Gallery 839 Hulk-a-Manga Hulk Hogan was a huge star in the USA, but he was  nearly worshipped as a god in Japan!  They even created a series of exciting, violent "Manga" comic books depicting Hogan dominating the world of pro wrestling. Someone sent me a few of these interesting comic books, so lets take a look at the Japanese fans' obsession with this big blond American brute.   Here is Hogan destroying a series of opponents with his deadly Clothesline.  The artwork is surprisingly crisp, the action and violence designed to enthrall the reader. The cartoonist draws Hogan as a Viking God, his blond hair flowing over his shoulders, his giant muscles bursting out of his bulging trunks.  He really does look like the "Ultimate Male" in this artwork. To get the readers warmed up, Hogan first locks up with Olympic strong man Ken Patera.  Patera is sporting his usual butcher-style singlet, while Hogan is shirtless in his white trunks. Which American muscle-man will prove to be the Alpha Male? The artist provides some sexual tension as the two men stare into each other's eyes with ferocity, their mouths just inches apart.  The bell sounds and they join hands, interlacing their fingers for a tight grip. Hogan and Patera engage in a "Test of Strength", their muscles flexing as they struggle for domination.  I wonder how many readers of this comic book fell in love with Pro Wrestling after viewing these intense images of male combat... Sweat is pouring down the weaker man's body as Hogan over-powers him.  Clearly Hulk is the dominant stud, deserving of worship by the Japanese readers.   Patera hooks his boot on the bottom rope to force a break. The ref tries to break them apart, struggling to separate the wrestlers' huge hands which are as big as his head. Patera takes advantage of Hogan's clean break by jacking him in the jaw and knocking him silly. I wish I could read their trash talk. I'll bet their comments are written to get the reader stirred up.  If anyone out there can translate Japanese, help us out here... Patera embraces Hogan in a breath-taking Bearhug, trying to squeeze him into submission. Sweat begins to pour down their muscular bodies as the two He-Men grind against each other and struggle for control.  I've heard Manga comics can be erotic, but damn!   Hulk flexes his muscles to break his bonds, then slaps on a bearhug of his own.  He again proves to be the stronger man. Wow, this is getting good! In a beautiful full-page drawing, Hogan crushes the weaker man in his deadly embrace, their faces contorted in a climax of male aggression.   How many readers folded down the corner of this page so they could easily flip back to it again later? Patera collapses in Hogan's arms, unable to handle the stronger man's Bearhug.  His massive body coated in rivers of sweat, Hogan's thick arm is raised to show he is the winner.   Whew, I need a cigarette... Up in the ring, in a position of domination, Hogan resembles some Greek statue of Victory.  The fans praise their hero with his golden locks blowing in the wind.  A couple of stylish dudes in the foreground can't take their eyes off the wrestlers. Next, Hogan faces off against a masked man from Parts Unknown.  Once again, the opponent is drawn covered in clothing, while Hogan's powerful body is stripped down to a black speedo and boots. Whoa, this mystery man knows his wrestling holds.  He secures a Headlock, punches the blond hero in the face, and brutally drives his head into the turnbuckles.  Poor Hogan is in trouble already!! But Hogan is too manly and powerful to take a beat-down from this masked freak!  He hulks out, tossing the opponent across the ring like a dirty kimono. The devious masked man surprises Hogan with a stunning right cross, then slaps on a Bearhug.  Wow, this artist sure seems to love featuring the Bearhug!! I wonder if they sold more comic books when they showed Hogan in helpless agony, or when he is depicted as a powerful, dominant He-Man??   With a beastly roar and a crushing Elbow Smash, the Hulk breaks the masked man's crushing embrace. His face contorted with passionate rage, Hogan whips the weaker man in the ropes, then clobbers him with a deadly clothesline.  The Jap fans get off on this move and call it his "Axe Bomber." That super-human collision sends the victim over the ropes where he crashes flat on his back, utterly defeated and exhausted on the floor.  