KICK FIGHTERS ASSEMBLE!

Way back in the mid-1990's, Kick Fighter Komiks was one of the most popular komiks magazines on the stands at the time.  Published by Infinity Publishing Inc., it's claim to fame was its roster of characters that were based around those from the popular Street Fighter video games. Be that as it may, the book's writers and artist still managed to exercise their creativity, giving their cast of heroes completely different backgrounds and gradually modifying their looks just enough to make them more-or-less original characters in their own right.

Another thing that made Kick Fighter unique at the time was that its characters existed in the same universe.  Although there they may been a few crossovers between Philippine comic book characters before then, they were very rare.  To my mind, there hadn't really been a serious attempt at a shared continuity among a large cast of characters from individual series until that time.

The Kick Fighters first came together in KFK's 48th issue (December 30, 1993).  With some snappy dialogue from writer Mike Tan and action-packed art by Gilbert Monsanto and Lando Inolino, this book-length adventure was billed as their "Winter Special Edition" (even though we don't really have winter here in the Philippines).

THE KICK FIGHTER KAST

BALZAUR

Alien gladiator from the planet Omicron.  Star of the serial Versus.















BIOTROG

The silver-masked bionic vigilante, star of his own self-titled series.






BLADE

From the serial Double Blade, a Special Forces commando turned mercenary.  Not to be confused with Billy the Dragon, who would later replace Blade as the magazine's resident Guile clone.

BOGA

Wisecracking high-tech hitman.  Also a character from Versus.

BRONCO

Environmentally-conscious green-skinned man-monster.  Star of the series Mysterio.

CHAN LEE

From Versus, a Shaolin monk and ally of Balzaur.
















HIRO

From Double Blade, a black ninja and Blade's former nemesis-turned reluctant partner.














HUGO

From his own self-titled series, a pro-wrestler and part-time terrorist-buster.











ISPIKIKAY

Eco-friendly teenage superheroine, star of her own self-titled series.















JOLAS ZUARES

Fil-American secret agent, star of his own series.
















KAHDDIM

Super-powered Hindu monk, from the series Kulto.














KICKERO

Bionic-eyed crime-fighting kickboxer, star of his own series.
















ULTIMAXX

From Versus, evil robot creation of the mad scientist Brain Master.  Erroneously referred to in this story as Ultramaxx.












VOLTAR

From Versus, Balzaur's electric-powered arch-foe.
















WARLORD
The villain for this issue, an insane terrorist who has declared war on peace.















 The plot involves the Warlord's scheme to  turn the entire world's population into warmongers via a mind-control device.  With some of the KF heroes (and some villains) already under the Warlord's thrall, the rest of the good guys are forced to fight their brainwashed comrades in order to save the day.

The story ends with the Warlord being driven away (he's never heard from again), and the heroes vowing to stand together against evil, gathering together for one last group shot...

Even though this was the KF characters' only full-scale crossover, the universe had been established, and the Kick Fighters went on to make frequent guest appearances in each others' series. Later, during the two KFK revamps that followed, certain sets of characters would go on to form their own teams, such as Blades and Bullets, Omni Powers and others.

KICK FIGHTER KOVERS

BIOTROG and The Missing Star

We're not quite done with Biotrog just yet. In the spirit of the holiday, here's a short seasonal story from Kick Fighter Komiks #101 (Janaury 2, 1995). A bit too late for the yuletide when it was first published, but about a couple of weeks early this time around.

"Hang a shining shuriken upon the highest bough..."

BIOTROG: Crossovers and Covers

ACROSS THE KICK FIGHTER UNIVERSE

At the time of its publication, Kick Fighter Komiks was one of the few Filipino comic books back then to have its characters explicitly inhabit a shared universe. The first major crossover between its heroes was in its "Winter Special Edition" (must've been an effect of climate change) issue #48 (December 30, 1993).

(Art by Lando Inolino)

Top row (left to right): Blade, Kickero, Balzaur, Voltar (guy on screen), Bronco, Kahddim, Hugo

Second Row: Ispikikay, Biotrog, Jolas Zuares

Headband guy in bottom right: Hiro

In his own series, Biotrog would occasionally team up with his fellow Kick Fighter stars, such as the wrestler Hugo, with whom he debates the virtues of brains against brawn.


He later joined forces with Kahddim of Kulto to fight off his own demonic doppelganger.

Biotrog also made guest appearances in his co-stars' series. He and Angel went to the beach with Bronco in a 2-part Mysteryo story.

He then teamed-up (or rather, fought with) Kickero the Kick Fighter in a multi-part storyline where they are pitted against each other by their respective arch-foes.

Art by Joseph Caesar Sto. Domingo

When KF was revamped (retitled as Kick Fighter II) with its 118th issue (May 1, 1995), its characters were reshuffled and paired off into new serials. Biotrog would co-star with secret agent Jolas Zuares in a new series called Blades and Bullets.

After a brief hiatus, the magazine was revived anew in 1996 as Kick Fighter III. Biotrog and Jolas returned to action in another new series, Omni Powers, where they are joined by Balzaur of Versus and Nerva of Vengeance.

BIOTROG RETURNS

Kick Fighter III eventually folded in late 1996, but Biotrog co-creator Gilbert Monsanto would not let the character go gently into the night. In 2005, 9 years after his last appearance, the silver-masked cyborg resurfaced in Monsanto's online fan-comic Digmaan, which teamed him with various Filipino comic book heroes such as Darna and Captain Barbell.

