ultimate Weapon (1st appearance)
- Baoh the Visitor Chapter 2: The Extermination Order!
- Baoh the Visitor Chapter 3: Baoh, the Invincible Body
- Baoh the Visitor Chapter 4: Evil Beast Martin
- Baoh the Visitor Chapter 5: Grandpa Rokusuke
- Baoh the Visitor Chapter 6: Aroma Bat
- Baoh the Visitor Chapter 7: Come Out, Baoh
- Baoh the Visitor Chapter 8: Cyborg Lieutenant Colonel Dordo
- Baoh the Visitor Chapter 9: Demon Walken
Anime AppearancesQuotes
Quotes- “Ugh... this rash keeps getting worse... I-It scares me...”—Ikuro Hashizawa, Baoh the Visitor Chapter 3: Baoh, the Invincible Body
- “You fool! Don't come near me! You'll be shot!”
- “D-Don't be afraid...! ...I'm not a suspicious person!”
- “Don't do it! If you point your killing intent towards me... it's possible that I'll kill you instead!”
- “Wrong! This isn't that smell! This living being is not my enemy! Another place! From the outside! From above! Over there! Enemy is lurking! On the roof!”
- “Strange. This guy's smell hasn't disappeared!”—Baoh still detecting Dordo, Baoh the Visitor Chapter 6: Aroma Bat
- “Now that I think about it, there was no way we could always escape from them. Besides, it seems that my body has some great, mysterious power lurking inside... With my power... I'll fight... with Dress... At least, just until Sumire can be free.”—Ikuro Hashizawa, Baoh the Visitor Chapter 6: Aroma Bat
- “There is a mysterious power lurking inside my body. A monstrous power. An evil power. That was the case until now... But I'm going to use this power to my advantage! At least until Sumire can be free!”—Ikuro Hashizawa, Baoh the Visitor Chapter 7: Come Out, Baoh
- “All right! Power within me! Danger is coming! Aren't you going to help me?! Show yourself, you monstrous power! Get out! Are you only there just to murder people?! Come out already! Come out! Monster!”—Ikuro Hashizawa consciously manifesting Baoh's power, Baoh the Visitor Chapter 7: Come Out, Baoh
- “My ability manifested while I was still conscious... T-This is my mysterious power, huh...”—Ikuro Hashizawa, Baoh the Visitor Chapter 7: Come Out, Baoh
- “I feel it throughout my whole body! Sumire's scent! She's close to death! Whose fault is it?! It's my fault! Sumire is dying because of me! I must save Sumire!”—Ikuro Hashizawa, Baoh the Visitor Chapter 9: Demon Walken
- “Dress! I'll eliminate your stench once and for all!”
- “I can't afford to die! I have to survive!”
- “Who did I make a vow to? I swore to myself that I would save this girl! I'm not giving up hope! I'm a creature that has the ultimate life force!”—Baoh before healing Sumire, Baoh the Visitor Chapter 9: Demon Walken
Gallery
Shooting Bees-Stinger Phenomenon
Break Dark Thunder Phenomenon
Laser Beam
Saber Off
Reskiniharden Saber Phenomenon
Baoh Chapter 1 Cover A
Baoh Chapter 1 Cover B
Baoh Chapter 2 Cover
Baoh Chapter 3 Cover
Baoh Chapter 5 Cover
Baoh Chapter 7 Cover
Baoh Chapter 8 Cover
Baoh Chapter 9 Cover
Weekly Shonen Jump 1984 Issue #45 Next Issue Illustration
Baoh Volume 1 Cover
Baoh Volume 1 Cover Illustration
Baoh Volume 1 Book Cover
Baoh Volume 2 Cover
Baoh Volume 2 Cover Illustration
Baoh Volume 2 Book Cover
Baoh the Visitor Spine Illustration A
Baoh the Visitor Spine Illustration B
Baoh Volume 1 (Inside Illustration)
Baoh Chapter 1 Tailpiece
Baoh Chapter 4 Tailpiece
