Ginga Legend Weed - Legacy

Legacy

In 2002, Takahashi began publishing Ginga Legend Riki (銀牙伝説リキ?, lit. Silver Fang Legend Riki), a prequel to Ginga Legend Weed and Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin. It was originally serialized in the Weed-centric magazine Weed World, published by Nihon Bungeisha, between March 31, 2002 and December 10, 2002. In March 2003, Nihon Bungeisha released the collected chapters in a single book and in December 2005, it was included in the omnibus Ginga Densetsu Weed Tokubetsu Han with Weed Gaiden. A reprinted edition of Ginga Legend Riki was released in March 2007. The one-shot follows Riki, father of Gin and former leader of the Ōu soldiers. Riki, though sired by the prized bear hound Shiro, is born a runt and never homed. After his mother Yamabuki is returned to her owner, Riki, stricken with sadness, decides to visit her. During his trek, Riki is attacked by a pack of dogs and falls into a river. Riki is rescued by Shiro, who advises him about the importance of strength and leaves, not knowing Riki is his son. Influenced by Shiro, Riki aims to become strong and continually visits his mother. On a later trip, Riki sees a young boy, Daisuke, hit by a truck on a mountain road and sent over the road railing. Riki howls for help, but instead attracts the dogs that had attacked him. Riki defends Daisuke until Shiro and his owner, Gohei, arrive. Shiro learns that Riki is his son. The book ends with Gohei and Shiro fighting the bear Akakabuto. A bullet becomes lodged in Akakabuto's brain, driving him insane. Riki watches as the bear grabs Shiro and they fall off a cliff.

Takahashi began a sequel to Ginga Legend Weed, entitled Ginga Legend Weed: Orion (銀牙伝説ウィード オリオン, Ginga Densetsu Wīdo: Orion?, lit. Silver Fang Legend Weed: Orion), in issue #2173 of Manga Goraku, released on July 24, 2009. The first collected volume was released by Nihon Bungeisha in November 2009. Currently, ten volumes have been published and the series is ongoing. The new series follows Weed's offspring: Bellatrix, Rigel, Sirius, and, in particular, Orion. They are all named after astronomical phenomenon: Orion after the Orion constellation, Rigel after the star Rigel, Sirius after the star Sirius, and Bellatrix after the star Bellatrix. Orion bears a close physical resemblance to Riki and possesses an inborn strength, but is crude and hot-headed. Rigel shares Orion's fiery temperament while Sirius, who resembles Weed, is level-headed and a peace-keeper. Bellatrix, Weed's only daughter, is portrayed as immature.

An earthquake and subsequent volcanic eruption separates Orion from his parents and siblings. Joe locates Orion and brings him to safety but disappears in the process, while the other siblings are put under the charge of the Ōu soldier Sasuke. With the Ōu Mountains in complete disarray, new threats arrive to exploit its weaknesses. Three sons of the Irish Wolfhound Kamakiri, a platoon leader for Hōgen, wish to avenge their father's death. Kurohabaki Masamune, the leader of the Kurohabaki Clan of ninja dogs, aims to take over Ōu and strengthen his army. He is the adoptive son of the former Kurohabaki leader Terumune and was previously denied leadership of the clan, despite his striving for approval. Instead, Terumune decided that his blood-related son Yamabiko, born after Masamune's arrival, would become leader. Thereafter, Masamune banished Terumune and took control of the clan. He holds a grudge against Yamabiko and plans to find and kill him. Meanwhile, members of the Kurohabaki clan roam Ōu, gathering recruits and killing those who resist.