Hogan is the victor yet again. Hogan flexes his biceps in his skimpy briefs as the ref counts out the masked loser.  The big blond animal steps over the ropes and tells the promoter he wants Bockwinkle in a match for the Championship belt.  Either Hogan is a giant, or that promoter is some kind of midget... Finally Hogan gets his shot at Nick Bockwinkle's AWA strap, which looks about the size of a garbage can lid.   The announcer makes all the introductions, which takes about 20 minutes in Japanese wrestling. The two American hunks tear into each other for the Japanese fans' enjoyment.  Both are fighting shirtless in their speedos and boots, so I'm sure these pages of the comic book get plenty of wear and tear. The Champ delivers a drop kick to Hogan's face, then drives a stunning knee into his face.  The artist features some nice expressions of suffering on Hulk's masculine face. Hogan bridges up his strong body, showing off his power.  Bockwinkle tries to flatten him with a Knee Drop to the gut, but the super-hero is too powerful. After yet another close-up of Hogan's masculine features and sexy goatee, the artist shows him spinning the Champ around in circles and whipping him into the corner. Hooking his legs around Hulk's neck, Bockwinkle tries to pin him, but Hulk is again far too strong to be a jobber.  He lifts the Champ off the ground by the neck. Hogan continues to choke the life out of AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkle as the fans scream with excitement!! Bockwinkle's manager, Bobby Heenan, attacks from behind, striking the Incredible Hulk with his walking stick to break up this strangulation. I wonder how much dough the Japanese artists get paid to draw hundreds of these high quality images of violence for the Manga fans' pleasure?  They probably get about a dollar a week, working in some sweat-shop, and meanwhile these are some awesome drawings! As Heenan struggles to get to his feet, Hogan delivers the dreaded Axe Bomber to Bockwinkle, knocking him into the ropes where his arms become entangled, rendering him helpless. Bobby Heenan pulls his limp wrestler out of the ropes, trying to revive him.  Hogan is declared the new AWA Champ as the fans cheer his praises. Hogan's powerful body is drawn to look like a glowing bronze statue.  He parades around with his shiny new belt and celebrates his domination of both the Eastern and Western wrestling worlds. But Heenan is not happy his man has lost the belt.  He challenges Hogan to a re-match, and the excited fans scream for their hero to accept the Weasel's challenge. Looking like Thor the God of Thunder, Hogan proudly accepts the challenge, and boldly tells Heenan he will fight both of them at the same time.  The two bad guys smile at each other -- clearly they have some dirty tricks up their sleeves for our hero! Next we see Heenan asking for advice from some handsome karate expert in a robe.  Using a swinging ball, the karate kid explains how to aim for an opponent's eyes to blind him. Hey, that would be illegal in pro wrestling! After some practice, Heenan is able to strike the eyes, which will blind his competition.  The dirty karate instructor smiles with evil pleasure as he considers how Hulk Hogan will suffer. As Heenan continues to practice poking out the eyes drawn on the ball, he picture's Hogan's face taking the abuse.  In Japanese wrestling, the fat blond Americans are always as savage and merciless as wild animals. Next the sensei draws a circle on the punching bag at about the level of Hulk Hogan's balls.  He teaches Heenan how to disable an opponent by karate-kicking him right in the junk. Both Heenan and the teacher are excited by the idea of ramming a foot up between Hulk's thighs to destroy his manhood.  They continue to practice their dirty tactics. Finally the two bad guys -- Heenan and Bockwinkle -- face off with Hulk Hogan.  How can poor Hogan defeat two men at once??  Heenan immediately aims his fingers for the dreaded Eye Poke. Hogan is able to level Heenan with a fist to his fat face, but the damage is done.  Heenan blinded Hogan with that illegal move he learned, leaving the big man down on his knees clutching his eyes. The cheaters rain kicks down on poor Hogan's back, but he can't defend himself if he can't see.  