Gara (ガラ), also known as Ninja Master Gara is one of the main characters in the Bastard!! manga. Introduced as one of the Four Divine Kings, he early on switches allegiance to Dark Schneider.
Appearance[]
Gara is a man of tall height, muscular build, with dark messy hair and a scar on the left side of his face. He sports battle armor that covers his chest, and he also wears shoulder pads with spikes on them.
Personality[]
Gara is a man that lives and dies for "having fun", being it in combat or whatever he finds amusing at the time. His allegiance towards Dark Schneider was based purely on a rule of following the strongest, which is how he allied himself with the sorcerer 15 years prior, and then once again after his second defeat. Gara is a warrior first and foremost and is very proud of his skills as a ninja master, but this does not let him underestimate his opponent. He can be quite perceptive can tell when someone is not using his full potential against him. He was also able to tell that DS had changed after the 15 years he ended up sealed.
Much like DS, he has a rather perverted side as he enjoyed watching as the clothes-dissolving slime melted Yoko's clothes. But unlike the former he finds DS' womanizing rather "shameful".
He is shown to have feelings for Arshes Nei throughout the series.[1]
History[]
Gara was once the son of a great ninja, who desired to become such a powerful ninja that he could defeat anyone. After finding out his goal, Gara's father asked him: "What will you do when you reach your goal?"A question to which the young Gara had no answer.
After becoming an adult, he pledged his loyalty to an unknown king, and served faithfully for several years. In time, the kingdom became the target of the powerful wizard Dark Schneider. Hearing of Dark Schneider's constant conquering of kingdoms, Gara requested to be allowed to assassinate him. The King allowed it, offering him the title 'Ninja Master' if he succeeded.
Gara snuck in to Dark Schneider's base, and attacked him while he was spending time with Arshes Nei. After a battle in which Dark Schneider merely toyed with the ninja, Gara allied himself to Dark Schneider and became one of the Divine Kings.
(missing P1 history)
Gara is later revealed to have survived the destruction of Castle Metallicana, having been transported to the other side of the world by Dark Schneider. He spent the following two years since then crossing desert and oceans to finally made it back to Grave Valley. There he encounters Maclalpine Toni Strauss falling from the sky due to one of Dark Schneider's attacks. After learning it was Dark Schneider who blew Maclalpine there, he orders his ninja to heal him, and comments on Dark Schneider's survival.[2] Later, Gara is still traveling with Maclalpine, as they make their way to and old safe house D.S. told Gara to meet up at in case they ever got separated.[3]
As they get close to the hideout, Gara and Maclalpine run into a Dragon Zombie. Upon hearing from Maclalpine that the dragon was likely seeking out a Dark Elf, due to Dark elves connection to the dark arts, an enraged Gara would attack the dragon, realizing it was after Arshes Nei, with Maclalpine joining in the battle shortly after. Once the zombie dragon was defeated, the pair reach the hideout, with Arshes Nei rushing out and embracing Gara under the mistaken belief he was Dark Schneider. The looming figure of the flying city of King Crimson Glory being visible in the distance.[4]
Gara and Nei eventually make their way onto King Crimson Glory, flying to the city on Gara's wyvern. There they encounter the Sorcerer Shoguns Yngwei, Vlad, and Sykes, who are attempting to make their way to princess Sheila's location, and break the seal she contains. Yngwei attempts to warn his comrades on who the new arrivals were, only for it to be too late as the two Shogun attack Gara and Nei, and are swiftly defeated by them. Gara and Nei then watch on as Dark Schneider fought Kall-Su, discussing if it was destiny these two would fight, or if something else was influencing it.[5]
(missing P3 history)
Four years after the events on King Crimson Glory, Gara is shown to be living in the ruins of Metallicana with his ninja. He is shocked by the sudden appearance of the fighting Dark Schneider and Uriel, who have suddenly arrived there after their fight broke the barrier between Hell, and Earth.[6] As the fight continues, the shielded Maclalpine Toni Strauss, Ba Thory, and other refugees, are dropped next to Gara and his ninja.[7] After the fight has concluded, Gara and his men reunite with Dark Schneider.[8]
Plot[]
Gara is first introduced asking Kall-Su whether he remembers 15 years ago when the three of them and Dark Schneider arrived to burn down the kingdom. The ogre also tells him while they were camping that Osborn the wizard was killed by someone, but they don't know who. Gara asks him if he's sure and that magically arts are pretty developed in Metallicana. The ogre mentions he was killed with Venom.