Baoh Chapter 5 Tailpiece
Baoh Volume 2 (Inside Illustration)
Baoh Chapter 6 Tailpiece A
Baoh Chapter 7 Tailpiece
Baoh Chapter 8 Tailpiece
Ikuro reading a newspaper
Ikuro Semi-Transformed
Melting truck's roof
Flashback of Ikuro with his family
Firing a blast
Ikuro with blades coming from his wrists
Reskiniharden Saber Phenomenon
Baoh and Ikuro
Ikuro breaks through the wall to save Sumire
Ikuro worried Sumire will die
Ikuro heals Sumire
Sumire doesn't want to leave Ikuro
Ikuro has a laser cannon
Break Dark Thunder Phenomenon
Ikuro at the bottom of sea
Baoh the Visitor (OVA), Toho Cinemas (Poster)
Baoh Laserdisc/Soundtrack Promotional Poster
Toho Cinemas Pamphlet
Baoh the Visitor Animation Video (VHS)
Baoh the Visitor Animation Video (VHS) (Package Illustration)
LaserDisc Cover Artwork
Baoh the Visitor Postcards (VHS)
Baoh the Visitor Postcards (VHS) (Illustration)
Baoh the Visitor Postcards (VHS)
Baoh the Visitor Postcards (VHS) (Illustration)
Baoh the Visitor Postcards (VHS)
Baoh the Visitor Postcards (VHS) (Illustration)
Baoh the Visitor Original Soundtrack (CD Jacket)
Baoh the Visitor OVA - DVD
Baoh the Visitor OVA - DVD (Package)
Render, All-Star Battle
Human Concept Art
Baoh Concept Art
Baoh, Normal
Baoh, Costume A
Baoh, Costume B
Human, Normal
Human, Costume A
Human, Costume B
Match Entrance
Throw, "Get the hell out of my way!!"
"Baoh Meltedin Palm Phenomenon" Skill
"Baoh Reskiniharden Saber Phenomenon" Skill (Light Variant)
"Baoh Reskiniharden Saber Phenomenon" Skill (Medium Variant)
"Baoh Reskiniharden Saber Phenomenon" Skill (Heavy Variant)
"Saber Off!" Skill
"Shooting-Bees Stinger Phenomenon" Skill
"Baoh Break Dark Thunder Phenomenon" Skill
Heart Heat Attack, "Laser Cannon!"
Great Heat Attack, "Time to cover up that stench!"
Round Win Pose
Win Pose A
Win Pose B
Win Pose C
Win Pose D
Win Pose E
Render, 'All-Star Battle R'
Skill, "Baoh Break Dark Thunder Phenomenon"
Skill, "Baoh Meltedin Palm Phenomenon"
HHA, activation
HHA
GHA, activation
GHA
GHA
GHA
GHA
GHA, preparing final attack
GHA, final attack
Match entrance, Ikuro
Match entrance, about to transform
Match entrance, transformed into Baoh
Match entrance, Baoh pose
Super Action Statue 2nd color
Manga Realization
Autograph sketch, October 1985
Fanroad Magazine, May Issue, 1986
Fanroad Magazine, May Issue, 1986 (Cover)
Fanroad Magazine, May Issue, 1986
Fanroad Magazine, May Issue, 1986 (Inside Illustration)
Fanroad Magazine Sketch
Fanroad Magazine Sketch
Shueisha Jump Remix featuring Baoh
Baoh branded Instant Coffee set by UCC Ueshima Coffee Co.
PIIT T-Shirt
By Yusuke Murata for Weekly Shonen Jump 40th Anniversary
Trivia
- The characters Dio and Neo Dio from the video game series World Heroes bear a striking resemblance to Baoh, also having similar attacks which they use in their various appearances in the World Heroes series and NeoGeo Battle Coliseum.
References
- ↑ Baoh the Visitor Chapter 2: The Extermination Order!
- ↑ Baoh the Visitor Model Sheet - Character Heights
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Baoh the Visitor Chapter 3: Baoh, the Invincible Body
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Baoh the Visitor Chapter 4: Evil Beast Martin
- ↑ Baoh the Visitor Chapter 9: Demon Walken
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Baoh the Visitor Chapter 5: Grandpa Rokusuke