Hogan sees three Heenans attacking him instead of one. This violence is getting out of control!  Is this material really appropriate for young comic book readers? Another beautiful full-page image shows Hogan being manhandled by the cruel cheaters.  One grabs his long hair while the other punches him in the face.  The Jap fans, who love to see their heroes suffer, cheer in excitement at Hogan's two-on-one beating. The double-teaming continue as Heenan and Bockwinkle work together to slam Hogan, then drop knees and elbows on his exposed body.  This artist really captures the violence and brutality of pro wrestling, he should get some kind of award! Finally Hogan explodes with rage, picking up Heenan and tossing him into his partner.  The Japanese consider Americans to be little more than animals, and the image of Hogan seething with animal rage, blood, sweat, and tears running down his face, confirms their beliefs. But Heenan is a tricky bastard.  He remembers his training on how to kick a dude in the balls and drives his boot up into Hogan's bulging trunks.  Nasty! The enraged fans cry foul as Hogan drops to his knees clutching his aching gonads.  The Japanese fans consider Americans to be cocky, arrogant cheaters, and Heenan's cruel antics just feed into that prejudice. The artist shows our hero in trouble again, being stomped and battered with his forehead busted open.  My Japanese is a bit rusty, but I think Heenan suggests to Bockwinkle that he snap Hogan in half with his patented Boston Crab. Sure enough, Hogan feels the effects of Bockwinkle's spine snapping Crab as sweat runs off his back.  Heenan watches in glee as Bockwinkle leans way, waaay back, deliberately trying to injure Hogan.   Wow, why don't we get to read awesome, violent comic books like this in America?!? The fat, out-of-shape bastard begins slamming his boot into Hogan's head, punishing the helpless He-Man.  Meanwhile these may be the best images of suffering and agony I've ever seen in a comic book. Hogan has one hope of escaping his fate.  He grips Heenan's boot and trips the fat bastard, causing him to fall down onto his own partner. The cheaters' skulls crash together, stunning both men.  Hogan is then able to flip Bockwinkle off and escape the deadly Crab.  Check out the excited, almost orgasmic, expressions on the fans as their hero breaks free. Why do the Japanese love the violence and brutality shown in their Manga comics?  Here is a theory from one article: "There is violence and sex in manga because it helps people release the stress and pressure of everyday life. Japan has great freedom of expression, which is why our manga is so varied..."   "In a country ruled by almost obsessive politeness and formality, manga offers unlimited possibilities for escape." Japanese men can't seem to grow as large or form huge, muscular physiques as easily as men in other countries. This may be why they worship big, powerful studs like Hulk Hogan, a raging blond monster in their polite little country. Hogan body-slams Heenan on top of Bockwinkle, then slams Bockwinkle on top of Heenan.  He is easily dominating two men at the same time, and I'm sure the Japs love it!  Next he puts both opponents in a Headlock. His biceps swollen as large as their heads, the brute knocks his victim's skulls together like pool balls!  Hairy chested Bockwinkle and chubby Heenan can do little to prevent this monster's assault. Heenan is out cold on the mat, so the monster focuses his brutality on Nick Bockwinkle.  The fans enjoy seeing their hero make these cheaters pay for their dirty tactics earlier in the match. Hogan sets his opponent up for the dreaded Axe Bomber, whipping him into the ropes and setting up a Clothesline. SMACK!!  A very cool full-page image shows Bockwinkle getting leveled by the thick, manly, powerful body of the Incredible Hulk. Can no one defeat this savage beast?  Hogan has now over-powered and destroyed two men at the same time! Again Bockwinkle is left powerless, tied in the ropes, limp as a wet noodle with his arms entangled.  Heenan is destroyed as well, and the huge blond Viking god is the winner.   The artists finishes with another heroic image of massive Hulk, flexing his powerful muscles.  Was he ever really that huge, and did he ever have that much hair?  The beauty of Japanese Manga is that fantasies can come true as long as the talented artists can draw it.