In 2006, Monsanto published Rambol Komiks under his independent imprint Sacred Mountain Publications. One-half of this flip-book format anthology magazine ran the series Metropolitan, which brought together many of the characters Monsanto created throughout his career. Among them was Biotrog, but as it turns out, the hero that appeared wasn't really the original version. This was actually his son, Rayden Summers, who had followed in his father's bionic footsteps in the series' future timeline.

Good thing he kept the name. "Biotray" just doesn't have the same ring to it.

As for the original Biotrog, he is slated to return in Biotrog Reassembled, a project tentatively scheduled for 2011.

COVERS

BIOTROG: Bring On the Bad Guys

What's a hero without an arch-villain or two? Or three? Or, hell, an entire angry mob screaming for his blood? In this installment, we round up the usual suspects in Biotrog's rogues gallery.

BIOLANTE

Biotrog's "prototype," Biolante was the first recepient of Dr. Wang's cyborg technology, as well as his first adopted son. He went on to become an international assassin, until he was imprisoned following a failed mission. He returns seeking vengeance against Dr. Wang (who he felt had turned his back on him) and his foster brother Roger/Biotrog. Biolante appeared to die in battle against Biotrog, but was later resurrected after an alien entity merged with his body.

_

Biolante's bionic right arm conceals a set of retractable cybernetic claws similar to Biotrog's. After merging with the alien, he could mutate his left arm into a scaly, clawed, monstrous form. He could also shoot powerful energy blasts he calls his "Beta Beam" from his eyes.

Biolante appears to have a love/hate relationship with Biotrog, as he is just as likely to save his "brother" as he is to kill him.

RIPPER

The leader of the very same crime syndicate responsible for the murder of Roger Summers' parents. The Syndicate's symbol is a hawk's head tattooed on the left arm.

Ripper's weapons of choice were a pair of samurai swords. He also appeared to be capable of long-distance hypnotism. He was later killed (and his Syndicate taken over) by the ninja assassin Koji.

IRON CLAW

Ripper's brother, who tried to wrest control of the Syndicate on the same night the Summers were murdered. Failing that, Iron Claw formed his own splinter group, distinguished from the original Syndicate by placing the hawk's head symbol on the chest.

Iron Claw was later killed by the vigilante extremist Mr. Grey.

KOJI

A ninja assassin hired by Ripper to elminate Biotrog, Koji killed Ripper instead and took over as the Syndicate's new leader.

Koji later had his left foot sliced off in a fight with Biotrog. He was eventually fitted with a cybernetic foot by an alien of the same species as the one Biolante had merged with. He would also acquire telekinetic powers he calls his "Super Eye" after praying to an evil goddess.

MR. GREY

The victim of a grave injustice, Edmund Grey exacted murderous revenge on the criminals who stole from his family and raped his two daughters. Disillusioned with the system, he then set his sights on corrupt government officials, police officers and businessmen.

A master-level black ninja, Mr. Grey often matched wits with the cyborg vigilante Biotrog, their conflict as much a clash of martial art prowess as it is of their radically opposing views on justice. But eventually, Grey saw the error of his ways and turned himself in. He later died heroically trying to stop a prison break.

Mr. Grey's twin brother Bernard would become an ally of Biotrog as the Red Ninja.

THE BLACK KING'S COURT

A chess-based criminal organization led by a crime boss known only as the Black King, with the beautiful and dangerous Black Queen ruling by his side. The Black King's two advisors, the "Bishops," are actual bishops turned crooked. A pair of sadistic killers are the group's "Knights," while eight foot soldiers serve as their "Pawns."

KINGS OF THE STREETS

A rival gang to the Black King's group. Headed by King Cobra, other members include Tetsi, Mason and Beret.

POISON IVY

Not to be confused with-- uh, some botanist up in Gotham, THIS Poison Ivy is an assassin for hire who employs poison gas (hence the name) and a fan that shoots out blades at her targets. A rose with a strong scent and really sharp thorns. She has been seen working for both the War Claws and King Cobra.

NO-FACE

A faceless mud-monster spawned from toxic waste, No-Face attacks with devastating sonic waves, and almost nothing can harm its malleable body except for fire and ice.

The creature later merges with an escaped convict named George, transforming him into the new No-Face (Never mind the fact that he does HAVE a face this time out).

AKURA

An evil ninja clan master who harbors a vendetta against Bernard Grey's family.

In later appearances, he is actually referred to as "Akuma," but let's just call him by his more original name.

DIYOSANG ITIM ("BLACK GODDESS")

The evil deity worshipped by Koji, she was responsible for giving him his "Super Eye" (dig that crazy name).














DEMON BIOTROG

A bloodthirsty demon who assumes Biotrog's form, it takes the combined forces of Biotrog and fellow Kick Fighter hero Kahddim to stop him.

YONDABIS

Dr. Wang's real son, who rebelled and turned to the dark side. He plots to destroy Roger and take his place as the new Biotrog.

SIKEM

Yondabis' messenger, and... Yeah, that's about it.

Next: Crossovers and Covers

P.S.

I knew there was a reason I posted this. December 5 is the International Day of the Ninja. Happy Ninja Day, everybody!