[Akito Kinomoto]

Fist of the North Star, no contest. The entire series looks like it's going to be about Kenshiro fighting his way through countless enemies to fight the man who abducted his fiance but it turns out that it's only the first arc. I especially didn't know how the story was supposed to continue for another odd 75 or so episodes considering how the first arc ended.

It turns out the finale of the first arc serves its purpose in developing a later character who would end up being our means of introduction to the main story.

What a story it turned out to be.

You're not going to find anything that isn't in other action shonen but what separates this series from most of its kin is the respect it holds it holds for its audience and characters. So very often people think Fist of the North Star is nothing but mind-blowing action (pun intended) yet it's also about learning to cherish and protect what you believe in and whom you love; death in this series is permanent and forces each of the characters to do take on that mindset. Heck, the main theme for Fist of the North Star translates to "Bring back Love" and the unexpectedly tender messages conveyed by heavily muscled men is another strength of the show.

Does Fist of the North Star show its age a lot? Certainly. Does that mean it's outdated? Hardly. Outdated implies a work that is only strong for its time and the thing about this anime is that it's very honest in regards to the themes it portrays; idealism reflects what your audience wants to see but realism reflects what the audience inevitably faces.

If you have the dedication to go through 100 or so episodes, Fist of the North Star will not disappoint.