Gara then seems shocked by his words. On the outskirts of Metallicana. Gara questions if Kevidubu has been killed to which one of the men tells him that he set out three weeks ago. Then he implies that the powerful aura they felt can only mean that Dark Schneider has returned, to which Gara agrees. As one of them questions why Dark Schneider doesn't join them to protect the kingdom, Gara tells him that they will find out. The man then asks if he has really become their enemy to which Gara replies that regardless of that they will kill everyone standing in their way family or friend. Gara then pulls out his magical sword Murasame and begins slaughtering Metallicana soldiers.
Abilities and Equipment[]
Gara wearing his armor
Gara has vast knowledge about ninja arts. A common misconception is that Gara possesses a superhuman healing factor. However, as it's proven in episode 3 of the anime, Dark Schneider uses his magic to regrow his and Gara's lost limbs.
Physical abilities:[]
- Enhanced Strength: Gara is shown to perform superhuman strength feats, such as withstand blows capable of breaking the floor under his feet. He claims he is stronger than a Gundam.[9]
Skills:[]
- Bare-Handed Light Ray Block: Gara catches a beam of energy with his hands and throws it back at his opponent. Powerful enough to catch a beam projected by a monster created from Anthrasax's cells and Kall-Su.
- Scud Bomber: Gara punches a person in the face with the back of his hand.
Master Swordsmanship Specialist:[]
Gara has proven to be one of the best swordsmen in the series, and as a Rider of Havok, he's one of the 2 best swordsmen of the group, the other being Arshes Nei. He wields the magical blade Murasame, with which he can cut enemies from distance by sending shock-waves.
- Majinken: By the use of Murasame, the user gains a boost in speed and slashes the opponent.
- True Majinken: A beam of wind and thunder is launched by using the Murasame sword.
- Keiun Kininken: By absorbing the energy of the user, Murasame allows him to thrust and attack the adversary in both material and spiritual manners.
- Majin Flashing Drive: An ultimate sword technique capable of unleashing a massive wave of force against an opponent
Ninja weapons arsenal: He has many weapons and armors he uses.
- Hiei: Armor he uses to increase his defense, but makes him slower.
- Hiryu: More powerful armor set.
- Large Shuriken: A massive shuriken that can plow through many enemies.
- Kunai: typical ninja throwing knives.[10]
- Murasame: Cursed sword, used as primary weapon.
Ninja Arts: Being a ninja, Gara has mastery of many ninja abilities, such as stealth and some special techniques:
- Disguise Technique: Allows Gara to disguise himself for covert operations.
- Ninja Art: Seven Body Split (Bunshin No Jutsu): Gara moves faster than the eye can see to create seven illusions of himself.
Important Battles[]
- Dark Schneider vs Gara (Chapter 12 - Chapter 14) - Lose
- Gara vs Arshes Nei (Chapter 29 - Chapter 30) - Interrupted
- Gara, Arshes Nei, Dark Schneider vs Lynch (Chapter 43-Chapter 44)- Won
- Gara, Arshes Nei, Dark Schneider vs Lich (Chapter 51 - Chapter 56) - Won
Voice Actors[]
- Japanese
- Tesshō Genda (1992)
- Hiroki Yasumoto (2022)
- English
- Steven Jay Blum (1992)
- Aaron LaPlante (2022)
Trivia[]
- Gara's appearance slightly resembles that of Guts, protagonist of the Berserk manga, during the Golden Age and Black Swordsman arcs. Ironically, Berserk is also set in a dystopian high fantasy world.
- Other coincidences between them include that both are skilled swordsmen, both wield a sword with paranormal powers, and both have served a under a man with white hair which at one point or another were their enemies [Dark Schneider for Gara, Griffith for Guts]
- He also shares the fact he wields a wind-powered weapon with Serpico, another Berserk character.
- Gara is Kazushi Hagiwara's favorite character.[11]
- Gara's favorite food is ramen.[9]
- He has a habit of puffing out his nose when talking about embarrassing things.[9]
References[]
- ↑ Bastard!! Data Book (p. 55)
- ↑ Bastard!! v9. Dawning
- ↑ Bastard!! v10. Ice and Snow
- ↑ Bastard!! v11. Distant Thunder
- ↑ Bastard!! v11. The Holy War Pt. 2
- ↑ Bastard!! v23. The Immoral Laws XXVI
- ↑ Bastard!! v24. Defender of the Faith IV
- ↑ Bastard!! v26. Defender of the Faith VIII
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Bastard!! Data Book (p. 55)
- ↑ Bastard!! v4. Thunder and Lightning
- ↑ Bastard!! v6. Forbidden Magic